Lon Las Cymru Holyhead to Cardiff

Life Goal Overview

To cycle from Holyhead to Cardiff in Wales via the Lon Las Crymu Cycle Trail provided by Sustrans.

What inspired me to do this?

The fascination to explore Wales from top to bottom and take in Welsh culture and hospitality while setting myself a huge physical goal in cycling.

Charities

No charities are involved in this Life Goal.

Planning & Details

Basics; Ride over 3 days | Target 80 per day | 2 B&B's required | Travel Light but Safe

I studied the Lon Las Cymru cycle trail via the official Sustrans maps and tried to visualise how tough it might be. I had never been up through North Wales but knew it was mountainous and challenging. I worried about traffic and the surface of the trail in many sections. I was to be riding a Giant OCR 2 road bike, suited more to road riding than trails.
Fortunately I teamed up with Andrew Davies from North Wales who helped plan the route and accommodation along the way.
We'd stay in 2 B&B's, the first in Dolgellau and the second in Builth Wells before hitting Cardiff on the third day. We targetted about 80 miles each day knowing the last section was easy riding.
It was hard estimating what kit and clothing we needed to take, Andrew went for a rack mount on the rear wheel to which he placed his back pack. This is highly reccommended as I went for a back pack on me all the time and my back hurt quite a lot each day.

Who can get involved?

Andrew Davies took part in this Life Goal.

Post Life Goal Story

In 5 words how do I feel now?

Best Thing I Ever Did

The Story

The Lon Las Cymru was one of my very first major Life Goals. Close to the heart it's sentimental value and influence strives through everything I aspire to do to this very day.
I embarked on this advenure with Andrew Davies who contacted me asking how he could get involved. We planned to start from Holyhead and ride over 3 days to Cardiff. We had setup Accommodation in Dolgellau and Builth Wells and hoped we could get there in good time. Both unsure of how this was all going to turn out we began in Holyhead a little apprehencive which reflected in the rainy skys above.

Lon Las Cymru Profile Map - Edited with markers from my own trip.

We reached Dolgellau in great time and felt we could of carried on for another few miles. We stayed in a striking Bed and Breakfast full of character that looked out over Cadair Idris.
Early breakfast and off into day 2, this was really the deciding factor as if we could get to Builth Wells we'd have cracked it. From there it was flat trails all the way into Cardiff.
We firstly had to get around the foothills of Cadair Idris and the mountainous regions around Builth. It was here we decided to stay off the main Sustrans trail and stay on the A470 to Builth Wells, this was because we were finding the trails a little teadious and slow. Fantastic for a more relaxed approach, but I think our paranoia of the second day got to us and we played it safe.

View's over North Wales near Porthmadog

Major hills and rain hampered out day but to really set things off we detoured onto the B4518, which is actually a detour route on the official Sustrans map. This road was just up and down with major hills all over it. Unfortuately Andrew was at the point of packing things in, but we persaveered and finally found our way back to the A470.
We reach Builth Wells in delight and thought about that last flat roll down into Cardiff.

Day 3 started great with a truly fantastic breakfast at a B&B in Builth Wells. We had not long set off when we passed a police car that hit an owl flying across the road. I stopped and saw to the owl, I guess those days working with my sister at a animal farm helped! The Police turned around and took the owl to a near by vetinary centre.
A bit of rain and then the massive hill climb into Merthyr Tydfil. It's a very long climb that visually goes on for ever, winding around the mountain sides. The views are truly stunning and if you can concentrate on them you'll soon find yourself at the top for a well earned rest.

After Merthyr we got back onto the Sustrans cycle trail, just after a round-about and near a large stone railway bridge that crosses the valley. From here the cycle path was just a fast slip stream right into cardiff (apart from one bit where the path dissappeared into an industrial estate and we spent half an hour just trying to find the trail!
Though saying that, Andrew and I both on separate occassions nearly got hit by car's driving up the cycle trail, this was between Merthyr and Pontypridd.

From there we were on final approach and to really spur us on the heavens opened with terential rain and thunder. I forfunately love thunder storms and the rain in fact just made us put our heads down and get to the end. We arrived in cardiff soaking wet, in a thunderstorm but none of that mattered, it was all part of the experience.

In Summary;

Lon Las Cymru is a fantastic trip to take, the views throughout the whole route are breath taking and I'd do it again tomorrow. I'd advise maybe taking an extra day (4 days) to do the trip and really take in a few more Welsh places. I'd definately reccommend a rear wheel mounted rack for your gear, mine kit was on my back and it hurt quite a lot.
Comfortable seat is a must and account for rain at all times, it's Wales, rain is our trademark!

Official Comments & Thanks

I have to thank Andrew Davies for his participation in this adventure. Without you it would have not been the same and your introduction to North Wales was truly enlightening. As one of my first major Life Ambitions I'm sure to remember this one for a life time.

< See More Life Goals in Sports & Adventure

Route map of Lon Las Cymru Cycle Trail

James @ Start point, Tesco in Holyhead

First day photo shoot - James & Andrew

The long winding hill into merthyr Tydfil

Andrew at The Millennium Stadium Cardiff