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The principality of Wales occupies the central western part of
the island of Britain. Wales is surrounded on the north south and
west by the ocean, and is bordered by England on the east. The present-day
border  still
runs close to the historic Offa’s Dyke – an earthen
dyke constructed by King Offa to mark the boundary between the Welsh
and the Mercians. The Welsh, like the Irish and Scots, trace their
ancestry back to the Celts rather than to the Anglo Saxons of England.
Wales has a great wealth of history, tradition and legend. Welsh
heritage is steeped in song, music, poetry and legend. Wales is
rich in romantic medieval castles. The symbol of Wales is the dragon,
and you may catch a glimpse of one if you are lucky!
Much of Wales is rugged, sparsely populated and very beautiful
and– perfect for bicycle touring. It is largely because of
the rugged terrain that the Welsh have  managed
to maintain their separate identity (including the Welsh language).
Be aware that the wonderful cycle touring routes in Wales are definitely
not for novices. The terrain ranges from moderate to challenging
and to fully appreciate the country on a bicycle tour, you need
to enjoy hills and the challenges that they bring.
It is the beautiful Welsh countryside that is greatest asset when
it comes to cycling appeal. For our first tours in Wales we have
chosen to put routes into Powys (Mid-Wales), the Wye Valley and
the Vale of Usk. These regions provide all the bicycle tour prerequisites
in abundance – fabulous scenery, great routes on well surfaced
roads with minimal traffic, plenty of excellent accommodation choices,
welcoming and friendly people, and a surfeit of history and tradition.
Some of the main attractions in these areas include:
The Brecon Beacons National Park
The park encompasses high open country with limestone crags, wooded
gorges, waterfalls and caves. The southern boundary of the national
park marks the beginning of rural Wales. With a population sparser
than anywhere in England, this is an area of small market towns,
hill sheep farms, forests and spectacular lakes.
The Elan Valley
The beautiful valley to the west of Rhayader has a string of reservoirs
that blend in wonderful harmony with their rugged surroundings.
The remote moorland and woodlands around the lakes are an important
wildlife habitat – the rare red kite can be seen here.
Offas Dyke
The 8th century English ruler Offa of Mercia built a massive earthen
dyke that was the first official border between England and Wales.
The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal
The canal was once used to transport materials between Brecon and
Newport. Canal-side inns and pretty villages line this peaceful
waterway.
The Vale of Ewyas
Much less visited than many of the highlights of this part of Wales,
the Vale of Ewyas is a hidden gem. Lying just a few miles to the
north of Abergavenny it follows the course of the River Honddu .
At the top of the valley, the tiny hamlet of Llanthony is the setting
for Llanthony Priory, founded in 1100 by William de Lacy who was
so transfixed by the beauty of the place he built a hermitage and
took to the life of a spiritual recluse, attracting others of similar
persuasion. Much of the building still remains.
The Wye Valley and the Vale of Usk
The Wye Valley and the Vale of Usk boast magnificent scenery and
a wealth of historic treasures – jewels such as Tintern Abbey,
and the time-ravaged castles of the Welsh Borderlands. The density
of castles testifies to the rich and colorful history – here
there are more castles to the square mile than anywhere else in
Britain. The Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
is an internationally important protected landscape area straddling
the border between England and Wales. It is renowned as one of the
most dramatic and scenic landscape areas in southern Britain.
We have chosen to start and finish our Welsh itineraries in Cardiff
for three main reasons:
- Cardiff, the capital city and seat of the Welsh Assembly, has
undergone a complete transformation and facelift over the last
decade and the city is now a delightful place to visit. In present
day Cardiff innovative architecture sits alongside historic buildings.
The city’s attractions include Cardiff Castle, The National
Museum, the Millenium Stadium, Millennium Centre, the redeveloped
Cardiff Bay, Llandaff Cathedral (1107), the National History Museum
at St Fagans and the fairytale-like Castell Coch. You may well
want to extend your trip with an additional night or two in Cardiff
either at the beginning or at the end of your bike tour.
- Cardiff is easily accessible and has excellent links to the
main transport hubs in the UK. From North America, there are direct
flights to Bristol International Airport (40 miles to Cardiff)
and to London (150 miles to Cardiff). There are regular fast trains
from Bristol and London to Cardiff. Express buses are another
good option.
- While Cardiff is a bustling city, there are excellent purpose-built
traffic-free cycle routes into and out of the city. These routes
are part of the National Cycle Network.
» Click
to view the various Iron Donkey self-guided itineraries in Wales.
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