Road · United Kingdom
Garw Valley Railway Path
A flat 9 km road cycling route from Blaengarw, Bridgend County Borough through Pontycymer, Pont-y-rhyl and Tylagwyn, with 0 m of climbing. 91% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
At a glance
- Best for
- Steady riding away from traffic
- Distance
- 9.1 km
- Elevation gain
- 0 m
- Riding time
- 39 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly cycle paths
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Blaengarw
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 0 m
- 9 km
Route description
- Blaengarw
- Pontycymer
- Pont-y-rhyl
- Tylagwyn
- Llangeinor
- Bettws
The Garw Valley Railway Path begins near Blaengarw at 227 m altitude and follows a largely descending profile to Brynmenyn at 72 m. Most of the route is paved and runs principally on cycle paths with 8.3 km of this kind, plus 0.5 km on quiet streets.
The path passes through Pontycymer, Pont-y-rhyl, Tylagwyn, Llangeinor, and Bettws before reaching Brynmenyn. Climbing amounts to just 1 per cent of the distance, with a 3.2 km longest descent starting around 3.6 km into the route, dropping 49 m. The steepest 500 m section features a gradient of 10.3 per cent right at the start.
Facilities include the Garw Valley Cafe near Blaengarw at 0.8 km and a Co-op supermarket near Pontycymer at 2.2 km. After 4.7 km there is a petrol station near Pont-y-rhyl. Bail out is possible at Tondu station at 9.1 km, though it is 1.4 km off route. There is a 4.4 km stretch without cafés, shops or water from 4.7 km onwards.
Why ride this route?
- 91% on cycle paths or lanes.
Highlights
- Cycle path for 8.3 km
- Longest descent 3.2 km dropping 49 m
- Garw Valley Cafe near Blaengarw
- Passes through Pontycymer and Bettws
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
Much of the route is separated from traffic: 91% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 92% cycle path · 6% quiet street · 2% other roads and tracks
- Cycle paths
- 8.3 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Surface
- Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 1% climbing · 46% descending · 53% flat
- Longest descent
- 3.2 km from 3.6 km, dropping 49 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 4 cafés and restaurants, 2 shops and 1 petrol station.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.8 kmGarw Valley Cafe · café · 80 m off route
- 1.8 kmWell Pharmacy · pharmacy · 110 m off route
- 2.2 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 40 m off route
- 4.7 kmPetrol station · 80 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 9.1 km — Tondu (station), 1.4 km off route
Stay after this ride
- Days Inn · hotel · 2.5 km from the finish
- Premier Inn · hotel · 2.9 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Garw Valley Cafe (660 m), The Top Club (330 m), The Blaengarw Hotel (490 m)
Know before you go
- 4.4 km without café, shop or water from 4.7 km
- Steepest 500 m section at 10.3% gradient at start
