Road · United Kingdom
National Cycle Route 43
A flat 33 km road cycling route from Caehopkin, Powys through Abercraf, Ystradgynlais and Gellinudd, with 24 m of climbing. 84% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
At a glance
- Best for
- Steady riding away from traffic
- Distance
- 32.9 km
- Elevation gain
- 24 m
- Riding time
- 2 h 21 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Mostly cycle paths
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Caehopkin
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 24 m
- 33 km
Route description
- Caehopkin
- Abercraf
- Ystradgynlais
- Gellinudd
- Alltwen
- Faerdre
- Ynystawe
- Morriston
- Pentre-chwyth
National Cycle Route 43 starts near Caehopkin at 226 m elevation and descends steadily over 32.9 km to a low point of 3 m near Swansea. The route passes through places including Abercraf, Ystradgynlais, Pontardawe, and Morriston, ending near Port Tennant. The profile shows mostly flat terrain with some short steep sections at the start and a long 7.5 km descent beginning just after km 0.1.
Most of the route (93%) is paved, with 7% on gravel or unpaved surfaces. About 82% is on dedicated cycle paths, with minor roads, main roads, quiet streets, and roads with cycle lanes making up the rest. There are 2 km of main roads without cycle lanes. The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 4.1 km at the route start between km 0 and 4.1.
Cyclists can access food and drink at Penrhos Social Club near km 4.1, Junction café near km 9.6, and several other cafés and bars along the route. There are supermarkets at km 9.4, 20.6 and 31.5. Toilets are available near Clydach Mond at km 20.3 and another location at km 28.2. Bike shops at Evans Cycles near km 7.6 and a repair stand near km 28.1 offer maintenance options. The route ends close to several amenities including a café, hospital, multiple stores and a pharmacy.
Why ride this route?
- A 7.5 km descent dropping 153 m.
- 84% on cycle paths or lanes.
Highlights
- Cycle path for 26.9 km (82% of route)
- Longest descent of 7.5 km from km 0.1
- Penrhos Social Club pub at 4.1 km
- Supermarkets near 9.4, 20.6 and 31.5 km
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
Much of the route is separated from traffic: 84% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 82% cycle path · 6% minor road · 6% main road · 3% quiet street · 3% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 2 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Cycle paths
- 27.5 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 93% is mapped as paved, 7% as unpaved or gravel.
- Gradient
- 2% climbing · 21% descending · 77% flat
- Longest descent
- 7.5 km from 0.1 km, dropping 153 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 122 cafés and restaurants, 24 shops, 9 petrol stations, 4 public toilets and 5 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 4.1 kmPenrhos Social Club · pub · 390 m off route
- 6.9 kmYstradgynlais Community Hospital · hospital · 230 m off route
- 7.6 kmEvans Cycles · bike shop · on the route
- 8.1 kmTexaco · petrol station · 40 m off route
- 9.4 kmAsda · supermarket · 120 m off route
- 9.6 kmJunction café · café · 50 m off route
- 16.1 kmPontardawe Primary Care Centre · clinic · 30 m off route
- 16.2 kmJenkins Bakery · bakery · 140 m off route
- 16.4 kmTesco · petrol station · 100 m off route
- 20.3 kmClydach Mond Public Conveniences · toilets · 60 m off route
- 20.6 kmThe Co-operative Food · supermarket · 70 m off route
- 20.8 kmthe overdraft · bar · 100 m off route
- 25.1 kmAsda Café · café · 130 m off route
- 28.1 kmRepair stand · on the route
- 28.2 kmToilets · 70 m off route
- 28.5 kmMorrisons · petrol station · 40 m off route
- 31.5 kmSainsbury's · supermarket · 40 m off route
- 32.1 kmDaily Grind · café · 80 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 30.7 km — Swansea (station), 350 m off route
Worth a stop
- 9.3 km — Ystalyfera Iron Works (ruins)
- 29.3 km — Musgrave Engine House (ruins)
Stay after this ride
- Premier Inn Swansea Waterfront · hotel · 190 m from the finish
- The Village · hotel · 280 m from the finish
- Morgans Hotel · hotel · 770 m from the finish
- Premier Inn · hotel · 880 m from the finish
- Grand Hotel · hotel · 1.1 km from the finish
Start and access
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Daily Grind (460 m), Beefeater (170 m)
- Shops
- Tesco Express (170 m), Sainsbury's (610 m)
- Pharmacy and medical
- Sancta Maria Hospital (80 m), Kevin Thomas Pharmacy (480 m)
Know before you go
- 4.1 km without café, shop or water at route start
- 2 km on main roads without cycle lane
