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Stage 5 of 5 · EuroVelo 1 (Wales section)← Stage 4

Caerphilly to Mathern

65 km road cycling route259 m climbing4 h 38 minGPX

Caerphilly, Caerphilly County Borough, United Kingdom · Road

A flat 65 km road cycling route from Caerphilly to Mathern through Lansbury Park, Trethomas and Lower Michaelston, with 259 m of climbing.

Signed route The waymarked EuroVelo 1 (Wales section) (EuroVelo EV1), traced from OpenStreetMap and measured against the terrain model; no member has recorded it yet. Stage 5 of 5 of the EuroVelo 1 (Wales section). Ridden it? Add your recording and photos.

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At a glance

Best for
Flat, steady riding
Distance
64.9 km
Point to point
Elevation gain
259 m
4 m per km
Riding time
4 h 38 min
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Moderate
Bike
Road bike
from the mapped surface
Surface
Mostly paved
91% paved · 7% unpaved · 1% no data
Traffic
Mostly minor roads
2.7 km on main roads without a cycle lane · 10.9 km where the limit is 80 km/h or more · 20.8 km on cycle paths or lanes
Food & water
Regular
142 cafés and restaurants · 35 shops · 1 water point · 8 petrol stations · 11 public toilets · 1 bike shop
Best months
Jun to Sep
Caerphilly climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start → finish
Caerphilly → Mathern

Map and elevation profile

A Dog's Trail: No. 32
Photo: Gareth James · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent
259 m
Distance
65 km
020406080100120m0 km204065 km97 m · highest, at 16.1 kmStartFinish

Route description

  1. Caerphilly
  2. Lansbury Parkkm 1
  3. Trethomaskm 5
  4. Lower Michaelstonkm 14
  5. Bassalegkm 17
  6. Maesglaskm 23
  7. Somertonkm 26
  8. Rogietkm 46
  9. Crickkm 53
  10. Mathernkm 65

The route starts in Caerphilly and passes through multiple towns including Bedwas, Machen, and Newport before reaching Chepstow at 59 km. It features 64.9 km in total with 259 m of climbing. The highest point is 98 m at 15.5 km near Rhiwderin.

The route includes two main climbs: one starting at 13.2 km lasting 2.3 km with an average gradient of 2.7% and a max of 4%, reaching 98 m; and another starting at 56.5 km lasting 2.4 km at 3.1% average and 5.1% max gradient peaking at 96 m. The profile is mostly flat with 79% of the distance flat, 9% climbing, and 12% descending.

Surface conditions are mostly paved (91%) with 7% gravel or unpaved and 1% unmapped. Roads are a mix: 53% minor roads, 28% cycle paths, 7% quiet streets, 5% roads with cycle lanes, 3% main roads, 2% paths, and 1% motorway. There are 2.7 km on main roads without cycle lanes and 10.9 km on roads with 80 km/h or more speed limits. Key named roads include Broad Street Common (6.3 km), Hayesgate Lane (4.3 km), and Pentre-poeth Road (3.4 km).

Highlights

  • Two climbs up to 98m high
  • Passes beneath Craig Ruperra (182m)
  • Broad Street Common (6.3 km)
  • Cycle paths cover 28% of the route

Along the route

Measured from the route line, the Copernicus elevation model and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Porset 2.8 km
  2. Bedwas 3.1 km
  3. Trethomas 4.7 km
  4. Machen 8 km
  5. Draethen 10.3 km
  6. Lower Michaelston 13.5 km
  7. Rhiwderin 16.2 km
  8. Graig 16.7 km
  9. Bassaleg 17.3 km
  10. Pye Corner 17.6 km
  11. Duffryn 21.4 km
  12. Maesglas 22.5 km
  13. Newport 23.8 km
  14. Pillgwenlly 24.8 km
  15. Somerton 26 km
  16. Redwick 38.3 km
  17. Undy 42.3 km
  18. Rogiet 46 km
  19. Caldicot 48.5 km
  20. Caerwent 51.3 km
  21. Crick 52.9 km
  22. Pwllmeyric 56.6 km
  23. Chepstow 58.8 km

Climbs

Climbs in ride order: where each starts, what this ride climbs, and the full named ascent
ClimbStarts atOn this rideTop on this ride
Unnamed climb13.2 km2.3 km · 62 m · 2.7 % · max 4 %98 m
Unnamed climb56.5 km2.4 km · 74 m · 3.1 % · max 5.1 %96 m

High point 98 m at 15.5 km; low point 4 m. Passes beneath Craig Ruperra.

Traffic, surface and gradient

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 2.7 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.

Roads
53% minor road · 28% cycle path · 7% quiet street · 5% road with cycle lane · 7% other roads and tracks
Main roads
2.7 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
10.9 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths
20.8 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
Broad Street Common (6 km), Hayesgate Lane (4 km), Pentre-poeth Road (3 km)
Surface
Predominantly paved: 91% is mapped as paved, 7% as unpaved or gravel.
Gradient
9% climbing · 12% descending · 79% flat
Longest descent
2.7 km from 60.9 km, dropping 71 m

Food, water and services

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 142 cafés and restaurants, 35 shops, 1 water point, 8 petrol stations, 11 public toilets and 1 bike shop.

Food, water and shops in ride order

  1. 0.1 kmGlanmor's Bakery · bakery · 50 m off route
  2. 0.1 kmSuperdrug · pharmacy · 50 m off route
  3. 0.5 kmMorrisons · supermarket · 100 m off route
  4. 5.2 kmChequered Flag Filling Station · petrol station · 50 m off route
  5. 16.9 kmRuperra Arms · pub · on the route
  6. 20.6 kmAsda · petrol station · on the route
  7. 20.9 kmToilets · 80 m off route
  8. 20.9 kmASDA Newport Pharmacy · pharmacy · 90 m off route
  9. 26 kmMorrisons · supermarket · 170 m off route
  10. 46 kmToilets · 270 m off route
  11. 48.1 kmCaldicot Cycles · bike shop · 40 m off route
  12. 48.3 kmAldi · supermarket · 40 m off route
  13. 48.3 kmCaldicot Fuel Express · petrol station · on the route
  14. 51.2 kmToilets · 200 m off route
  15. 56.2 kmThe Garden Restaurant and Cafe · restaurant · 280 m off route
  16. 56.2 kmToilets · 290 m off route
  17. 58.8 kmChepstow Community Hospital · hospital · 180 m off route
  18. 61.2 kmNellie's Coffee Shop · café · 110 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 0.1 km — Caerphilly (station), 350 m off route
  • 17.5 km — Pye Corner (station), 510 m off route
  • 47.5 km — Caldicot (station), 40 m off route
  • 59.3 km — Chepstow (station), 1.1 km off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 0 km — Caerphilly Castle (castle)
  • 3.7 km — Battlefield Live (attraction)
  • 9 km — Machen Corn Mill (ruins)
  • 29 km — Stay Balanced Alpaca Experiences (attraction)
  • 32.2 km — Whitson Court (castle)
  • 51 km — Castle Mound (viewpoint)

Stay after this ride

  • The Beaufort Hotel · hotel · 3.6 km from the finish
  • St Pierre Country Club · hotel · 3.6 km from the finish

Start and access

Starts at Caerphilly. Mapped within a short walk of the start and finish, from OpenStreetMap.

At the start

Food and coffee
Two Shot Social (50 m), Glanmor's Bakery (80 m), Jake's Ice Cream & Co (30 m)

At the finish

Shops
Costcutter (590 m)

Know before you go

  • Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 12.2 km from km 26.1 to 38.3
  • 2.7 km on main roads without cycle lane
  • 10.9 km on roads with 80 km/h or more speed limit
  • 7% of route on gravel or unpaved surface

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

2 photographs from the road

Photo: Lewis Clarke · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Gareth James · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Stage of

About this route

Route line
Traced from the waymarked route’s relation in OpenStreetMap.
Elevation
Recalculated from the Copernicus GLO-90 terrain model every 50 m, not the device’s barometer.
Roads, surface, services
Measured along the line from OpenStreetMap extracts.
Best months
Ten years of ERA5 weather for Caerphilly (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
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