Road · United Kingdom
Stage 2 of 3 · National Cycle Network Route 4 (part)← Stage 1Stage 3 →
Caerphilly to Swansea
A rolling 75 km road cycling route from Caerphilly to Swansea through Nantgarw, Graigwen and Y Graig, with 534 m of climbing. 51% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane. Mixed surface: 84% is mapped as paved and 14% as gravel or unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides
- Distance
- 75 km
- Elevation gain
- 534 m
- Riding time
- 5 h 21 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Surface
- Mixed surface
- Traffic
- Mostly cycle paths
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Caerphilly → Swansea
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 534 m
- 75 km
Route description
- Caerphilly
- Nantgarw
- Graigwen
- Y Graig
- Bryncethin
- Tondu
- Pyle
- Port Talbot
- Baglan
- Swansea
Starting in Caerphilly, the route heads through St Martins, Nantgarw and Upper Boat to Pontypridd at 11.3 km, where a significant climb starts. A 3.2 km climb gains 180 m at an average gradient of 5.7%, peaking at 237 m. The route continues through Tonyrefail, Hendreforgan and Blackmill, including a 1.9 km climb starting at 21.3 km, with 99 m gain at 5.3%, peaking at 211 m. Afterwards it descends toward Kenfig Hill and Pyle while passing smaller towns and villages along diverse road types including 36 km of cycle paths and minor roads. Later sections pass Margam and Port Talbot. There are shorter climbs of 1.6 km (3.6% avg) and 2 km (2.5% avg) between 34.9 km and 48.6 km, before descending to Swansea at 71.9 km, the lowest point at 4 m.
Why ride this route?
- 51% on cycle paths or lanes.
Highlights
- Climb peaking at 237 m near Pontypridd
- Passes Pontypridd at 11.3 km
- Pass through Port Talbot at 55.6 km
- Longest ascent 3.2 km at 5.7%
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 10.6 km | 3.2 km · 180 m · 5.7 % · max 10.8 % | 237 m |
| Unnamed climb | 21.3 km | 1.9 km · 99 m · 5.3 % · max 8 % | 211 m |
| Unnamed climb | 34.9 km | 1.6 km · 58 m · 3.6 % · max 5.5 % | 101 m |
| Unnamed climb | 46.6 km | 2 km · 51 m · 2.5 % · max 5.2 % | 106 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Much of the route is separated from traffic: 51% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 50% cycle path · 20% minor road · 10% quiet street · 6% track · 14% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 4.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 1 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 38.3 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Gelliwion Road (3 km)
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 84% is mapped as paved and 14% as gravel or unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 13% climbing · 17% descending · 70% flat
- Steep sections
- 3.3 km over 5% · 0.9 km over 8% · 0.4 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 10.2% at 12.7 km
- Longest descent
- 3.4 km from 24.6 km, dropping 84 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 169 cafés and restaurants, 50 shops, 8 water points, 11 petrol stations, 7 public toilets and 6 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmTwo Shot Social · café · 50 m off route
- 0 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 6.3 kmThe Food Warehouse · supermarket · 90 m off route
- 9.2 kmDrinking water · 60 m off route
- 10.9 kmBoots · pharmacy · 130 m off route
- 11.3 kmLidl · supermarket · 90 m off route
- 23.9 kmGriffin Inn · pub · 340 m off route
- 29.5 kmLondis · convenience store · on the route
- 34.1 kmWell Pharmacy · pharmacy · 220 m off route
- 35.3 kmTexaco · petrol station · 190 m off route
- 35.4 kmLidl · supermarket · 190 m off route
- 46.8 kmDrinking Water · drinking water · 180 m off route
- 50.3 kmToilets · 110 m off route
- 58.5 kmLidl · supermarket · 40 m off route
- 62 kmThe Rose and Crown · pub · 70 m off route
- 69 kmRepair stand · 120 m off route
- 70.8 kmToilets · 170 m off route
- 71.9 kmCo-op Food · convenience store · 50 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0.6 km — Aber (station), 300 m off route
- 10.8 km — Pontypridd (station), 210 m off route
- 35.1 km — Tondu (station), 170 m off route
- 42.8 km — Pyle (station), 1.3 km off route
- 55.6 km — Port Talbot Parkway (station), 240 m off route
- 62.3 km — Briton Ferry (station), 840 m off route
- 71.7 km — Tawe River Cruises (ferry), 190 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0 km — Caerphilly Castle (castle)
- 29.5 km — War Memorial (monument)
- 36.8 km — Hide (viewpoint)
- 40.6 km — Cefn Cribwr Ironworks (ruins)
- 50.1 km — Margam Abbey (archaeological site)
- 62.3 km — Warren Hill (peak, 44.6 m)
Stay after this ride
- Swansea Marriott Hotel · hotel · 150 m from the finish
- Travelodge · hotel · 510 m from the finish
- Morgans Hotel · hotel · 660 m from the finish
- Premier Inn · hotel · 620 m from the finish
- Premier Inn Swansea Waterfront · hotel · 1.2 km from the finish
Start and access
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
- Trains and ferries
- Tawe River Cruises (280 m)
- Food and coffee
- El Pescador (60 m), The Observatory (380 m), Gigi Gao‘s Favourite Authentic Chinese (300 m)
- Shops
- Co-op Food (50 m), Tesco (380 m)
Know before you go
- 7.5 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from 11.3 to 18.8 km
- 4.1 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 1 km fast roads with 80 km/h+ speed limit
- 14% of route on gravel or unpaved surfaces