Road · United Kingdom
Trevithick Trail
A rolling 10 km road cycling route from Edwardsville, Merthyr Tydfil County Borough through Merthyr Vale, Aberfan and Troed-y-rhiw, with 68 m of climbing. 75% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides
- Distance
- 9.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 68 m
- Riding time
- 41 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
- Edwardsville
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 68 m
- 10 km
Route description
- Edwardsville
- Merthyr Vale
- Aberfan
- Troed-y-rhiw
- Pentrebach
- Abercanaid
The route starts at Edwardsville at 129 m elevation and climbs gently to a high point of 178 m at around 6 km near Mynydd Cilfach-Yr-Encil. The elevation gain is a modest 68 m over 9.5 km, with most climbing occurring in the first half of the ride. The profile is largely flat with 71% flat terrain and only short steep sections.
The majority of the route (68%) follows a cycle path named Trevithick Trail, with small portions on quiet streets, minor roads, and roads with cycle lanes. The surface is predominantly paved (95%), with a minor 4% of gravel or unpaved sections. The route passes through several places including Merthyr Vale, Aberfan, Troed-y-rhiw, Pentrebach, and Abercanaid before reaching Merthyr Tydfil.
Services along the route include a pub (Windsor Hotel) near 2.5 km, a supermarket (Co-op Food) near 7.2 km, and cafes, shops, and train stations concentrated around the finish at Merthyr Tydfil. There is a longest stretch of 2.5 km from the start with no café, shop, or water. Bailout points with stations are at Merthyr Vale (2 km) and Merthyr Tydfil (9.5 km).
Why ride this route?
- 75% on cycle paths or lanes.
Highlights
- Trevithick Trail cycle path for 6.4 km
- Passes through Aberfan and Troed-y-rhiw
- Highest point near Mynydd Cilfach-Yr-Encil at 178 m
- Finish at Merthyr Tydfil with multiple amenities
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
Much of the route is separated from traffic: 75% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 68% cycle path · 15% quiet street · 7% minor road · 6% road with cycle lane · 4% other roads and tracks
- Cycle paths
- 7.1 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Trevithick Trail (6 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 95% is mapped as paved, 4% as unpaved or gravel.
- Gradient
- 19% climbing · 11% descending · 71% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 49 cafés and restaurants, 8 shops and 1 petrol station.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 2.5 kmWindsor Hotel · pub · 70 m off route
- 2.8 kmTroed Y Fan Surgery · clinic · 300 m off route
- 7.2 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 50 m off route
- 9.3 kmApplegreen Petrol Station · petrol station · 150 m off route
- 9.5 kmThe Flamingo Cafe · café · 210 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 2 km — Merthyr Vale (station), on the route
- 9.5 km — Merthyr Tydfil (station), 140 m off route
Worth a stop
- 9.5 km — The Robert and Lucy Thomas Memorial Fountain (monument)
Stay after this ride
- Howfield Hotel · guest house · 190 m from the finish
- Castle Hotel · hotel · 420 m from the finish
- Travelodge Merthyr Tydfil · hotel · 710 m from the finish
- Imperial Hotel · hotel · 610 m from the finish
- Maes-y-Coed · guest house · 670 m from the finish
Start and access
At the finish
- Trains and ferries
- Merthyr Tydfil (140 m)
- Food and coffee
- Domino's (10 m), The Flamingo Cafe (210 m), Sunflowers Cafe (180 m)
- Shops
- Tesco Extra (220 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 2.5 km from start
- 0.6 km on roads with cycle lanes
- 0.7 km on minor roads
- 4% gravel or unpaved surface
