Gravel · United Kingdom
National Cycle Route 887
A flat 23 km road cycling route from Glyncorrwg, Neath Port Talbot through Cymmer, Cynonville and Pont-rhyd-y-fen, with 27 m of climbing. 70% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane. Mixed surface: 82% is mapped as paved and 17% as gravel or unpaved.
At a glance
- Best for
- Steady riding away from traffic
- Distance
- 22.8 km
- Elevation gain
- 27 m
- Riding time
- 1 h 38 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- 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
- Glyncorrwg
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 27 m
- 23 km
Route description
- Glyncorrwg
- Cymmer
- Cynonville
- Pont-rhyd-y-fen
- Rock
- Caerhendy
- Corlannau
- Lletyharri
- Velindre
National Cycle Route 887 runs 22.8 km from near Glyncorrwg to Port Talbot. The route starts near 472 m elevation, descending over 3.3 km by 240 m to a low of 7 m at the end. Most climbing is early, with 75% of the elevation gained in the first half.
The surface is mostly paved (82%) with some gravel or unpaved sections (17%). The route primarily follows cycle paths (16 km), also including 3.5 km of track and 1.9 km of quiet streets. Named roads include the Afan Valley Cycle Track for 4.5 km and Pleasant View for 3.2 km.
Places passed include Cymmer, Cynonville, Pont-rhyd-y-fen, Cwmafan, and Aberavon. Cafés like Corrwg Cwtch at 4.7 km and Barista's Coffee Shop at 21.2 km lie just off route. Shops include Premier at 4 km and Tesco at 21 km. Toilets are available near 12.1 km and 21.6 km. A bailout point is at Port Talbot Parkway railway station at 22 km, 381 m off route.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 472 m, 0.6 km in.
- 70% on cycle paths or lanes.
Highlights
- Afan Valley Cycle Track
- Afan Forest Park High Bridge nearby at 14.8 km
- Mynydd Pen-Rhys peak at 14.9 km
- Longest descent of 3.3 km dropping 240 m from 0.6 km
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
Much of the route is separated from traffic: 70% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 71% cycle path · 15% track · 8% quiet street · 3% path · 3% other roads and tracks
- Cycle paths
- 16 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Afan Valley Cycle Track (5 km), Pleasant View (3 km)
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 82% is mapped as paved and 17% as gravel or unpaved.
- Gradient
- 2% climbing · 44% descending · 54% flat
- Longest descent
- 3.3 km from 0.6 km, dropping 240 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 30 cafés and restaurants, 3 shops, 1 petrol station, 3 public toilets and 2 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 4 kmPremier · convenience store · 110 m off route
- 4.7 kmCorrwg Cwtch · café · 100 m off route
- 4.7 kmAfan A Blast · bike shop · 90 m off route
- 12.1 kmToilets · 70 m off route
- 12.2 kmCedars Tea Shop · café · 100 m off route
- 12.2 kmBike shop · 100 m off route
- 20.9 kmTesco Petrol · petrol station · on the route
- 21 kmTesco · supermarket · 160 m off route
- 21.2 kmBarista's Coffee Shop · café · 50 m off route
- 21.6 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 22.3 kmPharmacy · 160 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 22 km — Port Talbot Parkway (station), 380 m off route
Worth a stop
- 14.8 km — Afan Forest Park High Bridge (attraction)
Stay after this ride
- Blanco's Hotel · hotel · 410 m from the finish
- Grand Hotel · hotel · 790 m from the finish
- YMCA · hostel · 1.0 km from the finish
- Best Western Aberafan Beach Hotel · hotel · 1.6 km from the finish
Start and access
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- The Docks Cafe (190 m), McDonald's (170 m), Cafe Latte (660 m)
Know before you go
- 4 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from km 0 to 4
- 17% gravel or unpaved surface
- 0.4 km over 5% gradient, 0.1 km over 8% and 0.1 km over 10% gradients
