Road · United Kingdom
National Cycle Route 42
A hilly 58 km road cycling route from Llancayo, Monmouthshire through Trostrey, Bettws Newydd and Coed Morgan, with 770 m of climbing. There is a 21 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 37–57).
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides
- Distance
- 58.3 km
- Elevation gain
- 770 m
- Riding time
- 4 h 10 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 21 km
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Llancayo
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 770 m
- 58 km
Route description
- Llancayo
- Trostrey
- Bettws Newydd
- Coed Morgan
- Llanddewi Rhydderch
- Mardy
- Stanton
- Llanthony
- Ffordd-las
This point-to-point route starts near Llancayo at 26 m altitude, initially climbing steadily for 2.6 km gaining 55 m at around 2.1%. It passes through Trostrey, Bettws Newydd, and climbs again from 7 to 9.9 km, gaining 66 m. After Llanddewi Rhydderch at 11.4 km, a steeper climb starts at 11.6 km rising 67 m over 1.3 km with a max gradient of 8.7%, reaching 151 m elevation. The route continues to Abergavenny at 19.2 km where facilities include shops, pubs, a café, a bike repair stand, a petrol station, toilets, and a railway station that can serve as a bailout point.
Beyond, a climb from 20.8 to 22.8 km gains 98 m at 5%, passing Mardy and Pantygelli. The route crosses beneath peaks like Twyn-yr-Allt (344 m) near 22.4 km and Great Llwygy (279 m) near 27.9 km. After Stanton at 28.7 km, the climb between 32.7 and 35.1 km gains 46 m at 2%. Near 36.2 km the route passes under Graig Ddu (500 m). The longest and toughest climb spans 39.8 to 45.9 km, gaining 255 m at an average of 4.2%, with a maximum of 10.6%, reaching 540 m altitude. From 46.7 km, a long descent of 9.1 km drops 384 m towards Llanigon.
The surface is predominantly paved minor roads (94%), with minor sections on quiet streets, tracks, a main road, and cycle path. There is one significant stretch of 20.9 km without café, shop or water from 36.5 km to 57.4 km, so provisioning before this section is advisable. Named roads include 5.5 km on Old Hereford Road. The gradient includes 3.1 km over 5%, and 1.2 km over 8%.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 540 m, 45.9 km in.
- A 9.1 km descent dropping 384 m.
Highlights
- Llancayo Hill near start at 137 m
- Abergavenny town facilities at 19 km
- Graig Ddu peak at 500 m near 35 km
- Long climb up to 540 m before 46 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 0 km | 2.6 km · 55 m · 2.1 % · max 3 % | 82 m |
| Unnamed climb | 7 km | 2.9 km · 66 m · 2.3 % · max 4 % | 103 m |
| Unnamed climb | 11.6 km | 1.3 km · 67 m · 5 % · max 8.7 % | 151 m |
| Unnamed climb | 20.8 km | 2 km · 98 m · 5 % · max 7.9 % | 163 m |
| Unnamed climb | 32.7 km | 2.4 km · 46 m · 2 % · max 3.2 % | 224 m |
| Unnamed climb | 39.8 km | 6.1 km · 255 m · 4.2 % · max 10.6 % | 540 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map.
- Roads
- 94% minor road · 2% quiet street · 1% track · 1% main road · 2% other roads and tracks
- Fast roads
- 13.8 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Old Hereford Road (6 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 35% climbing · 28% descending · 37% flat
- Steep sections
- 3.1 km over 5% · 1.2 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 9.9% at 45 km
- Longest descent
- 9.1 km from 46.7 km, dropping 384 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 21 km, from km 37 to 57. Along the route: 59 cafés and restaurants, 9 shops, 2 water points, 3 petrol stations, 7 public toilets and 1 bike shop.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 3.3 kmBlack Bear · pub · on the route
- 19.4 kmAldi · supermarket · 90 m off route
- 19.4 kmHydrogen Fuelling Station · petrol station · 80 m off route
- 19.9 kmToilets · on the route
- 20 kmRate of Rise Coffee Roastery · café · 30 m off route
- 20.2 kmH. Shackleton · pharmacy · 60 m off route
- 20.3 kmRepair stand · on the route
- 24.2 kmThe Crown · pub · on the route
- 29 kmQueen's Head · pub · 40 m off route
- 36.1 kmDrinking Water · drinking water · 200 m off route
- 36.4 kmToilets · 140 m off route
- 36.5 kmHalf Moon Inn · pub · on the route
Need to bail out?
- 19.4 km — Abergavenny (station), 430 m off route
Worth a stop
- 5.6 km — Clytha Castle (castle)
- 16.2 km — Tredilion Fruit Farm (attraction)
- 19.8 km — Castell Y Fenni (castle)
- 36.4 km — Llanthony Priory (attraction)
- 41.7 km — The Monastery Church, Capel-y-Ffin (ruins)
- 48.2 km — Pen-y-Beacon Stone Circle (archaeological site)
Stay after this ride
- Hay Outdoor Training · campsite · 830 m from the finish
- Hay-On-Wye Caravan Park · campsite · 920 m from the finish
- St. Mary's B&B · guest house · 2.2 km from the finish
- The Swan at Hay · hotel · 2.3 km from the finish
- Seren Bach Campsite · campsite · 2.3 km from the finish
Know before you go
- 20.9 km stretch with no café, shop or water after 36.5 km
- 13.8 km on fast roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
