Road · United Kingdom
National Cycle Route 465
A hilly 12 km road cycling route from Llanhilleth, Blaenau Gwent through Aberbeeg, Six Bells and Abertillery, with 183 m of climbing. 60% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides
- Distance
- 12.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 183 m
- Riding time
- 53 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly cycle paths
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Llanhilleth
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 183 m
- 12 km
Route description
- Llanhilleth
- Aberbeeg
- Six Bells
- Abertillery
- Bournville
- Blaina
- Coalbrookvale
The route starts at Llanhilleth (0 km) and proceeds through Brynithel (0.7 km) and Pentwyn (0.8 km) before reaching Aberbeeg at 2 km. It then passes Six Bells (3.8 km) and Abertillery at 5 km, continuing to Bournville (8 km) and Blaina (9.6 km). The road surface is predominantly paved (98%), with 7.4 km on cycle paths and 2.2 km on quiet streets. It includes 1.1 km on main roads without cycle lanes, posted at 80 km/h or more. The longest stretch without a café, shop, or water is 3.3 km between 5.6 and 8.9 km.
Climbing begins near Bournville at 8.7 km, rising gradually for 2.7 km with an average gradient of 2.2% and a maximum of 3.2%, reaching 314 m at the climb top. The overall elevation ranges from 147 m at start to 330 m near the finish at Brynmawr (12.4 km), with a total climbing gain of 183 m. Facilities along the route include cafés like Ty Ebbw Fach Cafe near 3.6 km, shops such as Tesco supermarket at 4.9 km and Co-op Food close to 9.9 km, toilets at 1.8 km, and a pub (Bush Inn) near 9.6 km. Llanhilleth provides a station and stores for bail out.
Peaks near the road are Darren Ddu (491 m) at 7.4 km and Craig Yr Arail at 4.8 km, both nearby landmarks. The route’s profile has about half climbing, a small descent portion, and nearly half flat sections, with less than a tenth of a kilometre over 5% gradient. The surface includes a minor (1%) unpaved section and some unmapped parts (2%).
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 330 m, 12.4 km in.
- 60% on cycle paths or lanes.
Highlights
- Climb from 8.7 km with 59 m gain
- Cycle path for 7.4 km of the route
- Darren Ddu peak near 7.4 km
- Sixbells Guardian monument near 3.2 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 8.7 km | 2.7 km · 59 m · 2.2 % · max 3.2 % | 314 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Much of the route is separated from traffic: 60% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 59% cycle path · 18% quiet street · 12% minor road · 9% main road · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 1.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 1.1 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 7.4 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Surface
- Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved, 1% as unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 52% climbing · 1% descending · 48% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 20 cafés and restaurants, 11 shops, 1 petrol station and 1 public toilet.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmLlanhilleth Pharmacy · pharmacy · 110 m off route
- 1.8 kmToilets · 70 m off route
- 3.6 kmTy Ebbw Fach Cafe · café · 50 m off route
- 4.6 kmTesco Petrol Station · petrol station · on the route
- 4.9 kmTesco · supermarket · 30 m off route
- 9.6 kmBush Inn · pub · 70 m off route
- 9.9 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 190 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0 km — Llanhilleth (station), on the route
Worth a stop
- 3.2 km — Sixbells Guardian (monument)
Stay after this ride
- Queens Hotel · hotel · 3.4 km from the finish
- Best Western Ebbw Vale · hotel · 2.5 km from the finish
- Premier Inn Ebbw Vale · hotel · 3.7 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Trains and ferries
- Llanhilleth (20 m)
- Shops
- Boyals Convenience Store (90 m), Brynithel Stores (530 m)
Know before you go
- Longest 3.3 km stretch with no café, shop or water from 5.6 to 8.9 km
- 1.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 1.1 km road with 80 km/h or more speed limit
- 0.1 km with gradient over 10%
