Road · United Kingdom
National Cycle Route 423
A hilly 32 km road cycling route from Monmouth, Monmouthshire through Wonastow, Dingestow and Coed-y-fedw, with 395 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides
- Distance
- 32 km
- Elevation gain
- 395 m
- Riding time
- 2 h 17 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Monmouth
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 395 m
- 32 km
Route description
- Monmouth
- Wonastow
- Dingestow
- Coed-y-fedw
- Cuckoo's Row
- Raglan
- Usk
- Coed-y-paen
Starting in Monmouth, the route passes Overmonnow and Wonastow before reaching Dingestow at 6 km. There is a climb from 1.2 to 2.4 km gaining 57 m at an average gradient of 4.8%, peaking at 81 m. The ride continues through Coed-y-fedw and Cuckoo's Row to Raglan at 12 km and then on to Usk at 20 km.
After Usk, there is a longer climb starting at 21.7 km that lasts 3.4 km with 112 m gain at 3.3% average, maxing at 7.4%. Following this, the route passes Coed-y-paen and undergoes a final smaller climb from 27.9 to 30 km gaining 52 m at 2.6% average. The highest point along the route is 140 m at 25.1 km. The lowest is 16 m near 20.8 km.
The surface is paved for 99% of the route. It mainly uses minor roads (90%) with some quiet streets, a short section on main roads (3%) and a path (2%). Some fast roads (1.6 km) and main roads without cycle lanes (1.1 km) are included. Named roads include Monmouth Road for 7.9 km. There are pubs, cafés and shops at Monmouth, Raglan, Usk and near the finish with the longest stretch without food or water being 5.3 km early on. A bailout point lies near Cwmbran at 30.7 km.
Highlights
- Climb with 7.3% max gradient near 1.2 km
- Raglan with the Ship Inn at 12 km
- Longer climb past 21.7 km
- Finishing near Ashbridge Inn at 31.4 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 1.2 km | 1.2 km · 57 m · 4.8 % · max 7.3 % | 81 m |
| Unnamed climb | 21.7 km | 3.4 km · 112 m · 3.3 % · max 7.4 % | 140 m |
| Unnamed climb | 27.9 km | 2.1 km · 52 m · 2.6 % · max 4.4 % | 116 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 1.1 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 90% minor road · 4% quiet street · 3% main road · 2% path · 1% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 1.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 1.6 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- Monmouth Road (8 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 99% of the route is mapped as paved.
- Gradient
- 33% climbing · 24% descending · 42% flat
- Steep sections
- 1.7 km over 5% · steepest 500 m averages 7.3% at 24.2 km
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 52 cafés and restaurants, 12 shops, 1 water point, 4 petrol stations, 6 public toilets and 5 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmGreen Dragon · pub · on the route
- 0 kmWaitrose · supermarket · 190 m off route
- 0 kmMonnow Street Toilets · toilets · 130 m off route
- 0 kmWell Pharmacy · pharmacy · 200 m off route
- 0.7 kmWild Times Extreme Sports · bike shop · 160 m off route
- 5.7 kmDingestow Post Office · convenience store · 70 m off route
- 8.7 kmToilets · 100 m off route
- 11.7 kmDrinking water · 40 m off route
- 11.8 kmThe Ship Inn · pub · on the route
- 11.8 kmNisa Local · convenience store · on the route
- 11.8 kmRaglan Pharmacy · pharmacy · on the route
- 11.9 kmRaglan Fuel Station · petrol station · on the route
- 20.4 kmToilets · 60 m off route
- 20.5 kmSprockwobbles · café · on the route
- 20.5 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · on the route
- 20.5 kmUsk Pharmacy · pharmacy · on the route
- 20.7 kmWoodside Service Station · petrol station · on the route
- 26.5 kmCarpenters Arms · pub · on the route
Need to bail out?
- 30.7 km — Cwmbran (station), 1.2 km off route
Worth a stop
- 0 km — The Cross (monument)
- 5.8 km — Dingestow Castle (archaeological site)
Stay after this ride
- Premier Inn · hotel · 430 m from the finish
- Best Western · hotel · 2.7 km from the finish
- Somerton House Hotel · guest house · 3.9 km from the finish
- Parkway Hotel · hotel · 4.0 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Green Dragon (10 m), The Hatch (130 m), Riverside Hotel (110 m)
- Shops
- Waitrose (190 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Ashbridge Inn (470 m)
Know before you go
- Longest stretch without café, shop or water: 5.3 km from 0.4 km
- 1.1 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 1.6 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limit
