Cyclists.com

National Cycle Route 49

Newport, Newport, United KingdomMixed

Signed route The waymarked National Cycle Route 49 (National Cycle Network), traced from OpenStreetMap and measured against the terrain model; no member has recorded it yet. Ridden it? Add your recording and photos.

32 km
Distance
134 m
Elevation gain
Easy
Difficulty
Mixed
Surface
Download GPXMap
Poplar Bridge, Mon & Brec Canal
Photo: M J Roscoe · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent
134 m
Distance
32 km
050100150m0 km102032 km133 m · highest, at 31.3 kmStartFinish

Route overview

This route suits riders comfortable with a medium distance and moderate climbing of 134 m over 32 km.

National Cycle Route 49 is a 32 km ride from Newport with 134 m of climbing through various suburbs to Llanfoist.

National Cycle Route 49 starts in Newport passing through Allt-yr-yn, Crindau, Barrack Hill, and Shaftesbury before reaching Malpas at 0.9 km. It continues through Bettws, Oakfield, Hollybush, and Cwmbrân around 7 km into the route. The route climbs gently from 7.1 km for 2 km, gaining 47 m with an average gradient of 2.4%, reaching a high of 118 m. Beyond Pontypool at 12 km, the route leads to Mamhilad at 16.6 km and then on to Llanover at 24 km.

Highlights

  • 10.3 km on Monmouthshire Canal towpath
  • Climb from 7.1 km, max gradient 3.1%
  • Highest point 133 m at 31 km
  • Near Coed y Prior peak at 27.5 km

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Bettws 2.1 km
  2. Malpas Court 2.4 km
  3. Woodlands 2.6 km
  4. Oakfield 4.9 km
  5. Hollybush 5.2 km
  6. Two Locks 5.7 km
  7. St Dials 5.9 km
  8. Old Cwmbran 6.2 km
  9. Southville 6.3 km
  10. Cwmbrân 6.8 km
  11. Northville 7.7 km
  12. Pontnewydd 8 km
  13. Pontrhydyrun 8 km
  14. Lowlands 8.3 km
  15. West Pontnewydd 8.3 km
  16. Five Locks 8.6 km
  17. Nyth Y Dryw 9.4 km
  18. Sebastopol 10.2 km
  19. Lower New Inn 11 km
  20. Griffithstown 11.5 km
  21. New Inn 11.6 km
  22. Pontypool 12.2 km
  23. Pontymoile 12.2 km
  24. Trosnant 12.2 km
  25. Mamhilad 16.6 km
  26. Croes-y-pant 18.6 km
  27. Penperlleni 19.5 km
  28. Llanover 24 km
  29. Llanellen 27.6 km

Climbs

ClimbStarts atLengthGainAverageMaxTop
—7.1 km2 km47 m2.4 %3.1 %118 m

High point 133 m at 31 km; low point 11 m. Passes beneath Coed y Prior.

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
50% path · 48% cycle path · 2% quiet street
Cycle paths
15.4 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Main roads used
Monmouthshire Canal towpath (10 km)
Surface
42% paved · 56% gravel or unpaved
Gradient
12% climbing · 3% descending · 84% flat

Along the way

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

Food, water and shops

  1. 0.3 kmPavilion Coffee · café · 190 m off route
  2. 1.5 kmPremier · convenience store · 150 m off route
  3. 5.5 kmWaterloo Inn · pub · on the route
  4. 5.8 kmToilets · 110 m off route
  5. 5.8 kmShell · petrol station · 100 m off route
  6. 6.3 kmBoots · pharmacy · on the route
  7. 6.8 kmSainsbury's · supermarket · 60 m off route
  8. 10.2 kmGrounded Coffee & Wellness · café · 90 m off route
  9. 11.9 kmAldi · supermarket · 150 m off route
  10. 12.2 kmWater tap · on the route
  11. 16.6 kmThe Star Inn · pub · 130 m off route
  12. 21.5 kmPenelope’s Café · café · 60 m off route
  13. 30.4 kmSpice Lounge · restaurant · 390 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 0 km — Newport (station), 1.3 km off route
  • 6.9 km — Cwmbran (station), 840 m off route
  • 13.2 km — Pontypool and New Inn (station), 410 m off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

At the start

  • Pavilion Coffee · café · 350 m
  • Lyceum Tavern · pub · 370 m
  • Lifestyle Express · convenience store · 310 m
  • Malpas Unionist Club · pub · 990 m
  • Harvester · restaurant · 930 m

Stay after this ride

  • Premier Inn Abergavenny hotel · hotel · 1.8 km from the finish
  • Pegasus Court · apartment · 2.4 km from the finish
  • Pyscodlyn Camping and Caravan Site · campsite · 2.0 km from the finish
  • Abergavenny B&B · guest house · 2.3 km from the finish
  • Abergavenny Hotel · hotel · 2.5 km from the finish

Practical information

Surface
Mixed
Route shape
Point to point
Riding time
2 h 18 min
Best months
Jun to Sep — daily highs of 18–21 °C in those months

Know before you go

  • Longest stretch without café, shop, or water for 6.3 km from 24.1 to 30.4 km

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

2 photographs from the road

Photo: M J Roscoe · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons