Road · United Kingdom
Stage 3 of 3 · National Cycle Network Route 4 (part)← Stage 2
Swansea to Idole
A rolling 57 km road cycling route from Swansea to Idole through Uplands, Blackpill and Upper Killay, with 245 m of climbing. 57% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides
- Distance
- 57.3 km
- Elevation gain
- 245 m
- Riding time
- 4 h 06 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Mostly cycle paths
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Swansea → Idole
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 245 m
- 57 km
Route description
- Swansea
- Uplands
- Blackpill
- Upper Killay
- Upper Loughor
- Llwynhendy
- Llanelli
- Pwll
- Kidwelly
- Idole
Starting in Swansea, the route passes through Uplands, Brynmill, Singleton, and Blackpill within the first 4 km. It continues past Lower Sketty, Derwen Fawr, and Upper Killay. The ride then goes through Dunvant and Gowerton before reaching Loughor and Bynea by 16-17 km. The route proceeds through Llwynhendy, Trostre, and Machynys before entering Llanelli at 25.7 km. It passes Seaside, Sandy, Pwll, Burry Port and Pembrey by 35 km, then heads on towards Kidwelly and St. Ishmael. The road surface is mainly paved (89%) with 7% gravel or unpaved. Most of the ride (58%) is on cycle paths, with 31% on minor roads and 4% on main roads, including 2.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane. The longest named road section is 15.4 km on the Millennium Coastal Path. Facilities include cafés and shops near the start and along the route, but there is a 7.2 km stretch from 49 to 56.2 km without cafés, shops or water. A railway station is at Gowerton (12 km), Llanelli (25 km), Pembrey and Burry Port (32.6 km), Kidwelly (42 km), and Ferryside (49 km). The main climb starts at 49.4 km, covering 3.6 km with 122 m gain averaging 3.4% and topping at 128 m elevation. The route is mostly flat or gently undulating with 12% climbing, 6% descending and 82% flat. The highest point is 128 m at 53 km and the lowest is 1 m at 21.5 km.
Why ride this route?
- 57% on cycle paths or lanes.
Highlights
- Millennium Coastal Path, 15.4 km
- Main climb 3.6 km, average 3.4%, top 128 m
- Passes towns of Swansea, Llanelli, Kidwelly
- Railway stations at Gowerton, Llanelli, Kidwelly, Ferryside
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 49.4 km | 3.6 km · 122 m · 3.4 % · max 5.9 % | 128 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Much of the route is separated from traffic: 57% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 58% cycle path · 31% minor road · 5% quiet street · 4% main road · 2% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 2.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Cycle paths
- 32.5 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Millennium Coastal Path (15 km), Clyne Cycle Path (7 km), Swansea Bay Cycle Path (4 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 89% is mapped as paved, 7% as unpaved or gravel and 4% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 12% climbing · 6% descending · 82% flat
- Steep sections
- 0.9 km over 5%
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 83 cafés and restaurants, 19 shops, 1 water point, 3 petrol stations, 12 public toilets and 8 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmEl Pescador · café · 60 m off route
- 0 kmCo-op Food · convenience store · 50 m off route
- 0 kmBoots · pharmacy · 540 m off route
- 1.7 kmRepair stand · 40 m off route
- 4.2 kmTexaco · petrol station · 280 m off route
- 7.2 kmThe Railway Inn · pub · on the route
- 11.5 kmMotley Pie & Coffee · café · on the route
- 11.9 kmWell · pharmacy · 40 m off route
- 12.4 kmTesco · petrol station · 40 m off route
- 17.7 kmToilets · 130 m off route
- 25.4 kmSpar · supermarket · 350 m off route
- 28.8 kmThe Pavilion Cafe · café · 60 m off route
- 32.3 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 32.8 kmThe Co-operative Food · supermarket · 160 m off route
- 34.6 kmThe Pembrey Inn · pub · 60 m off route
- 41.2 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 240 m off route
- 41.5 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 48.9 kmTraeth Coffee · café · 60 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0 km — Tawe River Cruises (ferry), 280 m off route
- 11.6 km — Gowerton (station), 120 m off route
- 25.4 km — Llanelli (station), 690 m off route
- 32.6 km — Pembrey and Burry Port (station), 200 m off route
- 42.2 km — Kidwelly (station), 290 m off route
- 49 km — Ferryside (station), 40 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0 km — Helwick Lightship (attraction)
- 4.3 km — The Mill Bridge (attraction)
- 11.7 km — Bethel Calvinistic Methodist Chapel (ruins)
- 15.4 km — Loughor Castle (castle)
- 19.4 km — Water Lab (attraction)
- 32.6 km — Amelia Earhart Monument (monument)
Stay after this ride
- The Welsh Reindeer Retreat · guest house · 2.4 km from the finish
- Church House Farm · campsite · 2.9 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Trains and ferries
- Tawe River Cruises (280 m)
- Food and coffee
- El Pescador (60 m), Coast Line Cafe (410 m)
- Shops
- Co-op Food (50 m), Tesco (380 m)
Know before you go
- 7.2 km with no café, shop or water from 49 to 56.2 km
- 2.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane