Wales - Monmouthshire and the Brecon Beacons

Itinerary Details

1. Day 1Arrival

   Participants traveling by train will be picked up and transferred from Newport Railway Station. There is ample parking at the hotel in Tintern for those preferring to drive and cars can be left at the first hotel for the duration of the tour since you will be dropped back here on departure.
   
   Situated on the banks of the River Wye, in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the delightful village of Tintern is your base for the first half of your trip. Close to the English border, the Welsh village is best known for its iconic Gothic Abbey, one of the greatest monastic ruins in Wales.
   
   There is no formal schedule for arrival day however there is much to enjoy including a short orientation spin around the surrounding roads as the bikes are set up or a visit to the nearby Tintern Abbey.
   
   

   • Tintern Accommodation

   • 

     Tintern Abbey

     Perhaps visit this historic site on day 1 and settle into the area

2. Day 2Monmouth and Castles

   A rolling road leads you away from the hotel and along the Wye Valley. It’s not long however before the road starts heading upwards for some great views and you'll enjoy a short section of riding on the English side of the border before heading back into Wales where you will remain for the rest of the holiday. After dropping down into Monmouth you'll cycle over the only remaining fortified river bridge in Great Britain before heading to Raglan Castle for a picnic lunch.
   
   Refreshed, you'll continue to the beautiful town of Usk. From here the roads climb again, passing Wentwood Forest and then taking you into Chepstow for another castle. A short ride from here, back up the Wye Valley, returns you to the hotel.
   
   

   • 49.1 miles
   • 4,101 ft
     4,101 ft
   • Tintern Accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
3. Day 3Usk Loop

   You'll start the day with a climb to wake your legs! Up to the village of Trellech where you can pause to view the standing stones. You will be rewarded with some splendid views before dropping down through Usk and across to Llandegfedd Reservoir for your lunch stop. Charming country lanes passing through quaint villages – and a few more punchy hills – see you back to the hotel.
   
   

   • 51.6 miles
   • 4,101 ft
     4,101 ft
   • Tintern Accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
4. Day 4Tintern to Brecon Transition

   Having spent three evenings and two full days enjoying some of Monmouthshire’s best riding, it’s time to change locations and scenery as you head off into the heart of the Brecon Beacons.
   
   Climbing out of the valley this morning you'll head north-west to Abergavenny – the Gateway to Wales. As you head through the Usk valley, following the course of the river as it rises gently and meanders you'll pass through some charming towns and villages before arriving at Crickhowell – a delightful picnic spot. You'll continue cycling along the river valley, keeping an eye out for the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal which weaves its way alongside the river. Finally you'll arrive at your destination town – Brecon, boasting a castle, a cathedral and plenty of restaurants, shops and pubs.
   
   

   • 47.2 miles
   • 3,608.9 ft
     3,608.9 ft
   • Brecon Accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
5. Day 5The Garth

   Your first ride into the heart of the Brecon Beacons National Park is a strikingly different experience from the last few days as you enter a sparsely populated, wild and open landscape characterised by far-reaching views, huge skies and, what people who don’t ride bikes often describe as, “rolling” hills!
   
   Riding north from Brecon you'll gradually work your way up the valley and over into Builth Wells. Following the River Irfon you can enjoy some easy pedalling before the main feature of today – The Garth; rising to over 450m with an average gradient of 9%. Once at the top, you can enjoy the stunning views before working your way back (and down!) to Brecon across the Epynt military training area.
   
   

   • 39.8 miles
   • 4,429.1 ft
     4,429.1 ft
   • Brecon Accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
6. Day 6Classic Brecon Beacons

   You'll start the day with a ride out onto Mynydd Illtud Common – the local cycling club’s hill climb! From here you'll get a great view of Pen y Fan, southern Britain’s highest peak. Working your way further into the beacons you'll ride into a steepening valley with no obvious exit. This is the Devil’s Elbow and the road is just visible high above you on the right! Short but with sections reaching 15% this is a testing climb, rewarded with fine views back down the valley and beyond.
   
   Continuing on quiet lanes you'll work your way through Waterfall Country before turning north and another cheeky climb or two. Passing Fan Hir you'll climb back through the beacons before dropping into Sennybridge for a gentle finish along the river valley back to your hotel.
   
   

   • 47.2 miles
   • 4,757.2 ft
     4,757.2 ft
   • Brecon Accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
7. Day 7Hay on Wye

   The last day riding takes you to Hay on Wye – world renowned for literature, having over 20 bookshops and being the location of the Hay Festival. A relatively flat start to the day allows for one or two hills after Hay before you drop into the Wye Valley and follow the river to Builth Wells.
   
   After another hill out of Builth you are rewarded with a long descent back to the River Wye where you'll cross over and follow the river downstream. Leaving the river at Llyswen you'll have a couple of short climbs before your final descent back into Brecon.
   
   

   • 59 miles
   • 4,921.3 ft
     4,921.3 ft
   • Brecon Accommodation
   • Breakfast and Lunch
8. Day 8Transfer to Tintern

   Alas, you have reached the end of the adventure and all that remains is to enjoy a final breakfast and transfer back to the starting point of the trip. You’ll make a morning transfer to the train station in Newport and then head back to the first hotel in Tintern where drivers can collect their vehicles and begin the onward journey.
   
   

   • Breakfast