Stroud Valleys Cycling Club

Challenging the Dragon

FOUR senior ladies with a combined age of 290 years have recently completed a 300 mile cycle ride between Cardiff and Holyhead.

The ride done over eight days followed Sustrans route no.8 Challenge the Dragon.

All riders are members of Stroud Valleys Cycling Club and Stonehouse Wheelers.

Leaving Cardiff in a deluge, which fortunately didn’t last long we were soon on the Taff Trail and heading towards what was once the industrial heartland of Wales.

Riding on dedicated cycle paths and quiet lanes the day finished in the Brecon Beacons National Park, staying at the beautifully situated Danywenault hostel.

The next two days saw us skirting round the Black Mountains and heading into the Wye Valley with a night at Newbridge on Wye and the second night at Llanidloes.

Most of the time we were keeping close company with the river.

In the evening we joined the locals for a singing festival in the Baptist Church.

Unfortunately the forecast was poor for the following day with high winds and rain.

This was the day we were reaching our highest point.

We started climbing up through Hafren Forest which gave us some shelter but once on open moorland it was a different kettle of fish.

With the wind in our faces it was difficult to control our heavy loads.

The Star Inn at Dylife came into view and we managed to get a cuppa there.

Another couple of miles to the summit at 509 metres before the descent to Machynlleth.

The views would have been spectacular but all we could see was driving rain.

By the time we reached the town we were frozen to the marrow so aimed for the nearest cafe for something to warm us up.

As our overnight was just up the road we killed some time going round the charity shops before moving on.

A welcome fire greeted us at Corris hostel and we were able to dry our wet clothes. Unfortunately we had to go down the road for our evening meal and the rain was still coming down in stair-rods.

The next day didn’t start well but after coffee at Abergynolwyn the sun came out but it was still very windy.

The route went over another high road but we thought it prudent to take a lower route along-side the river Mawddach into Dolgellau.

The next two days were brilliant.

We retraced along the river and crossed the railway bridge into Barmouth, then took the coast road, sometimes riding at high level with spectacular views.

We lunched outside Harlech Castle and afterwards inspected the impressive ruins.

We ended the day at Porthmadoc.

After some early climbs next day we dropped down to the sea at Criccieth for coffee and later on traversed the old railway line towards Caernarvon with an ice cream stop at the Inigo Jones slate works.

We were able to have an after dinner walk round Caernarvon in the sunshine.

Alas, it didn’t last and our final day was rather gloomy.

We took the cycle path along to the Menai Bridge and crossed over onto Anglesey.

It was another 30 miles over the island to Holyhead along quiet country lanes lined with wild flowers, later on the sun appeared for the final few miles.

We arrived feeling rather relieved, it had been quite a challenge at times but the scenery, the people and all the lovely coffee/tea stops made it all worth while.