E1- lesser garth, garth

Grade- hard- a couple of hard climbs off road.

Distance-36.5KM

Highlights- lovely climb on a path through stunning Beech woods. Incredible viewpoints form The Garth, with 3 Tumuli (Celtic hill tombs).

start point.-Taff Trail in Pontypridd -behind Sport's Direct Opposite B&Q at the North end of Pontypridd.Or you can also join it at Glyntaff cemetery.

Route- follow the Taff Trail down to Taff's Well. Take the lower route past Taff's Well train station, then take the road Right at the A470 roundabout then Left at the next roundabout into Tongwynlais. Just opposite the turning into Pugh's Garden Centre find a trail going uphill and follow it through a wonderful Beech woodland, taking a Right turn near the top and ending up skirting the quarry.

Come to the road entering the top of the quarry and turn Left. Take the third trail on the Left through some more lovely woodland to end up in Pentyrch.

Just to the right of the acapella studios in Pentyrch take the small lane on the right toward Efail Isaf. About half a mile up this lane take a turn on the right towards Tongynlais. After a couple of hundred yards there is a track on the Left leading up to the top of the Garth. This provides specacular views and is of historical interest with it's 3 Tumuli. It was also the site of the fictional story of "The Englishman who went up a hill and came down a mountain!.

cross the top of the Garth, visiting all 3 Tumuli. At the end overlooking the Taff Valley turn Left and head back on a lower level towards the first tumulus. Join a track going down hill through a gate into a field. This turns into a rough lane . After two more gates you join a road. head right then take the next turning on the Right. a little way a long this is a muddy track on your left, which crosses a stream, then continues down hill to the main road from Gwaelod Y Garth to Treforest trading Estate. Follow this back to Tonteg, where you can pick up a bike trail heading back to the University in Treforest.

E2-Three woods- gwaelod y garth, craigau woods, pentyrch

Grade- moderate, but muddy!

Distance- 35.4KM

Highlights- Fun, but muddy single track paths through the woods.

Start point- Behind Sport's Direct Opposite B&Q at the North end of Pontypridd.

Route. From the car park behind Sport Direct there is a small path leading alonside the old canal. This brings you onto Pentrebach Road. Follow this left to the traffic lights and turn Left towards Glyntaff Cemetery.

Just before the cemetery car park pick up the Taff Trail and follow it South. Take the turn off going down to the Tesco's roundabout and cross the bridge over the river Taff through the Treforest Trading Estate. This goes up a small hill where there is a turning on the Left in the direction of Tongwynlais.

. Climb up this to the top of the small hill and see a forest road on your right. Climb up this road until it takes a sweeping bend to the left, and find a small path climbing steeply up on the right. This is where the mud begins!

. Continue this until it comes out on the road , turn Left towards Pentyrch. Just before Pentyrch there is a road on the right leading to Creigau. Just as the road starts to drop down the hill there is a footpath on the Left which leads into a maze of muddy paths. This leads to the old quarries at Creigau, end comes out at the cricket pitch in Creigau.

Just after the entrance to the pitch is a forest road climbing up on the Left which leads to Pentyrch. As you drop down towards Gwaelaod Y Garth there are some more lovely forest trails on your right leading down to Gwaelod, where you can pick up the Taff trail home.

This path has lots of short ups and downs.

E3-castell coch woods, Caerphilly mountain, eglwysilan

Grade- hard- a long ride with a few hard climbs.

This could easily be broken into two moderate rides- one around the woods of Castell Coch, and the other one over Eglwysilan.

Distance- 40.5KM

Highlights- Wonderful sculture trail in Castle Coch woods. Great views from Eglwysilan over Pontypridd.

Start point- B&Q carpark at North end of Pontypridd.

Alternative start point- Castell Coch car park.

Route- at the back of Sport's direct, there is a small gap which takes you onto the old canal path. Follow this onto Pentrebach Road, then down to Glyntaff. Just before the cemetery pick up the Taff Trail and head South. Shortly after crossing the dual carriageway at Nantgarw hill, the Taff Trail splits into two alternatives. Take the turn on the Left up a hill, then a long gradual climb to the top of Catle Coch woods.

This a veritable playground of bike trails and footpaths. Please give way to walkers at all times. We have selected a route along the sculpture trail. This has some wonderful wood carvings, and is well worth making a return visit with the kids (or in our case, grand-kids!!).

At the top of the woods, at the entrance to the "Dragon car park" cross over the small road coming up from Catle Coch, and find a trail slanting upwards. At he end take a 90 degree bend to the Left, then find another small road coming up from Cardiff. Take this down hill to the Right for 200 yards, then find a gate leading down a lane, which crosses a stream, then enters another maze of wonderful bike and walking trails. We made a circuit of this area, then headed back to the small road from Cardiff, and followed it to the top of Caerphilly mountain.

Here there is the option of exploring the trails on the top of the hill, and having refreshments at the cafe, before dropping back down the hill to the roundabout at the top of Nantgarw Hill. From here you can take the top lane over Eglysilan (with the option of an off road detour over the top of the hill) and drop back down into Pontypridd past the Golf club.