P- West Wales

P1- brechfa forestDouble loop

Grade-easy, but long. Mainly forest track/ single track . The inner route follows the Brechfa Blue trail, the outer loop takes you up into the hills around Brechfa to see the scenery.

Distance: 32k Ascent: 760m

Highlights- some fun single track on the Brechfa blue trail. Some good views on the extended loop.
Start- : Brechfa Forest - Byrgwm car park (SN 545315, ///embedded.heightens.shippers).Say something interesting about your business here.

For the first (inner) loop follow the waymarked Green and Blue Derwen Trail in Brechfa Forest. A lovely long singletrack brings you back down to a junction of forest tracks at a hairpin bend. Go L uphill and in 100m by a black arrow waymarked go R downhill on a rocky, sunken byway toward Capel Mair Farm. This is the start of the second (outer) loop.

Follow the well graded byway uphill for 3.5k to Banc Disgwylfa at 310m. Drop down to a T-junction and go L for 600m to join a tarmac lane at a cattle grid. Go R for 2.5k to village of Llidiad Nenog then R again for 2k until you come to a line of three transmitter masts on Mynydd Llanybydder.

Go L and follow road across moor for 2k to the top of the hill called Pen Llwyn-Uchel. Go L onto wide, straight gravel track downhill for 2k across Banc Du. Just before a farm gate bear L and curve around to a gate with a bridleway marker. Follow bridleway for 3k down the Clydach valley to reach tarmac at Gwernogle. Go L downhill, cross the river and through the village. About 500m beyond the village take L fork steeply uphill.

At the hairpin bend go SA on byway past Clyn Wallis Farm. In 500m at a fork go R on forest track which winds uphill to a T-junction. Here go half R on rocky byway initially uphill then for 800m down a valley to a junction of forestry tracks where you rejoin the Derwen Trail and complete the second loop. Go R and follow forestry tracks for 1.5k back to start.

P2- brechfa forest Abergolech extension

GRADE- medium. a few moderate climbs. A long ride. Essentailly this is the red route in Brechfa (with some detours due to storm damage) comined with a longer trip into the villages and hills around - mostly on minor roads.

Highlights- Some fun single track in the foresty. Some good views in the hills around.

Distance: 48k Ascent: 1030m
Start-: Brechfa - Abergorlech Forest car park (SN 586338, ///stun.grin.guess).

Follow Abergorlech Red trail to around halfway point at Trawscoed Isaf Farm. Go R on bridleway to Rhydcymerau then R through village. Beyond village go L uphill for 400m then R on byway for 3.5k to Sunny Bank. Go L to Llansawel, then L past Black Lion and L again uphill on minor road.

After 1.5k go R on bridleway past Pistyllgwyn Farm, turning L after 2.5k and going downhill to Groes Farm. Go R onto lane, L after 200m then R after 350m by Glan Tawe Farm.

In 250m go L uphill past Galltyfydr Farm and continue uphill for 2k to reach forest corner. Go L around bend and follow lane for further 2.5k.

Go L at T-junction, and in 1k SA at crossroads then R and first L to reach Abergorlech upper (Sifigwm) car park. Go SA on forest track to rejoin Abergorlech Red trail. Follow the trail back down the Gorlech Valley to the start.

P3- preseli mountains

Grade- hard- long climbs and tough off road.

Distance- 39kms

Highlights- My favourite ride over Preseli ridge. The views from the peaks are some of the best in UK. I ride it as a circuit that begins in the Llwyngwair Manor camp site. This is a good place to stay overnight. However, this circuit can begin anywhere along the minor road to Newport from Crymych. It needs to be done in an anticlockwise direction.

From the camp site head towards cardigan for 400 yds. Take a right turn onto a minor road then take the next right. The road undulates through narrow lanes with good views of Carn Ingli. There is a long hill up to the main road which take you up to the highest road point towards Haverfordwest. The small cark park is a good place to take a breather. Look west and you will see the off road path to the viewing point on Foel Eryr. The ride up is worth the stunning views. Come back down this hill. Plenty of fast small jumps! Cross the main road again and head east along the Gold road

The gold road heads east along well marked grassy tracks. after a stony track the dip can be quite wet and muddy when wet. The rest of the ride is dry. There are several peaks all with welsh names. The picture opposite shows the ridge.

Continue along the ridge, but don't turn up the steep hill to the right as this does not come back to the ridge but will end up in Rosebush.

Check the time that you want to return to your starting point. The one I have charted last for 2.30 to 3 hours. After this rocky crest rough ride to the farm house below and join minor roads to Crosswell. The ride can be lengthened by about 1 hour by finishing the ridge at Foel Drygarn and descending into Crymych town.. Good for a break and fish and chips! Cycle back along the the picturesque road to White church and head toward Newport home.

P4- Fisguard to Rosebush circuit

Grade- Hard- some big climbs and lots of tough off road stuff.

Distance- 45.8kms

Highlights- some great off road trails. Incredible views!!

Start point. - Starting from the old harbour in Fishguard. Walk to the end of the pier. This is where the original Dylan Thomas 'under milk wood' was filmed. Cycle up the steep Tower hill towards new Fishguard town. turn left onto the start of the Gwaun valley, B4313. Turn Right after a mile or so onto the cycle route 47. re-join a minor lane. Take a path on the left heading to pant y phillip. keep on cycle path47, turn left onto B4329 for a short distance take path to right then re-join b4313 to Rosebush...time for lunch break.

From the famous rose bush red cafe head up into the forestry to the north. take any route for adventure. To get out of the forest take a right turn that take you above the quarry with good views of the mining. This path leads to the base of Foel Cwmcerwyn. There is now a steep climbor push to the summit. Spectacular 360 degree views from the top. Decsen in a notherly direction to the style. Turn left onto the gold road as far as the B4329. Cross the road and cycle around the Cerrig Llandron mountain. Rejoin a road at Ty-gwyn. From here get onto the beautiful road heading west along the Gwaun valley. This leads back into fishguard. Head down the hill to old Fishguard to the car prk. An ice cream van awaits.

The famous rose bush cafe. good place to stop and explore. was the highest rail station in Wales. large old mine working for Pembroke slate.

View from the path out of Pantmaenog forest. showing one of the entrances to the slate mines.

View back along the golden road

P5- loughour, pembrEy

GRADE- EASY- FLAT CYCLE TRAIL THE WHOLE WAY

HIGHLIGHTS- GREAT FUN CYCLING ON HARD SAND.

START POINT- CAR PARK BY THE NEW BRIDGE ACROSS THE RIVER FROM LOUGHOUR

WARNING- cycling on hard sand at low tide can be dangerous. Ensure you start your trip a few hours before low tide, and turn back well before low tide. If at any point the sand becomes soft or muddy, you must turn back and follow your tracks onto hard sand again.

It is advisable not to use electric bikes on the beach since the salt water will corrode them.

Route. From the car park cross the bridge and follow the lovely cycle path to Llanelli, then onto Burry Port. About a mile after Burry Port there is a Left turn to a small lookout tower. If the tide is out you can wade across from here to the open beach and follow the hard sand all the way to Pembrey Park.

From Pembrey Park ypu can pick up the bike trail back to Loughour.

P6- burry port, pembrEy beach

GRADEEASY- FLAT CYCLE TRAILs THE WHOLE WAY

HIGHLIGHTS- GREAT FUN CYCLING ON HARD SAND.

START POINT- CAR PARK near the beach in Pembrey Park.

It is advisable not to use electric bikes on the beach since the salt water will corrode them.

ROUTE. From the car park take the walk way to the beach. You will need to walk your bike across the soft sand, but when the sand becomes firm it is easy to cycle on (but hard to avoid the shells. )

Turn West and follow the beach until you get to the red flags which indicate the start of the military fire range. At this point take the cutting through the sand ridge into the forestry. There is a maze of lovely forest trails you can now enjoy getting lost in until you get back to the car park.

P7- pendiNe sands, laugharne

GRADEEASY- FLAT CYCLE TRAILs THE WHOLE WAY

HIGHLIGHTS- GREAT FUN CYCLING ON HARD SAND.

START POINT- CAR PARK near the beach in Pendine. WARNING. Cycling on hard sand at low tide can be dangerous. Ensure you start your trip a few hours before low tide, and turn back well before low tide. If at any point the sand becomes soft or muddy, you must turn back and follow your tracks onto hard sand again.

It is advisable not to use electric bikes on the beach since the salt water will corrode them.

Route From the car park take the ramp down to the beach. Cycle down to the hard sand, then turn Left and head East

Continue until you get to the Estuary from coming from Laugharne . Be careful not to conitune into the mud. This means you have to take the Left hand side near to the shore to travel up the estuary into Laugharne

Take time to explore the lovely village of Laugharne which was written about by Dylan Thomas in "Under Milkwood" Then take the minor roads back to the start at Pendine.

P1- brechfa forestDouble loop

P2- brechfa forest Abergolech extension

P3- preseli mountains

P4- Fisguard to Rosebush circuit

P5- loughour, pembrEy

P6- burry port, pembrEy beach

P7- pendiNe sands, laugharne

P8 Llawhaden, Narberth, Caneston woods