t1- TRAIN-Port talbot to pontypridd

Grade- Moderate, -with a long climb on Forestry roads. Follows Sustrans routes 887 then 47.

Highlights- a fun train ride to start, then a lovely family bike trail up a pretty valley, before a long climb up through forestry. The great advantage of this trail is that by using the train to get to Port Talbot, no car transport is needed.

Start Point- Port Talbot Train station

Route - From the train station follow the marked bike trail Left, and continue to the M4 roundabout. Take the road to Cwmavon. Where there is a long straight stretch there is a bike trail on the Left, which runs alongside the river. Follow this into Cwmavon, and take the bridge over the river and follow the bike trail to Pontrhydyfen. Take the viaduct across the valley and continue on the bike trail to Cymer. Branch left here, and head to Glyncorrwg, past the lakes (where there is a lovely cycling cafe to stop for lunch or snacks.

In Glyncorrwg there is a track leading straight up the Cwm Corrwg Fechan valley to Pannau Hendre Gareg. Here the forest road joins the new wind turbine roads. Follow these straight up to Gwaun Blaencorrwg, where a forest road branches off on the right and skirts the top of the Cwm Corrwg valley. This then climbs over Gwaun Blaencorrwg and drops down to the Rhigos road (A4061) Turn Left for 100 yards and take the forest road on your right.

This leads directly to the Maerdy reservoirs. From here you can either follow the Rhondda Fach bike trail from Maerdy back to Pontypridd, or branch Left up the hill, cross the A4233 and take the forest roads through Llanwonna back to the Brynfynnon Inn and then take the road back to Pontypridd.

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t2- TRAIN- newport to pontypridd

Grade- Easy (but long for beginners).

Highlights- A fun train ride to start, followed by an easy tarmac bike trail back to Pontypridd. (Sustrans route 47).

Start point- Newport train station.

Route- from the back of the train station, follow Mill street and cross the main dual carriageway (A4042) into a park by the side of the river Usk. This leads to a roundabout back under the A4042 which then joins a canal path heading towards the M4.

Where the canal goes under the M4 motorway, take a left turn, running parallel with the M4. This then takes a right turn under the M4 and climbs up the 14 locks at Rogerstone. There is a good cafe here for snacks. From her follow the delightful canal path for several miles to Cross Keys.

Just before Cross keys there is a lovely cyclist cafe offering hot lunches. In Cross keys, you will need to cross the town then pick up the Sirhowy valley trail near the start of the road to Wattsville. This climbs gently up the valley to Gelligroes, where it then climbs alongside the dual carriageway leading up to Hengoed

Here it crosses a spectacular viaduct and continues to Ystrad Mynach, Nelson, then Quaker's Yard. Here it joins the Taff Trail back through Abercynon, Cilfynydd and Pontypridd, where you can either continue on the Taff Trail, or catch a train back to Cardiff.