U1- Monmouth to Symonds Yat

Grade- Easy. Mostly good forest tracks, but some single track and a couple of longer climbs

Distance: 32k Ascent: 640m

Highlights- Some great forest trails. Amazing views from Symonds Yat Rock.

Start Point- Hadnock Road, Monmouth
Parking: On street (SO 516128)

Route Follow the Peregrine Path (NCN 423) along Hadnock Road and Wye riverside to Symonds Yat East. Pass the Saracen’s Head and follow tarmac to T-junction where turn sharp right toward Yat Rock. At the top of the climb, just after passing under footbridge, pull in to visit Yat Rock for amazing views of the Wye Valley.

From viewpoint cross the footbridge and head past the cafe right to the bottom of the car park and follow orange waymarks of Symonds Yat Rock Cycle Trail. At Braceland Adventure Centre turn right to reach road in 300m. Go straight across into Ellis Reddings Wood. Shortly after joining track alongside holiday park turn diagonally right downhill to the valley bottom. Cross the small stream and up the other side. When you reach five-way junction turn left (90) onto gravel track then left again after 150m

In 800m turn left onto grassy path which leads to a busy road (A4136). Go straight across and follow path to muddy track where turn left toward Dingle Wood. Keep straight at two junctions and at third look for faint path toward fence on forest edge. Turn right and follow fence path (Mary’s Lane) to come out on minor road. Turn right through Scowles, then second left toward High Meadow Farm and 300m beyond farm turn right on to ‘Burial Lane’. Be warned this is very muddy all the way and not everyone makes it out alive!

The lane spits you out into the delightful village of Newland where you turn left then right alongside the churchyard. Behind the church turn left down a steep lane and at the bottom turn right past Greenmeadow Farm and then a very stony lane straight ahead. At the top turn diagonally right downhill through forest all the way to Lower Redbrook.

Turn left on A466 but after 200m look out for footpath on right which becomes a lane behind houses. At the junction turn right up a long hill on tarmac. You are now on the Offa’s Dyke Path. Stay with the ODP through Upper Redbrook until you reach Cockshoot Ash Barn where the gravel ends. Keep straight ahead on wonderful single track down to Wyesham. Turn right at the bottom and follow the road back to the junction with Hadnock Road.

Great trails!

U2- Redbrook to Tintern

Grade-Moderate, with a few climbs and some tricky rocky lanes.

Highlights- Some lovely trails along the river and through the forests. Some lovely views.

Distance: 38k
Ascent: 780m

Start point-Redbrook AFC car park (SO 537099)

Route Head south on A466 and turn L after 400m onto Highbury Road. Just after lay-by on L turn R onto byway which you follow all the way to Newland. Turn R and where the lane meets the main road turn R uphill on another byway. Follow this over the hill to rejoin the road at Stowe. Turn R downhill and, just before Bigsweir bridge, L onto a bridleway that takes you along the riverside to Brockwe -

Cross the bridge and turn L on A466 to Tintern. In 1k turn R by the Wye Valley Hotel and immediately L onto gravel track heading uphill behind houses. This becomes a narrow rocky path through woods before coming out at a gravel forestry track. Turn R downhill through Gurllus Grove and then L uphill where it meets a tarmac lane. In 800m turn sharp R onto a BOAT through Creigiau Wood and then straight on at a road junction through Bargain Wood. In 1k go straight across the lane into Cuckoo Wood.

After 600m look out for a track half R which leads to crossroads in 800m. Go SA on a narrow path and in 50m sharp left uphill towards Beacon Hill. Go SA at first crossroads onto a firebreak then half right at second crossroads to reach the trig point.

From the trig go R downhill for 500m then L at a T-junction and L again through a car park to reach the road. Turn R, then L at a T-junction and then next R looking out for a bridleway on R in 250m just after passing a covered reservoir.

Head straight down through the woods on lovely single-track, SA at a crossroads to eventually reach a T-junction at an old mill. Turn L and in 100m R toward Park Parr. Look out for a forestry track on R after 500m leading to Colonel’s Park. Follow the track all the way down to the river then L along the riverside track for 1.5k to Redbrook footbridge which you cross to get back to the car park. .

U3- Radnor Forest North

Grade-Hard, with lots of climbs , many on grass

Highlights- Amazing views of stunning mountains, along with gorgeous tracks!

Distance: 33 Km
Ascent: 1060m

Start point- New Radnor, small car park just off A44 at SO 194593.

Route Head uphill on track, bear L at first fork after 1k and half L at second fork. After passing small wood go R up field and R again on clear track up the valley. Follow this byway for 5.5k then a minor lane heading downhill. Just before reaching Llanfihangel Rhydithon go R on byway (part of the Heart of Wales Line Trail). After 2k go R on bridleway and just past Rhiw Pool take second R downhill in shallow valley

In 300m go R over bridge and continue downhill to join lane at Forest Lodge. Follow lane to meet A488 at Bleddfa.

Turn R and, just beyond village, R again onto tarmac lane toward Nant-y-Corddi. This becomes a byway and heads steeply uphill through woods. Just before reaching Woodgate Farm go L then immediately R to reach top of hill in 300m. Follow track, now a bridleway above steep slopes of Rocky Wood. The track ends at a large area of fallen trees

Bypass these on faint path below trees and climb fence into field. Head uphill in field for 50m to regain grassy track. In 150m go R downhill on bridleway to Pentre then SA at crossroads and uphill alongside Sprigs Wood.

After reaching summit keep SA downhill to Ednol Farm and R onto lane. After 300m go L on bridleway up Ednol Hill emerging from forest by Stanlo Pool.

Contour on track under Bache Hill to reach a large barn. Just before barn go R through gate and drop down behind Whimble with lovely views of the Three Riggles SA. Turn L onto track and enjoy the fantastic downhill all the way into New Radnor. Go R at the bottom and R again to follow A44 for 2k back to start.

STUNNING HILLS. GORGEOUS TRAILS!

U4- Radnor Forest South

Grade-Hard, with two big grassy climbs , but well worth the effort!

Highlights- Amazing views of stunning mountains, along with gorgeous tracks!

Distance: 36 Km
Ascent: 1140m

Start point- : New Radnor, small car park just off A44 at SO 194593.

Route Head uphill on track, bear L at first fork after 1k and half L at second fork. After passing small wood go R up field and R again on clear track up the valley. Follow this byway for 4k then, about 500m after the track starts to descend, go R uphill on a clear grassy track toward Great Rhos. Enter forest through small gate and in 500m go R at T-junction. In 200m leave forest, go through gate on R and follow grassy rutted path leading to radio mast on Black Mixen.

Go SE on track over Great Creigiau then drop steeply down to Ystol Bach Brook. Follow grassy track then tarmac lane down to New Radnor.

At bottom go straight ahead, cross A44 and up very steep lane by Bryn Gorse. At the top go SA at crossroads down muddy byway to Yardro. Turn R in village along lane past Pentre Wood. At top go SA to Pen Whimper farm then L on gravel track through Bryn Farm to reach minor lane. Go R and in 500m look out for byway on L.

Follow this through Llanhaylow Wood then SA on tarmac lane down to Gladestry. Go R by church, R again in 200m, then uphill for 800m and, just after passing small lake, go L on track to Wood Farm. Follow this zig zag track up across fields then open moorland to Mawn Pools. After 200m bear L then L again at the col along track over Llanfihangel Hill. When track begins to descend look out for grassy track on R doubling back down Cnwch Bank.

At the bottom go SA for 500m over boggy valley bottom to meet obvious gravel byway. Go R and follow byway for 2.5k to crossroads just after Llanwentre Pool. Go SA on bridleway across rough pasture past Maesmelan Farm then L on track over ford to reach A44 just opposite the start point.

Some of the best views in Wales!!