311 miles (500 kilometres)

Cardiff/Chepstow - Merthyr Tydfil/Abergavenny - Builth Wells/Llanwrtyd wells - Porthmadog - Holyhead

Order a map on-line from Sustrans

This is in parts a challenging but spectacular route. The Welsh National Cycle Route starts from Chepstow or Cardiff and heads northwards to the island of Anglesey encountering a diversity of landscapes and towns along the way.

From Chepstow or Cardiff the route heads towards Builth Wells in the heart of Wales. The Taff Trail provides a largely off-road connection from Cardiff to Brecon and minor roads link Chepstow to Hay-on-Wye via Abergavenny. The Llanthony Valley provides breathtaking views of the Black Mountains, the Cambrian Mountains and Snowdonia await, with respite at the end in Anglesey - the northern point of the route follows quiet minor roads, ancient coach roads and old railway lines to connect the Wye Valley up to the island of Anglesey itself. 

There's a wide choice of routes and such are the alternatives that you could actually cycle in both directions with minimal duplication of cycleway, and a chance to explore large areas of Wales.

The official maps of the route, based on Ordnance Survey data, are available from Sustrans, book and cycle shops.

Information courtesy of Sustrans