National Cycle Network sign near Harlech

The route passes through the heart of Wales, and is also known by its Welsh name Lôn Las Cymru ('' English: Wales' green lane''). It is largely north–south from Holyhead to Cardiff or

Chepstow Chepstow ( cy, Cas-gwent) is a town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the tidal River Wye, about above its confluence with the River Severn, and adjoining the wester ...

, and in total measures some in length. Some of its route follows the trackbed of former railway lines, such as Lôn Las Menai,

Lôn Eifion Lôn Eifion is part of Lôn Las Cymru, the Welsh National Cycle Route, which is about long. Lôn Eifion is the section which runs for from Caernarfon to Bryncir along most of the former Caernarfon to Afon Wen line. This line was that of th ...

, the Mawddach Trail and the

Taff Trail The Taff Trail ( cy, Taith Taf) is a popular walking and cycle path that runs for between Cardiff Bay and Brecon in Wales. It is so named because it follows the course of the River Taff. Along much of its length, it follows the National Cycl ...

; in other places, the route is on public highways. Both ends are easily accessible via the rail network.

Route

Millennium Milepost, Lloyd George Avenue, Cardiff

Cardiff to Brecon

This largely follows the

: Cardiff ,

Pontypridd () ( colloquially: Ponty) is a town and a community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. Geography comprises the electoral wards of , Hawthorn, Pontypridd Town, 'Rhondda', Rhydyfelin Central/Ilan ( Rhydfelen), Trallwng ( Trallwn) and Treforest (). ...

, Abercynon , Merthyr Tydfil ,

Brecon Brecon (; cy, Aberhonddu; ), archaically known as Brecknock, is a market town in Powys, mid Wales. In 1841, it had a population of 5,701. The population in 2001 was 7,901, increasing to 8,250 at the 2011 census. Historically it was the coun ...

Alternative: Chepstow to Glasbury

Lon Las Cymru provides an alternative south route for those coming into Wales from the

Severn Bridge The Severn Bridge ( cy, Pont Hafren) is a motorway suspension bridge that spans the River Severn between South Gloucestershire in England and Monmouthshire in South East Wales. It is the original Severn road crossing between England and Wale ...

, following Route 42 from Chepstow to

Glasbury Glasbury ( cy, Y Clas-ar-Wy), also known as Glasbury-on-Wye, is a village and community in Powys, Wales. The village lies at an important crossing point on the River Wye, connecting the historic counties of Brecknockshire and Radnorshire, and is ...

, where it joins Route 8: Chepstow ,

Usk Usk ( cy, Brynbuga) is a town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales, northeast of Newport. It is located on the River Usk, which is spanned by an arched stone bridge at the western entrance to the town. Usk Castle, above the town, overlooks th ...

, Abergavenny , Glasbury There is also a small loop at the top of Route 42 providing links to

Hay-on-Wye Hay-on-Wye ( cy, Y Gelli Gandryll), simply known locally as "Hay" ( cy, Y Gelli), is a market town and community in Powys, Wales; it was historically in the county of Brecknockshire. With over twenty bookshops, it is often described as "the to ...

Brecon to Machynlleth

Brecon ,

Talgarth Talgarth is a market town, community and electoral ward in southern Powys, Mid Wales, about north of Crickhowell, north-east of Brecon and south-east of Builth Wells. Notable buildings in the town include the 14th-century parish church and ...

, Glasbury ,

Erwood Erwood ( cy, Erwyd) is a village and community lying beside the River Wye, on the A470 road some 6 miles south-east of Builth Wells in Powys, Wales. The population of the community taken at the 2011 census was 429. It is in the historic county o ...

, Builth Wells , Newbridge on Wye , Llanwrthwl ,

Rhayader Rhayader (; cy, Rhaeadr Gwy; ) is a market town and community in Powys, Wales, within the historic county of Radnorshire. The town is from the source of the River Wye on Plynlimon, the highest point of the Cambrian Mountains, and is locate ...

, Llangurig , Llanidloes ,

Staylittle Staylittle ( cy, Penffordd-las), sometimes referred to colloquially as Y Stay or Y Stae, is a small village set in the shallow upland basin of the Afon Clywedog on the B4518 road, equidistant from Llanidloes and Llanbrynmair in the Historic count ...

Machynlleth Machynlleth () is a market town, community and electoral ward in Powys, Wales and within the historic boundaries of Montgomeryshire. It is in the Dyfi Valley at the intersection of the A487 and the A489 roads. At the 2001 Census it had a pop ...

Machynlleth to Porthmadog

Machynlleth , Dolgellau , Trawsfynydd ,

Penrhyndeudraeth Penrhyndeudraeth (; ) is a small town and community in the Welsh county of Gwynedd. The town is close to the mouth of the River Dwyryd on the A487 nearly east of Porthmadog, and had a population of 2,150 at the 2011 census, increased from 2 ...

Porthmadog Porthmadog (; ), originally Portmadoc until 1974 and locally as "Port", is a Welsh coastal town and community in the Eifionydd area of Gwynedd and the historic county of Caernarfonshire. It lies east of Criccieth, south-west of Blaenau Ff ...

Porthmadog to Holyhead

Porthmadog , Penygroes , Caernarfon , Bangor , Holyhead

External links

Sustrans map and description - north section

Sustrans map and description - south section

Wales Trails

National Cycle Routes Cycleways in Wales Transport in Anglesey Transport in Gwynedd Cycleways in Powys Transport in Merthyr Tydfil Transport in Rhondda Cynon Taf Transport in Cardiff Transport in Monmouthshire Elenydd Brecon Beacons Rail trails in Wales {{UK-road-stub