OUT THERE

The Dryffryn Arms in is a great place for a cheeky pitstop

UK RIDE BRITAIN’S BEST ROUTES!

PEMBROKESHIRE Take on the challenge of ’s rugged western coast

TOTAL DISTANCE: 132KM TOTAL ELEVATION: 2,558M

Where does the route start? Are there any killer climbs? Wolf’s Castle, a village that’s located between Yes, Tafarn y Bwlch (pronounced Boolch – the and , in the sleepy Welsh name for a mountain pass) is a tough county of Pembrokeshire, South Wales. one. Not only does it come 100km into the ride St David’s is the UK’s but you’ll climb to around 400 metres, albeit smallest city, but its cathedral is stunning How do I get there? it on a beautifully smooth surface. The 5km ascent averages a 6% gradient and it’s a long, Wolf’s Castle is on the A40, eight miles north straight road – there are no hairpins to break of Haverfordwest. Direct trains run to Are there any tourist attractions? it up – which makes it a bit of a slog. But the Haverfordwest from Swansea and Cardiff. Pembrokeshire is very sedate so, more than reward for all that effort is a stunning Connecting trains run to London Paddington. likely, you’ll be providing the excitement. ON THE WEST SIDE Follow the Pembrokeshire loop 360-degree view of the Welsh countryside. From Haverfordwest, it’s a short taxi ride to However, approximately 30km into the ride, GPS DOWNLOAD: cyclist.co.uk/16pembrokeshire the start of the route. Alternatively, you can you’ll swing through sleepy, blink-and-you’ll- 1 Go south on the A40, after half a mile turn right at Ford. FISHGUARD pick up the loop in the town. Where are the café stops? miss-it St David’s – but you won’t be able to 2 Continue towards Cross, then turn right on The Mill café in Treffin (facebook.com/ forget the stunning cathedral that sits at its B4330 and left towards Roch. TheMillTrefin) is around a third of the way centre. The view was so spectacular (opposite, NEWPORT What’s the route like? 3 Cross the A487, then turn right on Welsh Road through into the ride and serves everything from cake right) that we decided to add another loop via Up and down! The ride starts inland in the Newgale and rejoin A487 towards . to full fry-ups. The Dyffryn Arms in Pontfaen Porthclais, to get another look at it. valleys and heads south towards the sea along 4 Follow A487 to St David’s. Go through the cathedral is a quirky place to down a swift half if you undulating country lanes, the kind that kill grounds, then exit the town to the south west on need to hydrate further along the route. your legs. Once you hit the Pembrokeshire Is there anywhere to stay? Waun Isaf to Porthclais. coast there’s still a fair bit of climbing as you If you’re after a longer trip, the Wolfscastle 5 Make the loop back to St David’s and head north descend to beaches and bays and then climb Country Hotel between Haverfordwest and west through Berea and Trefin. What about the road surface? TREFIN back to higher ground. The ride passes Mostly good, especially on the Bwlch. High Fishguard on the A40 is our hot tip. As well as 6 Hug the coastline to Fishguard, then through St David’s, Britain’s smallest city (see hedgerows can make the visibility poor on being very friendly with secure bike storage, head east on A487 towards . later), and dips down into the pretty harbour some of the lanes, so it pays to ride carefully it does an awesome cooked breakfast. There’s 7 After 3.5 miles turn right towards . of Fishguard before turning back inland and and keep your speed down in case of hidden a restaurant, too. Double rooms costs from 8 Turn left onto B4313 and take the left heading for the hills once more. obstacles like a broken-down car. £120. Visit wolfscastle.com for details. fork through Clyn Wood and Pontfaen. ST DAVID’S Before Cwm Gwaun, go left on Ffordd START/FINISH WOLF’S CASTLE What’s the most scenic bit? Bedd Morris. Take the A487 (Newport). IT’S WORTH SAVOURING THE VIEWS 9 Ride two miles before turning towards Savouring the view as you sweep past the Tafarn-Y-Bwlch. Join B4329 to Tufton. pebble beach at Newgale and the tiny fishing 10 1.5 miles beyond Tufton, turn towards village of Solva which was where Dylan AS YOU SWEEP PAST THE PEBBLE to the A40, then turn left for Wolf’s Castle. Thomas’ Under Milk Wood was filmed in 1972. BEACH AT NEWGATE THROUGH SOLVA Wig Worland Photography: Osborne Susannah Words:

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