Taff Trail: Brecon to Cardiff
The 55-mile Taff Trail forms one of the two alternative endings for Lôn Las Cymru, the long distance National Cycle Network route that starts in Holyhead and runs down the length of Wales. The Taff Trail is a predominantly traffic-free ride from the heart of the beautifully located town of Brecon down to Cardiff’s Waterfront.
The Monmouthshire & Brecon Canal towpath is the exit out of Brecon, soon joining quiet lanes to the popular outdoor pursuits centre of Talybont. The route climbs up alongside Talybont reservoir on an old tramway with a steady gradient over five miles (if you ever get the chance to ride it the other way, this is a fantastic descent). The views are more and more spectacular across the reservoir to Waun Rydd on the other side.
After a short forestry section, lanes are used for a few miles to the start of the next traffic-free railway path, a gentle descent into Merthyr Tydfil, at one time the heart of the early Industrial Revolution in Wales.
To the south of Merthyr Tydfil the route stays above the valley, passing through old mining communities with their distinctive rows of terraced houses, using a series of railway paths and canal towpaths through Abercynon and Pontypridd, down past the fairy tale castle of Castell Coch and along riverside paths beneath the stunning Millennium Stadium to finish at Cardiff Bay.
Natural attractions:
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Brecon Beacons
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Talybont Reservoir
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Pontsicill Reservoir
Visitor attractions:
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Cyfartha Castle, Merthyr Tydfil
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Castell Coch, Tongwynlais
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Cardiff Castle
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Cardiff Bay
Route submitted by: Sustrans
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Key route details
- Region/Area:
South East Wales
- Distance:
55 miles
- Time needed:
1 long day
- Classification:
Medium
- Surface:
Mixed
- NCN Route:
National Route 8
- Start:
Brecon
- Finish:
Cardiff Waterfront
- Access:
Train stations at Merthyr Tydfil, Cardiff and several stations in between.
- Maps and guides:
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Lôn Las Cymru - South NN8A £5.99
- Links with:
Lôn Las Cymru north from Brecon into Mid Wales;
Celtic Trail at Pontypridd.
- Weather:
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Mon
max: 14°C min: 6°C
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Tue
max: 16°C min: 8°C
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Wed
max: 17°C min: 10°C
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Thu
max: 19°C min: 13°C
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