Whoosh 1

9 - 12 May 2003

Cardiff to Holyhead

Welsh Hills for School Hall

We cycled every mile of (correction, every inch of) National Cycle Route 8 (aka Lon Las Cymru) from Cardiff to Holyhead.

Over 250 miles in four days.

Friday 9 May

Cardiff Bay to Brecon (Ty’n-y-Caeau Youth Hostel, Groesffordd)

64 miles, 0000 ascent; following the Taff Trail from Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfill then minor roads and forest tracks past large reservoirs to our hostel just outside Brecon

Saturday 10 May

Brecon to Trefeglwys,Nr Llanidloes

70 miles, 0000 ascent, mostly riding up the Wye Valley into the centre of Wales, through increasingly rugged landscape.

Sunday 11 May

Llanidloes to Dolbenmaen Nr Porthmadog

74 miles, 0000 feet ascent; initially along the upper Severn Valley climbing to the highest point of the ride 1,673 feet near Bryn y Fedwen; then whooshing down through Machynlleth towards the Irish Sea.

Monday 12 May

Dolbenmaen to Holyhead Station

63 miles, 0000 ascent; across the Llyn Peninsular via Criccieth to Caernarfon; across the Menai Straits; then a wind-resisted slog across Anglesey to Holyhead Station