Does anyone have experience of a good route to Barry Island from up my way (Pontypridd)? Avoiding steep hills is good, especially on roads with no pavement. I'm currently planning on Rhydfelin->Taff's Well->Pentyrch->St.Fagans->Culverhouse Cross->Wenvoe->Barry, which involves a steep hill with no pavement 🙁 Going via Efail Isaf would also involve steep hills. Going via Radyr would be better, except I don't fancy riding through Fairwater much.
-- Keith Willoughby http://flat222.org/keith/ ". . . it is the job of thinking people, not to be on the side of the executioners." - Albert Camus
Take the old Cardiff road down to Tongwynlais. Get on to the Taff trail and get off at Hailey Park, Llandaff North, go through Llandaff City and then on to Canton. Go past Cardiff City's ground along Sloper Road then on to Penarth Road. Follow the signs to Barry. There is one stinking hill on this route, just as you get into Barry, but you can walk that apart from that this is the flatest route I can think of.
Take the old Cardiff road down to Tongwynlais. Get on to the Taff trail and get off at Hailey Park, Llandaff North, go through Llandaff City and then on to Canton. Go past Cardiff City's ground along Sloper Road then on to Penarth Road. Follow the signs to Barry. There is one stinking hill on this route, just as you get into Barry, but you can walk that apart from that this is the flatest route I can think of.
Take the old Cardiff road down to Tongwynlais. Get on to the Taff trail and get off at Hailey Park, Llandaff North, go through Llandaff City and then on to Canton. Go past Cardiff City's ground along Sloper Road then on to Penarth Road. Follow the signs to Barry. There is one stinking hill on this route, just as you get into Barry, but you can walk that apart from that this is the flatest route I can think of.
Cheers!
I should have taken your advice.
Instead, I decided to go for broke and do an Upper Boat-Efail Isaf-Groes Faen-Peterston Super Ely-Bonvilston, then into Barry on the A4226. Bit of a nightmare all round. Steep hill to Efail Isaf, *steep* hill after Peterston, lots of other hills, the A4226 narrowed as it went uphill with no pavement and 50mph cars - and all in blazing sunshine.
On the other hand, I'm feeling pretty good about it now.
Well that will teach you! Still you will be that much fitter by now! That hill from Upper Boat up to Efail Isaf is one mean so and so! Did it on Sunday - but walked it, knackered just pushing the bike. Besides that is the prettiest route. Good cycling.
