| Where | Cardiff to Nantgarw (Brecon Beacons and South Wales) |
|---|---|
| Date | 10 June 2006 |
| Duration | 1 hours |
| Distance | 9 miles (~14 km) |
| Weather | Overcast and hot |
| Trail conditions | Dry tarmac |
| Rider | Age | Bike(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Josie Wilton-Jones | Unknown | Spokey Joe Topp Trailer (baby trailer) |
| Mark 'Tarquin' Wilton-Jones | 26 | GT LTS 2000 (TWJ) |
Trip report
Description by Mark 'Tarquin' Wilton-Jones
Trying to keep exercised, I took the trailer and its occupant for a short ride up the valley. This passes between the Garth and Craig-yr-Allt hills. The quarry on the Garth is ugly, but worse, it threatens the Lesser Garth cave. This may not mean much to you, but it is a very special cave for a few reasons; it is a bat roost (and bats are a protected species here), it is stunningly well decorated, and it is the only cave in Britain within a Capital city - perhaps in all of Europe (I do not know). Recently it was gated without warning, and blasting was heard in the quarry. I looked at the quarry with a heavy heart.
At Taffs Well, I stuck with the road beside the station, instead of taking the normal Taff Trail route (actually, I was racing the train, as you do). Noticing a cycle lane I had not seen before, I followed it behind the houses and rugby club. It skirted the edge of the Garth mountain (yes, up the hill, down the mountain - that one).
Apart from a couple of annoying hurdles, it turned out to be a very easy and direct route to Nantgarw. From here, it would be a simple case of following the road up to meet the Taff Trail.
With my passenger slowly falling asleep, we returned home.
