Daffodils & Disasters

I first wrote this report for Ride with GPS in the Spring of 2017 and because I cycle it so often, I felt that it is important to have a version posted here, on this site. Additionally, this is a local route local and I find it's rather special to me.
UPDATED!
Overview: Daffodils & Disasters
Date: March 23, 2017
Distance: 11.8 mi / 18.99 km
Elevation: +763 ft / -767 ft
Duration: Approx. 2 hours
There are not a lot of roads in Wales. Here in South East Wales you'll find that most roads follow the shape of the rivers running along the valley floors — and that happens to be mostly north to south.

At the northern edge, running from Abergavenny in the east to the Vale of Neath in the west is the very busy A465, commonly known as the "Heads of the Valley" road. At the southern end along the Bristol Channel lie the cities of Newport, Cardiff, and Swansea. Between them lies the area called the South Wales Valleys, or colloquially; "The Valleys".

This area is where I most often cycle and Sirhowy Valley is where we live, so naturally, most all of my rides start and stop here.
The pond is dark and murky and smells funky... salamander and toad nirvana.
2024 UPDATE: This is an updated version of a previously posted Ride Report. As part of my ongoing redesign of this website, each feature from "Rides to Remember" will be re-formatted to accomodate the new larger page layout. All of the photographs have been re-edited and where needed, the text has been re-edited for context and clarity.
ROUTE COLOUR KEY:  Traffic-free  Quiet Road  Shared Use  Steep Hill
The Sirhowy River runs for about 20 miles starting above the town of Tredegar in the north and flowing south to Crosskeys, where it then merges into the Ebbw River.

The Sirhowy Valley itself is steep and narrow and lightly populated with two small towns and a handfull of even smaller villages — Oakdale being one.

Many of the old single-lane roads in the Valleys have either been replaced or superseded with newer and wider two-lane carriageways. These are called "B" or "C" roads and are classified as "minor roads" which generally connect the towns and villages.
This was once the main road through Gelligroes, but there's not much traffic now. The Sirhowy River flows along the right side.
However, some small lanes still remain and this report starts on one flanking the eastern side of the valley (shown above). Later this lane ends as it merges and becomes wider, where it then passes through several small villages heading south.

Once I've reached the town of Wattsville, I'll cross over the river and make my return north along the western side of the valley through Sirhowy Country Park.
Gelligroes to Crosskeys
You can't go far without finding something of historical merit in this country. Amoung several noteworthy local places is Gelligroes Mill.
He was just a 25 year-old boy with a homemade wireless up in a tree.
In 1912 a young man who lived and worked at this mill (photos above) was the first in the UK to hear the distress signal from the HMS Titanic. It's an interesting read; Arti Moore.
David Constable - Candle Maker
Across the road lives the official candlemaker to Prince Charles.
The path meanders into and then disappears into the overgrowth...
As I've mentioned, the topography of this part of Wales is defined by rivers and valleys. If you look down at your hand and imagine your fingers as the ridges and the spaces between as the valleys, you'd have a pretty good idea of the landscape.

Most everyone lives in small towns or villages along the valleys and the ridges are often barren, but for sheep (and now wind turbines).
The old road has been replaced by this "new road" which runs lower in the valley.
Many valleys had two train lines running up and down opposite sides; one for coal and the other for passenger service. There was generally one main road that connected all the villages along the valley which followed the river.
When the valleys open up, the views speak for themselves.
Cycling south down the eastern side of the valley, I pass through four little villages in quick sucession; Ynys-ddu, Cwmfelinfach, Brynawel, and Wattsville... none of them much bigger than a wetspot on the road. (Perhaps the largest; Wattsville had a population of a little over 1,000 in 2019.)
Lovely and charming, with no room for big box stores or other nonsense.
Near the bottom of the road in Wattsville, I crossed over the river to the western side of the valley and began making my way back north toward Wylie.
Wattsville to Wylie
Running up the spine of Sirhowy Country Park for four miles is a stunning section of NCN Route 47. This path is perfect for families with small children or beginning cyclists looking for well-paved, traffic-free cycling. It is simply fabulous.
Note: There is a large car park at the main entrance and a second smaller one, .5 mi. further up and behind the (sometimes) locked gate. The photo below shows the lane heading from the main gate to the second smaller car park.
Heading north through Sirhowy Country Park on what was once an old dramway.
There are plenty of picnic tables, benches, and information boards all along the route — providing useful details of distances, points of interest, and wild life commonly found throughout the area.
Looking back across the valley toward Wattsville... I was just over there not long ago!
The Sirhowy River
Lush, quiet, and peaceful...
In 2013 the Welsh Government passed the "Active Travel Act" which — "creates new duties for local governments and highways authorities to make better provision for walkers and cyclists..." As part of the National Cycle Network, part of NCN Route 47 passes through Sirhowy Country Park which has become a showcase example of cycling & walking paths as outlined for use in Wales.
And the woods along the way are full of interesting detritus left behind from when iron and coal were king.
And you might want to just get off of your bike and explore some of the paths leading off to the sides!
Or just enjoy the spectacular views...
Looking back down the valley...
Passing under an abandoned bridge near the top of the park... just about to head out.
Years ago, this path was a much rougher, unpaved, single-track intended for hikers only. I came through here in 2009 with my touring bike — fully-loaded, which I had to practically disassemble to get through these stone gates (image above). Much has changed since then. As of 2024, these gates are all that is left from a barrier that once crossed here.
And lastly, you may be wondering by now why I named this report Daffodils and Disasters... and for that I submit the above photo as a teaser to the prequel of this report!
Summary - Daffodils & Disasters
Sirhowy Valley is unusual; there is no train service and the buses up and down the valley are limited, at best. The single main road is the A4048, a two-laned carriageway that can be cycled, but is best (and often, easily) avoided. The other roads are primarily B and C, with most small lanes weaving through the villages and housing estates. NCN Route 467 and a section of NCN Route 47 are the main cycle route(s).

There just isn't a lot room to build big roads in Wales, which is a good thing. As much as they are sometimes needed, they change the landscape and character of an area to such an extent that it often no longer resembles what was once there... and then there's no going back.
ROUTE COLOUR KEY:  Traffic-free  Quiet Road  Shared Use  Steep Hill
As I mentioned at the start, this is the second-half of a warm-up ride I normally make a day or so before going on a longer adventure. Note the Report Card (right) covers the full day/ride. I hope to have the first half (or prequel) published in the near-future (so keep reading!)

For a completely different perspective on Sirhowy Country Park, take a look at a colourful report I posted from 2023 — when I cycled south during the height of Autumn.

I hope you've enjoyed my re-telling of this wonderful adventure. Thanks for visiting.

Cheers! - muse kidd 
Report Card
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