Vale 40

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Cardiff, Wales, GB

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Route Overview

Gravel.wales

Collecting the finest gravel cycling in Wales

40 mi.

2,211 ft.

The classic vale ride. You'll almost always come across loads of other riders, whether they be local clubs or pros returning home.

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Route Details

**This route is the classic road ride over the vale,not too short or too long - It's useful for pushing yourself on the bike as you know you're never too far away should you completely capitulate.**

Taking the Taff Trail as your start (A handy car-free route through Cardiff), head north away from the city centre until you @point[pass under Western Avenue](d,1131.47) by Tesco. Immediately after going through the underpass hop off the bike and take the steps up to the pavement and use it to cross the bridge over the river.

Its easier to cycle through the @point[car-park of Cardiff Met University Campus](d,1327.88) here rather than jump the kerbs or try the busy road. You  need to end up at @point[Llandaff Rugby clubhouse](d,1507.23) and take the path right between it and the Cathederal School playing fields.

This then gives you a good view of the Cathederal's stained glass windows as you climb the hill into Llandaff village, going straight ahead to the @point[t-junctionwith](d,2119.15) the main road.

Join this road right and then at the traffic lights (on the cross roads) turn left towards Rookwood Hospital. @slice[You then follow this road](d,2325.85,4047.18) to another t-junction where you go right and then @point[left immediately](d,4107.43) to continue heading west out of Cardiff.

You will very quickly see the houses disappear, replaced by hedgerows lining the roads. You then cross crofft-y-genau road and countinue due West. @slice[From here to Cowbridge is a real treat](d,5117.72,18540.1), some of the best rural roads around Cardiff and you will usually see this reflected in the number of felllow cyclists out on the route. Remember to smile and wave - or at least nod!

The first five miles take you through a couple of small villages, Peterston-super-Ely being the most notable, and are punctuated by a @slice[couple of short climbs](d,7639.97,9263.52) that are good for sprinting up should you want to get your heart beating a bit faster.

After leaving Peterston-super-Ely you cross a small bridge and bend right past a white chapel and signs for Gwern-y-Steeple. This starts a relatively gentle climb that you will leave before it gets much steeper. Turning @point[right](d,11565.86) following the sign to Pendoylan keeps you @slice[following the contours of the hill](d,11632.94,13053.8) rather than riding over them.

Take in the views over the valley to your right and in no time you will reach a @point[junction with another road](d,13085.42), join this going right and then take the first @point[road on your left](d,13280.35) to begin the main climb of the route.

The climb is a short one, but taken at speed is a good test and gives you great views over the vale, whether in the middle of @photo[winter frost](872533), or a more sunny day.

The climb doesn't finish suddenly, it drags out a little past some farm buildings before a rolling road through @slice[Hensol forest](d,14986.31,15899.32) brings you to Welsh St. Donats. Turn left after the short climb up to the houses and then you reach an odd junction, which at the right time is perfect for a @photo[sunset shot](872532).

Turn right at this junction and you begin the descent towards Cowbridge. The bottom of the hill meets the A-road and you want to follow the sign for Cowbridge left. The road @point[bends round at Aberthin](d,19436.62) and then passes the school before reaching @point[traffic lights](d,20697.16) with the high street.

Turn right at the lights and past the shops - Here might be a good time to grab food or drink should you need it. After the shops, turn left onto the hill towards LLantwit Major. This is a @slice[sneaky climb](d,21890.85,25057.2) that is easily surmountable but will take its toll if you've been pushing yourself to this point. It ramps up again just before the @point[junction](d,24930.21) where you turn left to continue heading towards Llantwit Major and join the more main road.

This takes you past @point[Llandow Circuit](d,26875.38) which is used for local road racing before a @point[big roundabout](d,28851.6), take the first exit left here and then continue straight through the following series of roundabout and trafic lights that bring you @slice[past St Athan RAF base](d,29291.05,32372.1).

Whilst not the most scenic, this road is a good opportunity to put the power down with a gentle decline (especially with the wind at your back).

After passing a @point[petrol station](d,35485.13) on your right and crossing a small bridge, you take the road on your left that climbs up away from the main road. This is a good example of lumpy road that brings you backthe rest of the way towards Cardiff.

At the next juntion, take the right marked 'unsuitable for HGVs' towards Llancarfan and follow the road through the village. A bend left signals another bump in the road - at the top of which you turn right. These roads are narrow and hedge-lined which means the @photo[ice takes a while to melt](872535) should you be out in it.

It is simple enough to follow this route back to the @point[A48 at Bonvilston](d,49335.34), it continues to be lumpy which is a good test if you're looking to push your average speed up!

Join the A48 going right and ride through Bonvilston, turning left at the traffic lights back onto quieter roads. You finish the gentle climb up to the final proper @slice[descent into Peterston-super-Ely](d,51123.84,53357.12) which brings you back onto the road you cycled out on.

Make the most of the speed you gain from this downhill section, but beware the narrow roads as they can have traffic on them and parked cars around the houses too. There's a slight @photo[climb out of the village](872534) as you ride the way out in reverse, heading back @point[under the dual carriageway](d,7470.51) and @point[across the road at St Fagans Cricket Club](d,5882.14) back into the suburbs of Cardiff.

Take a right at the junction at @point[Ysgol Gyfun Plasmawr](d,4095.26) (the school on your left), then left immediately to bring you back into Llandaff. This time at the traffic lights after Rookwood Hospital, you can head straight across @slice[down the back streets of Llandaff village, back onto the square and down past the cathederal again](d,61538.7,62037.33).

When you emerge at @point[Llandaff Rugby club](d,62283.91) this time, you can head across at the pedestrian crossing and into Llandaff fields. Turn left at the first opportunity and then @point[bend round the childrens play area](d,63017.87) then right along the back of some houses, right again onto the main path of pontcanna fields, then finally left onto the tree line path that brings you to @point[Blackweir bridge](d,63930.36) just on the other side of the Taff river to where you started.

# More resources

The best to grab food is on Cowbridge High Street if the shops are open (there's even a Waitrose just off the main road). There's cafes, pubs, off licenses and even takeaways here.

# Important Reminders

Make sure to watch out for Pros in the off season, these roads are the usual stomping ground of Geraint Thomas and Luke Rowe of Sky.

The roads are quiet and safe, but as with all rural roads you can have cars passing too close going either direction, so keep your wits about you.

Vale 40

Route Overview

Route Details

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