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I have 3 days off next week (between jobs, another story...), and inspired by Teetosugars' threads, I think I'll get some sneaky touring-lite in.
Thinking about doing a big loop from my house, finding a pub half way to stay at and inviting the missus over to eat/sleep/etc. (she has to work all week) then riding the rest of the loop the 2nd day. That way, I won't have to carry anything with me 🙂
Anyone know any good pubs with food and accommodation in Bourton-on-the-water? I know its a Japanese tourist hellhole in summer, but February should be OK!
Dave
alternatively... has anyone ridden sustrans 47 east from swansea?
I could get the train to swansea and ride home to cheltenham in 2 days, wild camping en route somewhere.
It looks like it goes through afan - possibly on the skyline!
Dave
goes past the bottom of cwm carn too... bit of a detour could be in order; maybe i should make it three days
is this a private thread or can anyone join in?
geroffmyland!
*wanders off muttering about Kinder Scout*
no wait, come back! please!
i'm lonely!
If you're staying in Bourton then the Old New Inn is an option.
Old New Inn is an option
ooh, it has a model village.
they always remind me of the line in hot fuzz: "if you want to be a big man in a small town, why don't you **** off up the model village" 🙂
heh yes the model village is sweet. The car museum is actually pretty good & worth a visit if you have any interest in that area. We live just down the road & my father-in-law lives in Bourton so we're there quite a lot.
I'm leaning more towards hopping on a train to Swansea and riding home.
Looking at the map of Sustrans 47, it looks like there is a fair amount of offroad, so I'd probably need to take my hardtail and stick some semi-slicks on it (rather than my road bike - dammit, I need a CX bike!)
Doable in 2 days? Looks like about 130 miles .... hmm....
Dave
Ridden the 47 from chepstow to swansea before.
Not the most inspiring route but I've seen there much worse out there. Functional though.
Ystrad mynach area had a lot of glass on the sustrans route last time I was pedalling that way.
Bit from Mountain Ash to Neath is the best bit.
how long did it take you?
Took my mate along who's a bit of a porker nowadays (sails a desk for the navy) and it takes two medium days (6 hours each) to finish that comfortably so I reckon two 8 hour days would see you to Cheltenham no problems at a fairly leisurely pace.
cool, that's waht I wanted to hear.... my cousin is at uni in Newport - maybe I should look her up for a place to crash en route - don't particularly fancy wild camping around there!
Anyone got any experience of taking bikes on those trains (cheltenham to newport, newport to swansea) at rush hour?
I'll need to get early trains if I'm going to have a chance of riding to Newport on the first day.
Dave
Might be better off going Chelt-Bristol Parkway-Swansea.
Bigger XC trains with guards van, rather than the small commuter sardine cans.
good call, that does look a better route.
You have to go! The Model Village has a model of the model village in it.
And in that...
A model village!
And in that?
et c. et c.
I love it 🙂
APF
PS My wife says it was sh*t.
I rode Sustrans route 47 from Swansea to Pontypridd in a day- there's a few photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/manicstreetpreacher/sets/72157624036776395/
It was my first time bike touring- I went on to Cardiff, then did the Taff Trail up to Brecon, Abergavenny, Hay-on-Wye, down to Bristol/Bath and then home to Oxford 🙂
PS. Make sure you get a bike reservation, some companies refuse to take bikes without one at peak times.
Nice photos sas. I was wondering about the signage, but it seems that the signs were the main thing you took pictures of, so they must be pretty prominent! 🙂
I've discovered the 'celtic trail' sustrans guidebook on my bookshelf, which I think I must have bought in a previous fit of touring enthusiasm. Looks like it'll be 66 miles from Swansea to Newport - so should be a nice day's riding.
My cousin says I can stay with her, but she's having a party, so will be up drinking until the small hours - perfect prep for another big day in the saddle!
Just got to hope for good weather now, and maybe order some semi-slicks 🙂
Dave