Swansea
Pedal Through Paradise - Best 8 Swansea Cycle Routes!
Pedal Through Paradise - Best 8 Swansea Cycle Routes!
In this post we highlight some of the best Swansea cycling routes including well maintained cycle paths and for the thrill seekers, some of the area's best mountain bike trails! Cycling in Swansea is a great way to see the city and its surroundings. There are plenty of bike lanes and the scenery is beautiful. And since Swansea is located in the south of Wales, you'll enjoy some of the most stunning scenery in the world while you ride including the many beaches and national parks the area is known for!
You can cycle past the rare sand dune forests at the Millennium Coastal Path, see the views on the Swansea Valley Cycle Route or spend time on the 130km worth of trails at Afan Forest Park! If you don't have your own bike on your trip, we've listed some of the bike hire shops (down below) in the area that you can easily take out a short or longer rent for your trip.
Once you've read up on the cycle routes to try on your visit to the Swansea, why not have a look at our blog posts for the activities that are available to do here. You can find them on the following buttons below:
Cycling in Swansea is so good, you'll never want to leave!
The table above lists all the best Swansea cycling routes. Click on each name to be taken straight to the part of the blog post for that route.
There's nothing better than taking in the gorgeous scenery in the south of Wales. Have a look below at the cycle routes listed on the interactive map and click on the buttons below the map for each route, for further information before you travel. The purple icons are local bike hire places!
Millennium Coastal Path
Imagine a place where the sea meets forest, and you have one of Britain’s best kept secrets: The Millennium Coastal Path. This traffic-free route makes for an easy family day out as it passes stunning coastal scenery with beautiful woodland mixed in alongside rare sand dune forests, making it one of the more popular cycling routes in Wales!
West Cross : Swansea Bay Cycle Path by Lewis Clarke under license CC BY-SA 4.0
Swansea Bike Path
The Swansea Bike Path is a fantastic family route that is mostly spent hugging the coast line. It provides spectacular views across to Mumbles Head and the beginning of the Gower Peninsula. The 5.8 miles route is 100% traffic free and will take around 30 mins to cycle end to end from Swansea Bay to Mumbles. Combine your cycle with a bite to eat at one of the cafes in Mumbles for a great afternoon out!
Swansea Valley
Take a trip down memory lane as you explore the area's rich, industrial heritage and beautiful natural scenery on this fun bike ride. The route starts near Swansea Waterfront and follows the River Tawe stretching for 7 miles, with sections providing some spectacular artwork and views across the Brecon Beacon National Park.
Llynfi Valley Trail
The scenery on this trail will take your breath away. From the beautiful views of the valley floor to impressive artwork features, there's so much here for everyone who visits Llynfi Valley Trail in Maesteg. Developed on reclaimed land, the short 2.5 mile trail is 100% traffic free and will be a trail you'll visit again and again!
Swiss Valley Cycle Route
The Swiss Valley Cycle Route is a beautiful and varied trail that winds through the hills of Carmarthenshire, following an old railway line. The route starts at Sandy Water Park in Llanelli before climbing gently up to the Millennium Coastal Park and stretching on for a distance of around 10.8 miles. A beautiful route that is well known in the area.
Coed Gwilym Park
Coed Gwilym Park includes a variety of sporting facilities that you could spend an afternoon at. With its superb range, it offers visitors the chance to enjoy sports as well as beautiful flower gardens alongside walking and cycle trails. National Cycle Route 43 runs next to the canal at the park meaning you can carry on your journey into the heart of Pontardawe after a stop off here!
Afan Forest Park by Purple128 under license CC BY-SA 3.0
MTB: Afan Forest Park
If you are looking for a place where the trails flow and there is something new every day, then look no further than Afan Forest Park. With over 130km worth of mountain biking trails that range from 7km all-the way up to 40+ km's in length - it's easy to see why this area was made specifically as an ideal spot for avid mountain bikers!
MTB: Margam Country Park
The Margam Deer Mountain Bike Trail offers up to a half day’s riding, with sections that range from accessible, family-friendly beginner track (perfect for those newbies) all the way through to the expert mountain bikers. With enough variety within one trail, you can find what suits your skills best - whether it's fast turns or hard tailing -- this trail provides an amazing environment in which anyone could enjoy themselves! Take note of the colour coding for the trails to suit your level of ability before you ride.
Conclusion
In this blog post, we have shared some of the best cycle routes near Swansea. To find out more about things to do in this area, click on the buttons below:
Please note...
All outdoor activities including cycling involve a degree of risk. The routes are recommended due to the well known features of each route but this may change over time and further research is required before undertaking any activity. The weather can also impact the surface and general conditions of each route so please keep yourself updated with the weather forecast before setting off to enjoy your cycle!