Welsh Borders Coast-to-Coast

It is an annual summer tradition, one we have been enjoying since 2010, whereby a group of friends from Stockport Community Cycling Club undertake a week-long summer cycle tour. Our Welsh Borders tour in 2022 was our eleventh tour. The team this year was comprised of Andy P, Sarah, Andy S, Andy S, Des, Neil, Dave and Tracey.

Our previous summer tours have included Wainwright Coast-to-Coast, Wales Coast-to-Coast – Lon Las Cymru, Coast and Castles South, Pennine Cycleway, End-to-End (JOGLE), Celtic Trail, Lochs and Glens South, Ravens Route and Lochs and Glens North.

Our Welsh Borders route was a coast-to-coast journey. It began on the South Wales coast at Chepstow Castle and finished on the North Wales coast on the Dee Estuary at Flint Castle. It was a cycle route we created ourselves.

Beginning in the historic town of Chepstow, we made our way over to Monmouth. From there, we headed over the Black Mountains, and on to the Border’s most famed destination, Hay-on-Wye, including cycling over Gospel Pass, the highest tarmac road in Wales, along the way.

We then took in the mid-Wales market towns of Knighton and Welshpool, following the line of Offa’s Dyke and the edges of the Brecon Beacons. After which we cycled through Ceirog Valley, described by Lloyd George as “a little bit of heaven on earth”. Completing this section, we passed Chirk Castle and cycled over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct on the Llangollen canal, on our way to Ruabon.

Finally, we cycled through the commercial centres of Wrexham and the Roman fortress of Chester, while in between finishing our Welsh Borders Coast-to-Coast at Flint on the North Wales coast.

However … our cycling hadn’t finished there. For, on our final day of the tour, we cycled home.

You can follow our Welsh Borders Coast-to-Coast adventures by clicking on the links below:

You can view our Welsh Borders Coast-to-Coast route below: