National Cycle Route 42
| National Cycle Route 42 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
Route 42 signage | |||
| Length | 91 km (57 mi) | ||
| Location | Wales and England | ||
| Trailheads | Glasbury – Gloucester | ||
| Use | Cycling | ||
| Difficulty | Moderate | ||
| Season | All year | ||
| Waymark | 42 | ||
| Surface | Mixed (road, traffic-free sections) | ||
| Maintained by | Walk Wheel Cycle Trust | ||
| Website | Walk Wheel Cycle Trust – Route 42 | ||
| |||
National Cycle Route 42 is a part of the National Cycle Network running from Glasbury in Mid Wales to Gloucester in England. It provides a north–south link from 8 , (Lon Las Cymru) to 4 and provides an alternative south route for Lon Las Cymru for those starting at Chepstow instead of Cardiff. It is also part of the Celtic Trail.
Route
National Cycle Route 42 begins in Glasbury, Powys, where it connects with 8 .[1] From there, the route travels south through the Vale of Ewyas, passing through Llanthony and continuing toward Abergavenny. In Abergavenny, it intersects with the Four Castles cycle route and crosses 46 .
The route continues to the town of Usk and then passes through the hamlet of Pen-y-cae-mawr before reaching Tintern. It proceeds to Chepstow, where it links with 4 a major east–west corridor in the National Cycle Network.
Beyond Chepstow, 42 extends eastward into England, following a corridor north of the Severn Estuary. It passes through Cinderford, where it connects with 44 , and continues onward to Gloucester.
See also
References
- ^ "Great Rides: Lôn Las Cymru". Cycling UK. Cyclists’ Touring Club. 10 April 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
A personal account of a coast-to-coast Easter ride from Cardiff to Holyhead, highlighting steep climbs, unpredictable Welsh weather, and the joy of riding through national parks and historic towns.
External links
- "Route 42". Walk Wheel Cycle Trust. Walk Wheel Cycle Trust. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
Official route description including surface types, traffic-free sections, and scenic highlights.
- "National Cycle Route 42". GPS Cycle and Walking Routes. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
Provides route length, key towns, and notable landmarks such as Llanthony Priory.
- "NCN 42 – Chepstow–Hay". Cycle.travel. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
Detailed elevation and terrain notes, including Gospel Pass and route variants.
- "National Cycle Network GIS Dataset". Walk Wheel Cycle Trust Open Data Portal. Retrieved 2 November 2025.
Downloadable GIS data for Route 42 and other NCN routes, licensed under the Open Government Licence.