CTC tour de Penarth and Dyffryn by Margaret Jones

Margaret Jones is dedicated to cycling in Cardiff; she's a local campaigner, and she’s also the secretary and treasurer for Cardiff Cycle City and a Sustrans volunteer. For her dedication she was named as one of Cycling UK's 100 Women in Cycling for 2018.

This is a favourite Cardiff CTC cafe ride of 27 miles with 1300ft of climbing.

We start the journey at Pedal Power cycling charity in Cardiff (22 Dogo St, Cardiff CF11 9JJ), where you can hire bikes, and buy vittles for the ride!    

A packed scenic journey around the outskirts of Cardiff and Penarth; landmarks include the Taff Trail, the Principality (Millennium) Stadium, Wales Millennium Centre, National Assembly for Wales, Norwegian Church and Cardiff Bay Barrage. Interested in history? There’s plenty here - Scott of the Antarctic, Pierhead building, Butetown, Docks, and pay tribute to Ianto Jones at the Torchwood shrine.

Cross the Barrage for views across Cardiff from the zig-zag up to Penarth Town, and then to Penarth Head viewing platform to see the towns of North Somerset, Islands Flatholm and Steepholm, and on a clear day the Severn Bridges.

Pass through Penarth Town and look out for the Poets Streets (sadly no women poets are immortalised here though) before heading into the Vale Lanes up to Twyn-yr-odyn. Stop at the public footpath for fantastic views over Cardiff.

Visit the Neolithic Burial Chambers at St Lythans and Tinkinswood on the way to a cafe stop at Dyffryn Gardens, now managed by the National Trust. It has excellent plant-sales and the usual refreshments! Return to Cardiff through more Vale Lanes, swooping through outlying estates and new build homes, Insole Court (a 160-year-old mansion house with café!) before descending around Llandaff Cathedral to cross the busy A48 into Llandaff Fields. Cross the park to the Lime Tree Avenue and return to Pedal Power. 

Many thanks to Cardiff CTC members for enhancing this ride over the years !