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National Cycle Route 4

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National Cycle Route 4 sign

National Cycle Route 4(orNCR 4) is a route of theNational Cycle Network,running fromLondontoFishguard,Pembrokeshire.[1]Between these, the route runs throughReading,Bath,Bristol,Newport,SwanseaandSt David's.[2]Within Wales, sections of the route follow branches of theCeltic Trail cycle route.[1]

Route[edit]

The total length of the path is 443.6 miles and takes an estimated 36 hours to complete by bike. Just under half (47.4%) of the route consists in traffic-free paths.[1]

London to Reading[edit]

The route roughly follows the course of theRiver Thamesbetween London and Reading, and forms a junction withNCR 5andNCR 23at the latter.[2]

At its east end, the route meanders mostly set about one "block" back from theThames,including several small parks. It shortcuts through: Rotherhithe and mid-Pimlico. It finds the Thames at the Chelsea Embankment. It zig-zags through Hurlingham and Barnes Common.

It finds theThames Pathat Ham, facingTeddington Lock Footbridges,untilStaines-upon-Thames.A longer route from Putney is to remain on the towpath (Thames Path) to avoid traffic.[citation needed]

Reading to Bath[edit]

Much longer, the Reading to Bath section follows the Kennet & Avon Cycle Route which partly follows the towpath of theKennet and Avon Canal[1]and the course of the River Kennet,[2]with other sections on low-traffic roads.[1]

Approaching Bath,Route 24and theTwo Tunnels Greenwayare a corollary, rejoining Route 4 west of the city centre.[citation needed]

Bath to Bristol[edit]

TheBristol & Bath Railway Pathis part of Route 4.
Main article:Bristol & Bath Railway Path

The Bath to Bristol section of the route follows theBristol & Bath Railway Path,a dedicated cycle path on a disused railway line. This is entirely traffic-free."Bristol and Bath Railway Path".Sustrans.Retrieved5 July2022.Its 13 miles are completely traffic-free and almost entirely flat

Bristol to Newport[edit]

After passing through Bristol city centre, the route heads north intoSouth Gloucestershire,and over theSevern Bridge.[1]Passing throughChepstow,it then goes south, passing throughCaldicotbefore arriving inNewport.The route passes to the north of theNewport Wetlands Reserveand acrossNewport Transporter Bridgein the south of the city.[citation needed]

Newport to Llanelli[edit]

After Newport, the route heads west to Caerphilly, then north towards Pontypridd during which it crosses theTaff Trail.It then heads west towardsPort Talbot.NearBriton Ferry,it crosses the A48 bridge and then follows theA483 road(Fabian Way) into Swansea and passes through theMaritime Quarter.Just before the Maritime Quarter, it crossesNational Cycle Route 43.It then follows the seafront promenade alongSwansea BaytoBlackpillwhere it turns north up theClyne Valleycycle track passing the village ofDunvantuntil it reachesGowerton.In Gowerton, the trail follows public roads to the south ofLoughortowards theLoughor bridge.Once over theLoughor bridgeit continues along theMillennium Coastal Pathto the south ofLlanelli.[citation needed]

Llanelli to Fishguard[edit]

NCR 4 traverses the Millennium Coastal Path atLlanelli.

NCR 4 follows theMillennium Coastal Pathalong the southCarmarthenshirecoast. Between Pembroke and Haverfordwest, NCR follows the route of a disused railway called theBrunel Trailand crosses over theCleddau Bridge.[citation needed]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^abcdef"Route 4".Sustrans.Retrieved13 May2021.
  2. ^abc"TR Live - National Cycle Network".www.reading-travelinfo.co.uk.Retrieved13 May2021.

External links[edit]

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