Common to Common

Two undulating routes taking you through steep sided valleys of mid Carmarthenshire and past some of the counties amazing bogs, one of which started forming 9000 years ago (just after the last ice age).  The routes take you along narrow twisty lanes up categorised climbs and down steep descents, link the two routes together for a really tough ride.  Your rewards are some of the biggest views in Carmarthenshire; from the Brecon Beacons to Pembrokeshire and beyond. 

All the bogs have open access so stop and enjoy these areas of wonderful natural habitats - use the QR codes on the signs at each site to find out more about the bogs and the secrets they have revealed about the history of our landscape. Good tyres and brakes are recommended for these rural lanes where you are likely to encounter large vehicles and animals so please ride carefully and follow the highway code.

GPX files can be downloaded here or via Strava Route 1, Route2, Routes 1 & 2 combined and follow the way markers for each route.

Signed in pink, start at the Church Hall in Brechfa, where there is parking

Turn right out of the church hall car park and right again immediately after you pass the Forest Arms and take the small road signed towards Llanllawddog, you will now be on the marked route. After three miles turn left off this road, crossing a small river, and pace yourself up the hill known as the Llanllawddog power climb on Strava ( measured as a 10% climb) . Enjoy a much flatter section as you cycle between the four commons on this route, before you join the B4310 that takes you back down hill to Brechfa.

Signed in black start in Abergorlech parking at the Black Lion and the forest car park

From Abergorlech take the B4310, towards Brechfa following the stunning Cothi valley. After c. 6km take the left turn towards Llanfynydd, again following the Cothi, it’s a stunning and easy ride. Take the first left turn off this road and the serious climbing begins – Strava measures the segment above the village as 5%. Call in on Llanfynydd and the Penybont Inn, then turn off right after the church towards Abergorlech. As you climb up to Figyn and Mynydd Figyn commons you are experiencing a wilder side of Carmarthenshire. Figyn can be accessed off a side road and you will cycle along the side of Mynydd Figyn from where there are incredible views over the Tywi valley to the Brecon Beacons. Complete a small loop around this common before descending very steeply back into Abergorlech, knowing that from your saddle you have seen a good percentage of the Carmarthenshire countryside. Take care as the descent is long and very steep!

Start in Abergorlech parking at the Black Lion and the forest car park. You could equally well start in Brechfa

Set off along the B4310 from Abergorlech to the Forest Arms in Brechfa and pick up the pink Route 1 there. Go as far at the Horeb Cross roads where the route joins the B4310. At this point cross straight over the B4310 and follow the pink and black arrows, initially up hill, then dropping right down to the Cothi in Pontynyswen. Turn left after crossing the river on metal bridge, and after 1km turn right joining the black route at this point, and head up hill for Llanfynydd, continue as above.

Turn left after crossing the river on metal bridge, and after 1km turn right joining the black route at this point, and head up hill for Llanfynydd. Here the serious climbing begins.

Call in on Llanfynydd and the Penybont Inn, then turn off right after the church towards Abergorlech. As you climb up to Figyn and Mynydd Figyn commons you are experiencing a wilder side of Carmarthenshire. Figyn can be accessed off a side road and you will cycle along the side of Mynydd Figyn from where there are incredible views over the Tywi Valley to the Brecon Beacons. Complete a small loop around this common before descending very steeply back into Abergorlech, knowing that from your saddle you have seen a good percentage of the Carmarthenshire countryside. Take care as the descent is long and very steep!

Stopping points

Abergorlech - Black Lion
Brechfa - Forest Arms
Llanfynydd - Penybont

Useful info

Beiciau Hobbs Bikes – Bike Shop, Carmarthen