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Penyrheol Trecenydd & Energlyn

Caerphilly Castle – Rhigos Climb Viewpoint loop from Energlyn & Churchill Park

Penyrheol Trecenydd & Energlyn

Caerphilly Castle – Rhigos Climb Viewpoint loop from Energlyn & Churchill Park

Hard

5.0

(1)

riders

Caerphilly Castle – Rhigos Climb Viewpoint loop from Energlyn & Churchill Park

05:54

125km

1,550m

Road cycling

Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: May 28, 2026

Waypoints

Start point

Train Station

Get Directions

2.24 km

Caerphilly Castle

Highlight • Historical Site

Caerphilly Castle is one of the largest castles still standing in the country and it’s definitely worth a visit if you’re passing. Check ahead to see opening times.

Tip by

6.68 km

Coed Caedyrys

Forest

38.1 km

View of Hirwaun Common from Rhigos Climb

Highlight • Viewpoint

Really nice view after a really nice climb. Perfect reward on a summers day

Tip by

39.7 km

This is the ‘classic’ way to climb Rhigos, riding north to south as it treats you to two fantastic hairpin bends that could have been plucked direct from the Alps.

It’s a solid climb although never too steep which starts in a dead straight line before bending left past the old Tower Colliery. The gradient increases as you enter the second long straight, after which the road twists right into a conifer plantation.

Ahead you’ll see the first of the two giant bends and if you look left you’ll spy the road climbing above you. As you head into a smooth, tight bend and swing back round, the slope increases slightly and the views out over the valley open up.

Easing slightly before the next turn but climbing steeper out of it, the pitch now ramps hard up the side of the mountain with a barrier on the left and a sheer rock face to the right. Sweeping round you now just have to push yourself on to finish over the brow past the car park on your right.

Tip by

65.1 km

Aberdulais Stone Bridge

Highlight • Bridge

75.2 km

Pontrhydyfen Viaduct

Highlight • Viewpoint

Pontrhydyfen is a small former coal mining community at the confluence of the River Afan and the Afon Pelenna. It is distinguished by two large 19th-century bridges that span the valley: a railway viaduct (the red bridge) and a former aqueduct, known as Y Bont Fawr ("The Big Bridge").

Tip by

84.7 km

Bwlch Mountain Climb from Treorchy

Highlight (Segment) • Viewpoint

Think this is my favourite way up the Bwlch. There's pretty much always a view. Road surface is good. Drivers give space. Sheep tend to stay out of the road. One of the climbs that helped me make choice to move back to the valleys to have on my doorstep. Didn't get to on the 2020 Dragon Ride, as would've need lights by the time I got there, that I'd charged, then forgot to put on the bike :-( 2022, it's going to go better :-D

Tip by

93.8 km

View of Bwlch from Bwlch Summit

Highlight • Summit

Great climb with a nice view and maybe some ice-cream

Tip by

93.8 km

Bwlch Mountain Climb from Treorchy

Highlight (Segment) • Viewpoint

Climbing the Bwlch Mountain southwards from Treorchy (A4061) is a classic South Wales Valleys experience, offering a long, steady ascent. The road winds up from the Rhondda valley onto open moorland where the main challenge often becomes the significant exposure to wind. Enjoy the sweeping panoramic views from the top of this popular and rewarding climb.

Tip by

125 km

End point

Train Station

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

65.0 km

45.1 km

13.1 km

1.12 km

348 m

162 m

Surfaces

120 km

4.55 km

105 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Highest point (530 m)

Lowest point (10 m)

Weather

Thursday 16 July

29°C

15°C

6 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 16.0 km/h

to get more detailed weather forecasts along your route

Comments

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Caerphilly Castle – Rhigos Climb Viewpoint loop from Energlyn & Churchill Park

Caerphilly Castle

View of Hirwaun Common from Rhigos Climb

Rhigos Climb Viewpoint

Aberdulais Stone Bridge

Pontrhydyfen Viaduct

Bwlch Mountain Climb from Treorchy

View of Bwlch from Bwlch Summit

Bwlch Mountain Climb from Treorchy

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