TWMPATH

ERWOOD, BUILTH WELLS

Twmpath in Welsh literally means ‘a hump’. This road is a bit more than a hump though – trust me. As is typical with the roads around here, the hardest climbing is to be found right at the base as you leave the valley. Ramping up close to 20% almost immediately, it pounds the legs up to and across a cattle grid before thankfully backing off as it enters open land. The slope is much kinder as you rise above the River Wye and wind through the base of the valley, but it’s still not easy. Nevertheless it’s not long before you reach the first of two junctions, after which the serious climbing is behind you. At the first, take the right-hand turn to leave the road you’re on and then climb all the way to the second where you keep right once again. From here it’s the simple, undulating road to the top. Stiff in places but never too hard, the climb ends following a turn to the left. From here it rolls back down to meet the B4520.