Wye Valley Youth Hostelling Tour – 1967
This is a short account of a tour that I participated in during the late sixties. I’m trying to remember the exact route that I took but it’s been a long time so to the best of my knowledge this is how it went!
One summer day at the age of thirteen, I arrived at Hereford, with my Flamboyant Blue Coventry Eagle 5-speed in tow, on a train from Paddington Station in London, England. After meeting the tour leader and six other young cyclists like myself, and with a brief introduction, we then cycled west across the Welsh border in the Wye Valley, toward the hostel at Capel-y-Ffin. This hostel is located in the northern part of the Black Mountains of South Wales. The next day we traveled southwest toward the Ty’n-y-Caeau hostel, now known as Brecon, located at the northern edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
On the third day we rode east toward the hostel at Crickhowell, which was located at the western edge of the mountains. The following day we pedaled southeast toward the Chepstow hostel, through the southern section of the mountains. It was at this point that I was involved in a bicycle accident when I fell, riding too fast down a steep mountain road, turning a sharp gravel bend. I finally made it to the hostel that night albeit in some pain! – On my return to London I had to have stitches in my right arm.
On Day Five of the ride we headed northeast along the west and east banks of the River Wye. In that area of Wales this river forms the border between Eastern Wales and the West of England. Later that afternoon we arrived at the St. Briavel’s Castle hostel in England. The next day we cycled north toward the hostel at Staunton-on-Wye and the following day we traveled northeast toward the Mitcheldean hostel. Finally on the seventh day we rode northwest toward Hereford; said our Goodbyes at the railway station and I boarded a train back to Paddington with my bicycle. All things considered I believe a good time was had by all!
Sadly, due mainly to economic cutbacks in the YHA, many of the hostels mentioned no longer exist; they include Crickhowell, Chepstow, Staunton-on-Wye and Mitcheldean. I understand that Capel-y-Ffin is also closing next year. If you would like to read more free articles, visit our travel articles page.
One summer day at the age of thirteen, I arrived at Hereford, with my Flamboyant Blue Coventry Eagle 5-speed in tow, on a train from Paddington Station in London, England. After meeting the tour leader and six other young cyclists like myself, and with a brief introduction, we then cycled west across the Welsh border in the Wye Valley, toward the hostel at Capel-y-Ffin. This hostel is located in the northern part of the Black Mountains of South Wales. The next day we traveled southwest toward the Ty’n-y-Caeau hostel, now known as Brecon, located at the northern edge of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
On the third day we rode east toward the hostel at Crickhowell, which was located at the western edge of the mountains. The following day we pedaled southeast toward the Chepstow hostel, through the southern section of the mountains. It was at this point that I was involved in a bicycle accident when I fell, riding too fast down a steep mountain road, turning a sharp gravel bend. I finally made it to the hostel that night albeit in some pain! – On my return to London I had to have stitches in my right arm.
On Day Five of the ride we headed northeast along the west and east banks of the River Wye. In that area of Wales this river forms the border between Eastern Wales and the West of England. Later that afternoon we arrived at the St. Briavel’s Castle hostel in England. The next day we cycled north toward the hostel at Staunton-on-Wye and the following day we traveled northeast toward the Mitcheldean hostel. Finally on the seventh day we rode northwest toward Hereford; said our Goodbyes at the railway station and I boarded a train back to Paddington with my bicycle. All things considered I believe a good time was had by all!
Sadly, due mainly to economic cutbacks in the YHA, many of the hostels mentioned no longer exist; they include Crickhowell, Chepstow, Staunton-on-Wye and Mitcheldean. I understand that Capel-y-Ffin is also closing next year. If you would like to read more free articles, visit our travel articles page.
posted by Keith Valentine at 10:24 PM
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