Cefn Mably Circular Ride
In previous rides we had explored Cefn Mably however this time we had decided to head that way via old St Mellons and Druidstone Road. Sarah had been checking out the OS Cardiff Map and seen that there was a standing stone that needed exploring!
We made our way from Pontprennau via St Mellons Road to Old St Mellons. From Bridge Road we took a left at the Cross Roads where the road forks take a right onto Druistone Road. We follow Druistone Road with one eye on the OS may looking for the standing stone.
The stone is in the grounds of Druidstone house. We walked our bikes through the car park by the main house. The stone can be found through a gate, with a sign saying private track & mentioning St Bernards loose! It is beside the first cottage under some trees. We didn't hang around those dogs looked hungry!
We continue on Druidstone Road for a while and then Sarah sees a footpath - to be honest she finds it difficult to pass them. Well it is an adventure! We look at the OS map we have and their appears to be a route to take us back towards Cefn Mably. We follow the edge of a field and when it bends to our right we continue to follow it some more. The path was quite overgrown in places with the usual nettle sting alomost impossible to avoid. We get to the end of a field and there is a stile to cross. We look into the next field and there are a few horses - they look huge!
At this point we are in 2 minds should we go through the field, we don't want to startle the horses and to be honest we are both a bit scaredy pants! We decide we don't really want to go back the way we came. The track was a bit rough so we decide to take the plunge and hop over the stile. We tentatively walk with our bikes around the edge of the field following the clear footpath, bikes acting as a bariers between us and the horses - what wimps!
We end up at a T junction and I think we meant to take a left but carry on right onto Tai Derwen. We follow this road for quite some time, which eventually runs into Rudry Road, which again we follow for some time until it meets Church Road in Lisvane. We follow Church Road up to the T juction and then take a right onto Lisvane Road.
We recently discovered a short cut from Lisvane across the reservoirs to Cyncoed and onto Pontprennau so we get home in quick time.
This was a very enjoyable ride though mostly country lane, with a little bit of off road. Not really suitable for young children. The route was fairly short just under 15 miles in total and took us a leisurely 2 hours. But I am confident you could do it alot quicker
Map Route
