This route visits 3 really interesting spots in the vale, Cosmeston Village, Lavernock Point and St Mary’s Well Bay. We’ve designed it so that it avoids as many main roads as possible.
Heading out
Our ride starts from Barry Station.
We follow the main road (Holton Rd) and take the first right under a railway bridge when we pass an interesting new development- an old train station and factory which has been converted into coffee shops, a gym and flats. These buildings have been derelict or empty for years so it’s actually nice to see a little money being injected into the area to make the place a little more vibrant.
We take a right, then a left past the Premier Inn, you’ll see the docks across the road in front of you. We normally cross the road here and ride down the path following the dock piers (be mindful of pedestrians).
Here’s a 360 degree pic
Ride past the ‘new’ flats to the end and take a left on the main road, you’ll see the town hall and statue of coal magnate David Davies to your left.
Cross the roundabout (Barry Docks Station to your left & ‘incinerator’ on the right) and take the cycle path following the train track.
Just after the junction on your right, cross the road which takes you right through the docks.
You’ll pass the lovely Dow Corning chemical plant on your left and various docks cranes and loading bay on the right.
You may even pass a bag of assorted red shoes as we did!
At the roundabout, take a left to another roundabout and keep going straight.
You’ll ride past a vast flat industrial wasteland on your left with some interesting old stone structures (kilns?).
Follow the cycle paths across the roundabout and ride towards Sully, a nice little town and the home for the biggest car boot sale in the area on Saturdays.
Keep following the cycle path out of Sully.
After a while you’ll reach a metal gate on your left which is one of the entrances to Cosmeston village. You’ll see some lovely thatched buildings on your right.
Turn right here and you’ll eventually reach the main visitor’s building beside the lake.
Here’s a 360 degree pic
You can cycle all the way around the village and lake, be mindful of groups of pedestrians.
Heading back
On the way back we’ll pay a visit to two other interesting and beautiful spots, Lavernock Point and St Mary’s Well Bay.
Take a right out of the main Cosmeston Village main entrance, ride a little way up the road and take a left at the sign for Lavernock Point.
Follow the lovely little road, past the holiday village to St Lawrence church, where you can chain your bike to a fence opposite.
Walk down the path which skirts the top of the cliff to a stone tower which marks the point where Marconi apparently sent the first over-water radio broadcast from the beach below to the Flat Holm Island which can be seen in the distance.
Here’s the Wiki entry:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lavernock
Lavernock beach is a bit of a nature reserve too:
when you’ve finished looking around, get back on you bike and ride back down the lane to the main road.
Take the first left at the sign to St Mary’s Well Bay.
Follow this quiet road which runs parallel to the coastline and offers glimpses of lovely sea views. Ride past a caravan park and keep going, you’ll pass a beautiful farmhouse through a gated field on the right.
Look out for the overgrown lookout post to the right too.
After a while the openings through the trees get wider and you’ll see the lovely sully island just off shore which can be reached by foot at low tide.
Here’s a 360 degree pic
Just down through a gate, you’ll find a flat car park area with the Captain’s Wife restaurant & pub and another holiday park, from here you can park up and take a walk across the rocky shore.
Leave this bay via Beach Road which will take you back up to the main Sully road.
Ride back through Sully and take the same route back to Barry.