Continuing along the valley you pass through Parc Penallta, where you can enjoy spectacular views across the county borough. Look out for Sultan, the Pit Pony, the UK’s largest figurative earth sculpture. At Trelewis leave National Route 47 and follow 476 to Parc Taff Bargoed, formally a large coal mining area. The once black river is now a haven for dippers and wagtails, and the river bank provides a great picnicking spot.

At the meeting of paths, take a right turn onto Route 881 which will take you into Barry Sidings, a beautiful country park based in Trehafod. The park has two small fishing lakes, and loads of places to picnic or barbeque. Families can also take advantage of the children’s play area and stock up on refreshments at the café located in the visitor centre.

Continuing along the route, the old pit workings at Trehafod in the Rhondda Valley Heritage Park is well worth a visit. The centre is an indoor reconstruction of a period Village Street displaying the domestic and commercial life of the valleys. There is also an art gallery with a regularly changing programme of exhibitions from both local and national artists, a café and the renowned Black Gold Tour, led by bona fide ex-miners. Continue your traffic free adventure onto Porth, home to The Bicycle Doctor should you need one, where you can jump on a train back to Pontypridd / Cardiff.

For experienced cyclists, there is an option to continue up the Valley along the Rhondda Fach towards Meardy where the trail meets Route 47, which drops back down to Ynysybwl and Pontypridd on forestry tracks. This is a hilly rough ride so a mountain bike is recommended.

You can also start your traffic free journey at Porth train station and head in the opposite direction along the Rhondda Fach direction towards Pontypridd where you can continue your traffic-free adventure along the fabulous Taff Trail.

Turn left out of Cardiff’s central station, the capital’s impressive Millennium Stadium looming on your right. Just over the water, slope down left to join the Taff Trail (Sustrans’ Route 8). You’ll soon cross a main road and pick up signs for the 10km Bay Trail, which takes you to the left of some houses before returning to the water’s edge.

Cardiff’s watersports centre soon appears on the left, along with marinas full of sailboats and sleek racing yachts. The path then ducks inland, past Wales’s International White Water Centre, and over Pont y Werin. The trail then takes you left, past the Oystercatcher pub, through Penarth Marina and past the grand Custom House bar into Cardiff’s barrage area.

The mighty barrage has a café, pink look-out tower and gaggle of local fishermen, and if you have young children the playground half way across the barrage is a lovely stopping off point for a picnic. The sail-like structure on the left is a viewing platform with an exhibition called ‘Scott of the Antarctic: the Cardiff Connection’.

The loop then passes the spectacular Millennium Centre and Bay Island Voyages (where you can take a boat trip out to Flatholme Island), through the bustling Mermaid Quay, and on to the Wetlands Reserve.

From The Cross Inn in Llantrisant, this scenic trail runs north of the Church Village Bypass, to the edge of Tonteg, providing a great opportunity for both visitors and commuters to enjoy the rich Valleys landscape and the rural environment.

Learn about the abundance of wildlife, including a rare species of butterfly that can be found along the trail and have a picnic on an eco bench on the way. Don’t forget to keep an eye out for the lovely artwork - a 6foot Victorian vent displaying images of future modes of transport designed by children from a local primary school.

The Cynon Trail is linked to the Cynon River Park where a network of cyclepaths is being developed to connect with the surrounding towns and villages. The trail is particularly attractive to cycle as it joins sites of wildlife, recreation and historical interest.

The route leads along sections of an old canal, constructed from the early 19th century which runs parallel to the Afon Cynon for most of its length. An old railway line, now followed by the trail, was built later as coal production increased in the valley. Many of the collieries were linked to the railway by branch lines and sidings. However, the economic viability of the canal – in common with the majority of canals at the time – was jeopardised by the arrival of the railway; the canal owners managed to withhold consent to build bridges over the canal until a court ruling in 1851.

Enjoy the tranquil setting typical of a river bank, with wildlife aplenty, while simply taking a walk or short ride, or when you are on the way to the shops or other amenities in Glanaman or Garnant.

The route also provides excellent views north and east towards the western end of the Brecon Beacons range and the Betws mountains.

Take in the Liberty Stadium as you pass it on the same riverbank that just a mile or two before took you past old brick warehouses left over from the early 20th century. Pass under the huge railway viaducts dating back to the 1800s, and pass over new road and pedestrian bridges built within the past decade.

The ride culminates with a meander around the re-developed marina area before emerging on the Swansea promenade outside the space observatory.

Extend the ride to Mumbles, or to Pontardawe or Ystalyfera in the opposite direction. Check out the Clydach to Ystalyfera, Port Talbot to Kidwelly and Port Talbot to Neath routes for other ways to extend the route.

Starting from Coed Gwilwm Park, the route picks up the canal towpath and takes you into the heart of Pontardawe. Moving away from the Canal and following the river bank, you find your way onto the old railway line. This takes you through woodland alongside the river before emerging on the edge of Ystalyfera.

The ride can be halved in length if you stop in Pontardawe, while it can also be extended by riding in the opposite direction. If you are feeling particularly energetic it is possible to ride from Clydach to Mumbles almost entirely on traffic free paths.

See the Clydach to Swansea, Port Talbot to Kidwelly and Port Talbot to Neath routes fro other sections that you could mix and match to create your own rides.

The contrasts don’t just stop there. The route utilises many path types, from old railway line converted to dust cycle path, to forest roads, undulating forest paths, minor roads and canal towpath. There is conifer and deciduous woodland, open heath-land and agricultural hedge lined fields.

Very few routes can offer such a wide range of scenery types and points of interest.

Due to the range of path surface types, a road bike is probably not suitable.

This is a very pleasant ride along the valley floor, with only short hills (albeit some are quite steep). There are many tree lined sections, which regularly open out to give views over the river and across the valley.

For more information take a look at the Lon Las Cymru South cycling map.