View source for National Cycle Route 4

{{Short description|Cycle route in the United Kingdom}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2017}}
[[File:NCN Route Sign 4.svg|thumb|National Cycle Route 4 sign]]
{{NCR Lead|4|[[London]]|[[Fishguard]], [[Pembrokeshire]]}}<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Route 4|url=https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/route-4/|access-date=2021-05-13|website=Sustrans|language=en}}</ref> Between these, the route runs through [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]], [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]], [[Bristol]], [[Newport, Wales|Newport]], [[Swansea]] and [[St David's]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=TR Live - National Cycle Network|url=http://www.reading-travelinfo.co.uk/cycling/national-cycle-network.aspx|access-date=2021-05-13|website=www.reading-travelinfo.co.uk}}</ref> Within Wales, sections of the route follow branches of the [[Celtic Trail cycle route]].<ref name=":0" />

==Route==
The total length of the path is 443.6 miles and takes an estimated 36 hours to complete by bike. Just under half (47.4%) of the route consists in traffic-free paths.<ref name=":0" />

=== London to Reading ===
The route roughly follows the course of the [[River Thames]] between London and Reading, and forms a junction with [[National Cycle Route 5|NCR 5]] and [[National Cycle Route 23|NCR 23]] at the latter.<ref name=":1" />
* [[Greenwich]]; [[Rotherhithe]]: [[Surrey Quays]]; [[South Bank]]; [[Lambeth Bridge]]; [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]]; [[Imperial Wharf]]; [[Putney Bridge]]
* [[Richmond Park]]; [[Ham, London|Ham]]; [[Hampton Court Palace]]; [[Molesey]]; [[Walton on Thames]]
* [[Chertsey]] (touristic town) or [[Laleham]] (shorter, towpath route)
* [[Staines Bridge]]; Coopers Hill; Windsor Great Park; [[Windsor, Berkshire|Windsor]]; [[Eton, Berkshire|Eton]]
* [[Bray, Berkshire|Bray]]; [[Maidenhead]]
* [[Wargrave]]; [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]

At its east end, the route meanders mostly set about one "block" back from the [[River Thames|Thames]], including several small parks. It shortcuts through: Rotherhithe and mid-Pimlico. It finds the Thames at the Chelsea Embankment. It zig-zags through Hurlingham and Barnes Common. 

It finds the [[Thames Path]] at Ham, facing [[Teddington Lock Footbridges]], until [[Staines-upon-Thames]]. A longer route from Putney is to remain on the towpath (Thames Path) to avoid traffic.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

===Reading to Bath===
{{flatlist|
* [[Aldermaston]]
* [[Newbury, Berkshire|Newbury]]
* [[Hungerford]]
* [[Great Bedwyn]]
* [[Pewsey]]
* [[Devizes]]
* [[Trowbridge]]
* [[Bradford on Avon]]
* [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]]
}}

Much longer, the Reading to Bath section follows the Kennet & Avon Cycle Route which partly follows the towpath of the [[Kennet and Avon Canal]]<ref name=":0" /> and the course of the River Kennet,<ref name=":1" /> with other sections on low-traffic roads.<ref name=":0" /> 

Approaching Bath, [[National Cycle Route 24|Route 24]] and the [[Two Tunnels Greenway]] are a corollary, rejoining Route 4 west of the city centre.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

===Bath to Bristol===
[[File:Bristol-Bath Cyclepath 08.jpg|thumb|The [[Bristol & Bath Railway Path]] is part of Route 4.]]
{{main|Bristol & Bath Railway Path}}

{{flatlist|
* [[Saltford]]
* [[Bitton]]
* [[Warmley]]
* [[Mangotsfield]]
* [[Bristol]]
}}

The Bath to Bristol section of the route follows the [[Bristol & Bath Railway Path]], a dedicated cycle path on a disused railway line. This is entirely traffic-free.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sustrans.org.uk/find-a-route-on-the-national-cycle-network/bristol-and-bath-railway-path |title=Bristol and Bath Railway Path |author=<!--Not stated--> |website= Sustrans|access-date=2022-07-05 |quote=Its 13 miles are completely traffic-free and almost entirely flat}}</ref>

===Bristol to Newport===
{{flatlist|
* [[Severn Bridge]]
* [[Chepstow]]
* [[Caldicot, Monmouthshire|Caldicot]]
* [[Newport, Wales|Newport]]
}}

After passing through Bristol city centre, the route heads north into [[South Gloucestershire]], and over the [[Severn Bridge]].<ref name=":0" /> Passing through [[Chepstow]], it then goes south, passing through [[Caldicot, Monmouthshire|Caldicot]] before arriving in [[Newport, Wales|Newport]]. The route passes to the north of the [[Newport Wetlands Reserve]] and across [[Newport Transporter Bridge]] in the south of the city.{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

===Newport to Llanelli===
{{flatlist|
* [[Caerphilly]]
* [[Pontypridd]]
* [[Port Talbot]]
* [[Swansea]]
* [[Llanelli]]
}}

After Newport, the route heads west to Caerphilly, then north towards Pontypridd during which it crosses the [[Taff Trail]]. It then heads west towards [[Port Talbot]].  Near [[Briton Ferry]], it crosses the A48 bridge and then follows the [[A483 road]] (Fabian Way) into Swansea and passes through the [[Maritime Quarter]]. Just before the Maritime Quarter, it crosses [[National Cycle Route 43]].  It then follows the seafront promenade along [[Swansea Bay]] to [[Blackpill]] where it turns north up the [[Clyne Valley Country Park|Clyne Valley]] cycle track passing the village of [[Dunvant]] until it reaches [[Gowerton]]. In Gowerton, the trail follows public roads to the south of [[Loughor]] towards the [[Loughor bridge]]. Once over the [[Loughor bridge]] it continues along the [[Millennium Coastal Path]] to the south of [[Llanelli]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

{{Expand section|date=June 2008}}

===Llanelli to Fishguard===
[[File:Millennium Coastal Path Lla.jpg|thumb|right|NCR 4 traverses the Millennium Coastal Path at [[Llanelli]].]]
{{flatlist|
* [[Burry Port]]
* [[Pembrey]]
* [[Carmarthen]]
* [[Tenby]]
* [[Pembroke, Pembrokeshire|Pembroke]]
* [[Haverfordwest]]
* [[St David's Cathedral|St David's]]
* [[Fishguard]]
}}
{{Expand section|date=June 2008}}

NCR 4 follows the [[Millennium Coastal Path]] along the south [[Carmarthenshire]] coast.  Between Pembroke and Haverfordwest, NCR follows the route of a disused railway called the [[Brunel Trail]] and crosses over the [[Cleddau Bridge]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2021}}

==See also==
* [[National Cycle Network]]
* [[Sustrans]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sustrans.org.uk/default.asp?sID=1094203233119 Sustrans National Routes]

{{NCN}}
{{Transport in Buckinghamshire}}
{{Transport in Bristol}}
{{Transport in Monmouthshire}}
{{Transport in Newport}}
{{Transport in Caerphilly County Borough}}
{{Transport in Rhondda Cynon Taf}}
{{Transport in Bridgend county borough}}
{{Transport in Neath Port Talbot}}
{{Transport in Swansea}}
{{Transport in Carmarthenshire}}
{{Transport in Pembrokeshire}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:National Cycle Route 04}}
[[Category:National Cycle Routes]]
[[Category:Cycleways in Wales]]
[[Category:Cycleways in England]]
[[Category:Cycleways in London]]
[[Category:Transport in Pembrokeshire]]
[[Category:Transport in Carmarthenshire]]
[[Category:Transport in Swansea]]
[[Category:Transport in Neath Port Talbot]]
[[Category:Transport in Bridgend County Borough]]
[[Category:Transport in Rhondda Cynon Taf]]
[[Category:Transport in Caerphilly County Borough]]
[[Category:Transport in Newport, Wales]]
[[Category:Transport in Monmouthshire]]
[[Category:Transport in Bristol]]
[[Category:Cycling in Somerset]]
[[Category:Transport in Wiltshire]]
[[Category:Transport in Berkshire]]
[[Category:Transport in Buckinghamshire]]
[[Category:Transport in Surrey]]
[[Category:Transport in the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames]]
[[Category:Transport in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames]]
[[Category:Transport in the London Borough of Wandsworth]]