ABERGAVENNY

Just six miles from the English border, Abergavenny bills itself as the ‘Gateway to Wales’, but for cyclists the town makes a great jumping off point to explore both the Black Mountains on its doorstep and the wider playground of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Close to our Bristol office, Cycling Plus often makes use of its magnificent terrain in our photography throughout the magazine.

ROUTE ONE

High and handsome 66 miles Gospel according to... This route puts you into the saddle and straight up the brutal Tumble climb (see Route Three), but dig in for the long haul. At the summit you head straight on down to Blaenavon, turn north for the long trek to Hay-on-Wye, before heading back to Abergavenny via the longer, higher, but mercifully easier, Gospel Pass. Get the route: tinyurl.com/cplus-gospelpass

ROUTE TWO

Peaks and troughs 50 miles Rarely a flat metre Not the longest route here, but the steepest. The Tumble climb is the savage sting in the tail of a ride that packs in some of the toughest climbs in the immediate vicinity of Abergavenny. The Tumble, at 481m, isn’t even the highest point - you get 30m higher on Llangynidr Mountain, and is just as big a test. Get the route: tinyurl.com/cplus-aberhilly

ROUTE THREE

Figure of eight 20 miles The Tumble two times Short and sweet, providing you’ve got an appetite for big hills. What this lacks in distance it makes up for in height, ascending the Tumble (one of the longest in Britain and a Tour of Britain favourite) twice and coming back down a different way on each occasion; first via Clydach, the second via Llanellen. Get the route: tinyurl.com/cplus-aber