NCN Route 46 | |
---|---|
Length | 92.5 miles (148.9 km) |
Location | United Kingdom |
Designation | UK National Cycle Network |
Trailheads | North: Bromsgrove South: Neath |
Website | www.sustrans.org.uk |
National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 46 is a Sustrans National Route that runs from Bromsgrove to Neath.
Bromsgrove | Droitwich Spa | Worcester
The route begins in Bromsgrove town centre on road before opening out onto country lanes which lead to Droitwich Spa. Here the route joins the Droitwich Canal towpath. Alternatively, here you can join National Cycle Route 45. [1]
Leaving the towpath, NCR46 then passes through residential streets, country lanes and another short section of the canal before reaching Worcester city centre and the River Severn. [1]
Worcester | Malvern | Hereford
NCR46 continues to follow the River Severn, however the connection to Hereford is still under development. [2] [3] There is a short section of NCR46 in Malvern, which has been changed from National Cycle Route 45. [4]
Leaving Hereford the route takes country lanes, branching before Kentchurch onto the National Cycle Route 426. The NCR46 continues through Kentchurch and over the welsh border. [5] There is a link between NCR46 [6] and National Cycle Route 42 along this section until they meet in Abergavenny.
Known as the Heads of the Valleys Route, [7] this section of NCR46 has a mixture of major and minor roads as well as off road trails. Out of the 60miles of this route, 40miles are segregated from traffic. This includes towpaths, disused railway trails [8] and tarmac cycle paths. [7] Beginning in Gwent Valley this section of the route ends in Merthyr Tydfil.
The NCR46 continues through Cynon Valley and ends in Neath. Cyclists can travel onwards from NCR46 to National Cycle Route 47. [7]
Worcestershire is a ceremonial county in the West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Shropshire, Staffordshire, and the West Midlands county to the north, Warwickshire to the east, Gloucestershire to the south, and Herefordshire to the west. The city of Worcester is the largest settlement and the county town.
Droitwich Spa is an historic spa town in the Wychavon district in northern Worcestershire, England, on the River Salwarpe. It is located approximately 22 miles (35 km) south-west of Birmingham and 7 miles (11 km) north-east of Worcester.
Hereford and Worcester was an English non-metropolitan county created on 1 April 1974 by the Local Government Act 1972 from the areas of the former administrative county of Herefordshire, most of Worcestershire and the county borough of Worcester. An aim of the Act was to increase efficiency of local government: the two counties are among England's smaller and less populous counties, particularly after the same Act transferred some of Worcestershire's most urbanised areas to the West Midlands.
Malvern Hills is a local government district in Worcestershire, England. Its council is based in Malvern, the district's largest town. The district also includes the towns of Tenbury Wells and Upton-upon-Severn and a large rural area covering much of the western side of the county, including numerous villages. The district is named after the Malvern Hills, which are a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
Wychbold is a village in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire. The village is situated on the A38 between Droitwich Spa and Bromsgrove, and by Junction 5 of the M5 motorway.
The Birmingham to Worcester via Kidderminster line is a railway line which runs from Birmingham Snow Hill to Worcester via Stourbridge and Kidderminster in the West Midlands, England. It is one of the Snow Hill Lines, with trains operated by West Midlands Trains and Chiltern Railways using a variety of rolling stock including Class 172 and Class 168 diesel units. It is a future aspiration of Network Rail to electrify the entire line, as well as the Chiltern Main Line to London Marylebone.
The Celtic Trail is a network of dedicated cycle routes in the National Cycle Network, crossing West, South and Mid Wales, and covering 377 miles in total. It is divided into east and west sections. The west section links Pembroke and Fishguard on the west coast to Swansea, and the east section covers the area from Swansea to Chepstow, Abergavenny and Hay-on-Wye in the east. It is largely traffic free but sections along the route are still being upgraded and improved. In some places there is a choice of a low-level route, or a high-level route for mountain bikes.
Droitwich Spa railway station serves the town of Droitwich Spa in Worcestershire, England. It is located just to the south-west of Droitwich Spa Junction of the Worcester to Leamington Spa Line and the Worcester to Birmingham New Street line. The station is managed by West Midlands Trains, who also operate all trains serving it.
Worcester Foregate Street, opened by the Great Western Railway in 1860, is one of two railway stations that serve the city of Worcester, England; the other is Worcester Shrub Hill, which is located to the east. A third station, Worcestershire Parkway, is sited just outside of the city to the south-east. The station is managed by West Midlands Railway, who also operate services along with Great Western Railway.
The Birmingham to Worcester via Bromsgrove line is a railway line in the West Midlands of England connecting Birmingham to Worcester via Bromsgrove. The most notable feature on the line is the Lickey Incline, between Barnt Green and Bromsgrove.
National Cycle Route 4 is a route of the United Kingdom National Cycle Network, running from London to Fishguard, Pembrokeshire. Between these, the route runs through Reading, Bath, Bristol, Newport, Swansea and St David's. Within Wales, sections of the route follow branches of the Celtic Trail cycle route.
National Cycle Route 5 is a route of the United Kingdom National Cycle Network, running from Reading to Holyhead.
National Cycle Route 6 is a route of the United Kingdom National Cycle Network, running from London to the Lake District.
First Midland Red Buses, trading as First Worcester, is a bus company operating services in Herefordshire and Worcestershire in the English Midlands. It is a subsidiary of FirstGroup, and is managed as part of the First West of England business unit.
The Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway was a railway company formed to connect the places in its name. When it sought parliamentary authorisation, it was denied the southern section, and obliged to use the Monmouthshire Railway between Pontypool and Newport.
The Worcester and Hereford Railway started the construction of a standard gauge railway between the two cities in 1858. It had needed the financial assistance of larger concerns, chiefly the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton Railway, and the Newport, Abergavenny and Hereford Railway. It opened its line progressively from 1859 to 1861, delayed by exceptionally difficult tunnelling at Colwall and Ledbury. The company was purchased by the West Midland Railway in 1860, and that company amalgamated with the Great Western Railway in 1863.