Route 4
National Route 4 of the National Cycle Network is a long distance route between London and Fishguard via Reading, Bath, Bristol, Newport, Swansea, Carmarthen, Tenby, Haverfordwest and St. Davids. The route is fully open and signed, although the route has not been finalised in central London between Greenwich and Putney Bridge.
The route is described here from London to Fishguard but is signed in both directions. Where no printed map is available for a particular section please use the Sustrans online mapping.
Central London: Greenwich to Putney Bridge
National Route 4 starts or finishes at Greenwich. The route through central London follows the River Thames as closely as possible through to Putney Bridge using both the north and south side of the Thames. Future proposed alignments direct the course of the route mainly along the south side of the Thames. Central London via Bristol to Chepstow also forms part of EuroVelo 2.
Map: London Cycle Guides Map 7 – order for FREE from Transport for London.
Putney Bridge to Reading
From Putney Bridge the route loosely follows the River Thames, passing through Richmond Park and Windsor Great Park. This section of Route 4 is also known as the Thames Valley cycle route; at Reading the Thames Valley cycle route continues to Oxford on National Route 5 whilst Route 4 continues west.
Map: NN5A Thames Valley. RMC02 Thames Valley Cycle Map covers Route 4 between Weybridge and Great Bedwyn.
Reading to Great Bedwyn
From Reading National Route 4 follows the Severn & Thames cycle route, also know as the Kennet & Avon Cycle Route between Reading and Bath, through Newbury and Hungerford to Great Bedwyn, with most of the Reading to Newbury section on the Kennet & Avon Canal towpath.
Map: RMC02 Thames Valley Cycle Map
Great Bedwyn to Bristol
Route 4 continues to Bristol via Devizes and Bath - follow Route 403 for an alternative option via Marlborough and Chippenham - taking the Kennet & Avon canal towpath between Devizes and Bath and then the Bristol & Bath Railway Path to Bristol.
Maps: RMC01 Severn & Thames Cycle Map shows Route 4 between Great Bedwyn and Chepstow.
Bristol to Chepstow
National Route 4 climbs out of Bristol via Clifton Down, Westbury-on-Trym and Aust. A highlight of this section is crossing the River Severn high on the Severn Road Bridge. Bristol to Fishguard also forms part of EuroVelo 1.
Maps: RMC01 Severn & Thames Cycle Map shows Route 4 between Great Bedwyn and Chepstow. FPR09 Bristol Cycling Map and FPR11 South Gloucestershire Cycling Map cover Bitton to Chepstow.
Chepstow to Swansea
In Wales, National Route 4 forms the main option of the Celtic Trail East cycle route passing through Newport, Caerphilly, Pontypridd and Port Talbot, on the way to Swansea. Large parts of the Celtic Trail East are traffic-free.
Map: NN4B Celtic Trail East. For the NCN in Wales also see Routes2Ride Wales.
Swansea to Fishguard
Heading west from Swansea the Celtic Trail West cycle route features two large traffic-free sections, the Millennium Coastal Park near Llanelli and the Brunel Trail along a disused railway between Pembroke and Haverfordwest. The rest of the route can be hilly but rewards the cyclist with stunning coastal scenery.
Map: NN4C Celtic Trail West