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 though the route has not been finalised in central London between Greenwich and Putney Bridge.
National Route 4: London to Fishguard
The route is described here from London to Fishguard but can be ridden and is signed in both directions.
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.
Map: London Cycling Guide 7 - order free from Transport for London.
London (Putney Bridge) to Reading
From Putney Bridge the route is known as the Thames Valley cycle route through to Reading (from where the Thames Valley cycle route continues to Oxford on National Route 5). The route loosely follows the River Thames but also passes through Richmond Park and Windsor Great Park.
Map: NN5A Thames Valley
Reading to Bristol
From Reading National Route 4 follows the Severn & Thames cycle route through Newbury and Hungerford to Great Bedwyn where the route splits giving two options through Wiltshire either via Devizes or via Marlborough and Chippenham. The routes rejoin following the Kennet & Avon canal through Bradford-on-Avon to Bath and then the Bristol & Bath Railway Path to Bristol.
Map: RPR02 Kennet & Avon Canal
Bristol to Chepstow
National Route 4 takes a hilly route out of Bristol via Clifton Downs, Westbury-on-Trym and Aust. A highlight of this section is crossing the River Severn high on the Severn Road Bridge.
Maps: The route is shown across two free maps:
FPR09 Bristol Cycling Map
FPR11 South Gloucestershire Cycling Map
These can be added as free items to a Sustrans online shop order using the above links or can be downloaded or ordered from Bristol City Council.
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.
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.