The route passes through the heart of Wales, and is also known as . It is largely northâÂÂsouth from Holyhead to Cardiff or Chepstow, and in total measures some in length. Some of its route follows the trackbed of former railway lines, such as , , the Trail and the Taff Trail; in other places, the route is on public highways.
Both ends are easily accessible via the rail network.
This largely follows the Taff Trail:
Cardiff | Pontypridd | Abercynon | Merthyr Tydfil | Brecon
Lon Las Cymru provides an alternative south route for those coming into Wales from the Severn Bridge, following Route 42 from Chepstow to Glasbury, where it joins Route 8:
Chepstow | Usk | Abergavenny | Glasbury
There is also a small loop at the top of Route 42 providing links to Hay-on-Wye.
Brecon | Talgarth | Glasbury | Erwood | Builth Wells | Newbridge on Wye | Llanwrthwl | Rhayader | Llangurig | Llanidloes | Staylittle | Machynlleth
Machynlleth | Dolgellau | Trawsfynydd | Penrhyndeudraeth | Porthmadog
Porthmadog | Penygroes | Caernarfon | Bangor | Holyhead
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