Road · United Kingdom
Cycling in Swansea
Cycling in Swansea offers point-to-point road routes with moderate climbing and extensive cycle paths, featuring rides up to 85 km from the city.
Swansea features two road cycling routes starting from the city, offering distances of 57 km and 85 km. These point-to-point rides include moderate climbing ranging from 245 m to 520 m, with the longest route reaching Caerphilly. The terrain includes mostly flat segments with some gentle climbs, providing varied riding experiences.
The routes encompass a large proportion of cycle paths and minor roads, providing a diverse road environment. Average surface quality is predominantly paved with some unpaved sections. Climbers face a steepest 500 m section at 5.7% gradient, and the cycling experience is supported by mild temperatures especially favourable from June to September.
What the riding is like
The riding is largely rolling with a dominance of flat terrain (78%) and some climbing (14%), but very little steep gradient above 5%. Typical route length is between 57 and 85 km, with climbing up to 520 m. The surface is mostly paved (87%) with occasional unpaved parts. The biggest climbs reach up to 5.7% gradient over 500 m, offering moderate challenges on road surfaces that include cycle paths, minor and main roads.
Cycling infrastructure
Cycle paths make up 59% of the 137 km measured, with 20% minor roads, 8% quiet streets, 5% main roads, and 3% tracks. Roads with cycle lanes account for 2%, with 6.9 km of main roads lacking cycle lanes and 1.2 km with speed limits of 80 km/h or more. Total cycle path length is 82.8 km across the routes.
Best time to ride
The best months to ride in Swansea are from June to September, when daily highs range from 18°C to 19°C, providing the most favourable conditions for cycling.
Riding in Swansea in numbers
- 2
- 142 km
- 85 km
- 520 m
Where to start in Swansea
Rides in Swansea
When to ride Swansea
Best months: Jun to Sep.
8°4°J16
9°4°F15
10°4°M17
13°6°A12
16°9°M14
18°12°J14
19°13°J17
19°14°A18
18°12°S15
15°10°O17
11°7°N17
9°6°D19
BestFineHard goingRain days per month under each bar · typical wind 23 km/h from the SW