EuroVelo 2
The EuroVelo 2 runs from Holyhead to Tal-y-bont over 2 stages: 137 km and 1,227 m of climbing in the UK. Every stage has a map, elevation profile, road facts and a GPX file.
Route at a glance
- Distance
- 137 km
- Climbing
- 1,227 m
- Stages
- 2
- Countries
- 1
- Average stage
- 69 km
- Longest stage
- 75.2 km
- Most climbing
- 875 m
- Riding time
- ~10 h
- Surface
- Paved
- Bike
- Road bike
- Best months
- May to Oct
- GPX
- Every stage + whole tour
- Start
- Holyhead
- Finish
- Tal-y-bont
Full route map
Itinerary: 2 stages
Average 69 km and 614 m a stage. Longest day: stage 2 (75.2 km). Most climbing: stage 2 (875 m). Shortest: stage 1 (61.8 km).
| Stage | Route | Country | Distance | Climbing | Surface | Difficulty | Time | GPX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holyhead to Caernarfon | UK | 61.8 km | 352 m | Paved | Moderate | 4 h 25 min | GPX |
| 2 | Caernarfon to Tal-y-bont | UK | 75.2 km | 875 m | Paved | Hard | 5 h 22 min | GPX |
How difficult is this tour?
137 km and 1,227 m of climbing over 2 stages: 69 km and 614 m a stage on average.
The longest day is stage 2, Caernarfon to Tal-y-bont (75.2 km); the most climbing is on stage 2, Caernarfon to Tal-y-bont (875 m); the shortest is stage 1, Holyhead to Caernarfon (61.8 km).
At 69 km a day on average, it suits riders used to back-to-back days of 50–90 km.
Riders can go faster or slower than the documented itinerary: the same 137 km is 3 riding days at 60 km a day, 2 riding days at 80 km a day and 2 riding days at 100 km a day.
Surface and traffic
Paved: 97% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved.
35 km (26%) is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane; 8 km (6%) is on main roads without one, and 13 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more.
Signed routes this tour follows
- EuroVelo 2 - stages 1, 2
Best time to ride
From ten years of weather at the stage towns, May to Oct are good for riding along the whole route.
Logistics
- Holyhead (station) and Irish Ferries (ferry) are near the start in Holyhead.
- Talybont (station) is near the finish in Tal-y-bont.
- 2 of 2 stage finishes have a hotel, guesthouse or campsite mapped within a short ride of the finish.
What it was actually like to ride
About this tour
EuroVelo 2 covers 137 km in two stages across Great Britain, beginning at Holyhead and ending at Tal-y-bont. The route moves in a generally eastward direction.
The first stage from Holyhead to Caernarfon spans 61.8 km with 352 m of climbing. The terrain features two short climbs around 30 km and 47 km, each about 1.4 km long with gradients peaking near 6%. The highest elevation on this stage is 68 m. The stage passes many settlements including Valley, Menai Bridge, Bangor, and Y Felinheli, with 38 water or food stops available.
Stage two continues for 75.2 km from Caernarfon to Tal-y-bont, ascending 875 m. There are five notable climbs, the longest being nearly 4 km at an average gradient of 6.2% with a maximum of 13.1%, peaking at 277 m elevation. Other climbs vary between 1.8 and 2 km with maximum gradients up to 11.3%. The highest point of the tour lies on this stage at 281 m. Numerous places are passed, such as Criccieth, Porthmadog, and Harlech, with 35 water or food stops noted.
Recorded temperatures and specific months for riding are not indicated. The route follows main roads through multiple settlements. Riders should be prepared for successive climbs on stage two and make use of plentiful stops along the way.
Photos from the road
Stage 1 · Holyhead to Caernarfon 
Stage 2 · Caernarfon to Tal-y-bont
Questions riders ask
How far is Holyhead to Tal-y-bont by bike?
137 km along this route, in 2 stages averaging 69 km.
How long does it take to cycle from Holyhead to Tal-y-bont?
Moving time is estimated at about 10 hours. At 60 km a day it is 3 days, 80 km a day it is 2 days and 100 km a day it is 2 days.
How much climbing is involved?
1,227 m in total. The most climbing in a day is 875 m on stage 2, Caernarfon to Tal-y-bont.
How difficult is the route?
At 69 km a day on average, it suits riders used to back-to-back days of 50–90 km. The longest day is 75.2 km.
Is it suitable for a road bike?
97% of the route is mapped as paved and 2% as gravel or unpaved (1% has no surface data). Based on that: road bike.
Is there a GPX file?
Yes. Every stage has its own GPX download, and the whole tour is available as one GPX file with a track per stage.
Does the route follow EuroVelo?
In part: EuroVelo 2 on stages 1 and 2.
What is the best time of year?
From ten years of weather at the stage towns, May to Oct are good for riding along the whole route.