Trans Cambrian Way
The Trans Cambrian Way runs from Knucklas to Eglwys Fach over 2 stages: 160 km and 2,866 m of climbing through the United Kingdom and the UK. Every stage has a map, elevation profile, road facts and a GPX file.
Route at a glance
- Distance
- 160 km
- Climbing
- 2,866 m
- Stages
- 2
- Countries
- 2
- Average stage
- 80 km
- Longest stage
- 106.4 km
- Most climbing
- 1,914 m
- Riding time
- ~13 h
- Surface
- Mixed, much unpaved
- Bike
- Gravel or mountain bike
- Best months
- May to Sep
- GPX
- Every stage + whole tour
- Start
- Knucklas
- Finish
- Eglwys Fach
Full route map
Itinerary: 2 stages
Average 80 km and 1,433 m a stage. Longest day: stage 2 (106.4 km). Most climbing: stage 2 (1,914 m). Shortest: stage 1 (53.8 km).
| Stage | Route | Country | Distance | Climbing | Surface | Difficulty | Time | GPX |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Knucklas to Elan Village | United Kingdom | 53.8 km | 952 m | Mixed surface | Moderate | 4 h 29 min | GPX |
| 2 | Elan Village to Eglwys Fach | UK | 106.4 km | 1,914 m | Mixed, much unpaved | Hard | 8 h 52 min | GPX |
The route, country by country
Knucklas → United Kingdom → UK → Eglwys Fach
United Kingdom
Stage 1, 54 km: Knucklas → Elan Village. Hilly (952 m of climbing).
UK
Stage 2, 106 km: Elan Village → Eglwys Fach. Hilly (1,914 m of climbing), 0% on cycle paths or lanes.
How difficult is this tour?
160 km and 2,866 m of climbing over 2 stages: 80 km and 1,433 m a stage on average.
The longest day is stage 2, Elan Village to Eglwys Fach (106.4 km); the most climbing is on stage 2, Elan Village to Eglwys Fach (1,914 m); the shortest is stage 1, Knucklas to Elan Village (53.8 km).
At 80 km a day on average, it suits riders used to back-to-back days of 70–100 km.
Riders can go faster or slower than the documented itinerary: the same 160 km is 3 riding days at 60 km a day, 3 riding days at 80 km a day and 2 riding days at 100 km a day.
Surface and traffic
Mixed surface: 42% is mapped as paved and 57% as gravel or unpaved.
0 km (0%) is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane; 0 km (0%) is on main roads without one, and 4 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more.
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 63 km, on stage 2.
Signed routes this tour follows
- Trans Cambrian Way - stages 1, 2
Best time to ride
From ten years of weather at the stage towns, May to Sep are good for riding along the whole route.
Logistics
- Dovey Junction (station) is near the finish in Eglwys Fach.
- 1 of 1 stage finishes have a hotel, guesthouse or campsite mapped within a short ride of the finish.
- The longest stretch without a café, shop or water on any stage is 63 km, on stage 2.
What it was actually like to ride
About this tour
The Trans Cambrian Way is a multi-day cycle tour totalling 160 km with 1,914 metres of climbing recorded on one of its stages. The route features at least two stages, including a 53.8 km opening stage whose details are unpublished.
Stage 2 covers 106.4 km from Elan Village to Eglwys Fach, remaining entirely within Great Britain. It passes through the places of Ysbyty Ystwyth, Pont-rhyd-y-groes, Cwmystwyth, and Rhyd-y-benwch in order.
This stage includes several climbs of various lengths and gradients. The steepest is the opening climb of 2.7 km at an average gradient of 7.1% and a maximum of 13.8%, reaching a height of 402 m. Other notable climbs include stretches of 2.6 km at 6.7% and 2 km at 5.5% gradients, with the highest point on the route at 527 m.
No water or food stops are indicated along the stage. Temperature or seasonal data were not recorded for this tour. The varied terrain suggests a challenging ride across rolling hills with some steep sections. The detail focuses on gradients and places passed but does not include surface types or detailed road classes.
Overall, the route offers a significant challenge in central Wales, with the longer second stage featuring sustained climbing and diverse elevation profiles suitable for well-prepared cyclists.
Photos from the road
Stage 1 · Knucklas to Elan Village 
Stage 2 · Elan Village to Eglwys Fach
Questions riders ask
How far is Knucklas to Eglwys Fach by bike?
160 km along this route, in 2 stages averaging 80 km.
How long does it take to cycle from Knucklas to Eglwys Fach?
Moving time is estimated at about 13 hours. At 60 km a day it is 3 days, 80 km a day it is 3 days and 100 km a day it is 2 days.
How much climbing is involved?
2,866 m in total. The most climbing in a day is 1,914 m on stage 2, Elan Village to Eglwys Fach.
How difficult is the route?
At 80 km a day on average, it suits riders used to back-to-back days of 70–100 km. The longest day is 106.4 km.
Is it suitable for a road bike?
42% of the route is mapped as paved and 57% as gravel or unpaved (1% has no surface data). Based on that: gravel or mountain 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.
What is the best time of year?
From ten years of weather at the stage towns, May to Sep are good for riding along the whole route.