Road · United Kingdom
Cycle Across the Beacons
A hilly 92 km road cycling route from Abergavenny, Monmouthshire through Llanfoist, Glangrwyney and Llangynidr, with 837 m of climbing. There is a 35 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 54–89). Mixed surface: 84% is mapped as paved and 14% as gravel or unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 92.1 km
- Elevation gain
- 837 m
- Riding time
- 6 h 35 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Surface
- Mixed surface
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 35 km
- Best months
- May to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Abergavenny
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 837 m
- 92 km
Route description
- Abergavenny
- Llanfoist
- Glangrwyney
- Llangynidr
- Cross Oak
- Dorganloch
- Cradoc
- Trallong
- Twynllanan
The ride starts just beyond Abergavenny and passes through several villages including Llanfoist, Govilon, Gilwern, and Crickhowell before reaching Brecon at 37 km. The first notable climbs occur early at around 1.6 km for 3.6 km with an average gradient of 2%. The route includes 14% gravel or unpaved surfaces, mainly on paths and tracks. The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 35.2 km between 53.7 km and 88.9 km.
After Brecon, the route climbs twice more with gradients nearing 3% at 37.2 km and 43.8 km. Smaller climbs occur near 60.8 km and 74.9 km with gradients up to 9.4%. The ride peaks at 354 m elevation around 67.4 km then descends to Llandeilo. The road types include 59% minor roads, 16% main roads, and 12% paths, with 15.3 km on main roads lacking cycle lanes. The B4558 is the longest named road used for 13.3 km.
There are multiple places to buy food and drink early on including cafés and pubs near the start and at Talybont-on-Usk and Brecon. Shops and water taps are available up to about 53 km but none between 53.7 km and 88.9 km. Bailout points with stations are at the start in Abergavenny and finish in Llandeilo.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 354 m, 67.4 km in.
Highlights
- Near Slwch Tump at 35.6 km
- Peak elevation 354 m at 67.4 km
- Longest descent 4 km from 86.5 km
- Crossing Brecon at 37 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 1.6 km | 3.6 km · 69 m · 2 % · max 3.8 % | 115 m |
| Unnamed climb | 37.2 km | 2.2 km · 65 m · 2.9 % · max 5.7 % | 202 m |
| Unnamed climb | 43.8 km | 2.2 km · 61 m · 2.9 % · max 5.5 % | 229 m |
| Unnamed climb | 60.8 km | 2 km · 75 m · 3.8 % · max 6.1 % | 326 m |
| Unnamed climb | 74.9 km | 2.1 km · 85 m · 4 % · max 9.4 % | 205 m |
| Unnamed climb | 79.1 km | 1.6 km · 67 m · 4.1 % · max 6.1 % | 259 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 15.3 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 59% minor road · 16% main road · 12% path · 6% cycle path · 7% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 15.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 6.6 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 5.9 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- B4558 (13 km)
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 84% is mapped as paved and 14% as gravel or unpaved and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 21% climbing · 21% descending · 58% flat
- Steep sections
- 2.4 km over 5% · 0.4 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 8% at 77 km
- Longest descent
- 4 km from 86.5 km, dropping 216 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 35 km, from km 54 to 89. Along the route: 104 cafés and restaurants, 26 shops, 8 water points, 6 petrol stations, 15 public toilets and 5 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmWhistle Stop Cafe · café · on the route
- 0.9 kmRepair stand · 480 m off route
- 7.5 kmLondis · convenience store · 130 m off route
- 7.6 kmPharmacy · 70 m off route
- 8 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 13.5 kmHorse Shoe Inn · pub · 370 m off route
- 19.9 kmcyclebasket.com · bike shop · 100 m off route
- 21 kmCoach and Horses · pub · 40 m off route
- 26.1 kmCanalside Cafe · café · on the route
- 26.1 kmDrover Cycles, Talybont on Usk · bike shop · on the route
- 28.7 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 33 kmWater tap · 50 m off route
- 36.2 kmToilets · on the route
- 36.7 kmAldi · supermarket · 50 m off route
- 37.2 kmBiped Cycles · bike shop · on the route
- 52.1 kmSpar · convenience store · 240 m off route
- 89.7 kmCafe Braz · café · 50 m off route
- 89.9 kmNigel Williams · pharmacy · on the route
Need to bail out?
- 0.1 km — Abergavenny (station), 60 m off route
- 90.3 km — Llandeilo (station), 80 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0.9 km — Castell Y Fenni (castle)
- 20.4 km — Castle Farm Stone (archaeological site)
- 37.3 km — Brecon Castle (castle)
- 70.6 km — Red Kite Feeding Station (attraction)
- 84.4 km — Pen y Lan (peak, 268 m)
Stay after this ride
- Cawdor Arms · hotel · 450 m from the finish
- The Plough Inn · hotel · 1.4 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Trains and ferries
- Abergavenny (60 m)
- Food and coffee
- Whistle Stop Cafe (20 m), Oasis Sandwich Bar (510 m), Coach & Horses (650 m)
- Shops
- Aldi (520 m), Tŷ Fferm (660 m)
At the finish
- Trains and ferries
- Llandeilo (80 m)
- Food and coffee
- Cafe Braz (520 m), Diod (460 m)
- Shops
- CK's Supermarket (230 m)
- Pharmacy and medical
- Well Pharmacy (350 m)
Know before you go
- 35.2 km without café, shop or water from 53.7 to 88.9 km
- 15.3 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 6.6 km on roads with speed limits 80 km/h or more
- 1.3 km gravel or unpaved track