Road · United Kingdom
Regional Cycle Route 16
A rolling 18 km road cycling route from Llanycil, Gwynedd through Llandderfel, with 122 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides
- Distance
- 18.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 122 m
- Riding time
- 1 h 19 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Some main roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Llanycil
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 122 m
- 18 km
Route description
- Llanycil
- Llandderfel
The route starts in Llanycil just before Bala and heads past Bala at 0.5 km, continuing to Llandderfel at 8.8 km, and finishing in Cynwyd at 18.3 km. The highest point is 199 m at around 2.6 km and the lowest is 144 m near the finish. The profile includes just over 120 m of climbing mainly in the first half, with gentle climbs under 11% maximum gradient and 64% of the route flat.
Road surfaces are mostly paved (98%) with minor roads for 52% of the distance and main roads for 40%, including 7.3 km of main roads without a cycle lane and 6.7 km on roads posted at 80 km/h or above. The longest named road ridden is the B4391 for 5 km. There is a short 0.9 km section of cycle path, and 2% of the route is unmapped.
Along the route there are cafés and pubs at the start and near 7.9 km and 18.3 km, but no water or shops after roughly 7.9 km for 10.4 km. There is a railway station at 1.2 km for bailout. Nearby peaks include Bronydd Fron-Feuno, Garth Goch, and Moel Heulog. Toilets are near the start at 0.1 km.
Highlights
- Llyn Tegid foreshore viewpoint at 0.1 km
- Garth Goch peak near 3.5 km
- Moel Heulog peak at 7.2 km
- B4391 road for 5 km
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
Expect stretches on main roads without a cycle lane (7.3 km in all) between quieter sections.
- Roads
- 52% minor road · 40% main road · 5% cycle path · 3% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 7.3 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 6.7 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Main roads used
- B4391 (5 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 98% of the route is mapped as paved and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 19% climbing · 17% descending · 64% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 7 cafés and restaurants, 1 shop and 2 public toilets.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0.1 kmWoody's · café · on the route
- 0.1 kmToilets · on the route
- 0.5 kmCo-op Food · supermarket · 360 m off route
- 0.5 kmL Rowland & Co · pharmacy · 520 m off route
- 7.9 kmBryn Tyrion · pub · on the route
- 18.3 kmBlue Lion Hotel · pub · on the route
Need to bail out?
- 1.2 km — Bala (Penybont) (station), 120 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0.1 km — Llyn Tegid foreshore (viewpoint)
- 3.5 km — Garth Goch (peak, 220 m)
Stay after this ride
- Yr Hen Felin Activity & Mountain Centre · hostel · 180 m from the finish
- Crown Hotel · hotel · 3.2 km from the finish
- Owain Glyndwr Hotel · hotel · 3.2 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- Loch Cafe (20 m), Woody's (150 m), The Olde Bulls Head (600 m)
- Shops
- Co-op Food (580 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Blue Lion Hotel (20 m)
Know before you go
- 10.4 km without café, shop or water from 7.9 km
- 7.3 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 6.7 km on roads posted 80 km/h or more
