Mixed · United Kingdom
Stage 2 of 2 · EuroVelo 2← Stage 1
Caernarfon to Tal-y-bont
A hilly 75 km road cycling route from Caernarfon, Gwynedd to Tal-y-bont through Llanfaglan, Pen-y-groes and Llanystumdwy, with 875 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Short, climbing-heavy rides for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 75.2 km
- Elevation gain
- 875 m
- Riding time
- 5 h 22 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Caernarfon → Tal-y-bont
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 875 m
- 75 km
Route description
- Caernarfon
- Llanfaglan
- Pen-y-groes
- Llanystumdwy
- Pwllgoleulas
- Minffordd
- Eisingrug
- Llanfair
- Llanbedr
- Tal-y-bont
The ride starts in Caernarfon passing through Llanfaglan, Bontnewydd, Llanwnda, Groeslon, Pen-y-groes, and Llanllyfni heading towards Pant Glas and Bryncir. After 33 km, the route climbs twice near Criccieth with moderate gradients up to 6.2%. The roads are mainly paved with 97% paved surface, including 55% minor roads and 29% cycle paths. Main roads cover 7% with 5.6 km lacking cycle lanes.
After Bryncir, the route continues past Llanystumdwy, Criccieth, and Tremadog to Porthmadog, then Penrhyndeudraeth and Harlech with climbs including one 3.9 km long averaging 6.2% maxing at 13.1% near the route's high point at 281 m. The last section passes through Llanbedr and ends at Tal-y-bont. Services along the route include cafés, shops, bike shops and stations at various points, though there is an 11 km stretch without café, shop, or water between 33.2 km and 44.3 km.
Why ride this route?
- A 5.2 km descent dropping 265 m.
Highlights
- Climbs near Criccieth
- High point at 281 m near 60 km
- Passes through Harlech
- Via Porthmadog and Tremadog
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 32.9 km | 1.8 km · 67 m · 3.8 % · max 6.1 % | 87 m |
| Unnamed climb | 34.8 km | 2.1 km · 40 m · 2 % · max 6.2 % | 130 m |
| Unnamed climb | 52.6 km | 1.9 km · 92 m · 5 % · max 9 % | 98 m |
| Unnamed climb | 55.7 km | 3.9 km · 242 m · 6.2 % · max 13.1 % | 277 m |
| Unnamed climb | 67.3 km | 2 km · 117 m · 5.8 % · max 11.3 % | 132 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 5.6 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 55% minor road · 29% cycle path · 7% main road · 6% quiet street · 3% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 5.6 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 1.9 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 21.5 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Lôn Eifion (18 km), Fonllech Hir (9 km)
- Surface
- Paved: 97% of the route is mapped as paved, 2% as unpaved.
- Gradient
- 24% climbing · 25% descending · 51% flat
- Steep sections
- 5.2 km over 5% · 2 km over 8% · 1.2 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 12.6% at 59.6 km
- Longest descent
- 5.2 km from 61 km, dropping 265 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 142 cafés and restaurants, 20 shops, 10 water points, 5 petrol stations, 14 public toilets and 3 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmDrinking water · 60 m off route
- 0.1 kmBeics Menai · bike rental · 30 m off route
- 0.2 kmCaffi De Winton · café · on the route
- 0.8 kmTesco · supermarket · 70 m off route
- 8.4 kmCaffi Gerlan · café · 30 m off route
- 11.6 kmFfynnon Rhedyw · spring · 140 m off route
- 31.9 kmParciau Filling Station · petrol station · 220 m off route
- 33.1 kmNisa Local · convenience store · 30 m off route
- 45.5 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 46 kmRowlands Pharmacy · pharmacy · 160 m off route
- 46.3 kmLondis · convenience store · on the route
- 51.1 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 51.3 kmSpar · convenience store · on the route
- 64.5 kmFfynnon Fair · spring · 150 m off route
- 67.6 kmWenallt Deli & Tea Rooms · café · 60 m off route
- 67.6 kmSnowdonia Cycles · bike shop · 90 m off route
- 72.4 kmCaffi Hen Crydd · café · 50 m off route
- 72.6 kmPetrol station · on the route
Need to bail out?
- 4.5 km — Dinas (station), on the route
- 31.9 km — Criccieth (station), 290 m off route
- 46.4 km — Porthmadog Harbour (station), 50 m off route
- 52.7 km — Llandecwyn (station), on the route
- 65.6 km — Pensarn (station), 70 m off route
- 73.9 km — Talybont (station), 400 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0 km — Caernarfon Castle (castle)
- 29.2 km — David Lloyd George's Grave (attraction)
- 32.8 km — Criccieth Castle (castle)
- 59.8 km — Fonllech Menhir 6 (archaeological site)
- 63.5 km — Fronlief Hir Standing Stones (archaeological site)
- 69.8 km — Burial Chamber (archaeological site)
Stay after this ride
- Talybont Bed & Breakfast · guest house · 40 m from the finish
- Rowen Holiday Park · campsite · 230 m from the finish
- LLlwyn Ynn Cottage · guest house · 200 m from the finish
- Llwyn Griffri Farm · campsite · 380 m from the finish
- Tyddyn Goronwy Camping Park · campsite · 500 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Trains and ferries
- Caernarfon (310 m)
- Food and coffee
- Bontà Deli (90 m), Caffi Maes (60 m), The Castle (50 m)
- Shops
- Spar (60 m)
At the finish
- Trains and ferries
- Talybont (400 m)
- Food and coffee
- Tony's Take-away. Pizza & Pasta (30 m), Ysgethin Inn (170 m)
Know before you go
- 11.1 km without café, shop or water between 33.2 km and 44.3 km
- 5.6 km on main roads without cycle lane
- 1.9 km on fast roads (80 km/h+)
- Steepest 500m gradient 12.6% near 59.6 km
