Cyclists.com

Conwy Valley Cycle Route

Conwy, Conwy, United KingdomRoad

Signed route The waymarked Conwy Valley Cycle Route (local route), traced from OpenStreetMap and measured against the terrain model; no member has recorded it yet. Ridden it? Add your recording and photos.

70 km
Distance
1,005 m
Elevation gain
Hard
Difficulty
Paved
Surface
Download GPXMap
This is a photo of listed building number
Photo: Llywelyn2000 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent
1,005 m
Distance
70 km
0100200300400m0 km20406070 km339 m · highest, at 37.0 kmStartFinish · back at the start

Route overview

Suitable for experienced cyclists prepared for moderate climbing over 70 km.

70 km loop cycle route around Conwy Valley, Wales, with 1005 m climbing and varied roads.

Starting from Conwy, the route heads south through Llwydfaen and Tal-y-Cafn with initial climbs of 50 m at 5% and 42 m at 3.7%. After Tal-y-Cafn, riders face a longer climb of 172 m at 7.5% over 2.3 km before descending into Maenan and Llanddoged. The route continues to Llanrwst and then climbs for 5.7 km gaining 281 m at 4.9% average gradient to reach 292 m altitude near km 36.2. Past the high point, there is a 4.7 km descent dropping 280 m to Nebo at 25.2 km. Further climbs include an 8.6% gradient section for 2.2 km near Penmachno starting from km 34, reaching 343 m elevation, the highest point on the route. The return leg passes Betws-y-Coed, Trefriw, Dolgarrog, and Tal-y-Bont, including a modest climb of 42 m at 3.1% near the end. Roads are mostly minor (59%) and main roads (35%) with about 25 km on main roads lacking cycle lanes and 4.5 km on fast roads with limits of 80 km/h or more. The surface is primarily paved (98%) with minimal gravel or track sections. There is a longest stretch without café, shop or water between km 6.2 and 17.9 (11.7 km). Various food and drink options are located mostly near towns, with pubs, cafés and shops at Tal-y-Cafn, Llanrwst, Betws-y-Coed and Tal-y-Bont.

Highlights

  • Climb to 343 m near Penmachno at km 36
  • Longest descent of 4.7 km dropping 280 m
  • Passes through Betws-y-Coed and Llanrwst
  • Peaks near route include Moel Trefriw and Pen-Or

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Llwydfaen 5.3 km
  2. Tal-y-Cafn 6.1 km
  3. Maenan 12.6 km
  4. Llanddoged 15.8 km
  5. Llanrwst 17.6 km
  6. Nebo 25.2 km
  7. Penmachno 34.1 km
  8. Betws-y-coed 44.4 km
  9. Trefriw 52.4 km
  10. Dolgarrog 56.6 km
  11. Tal-y-bont 58.3 km
  12. Castell 58.6 km
  13. Llanbedr-y-cennin 59.4 km
  14. Pontwgan 60.8 km
  15. Rowen 62.3 km
  16. Llechwedd 67 km

Climbs

ClimbStarts atLengthGainAverageMaxTop
—0 km1 km50 m5 %6.7 %65 m
—3 km1.2 km42 m3.7 %5.2 %78 m
—5.8 km2.3 km172 m7.5 %14.8 %185 m
—18.3 km5.7 km281 m4.9 %7.6 %292 m
—34 km2.2 km192 m8.6 %14.1 %343 m
—58.2 km1.4 km42 m3.1 %4.6 %64 m

High point 343 m at 36.2 km; low point 9 m. Passes beneath Bryn Cŵn, Mynydd Cauedig, Pen-Or.

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
59% minor road · 35% main road · 2% quiet street · 2% major road
Main roads
25.1 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
4.5 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Main roads used
B5106 (13 km), B5427 (5 km)
Surface
Paved throughout
Gradient
26% climbing · 30% descending · 45% flat
Steep sections
6.7 km over 5% · 2.7 km over 8% · 1.8 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 13% at 35.7 km
Longest descent
4.7 km from 37.2 km, dropping 280 m

Along the way

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

Food, water and shops

  1. 0 kmWoosey's Catch of Conwy · fast food · 40 m off route
  2. 0 kmThe Village Shop · convenience store · on the route
  3. 4.6 kmSpring · 120 m off route
  4. 17.9 kmGriffiths Bakery · bakery · on the route
  5. 18 kmSpar · supermarket · 80 m off route
  6. 18 kmBike rental · 210 m off route
  7. 18.2 kmToilets · 180 m off route
  8. 28.8 kmA5 Bacon Bar · café · 180 m off route
  9. 34.2 kmEagles · pub · on the route
  10. 34.2 kmToilets · on the route
  11. 43.7 kmShell · petrol station · 180 m off route
  12. 44.4 kmBwyd i Fynd · café · 60 m off route
  13. 44.4 kmDrinking water · 60 m off route
  14. 44.4 kmToilets · 60 m off route
  15. 44.4 kmBeics Betws Bike Hire · bike rental · 70 m off route
  16. 52.2 kmToilets · 30 m off route
  17. 58.2 kmTal Y Bont Stores · convenience store · on the route
  18. 59.4 kmYe Olde Bull Inn · pub · on the route

Need to bail out?

  • 6.1 km — Tal-y-Cafn (station), 40 m off route
  • 17.8 km — Llanrwst (station), 60 m off route
  • 44.4 km — Betws-y-Coed (station), 150 m off route
  • 55.6 km — Dolgarrog (station), 1.0 km off route
  • 68.5 km — Conwy (station), 560 m off route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 5.8 km — Bryn Castell (archaeological site)
  • 9.9 km — Pen-Or (peak, 234 m)
  • 49.5 km — Gwydir Castle (castle)
  • 57.1 km — Surf Snowdonia (attraction)
  • 63.3 km — Conwy Water Gardens (attraction)

At the start and finish

  • The Village Shop · convenience store · 20 m
  • Woosey's Catch of Conwy · fast food · 40 m
  • Conwy · station · 630 m

Practical information

Surface
Paved
Route shape
Loop
Riding time
5 h 00 min
Best months
Jun to Sep — daily highs of 17–19 °C in those months

Know before you go

  • 11.7 km without café, shop or water from km 6.2 to 17.9
  • 25.1 km on main roads without cycle lanes
  • 4.5 km on roads with 80 km/h or higher speed limit

Routes are for inspiration. Roads, surfaces and conditions change — check locally and ride within your limits.

2 photographs from the road

Photo: Llywelyn2000 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Meirion · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: David Medcalf · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons