Llanaber to Rhayader
- 101 km
- 1,373 m
- Hard
- Paved
Elevation profile
- 1,373 m
- 101 km
Route overview
Cyclists prepared for a long 101 km route with significant climbing of 1373 m.
Stage 1 of 2 of the Lôn Las Cymru (Central): 101.3 km from Llanaber to Rhayader with 1373 m of climbing, on the signed route.
The ride starts at Llanaber and heads through Barmouth and Arthog before reaching Dolgellau at 17 km. Here, notable climbs begin: a 4 km ascent gaining 245 m at 6.1% average gradient starts near Dolgellau, followed by a steeper 2.1 km climb raising 171 m at 8.3% average gradient. The route continues through intermediate places like Corris and Machynlleth, where a longer 7.9 km climb with 430 m ascent at 5.5% average gradient rises up to 508 m high, the highest point of the ride.
Highlights
- Climbs near Dolgellau
- Highest point at 508 m
- Long descent after 54.7 km
- Promenade Café & Restaurant at start
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | Length | Gain | Average | Max | Top |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 17.1 km | 4 km | 245 m | 6.1 % | 10.8 % | 256 m |
| — | 22.6 km | 2.1 km | 171 m | 8.3 % | 11.1 % | 399 m |
| — | 45.2 km | 7.9 km | 430 m | 5.5 % | 9 % | 508 m |
| — | 64.1 km | 1.6 km | 45 m | 2.8 % | 3.8 % | 358 m |
| — | 76.9 km | 4.6 km | 155 m | 3.4 % | 8.4 % | 337 m |
What this ride is like
- Roads
- 76% minor road · 13% cycle path · 3% path · 2% quiet street
- Main roads
- 2.7 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Cycle paths
- 14.5 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Mawddach Trail (7 km), Lon Mawddach (4 km)
- Surface
- 86% paved · 13% gravel or unpaved
- Gradient
- 25% climbing · 26% descending · 49% flat
- Steep sections
- 8.8 km over 5% · 4.5 km over 8% · 1.6 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 11% at 23.9 km
- Longest descent
- 5.9 km from 54.7 km, dropping 210 m
Along the way
Longest stretch without a café, shop or water: 42 km, from 41 km to 83 km.
Food, water and shops
- 0.4 kmToilets · on the route
- 2 kmThe Co-operative Food · supermarket · 150 m off route
- 2 kmRowlands Pharmacy · pharmacy · 260 m off route
- 2.5 kmBath House · café · 30 m off route
- 4.8 kmToilets · on the route
- 10.6 kmWater tap · 230 m off route
- 17.1 kmTexaco · petrol station · 220 m off route
- 17.2 kmGwyndy · café · 40 m off route
- 17.2 kmBoots · pharmacy · 80 m off route
- 33.9 kmTafarn Dwynant · pub · on the route
- 35.5 kmToilets · 60 m off route
- 40.2 kmDrinking water · 70 m off route
- 40.3 kmRowlands Pharmacy · pharmacy · 50 m off route
- 40.5 kmToilets · 70 m off route
- 40.6 kmThe Co-operative Food · supermarket · 50 m off route
- 66.7 kmToilets · 70 m off route
- 82.9 kmThe Village Tea Rooms & Crafts · café · 60 m off route
- 99.1 kmNeil's Wheels · bike shop · 220 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 2 km — Barmouth (station), 110 m off route
- 31.5 km — Corris (station), 100 m off route
- 39.8 km — Machynlleth (station), 50 m off route
Worth a stop
- 2.7 km — Cae Fadog (viewpoint)
- 24.6 km — Cad East (viewpoint)
- 41.4 km — Ordnance Survey Height Above Datum (ruins)
- 52.2 km — Wynford Vaughan-Thomas (viewpoint)
- 57 km — Ceunant Dylife (viewpoint)
- 99.1 km — Rhayader Castle (castle)
At the start
- Promenade Café & Restaurant · restaurant · 470 m
- Greener's · restaurant · 810 m
- Llanaber · station · 690 m
At the finish
- Triangle Inn · pub · 140 m
- Neil's Wheels · bike shop · 220 m
- The Lost ARC · café · 280 m
- Clive Powell Mountain Bikes · bike shop · 380 m
- The Horseshoe · pub · 350 m
Stay after this ride
- Lion Royal Hotel · hotel · 460 m from the finish
- Crown Inn · hotel · 490 m from the finish
- Ty Morgans · hotel · 520 m from the finish
- Bryncoed Guest House · guest house · 620 m from the finish
- Wyeside Caravan & Camping Park · campsite · 780 m from the finish
Practical information
- Paved
- Point to point
- 7 h 14 min
- Jun to Sep — daily highs of 17–18 °C in those months
Know before you go
- 42 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from 40.8 km to 82.9 km
- 2.7 km on main roads without cycle lane