Road · United Kingdom
Stage 1 of 2 · Lôn Las Cymru (Central)Stage 2 →
Llanaber to Rhayader
A hilly 101 km road cycling route from Llanaber, Gwynedd to Rhayader through Barmouth, Borthwnog and Aberllefenni, with 1,373 m of climbing. There is a 42 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 41–83). Mixed surface: 86% is mapped as paved and 13% as gravel or unpaved.
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 101.3 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,373 m
- Riding time
- 7 h 14 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike with sturdy tyres, or gravel bike
- Surface
- Mixed surface
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 42 km
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Llanaber → Rhayader
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,373 m
- 101 km
Route description
- Llanaber
- Barmouth
- Borthwnog
- Aberllefenni
- Machynlleth
- Cwm-Ricket
- Tynyrwtra
- Old Hall
- Glan-y-nant
- Rhayader
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.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 508 m, 53.1 km in.
- A 5.9 km descent dropping 210 m.
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 | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 17.1 km | 4 km · 245 m · 6.1 % · max 10.8 % | 256 m |
| Unnamed climb | 22.6 km | 2.1 km · 171 m · 8.3 % · max 11.1 % | 399 m |
| Unnamed climb | 45.2 km | 7.9 km · 430 m · 5.5 % · max 9 % | 508 m |
| Unnamed climb | 64.1 km | 1.6 km · 45 m · 2.8 % · max 3.8 % | 358 m |
| Unnamed climb | 76.9 km | 4.6 km · 155 m · 3.4 % · max 8.4 % | 337 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 2.7 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 76% minor road · 13% cycle path · 3% path · 2% quiet street · 6% other roads and tracks
- 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
- Mixed surface: 86% is mapped as paved and 13% as 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
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 42 km, from km 41 to 83. Along the route: 86 cafés and restaurants, 10 shops, 4 water points, 2 petrol stations, 19 public toilets and 6 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 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)
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
Start and access
At the start
- Trains and ferries
- Llanaber (690 m)
- Food and coffee
- Promenade Café & Restaurant (470 m), Greener's (810 m)
At the finish
- Bikes and repair
- Neil's Wheels (220 m), Clive Powell Mountain Bikes (380 m)
- Food and coffee
- Triangle Inn (140 m), The Lost ARC (280 m), The Horseshoe (350 m)
- Pharmacy and medical
- Rowlands Pharmacy (450 m)
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
