Llanddwywe to Rhayader
- 106 km
- 1,400 m
- Hard
- Paved
Elevation profile
- 1,400 m
- 106 km
Route overview
Riders capable of handling 106 km distance with 1400 m climbing and mixed surfaces.
Stage 1 of 3 of the EuroVelo 2 from Llanddwywe: 106.2 km from Llanddwywe to Rhayader with 1400 m of climbing, on the signed route.
This 106 km route starts at Llanddwywe, passing through Tal-y-bont, Llanaber, and Barmouth before continuing to Dolgellau and Machynlleth, ending at Rhayader. The route features 1400 m of elevation gain, with five main climbs including two between km 21.9-33.5 and a longer climb between km 49.9-57.8 reaching 508 m height. The profile is a mix of climbing, descending, and flat sections with the highest point near km 57.8 and the lowest near km 8.3. The road surfaces are 87% paved and 12% gravel or unpaved, using mostly minor roads (72%) and 14% cycle paths. The route includes named roads Mawddach Trail, A496, and Lon Mawddach. It crosses main roads for 5.7 km and some sections without cycle lanes. Key services include food and drink options in Barmouth, Dolgellau, Machynlleth and Rhayader with long stretches up to 42 km from km 45.6 to 87.6 without cafes, shops or water. Bailout points with stations are at Talybont, Barmouth, Corris, and Machynlleth. Nearby peaks include Fegla Fawr and Fegla Fach early on, with Bryn Abergwynant around km 16. The route passes through many settlements with toilets and bike shops available at several intervals. The overall route presents varied terrains, road types, and considerable climbing over a long distance with some isolated stretches.
Highlights
- Mawddach Trail cycle path 7.5 km
- Climb reaching 508 m near km 58
- Longest descent 5.6 km from km 59.7
- Peaks near road: Fegla Fawr, Bryn Abergwynant
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | Length | Gain | Average | Max | Top |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 21.9 km | 4.1 km | 246 m | 6 % | 11 % | 256 m |
| — | 27.3 km | 2.2 km | 167 m | 7.6 % | 11 % | 399 m |
| — | 49.9 km | 7.9 km | 432 m | 5.5 % | 10.1 % | 508 m |
| — | 68.9 km | 1.7 km | 49 m | 2.8 % | 3.8 % | 362 m |
| — | 81.6 km | 4.7 km | 157 m | 3.3 % | 8.5 % | 338 m |
What this ride is like
- Roads
- 72% minor road · 14% cycle path · 5% main road · 3% path
- Main roads
- 6.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Cycle paths
- 15.3 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Mawddach Trail (8 km), A496 (4 km), Lon Mawddach (4 km)
- Surface
- 87% paved · 12% gravel or unpaved
- Gradient
- 24% climbing · 25% descending · 51% flat
- Steep sections
- 8.6 km over 5% · 4.9 km over 8% · 1.7 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 11% at 29.3 km
- Longest descent
- 5.6 km from 59.7 km, dropping 207 m
Along the way
Longest stretch without a café, shop or water: 42 km, from 46 km to 88 km.
Food, water and shops
- 0.3 kmTony's Take-away. Pizza & Pasta · restaurant · 30 m off route
- 0.3 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 7.1 kmSpar · supermarket · 60 m off route
- 7.1 kmToilets · 70 m off route
- 7.1 kmRowlands Pharmacy · pharmacy · 120 m off route
- 9.6 kmWater point · 50 m off route
- 22 kmDolgellau Cycles · bike shop · on the route
- 22 kmTexaco · petrol station · 230 m off route
- 22.1 kmBoots · pharmacy · 70 m off route
- 36.3 kmToilets · 100 m off route
- 38.6 kmTafarn Dwynant · pub · 50 m off route
- 44.7 kmTexaco · petrol station · 50 m off route
- 44.9 kmDrinking water · 70 m off route
- 45.2 kmHermit Crab Coffee · café · on the route
- 45.4 kmThe Co-operative Food · supermarket · 100 m off route
- 45.4 kmCommunity Bike Workshop · bike shop · 50 m off route
- 87.6 kmThe Village Tea Rooms & Crafts · café · 50 m off route
- 103.8 kmNeil's Wheels · bike shop · 220 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 0.4 km — Talybont (station), 310 m off route
- 7.1 km — Barmouth (station), 70 m off route
- 36.3 km — Corris (station), 90 m off route
- 44.5 km — Machynlleth (station), 40 m off route
Worth a stop
- 7.6 km — Cae Fadog (viewpoint)
- 29.5 km — Cad East (viewpoint)
- 45.1 km — Machynlleth Town Clock (attraction)
- 57 km — Wynford Vaughan-Thomas (viewpoint)
- 62.1 km — Ceunant Dylife (viewpoint)
At the start
- Tony's Take-away. Pizza & Pasta · restaurant · 240 m
- Ysgethin Inn · pub · 400 m
- Talybont · station · 480 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 35 min
- Jun to Sep — daily highs of 17–19 °C in those months
Know before you go
- 42 km longest stretch without café, shop or water from km 45.6 to 87.6
- 6.8 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 1.7 km climb with max gradient 11%
- 12% gravel or unpaved surface