Road · United Kingdom
Stage 1 of 3 · EuroVelo 2 from LlanddwyweStage 2 →
Llanddwywe to Rhayader
A hilly 106 km road cycling route from Llanddwywe, Gwynedd to Rhayader through Llanaber, Bontddu and Tabor, with 1,400 m of climbing. There is a 42 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 46–88). Mixed surface: 87% is mapped as paved and 12% as gravel or unpaved.
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 106.2 km
- Elevation gain
- 1,400 m
- Riding time
- 7 h 35 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
- Llanddwywe → Rhayader
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 1,400 m
- 106 km
Route description
- Llanddwywe
- Llanaber
- Bontddu
- Tabor
- Pantperthog
- Rhyd-y-benwch
- Tynyrwtra
- Old Hall Wood
- Glan-Hafren Cottage
- Rhayader
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.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 508 m, 57.8 km in.
- A 5.6 km descent dropping 207 m.
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 | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 21.9 km | 4.1 km · 246 m · 6 % · max 11 % | 256 m |
| Unnamed climb | 27.3 km | 2.2 km · 167 m · 7.6 % · max 11 % | 399 m |
| Unnamed climb | 49.9 km | 7.9 km · 432 m · 5.5 % · max 10.1 % | 508 m |
| Unnamed climb | 68.9 km | 1.7 km · 49 m · 2.8 % · max 3.8 % | 362 m |
| Unnamed climb | 81.6 km | 4.7 km · 157 m · 3.3 % · max 8.5 % | 338 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 6.8 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 72% minor road · 14% cycle path · 5% main road · 3% path · 6% other roads and tracks
- 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
- Mixed surface: 87% is mapped as paved and 12% as 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
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 42 km, from km 46 to 88. Along the route: 89 cafés and restaurants, 10 shops, 3 water points, 2 petrol stations, 19 public toilets and 6 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 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)
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
- Talybont (480 m)
- Food and coffee
- Tony's Take-away. Pizza & Pasta (240 m), Ysgethin Inn (400 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 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
