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Horseshoe Pass from Llangollen

7 km road cycling route292 m climbing30 minGPX

Llangollen, United Kingdom · Road

A mountainous 7 km road cycling route from Llangollen, with 292 m of climbing over Moel y Faen.

Routed from the map This classic road was traced on OpenStreetMap and measured against the terrain model; no member has recorded it yet. Ridden it? Add your recording and photos.

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At a glance

Best for
Short, climbing-heavy rides
Distance
7.1 km
Point to point
Elevation gain
292 m
41 m per km
Riding time
30 min
moving time, estimated
Difficulty
Easy
Bike
Road bike
Surface
Paved
Best months
May to Sep
Llangollen climate, 10 years
Navigation
GPX download
free, no sign-in
Start → finish
Llangollen

Map and elevation profile

Horeshoe Pass looking down towards Llangollen
Photo: Simon · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent
292 m
Distance
7 km
0100200300400m0 km2467 km376 m · highest, at 7.1 kmStartFinish

Route description

  1. Llangollen
  2. Moel y Faenkm 1

Starting from Llangollen at 84m elevation, the route immediately faces a climb beginning at 1.2 km that rises 285m over 5.9 km to reach 376m at the Horseshoe Pass. The average gradient of the climb is 4.8%, with a maximum of 8.7% and the steepest 500m section at 8.6% around 4.5 km. The route is fully paved and mainly follows the A542 for 6 km, with 93% on main roads and 7% on quiet streets.

The road mostly climbs, with 69% uphill, 1% descending, and 30% flat. There are 3.3 km with gradients over 5% and 1.1 km over 8%. The ride includes 2.2 km sections where the speed limit is 80 km/h or more. Facilities at the start in Llangollen include cafés, bike shops, toilets, a supermarket, and a petrol station. The longest section without café, shop, or water runs for 2.8 km from 4.3 km to the top at 7.1 km.

Nearby peaks along the route include Barber's Hill at 340m near 0.9 km, Llwyn Twr at 200m near 1.7 km, Velvet Hill at 230m near 2.7 km, Fron Fawr at 378m near 3.7 km, and Moel y Faen at 548m near the top at 7.1 km.

Why ride this route?

  • Climbs Moel y Faen (5.9 km at 4.8 %).
  • Tops out at 376 m, 7.1 km in.

Highlights

  • Climb of 5.9 km gaining 285 m
  • Top at Horseshoe Pass, 376 m elevation
  • Peaks nearby: Barber's Hill, Fron Fawr, Moel y Faen
  • Route follows 6 km of A542 main road

Along the route

Measured from the route line, the Copernicus elevation model and OpenStreetMap.

On the road

  • M'eating Point (Café) 0 km
  • Texaco (Fuel station) 0 km
  • Gradient (Café) 0 km
  • The Gallery Restaurant (Restaurant) 0 km
  • Vintage Rose (Café) 0 km
  • Let's Avocuddle (Café) 0 km
  • George’s Cafe (Café) 0 km
  • Adyan Tandoori Restaurant (Restaurant) 0 km
  • Dee Pizza (Restaurant) 0 km
  • S & G Bistro & Pizzeria (Café) 0.2 km
  • Fouzi's (Café) 0.3 km
  • Room 29 (Restaurant) 0.3 km

Climbs

Climbs in ride order: where each starts, what this ride climbs, and the full named ascent
ClimbStarts atOn this rideFull ascentTop on this ride
Moel y Faen1.2 km5.9 km · 285 m · 4.8 % · max 8.7 %5.9 km · 285 m · 4.8 %376 m

High point 376 m at 7.1 km; low point 84 m. Passes beneath Barber's Hill, Llwyn Twr, Velvet Hill.

On this ride: the part this route climbs, cut from its own elevation profile. Full ascent: the whole named climb, measured the same way on every ride that uses it (its climb page).

Moel y Faen · full ascent, starts at 1.2 km

5.9 km at 4.8% · 285 m
100150200250300350m8.0%6.1%7.5%0 km123455.9 km375 msteepest 8.0%
< 4%4 – 7%7 – 10%> 10%

Know before you go

  • 6.6 km on main roads without cycle lane
  • 2.2 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limit
  • Longest stretch without café or shop for 2.8 km from 4.3 to 7.1 km

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

2 photographs from the road

Photo: Simon · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Llywelyn2000 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Zindor · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

About this route

Route line
Routed on OpenStreetMap roads with bicycle routing, then measured like a recorded ride.
Elevation
Recalculated from the Copernicus GLO-90 terrain model every 50 m, not the device’s barometer.
Best months
Ten years of ERA5 weather for Llangollen (Open-Meteo).
GPX
Generated from the route line: track points only, no timestamps or personal data.
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Page last updated

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