Road · United Kingdom
National Cycle Route 85
A flat 10 km mixed-surface cycling route from Berwyn through Llangollen and Plas-yn-pentre, with 11 m of climbing. 89% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane. Mixed surface: 45% is mapped as paved and 54% as gravel or unpaved.
At a glance
- Best for
- Steady riding away from traffic
- Distance
- 9.9 km
- Elevation gain
- 11 m
- Riding time
- 42 min
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Bike
- Gravel or mountain bike
- Surface
- Mixed, much unpaved
- Traffic
- Mostly cycle paths
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- May to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Berwyn
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 11 m
- 10 km
Route description
- Berwyn
- Llangollen
- Plas-yn-pentre
National Cycle Route 85 starts at Berwyn station (0 km, 103 m) beneath Velvet Hill (230 m) and Llwyn Twr (200 m). It proceeds mainly west to Llangollen (2.6 km), passing near Pen-y-Coed (218 m at 3.5 km). The route is mostly on a cycle path (8.8 km), with 45% paved and 54% gravel or unpaved surfaces.
The profile is very flat with only 11 m elevation gain over 9.9 km, the highest point at the start and the lowest around 7.3 km (92 m). The ride is 95% flat with only 0.1 km exceeding a 5% gradient. There are no climbs.
Facilities include cafés near Llangollen Wharf at 2.5 km and Chapel Tearoom at 9.4 km, shops and a water point near Llangollen at 2.9 km. The longest stretch without a café, shop, or water is 3.3 km from 5.5 to 8.8 km. Bail-out points include Llangollen station at 2.5 km and multiple toilets at 2.9 km and 9.4 km.
Why ride this route?
- 89% on cycle paths or lanes.
Highlights
- Near Velvet Hill (230 m) and Llwyn Twr (200 m)
- Passes Llangollen at 2.6 km
- Cycle path for 8.8 km
- Ends near Trevor and Acrefair
Along the route
Places passed
Traffic, surface and gradient
Much of the route is separated from traffic: 89% is on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 89% cycle path · 5% quiet street · 6% other roads and tracks
- Cycle paths
- 8.8 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 45% is mapped as paved and 54% as gravel or unpaved.
- Gradient
- 4% climbing · 1% descending · 95% flat
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 47 cafés and restaurants, 6 shops, 2 water points, 10 public toilets and 2 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 2.5 kmLlangollen Wharf · café · on the route
- 2.5 kmDrosi Bikes · bike shop · 180 m off route
- 2.9 kmCo-operative · supermarket · 260 m off route
- 2.9 kmLlangollen Water Point · water point · on the route
- 2.9 kmToilets · on the route
- 3.1 kmRowlands Pharmacy · pharmacy · 40 m off route
- 9.1 kmTrevor Convenience Store · convenience store · 150 m off route
- 9.3 kmDrinking water · on the route
- 9.4 kmChapel Tearoom · café · 100 m off route
- 9.4 kmToilets · 30 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 2.5 km — Llangollen (station), 90 m off route
Worth a stop
- 2.5 km — Llangollen Wharf Horse Drawn Boat Trips (attraction)
Stay after this ride
- Cefn Mawr Barber · hotel · 830 m from the finish
- Bryn Howel Hotel · hotel · 2.5 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Trains and ferries
- Berwyn (110 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Chapel Tearoom (420 m), Telford Inn (440 m), Aussie Rooster (860 m)
- Shops
- Trevor Convenience Store (520 m)
Know before you go
- 3.3 km without café, shop or water from km 5.5 to 8.8