Mixed · United Kingdom
Stage 2 of 3 · EuroVelo 2 from Llanddwywe← Stage 1Stage 3 →
Llansantffraed-Cwmdeuddwr to Abergavenny
A hilly 98 km road cycling route from Llansantffraed-Cwmdeuddwr, Powys to Abergavenny through Llanwrthwl, Builth Wells and Llanfaredd, with 956 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Hilly days out for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 97.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 956 m
- Riding time
- 6 h 58 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 18 km
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Llansantffraed-Cwmdeuddwr → Abergavenny
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 956 m
- 98 km
Route description
- Llansantffraed-Cwmdeuddwr
- Llanwrthwl
- Builth Wells
- Llanfaredd
- Erwood
- Llyswen
- Glasbury
- Hay on Wye
- Stanton
- Abergavenny
This 97.5 km route begins at Llansantffraed-Cwmdeuddwr and heads towards Llanwrthwl at 6 km, then passes through Newbridge on Wye at 15.8 km, Builth Wells at 26.8 km, Hay on Wye at 60.3 km, and Llanthony at 78.3 km before finishing at Abergavenny at 95.2 km. The ride includes several climbs: two early climbs beginning at 7.3 km and 10.9 km, each around 1-1.6 km long with average gradients between 3.4% and 4.4%. A moderate climb of 2.7 km starts at 51.4 km, and the longest climb of 8.7 km with an average gradient of 5.1% and max of 12.7% begins at 59.9 km, reaching the highest point of 541 m near 68.6 km. The highest and lowest elevations on the route are 541 m and 53 m respectively. The profile includes about 20% climbing, 26% descending, and 54% flat sections, with 5 km of sustained gradients over 5%, including 1.1 km over 8% and 0.8 km over 10%.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 541 m, 68.6 km in.
- An 8.3 km descent dropping 289 m.
Highlights
- Climb to 541 m near 68.6 km
- Passes through Builth Wells at 26.8 km
- Highest peak nearby: Hay Bluff at 677 m
- Longest climb 8.7 km at 5.1% gradient
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 7.3 km | 1.2 km · 42 m · 3.4 % · max 9.5 % | 227 m |
| Unnamed climb | 10.9 km | 1.6 km · 70 m · 4.4 % · max 6.5 % | 244 m |
| Unnamed climb | 51.4 km | 2.7 km · 72 m · 2.7 % · max 3.6 % | 157 m |
| Unnamed climb | 59.9 km | 8.7 km · 445 m · 5.1 % · max 12.7 % | 541 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 16.5 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 68% minor road · 17% main road · 5% cycle path · 4% track · 6% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 16.5 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 25.6 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 4.7 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- B4567 (9 km), B4350 (6 km), Old Hereford Road (5 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 94% is mapped as paved, 5% as unpaved or gravel.
- Gradient
- 20% climbing · 26% descending · 54% flat
- Steep sections
- 5 km over 5% · 1.1 km over 8% · 0.8 km over 10% · steepest 500 m averages 17.6% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 8.3 km from 70.3 km, dropping 289 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 18 km, from km 61 to 78. Along the route: 108 cafés and restaurants, 23 shops, 3 water points, 8 petrol stations, 14 public toilets and 5 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmTriangle Inn · pub · 140 m off route
- 0 kmNeil's Wheels · bike shop · 220 m off route
- 6.3 kmSpar · convenience store · 170 m off route
- 15.7 kmThe Golden Lion · pub · on the route
- 15.9 kmToilets · 80 m off route
- 26.1 kmRepair stand · 40 m off route
- 27.1 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 27.3 kmAsda Express · convenience store · 80 m off route
- 38.5 kmErwood Station Craft Centre Cafe · café · on the route
- 51.6 kmPublic Toilets · toilets · on the route
- 51.8 kmGulf · petrol station · 50 m off route
- 60 kmSpar · convenience store · 220 m off route
- 60.5 kmDrover Cycles · bike shop · 60 m off route
- 78 kmHalf Moon Inn · pub · 70 m off route
- 78.5 kmDrinking Water · drinking water · 200 m off route
- 90.3 kmThe Crown · pub · 30 m off route
- 94.2 kmH. Shackleton · pharmacy · 60 m off route
- 95 kmOasis Sandwich Bar · café · 30 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 24.9 km — Builth Road (station), 1000 m off route
- 95 km — Abergavenny (station), 420 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0 km — Rhayader Castle (castle)
- 27.1 km — Builth Castle (ruins)
- 56.9 km — Llanthomas Castle Mound (castle)
- 60.1 km — Hay Castle (castle)
- 66.3 km — Pen-y-Beacon Stone Circle (archaeological site)
- 72.8 km — The Monastery Church, Capel-y-Ffin (ruins)
Stay after this ride
- Abergavenny Hotel · hotel · 240 m from the finish
- Abergavenny B&B · guest house · 220 m from the finish
- Pegasus Court · apartment · 260 m from the finish
- Premier Inn Abergavenny hotel · hotel · 1.1 km from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Bikes and repair
- Neil's Wheels (220 m), Clive Powell Mountain Bikes (380 m)
- Food and coffee
- Triangle Inn (140 m), The Lost ARC (290 m), The Horseshoe (350 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- Oasis Sandwich Bar (190 m), Tithe Barn Café (180 m), Angel Bakery (240 m)
- Shops
- Tŷ Fferm (210 m), Aldi (260 m)
Know before you go
- 17.5 km without café, shop or water from km 60.5 to 78
- 16.5 km on main roads without cycle lanes
- 25.6 km on roads with speed limits of 80 km/h or more
- 5% of route on gravel or unpaved surfaces
