Road · United Kingdom
Stage 2 of 2 · National Cycle Route 81 (Wales section)← Stage 1
Llansantffraed-Cwmdeuddwr to Aberystwyth
A rolling 65 km mixed-surface cycling route from Llansantffraed-Cwmdeuddwr, Powys to Aberystwyth through Elan Village, Cwmystwyth and Pont-rhyd-y-groes, with 475 m of climbing. There is a 34 km stretch without a café, shop or water (km 5–40). Mixed surface: 73% is mapped as paved and 26% as gravel or unpaved.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides
- Distance
- 65.4 km
- Elevation gain
- 475 m
- Riding time
- 4 h 40 min
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Bike
- Gravel bike
- Surface
- Mixed surface
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Longest gap 34 km
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Llansantffraed-Cwmdeuddwr → Aberystwyth
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 475 m
- 65 km
Route description
- Llansantffraed-Cwmdeuddwr
- Elan Village
- Cwmystwyth
- Pont-rhyd-y-groes
- Ysbyty Ystwyth
- Crosswood
- Llanilar
- Llanfarian
- Rhydyfelin
- Aberystwyth
The ride starts near Rhayader at Llansantffraed-Cwmdeuddwr and heads southwest through Elan Village at 4.4 km. Early climbing includes gentle ascents around 2-2.3 km long with maximum gradients up to 7.5%, reaching heights over 300 m. After Elan Village, the route crosses more varied terrain with climbs under 3% gradient, leading to a high point at 402 m around 25 km, passing near Glan Fedwen and Craig y Lluest. The surface is 73% paved and 26% gravel or unpaved, travelling mainly on minor roads and cycle paths, with 47% on minor roads and 35% on cycle paths. The Elan Valley Trail covers 11 km, and Lon Cambria 6 km.
From 5.2 km to 39.5 km there is a 34.3 km stretch without cafés or shops, so riders should plan accordingly. Facilities at the start include pubs, cafés and bike shops in Rhayader. At 39.7 km near Ysbyty Ystwyth, there is a café and drinking water. After Llanafan, a short steep climb of 1.2 km averaging 5.8% occurs at 45 km, maximum 10.3%. The route continues descending towards Aberystwyth, reaching the Severn Sea at 63.6 km. The finish offers shops, cafés, pubs and a petrol station, with a railway station also nearby as bailout. The road mix includes some main roads without cycle lanes but mostly less busy roads and paths.
Why ride this route?
- Tops out at 402 m, 25.1 km in.
Highlights
- Passes near Moelfryn Mawr (504 m) at 10.9 km
- Follows 11 km of Elan Valley Trail
- Climbs near Y Glog (550 m) at 33.5 km
- Finishes at Aberystwyth, near Pendinas (125 m)
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 3.7 km | 2 km · 52 m · 2.6 % · max 3.2 % | 258 m |
| Unnamed climb | 9.6 km | 2.3 km · 50 m · 2.2 % · max 7.5 % | 302 m |
| Unnamed climb | 22.1 km | 1.4 km · 41 m · 2.9 % · max 4.7 % | 390 m |
| Unnamed climb | 45.1 km | 1.2 km · 70 m · 5.8 % · max 10.3 % | 157 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 2.8 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 47% minor road · 35% cycle path · 7% track · 4% main road · 7% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 2.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 16 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 22.9 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Elan Valley Trail (11 km), Lon Cambria (6 km)
- Surface
- Mixed surface: 73% is mapped as paved and 26% as gravel or unpaved.
- Gradient
- 18% climbing · 27% descending · 55% flat
- Steep sections
- 1.3 km over 5% · 0.6 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 17.4% at 0 km
- Longest descent
- 2.5 km from 40.8 km, dropping 57 m
Food, water and services
The longest stretch without a café, shop or water is 34 km, from km 5 to 40. Along the route: 75 cafés and restaurants, 12 shops, 4 water points, 1 petrol station, 10 public toilets and 5 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmTriangle Inn · pub · 140 m off route
- 0 kmToilets · 160 m off route
- 0 kmNeil's Wheels · bike shop · 220 m off route
- 0 kmRowlands Pharmacy · pharmacy · 450 m off route
- 4.8 kmToilets · 150 m off route
- 5.2 kmElan Valley Visitors Centre · café · 100 m off route
- 13.7 kmToilets · 40 m off route
- 39.5 kmToilets · 60 m off route
- 39.7 kmY Teashed · café · 70 m off route
- 39.7 kmTap Dŵr Cymuned Ysbyty Ystwyth a Pontrhydygroes · drinking water · 70 m off route
- 54.7 kmThe Falcon Inn · pub · 370 m off route
- 54.7 kmSiop Y Pentref · convenience store · 360 m off route
- 63.2 kmDrinking water · 230 m off route
- 63.6 kmTesco · supermarket · 110 m off route
- 63.6 kmTexaco · petrol station · 210 m off route
- 64.4 kmToilets · 120 m off route
- 64.5 kmMy Friend's Place · café · 140 m off route
- 64.5 kmSummit Cycles · bike shop · 490 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 63.6 km — Aberystwyth (station), 290 m off route
Worth a stop
- 0 km — Rhayader Castle (castle)
- 20 km — Pillow Mounds (ruins)
- 26.8 km — Wolf/Sheep Rock (archaeological site)
- 64.2 km — Aberystwyth Castle (castle)
Stay after this ride
- Aberystwyth Castle Rooms · guest house · 200 m from the finish
- Harley's · hotel · 160 m from the finish
- Glyn-Garth · guest house · 340 m from the finish
- Sunnymead · guest house · 330 m from the finish
- Yr Hafod Guest House · guest house · 370 m 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 (280 m), The Horseshoe (350 m)
At the finish
- Food and coffee
- My Friend's Place (140 m), The Cabin (130 m), Inn on the Pier (60 m)
Know before you go
- 34 km stretch without café, shop or water between 5.2 km and 39.5 km
- 2.8 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 16 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limit
- 26% of surface is gravel or unpaved
