Mixed · United Kingdom
Lôn Las Cymru (North)
A rolling 114 km road cycling route from Penrhyndeudraeth, Gwynedd through Minffordd, Pwllgoleulas and Bryncir, with 721 m of climbing.
At a glance
- Best for
- Rolling day rides for fit, experienced riders
- Distance
- 113.5 km
- Elevation gain
- 721 m
- Riding time
- 8 h 06 min
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Bike
- Road bike
- Surface
- Mostly paved
- Traffic
- Mostly minor roads
- Food & water
- Regular
- Best months
- Jun to Sep
- Navigation
- GPX download
- Start → finish
- Penrhyndeudraeth
Map and elevation profile
Elevation profile
- 721 m
- 114 km
Route description
- Penrhyndeudraeth
- Minffordd
- Pwllgoleulas
- Bryncir
- Llanwnda
- Y Felinheli
- Penrhosgarnedd
- Llanddaniel Fab
- Engedi
This route begins at Penrhyndeudraeth and proceeds through Minffordd, Portmeirion, Porthmadog, Tremadog and multiple villages en route to Holyhead. The road surfaces are predominantly paved (95%), with a small portion of gravel or unpaved (3%) and some unmapped sections (2%). Road types include minor roads for 57 km, cycle paths for 30.3 km, quiet streets, paths, main roads, roads with cycle lanes, major roads and tracks covering the rest of the route.
Climbing totals 721 metres, mainly in the first half with three main climbs: a 3.6 km climb gaining 137 m at an average 3.8%, plus shorter climbs of 40 m and 47 m gain. The highest point is 144 m at 36.1 km with 73% of the route flat. Fast roads with 80 km/h limits cover 12.3 km, and 5 km of main roads lack cycle lanes.
The route passes near peaks such as Y Glog (198 m at 6.7 km) and others beneath 270 m. There are multiple bailout points with stations at Porthmadog, Criccieth, Caernarfon, Llanfairpwll, Bodorgan and Holyhead. Cafés, shops and pubs are available at various points including the start and finish, with the longest stretch without café, shop or water being 12.6 km between 84.7 and 97.3 km.
Highlights
- Criccieth and Caernarfon Castles nearby
- Bodowyr Chambered Tomb archaeological site
- Cycle path sections totalling 30 km
- Highest point at 144 m near 36 km
Along the route
Places passed
Climbs
| Climb | Starts at | On this ride | Top on this ride |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unnamed climb | 6.1 km | 3.6 km · 137 m · 3.8 % · max 6.1 % | 140 m |
| Unnamed climb | 58.5 km | 1.8 km · 40 m · 2.3 % · max 5 % | 67 m |
| Unnamed climb | 63.2 km | 2 km · 47 m · 2.3 % · max 5.4 % | 68 m |
| Unnamed climb | 82.2 km | 1.9 km · 42 m · 2.2 % · max 3.9 % | 43 m |
Traffic, surface and gradient
Mostly minor roads and streets on the map; 5 km is on main roads without a cycle lane.
- Roads
- 52% minor road · 28% cycle path · 9% quiet street · 4% path · 8% other roads and tracks
- Main roads
- 5 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
- Fast roads
- 12.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
- Cycle paths
- 32.2 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
- Main roads used
- Lôn Eifion (17 km)
- Surface
- Predominantly paved: 95% is mapped as paved, 3% as unpaved or gravel and 2% has no surface data.
- Gradient
- 12% climbing · 14% descending · 73% flat
- Steep sections
- 1.3 km over 5%
- Longest descent
- 2.3 km from 16.3 km, dropping 75 m
Food, water and services
No stretch is longer than 15 km without a café, shop or water. Along the route: 208 cafés and restaurants, 40 shops, 4 water points, 9 petrol stations, 16 public toilets and 2 bike shops.
Food, water and shops in ride order
- 0 kmThe Eating Gorilla Coffee House · café · 280 m off route
- 4.5 kmLondis · convenience store · on the route
- 4.6 kmThe Port Cafe, Deli & Restaurant · café · 30 m off route
- 5.3 kmToilets · 50 m off route
- 17.5 kmNisa Local · convenience store · 30 m off route
- 17.6 kmTir a Mor · café · 30 m off route
- 21.4 kmToilets · 60 m off route
- 38.7 kmFfynnon Rhedyw · spring · 180 m off route
- 45.7 kmToilets · 90 m off route
- 50 kmBeics Menai · bike rental · 40 m off route
- 50.1 kmDrinking water · 60 m off route
- 50.5 kmCaffi Ty Winsh · café · on the route
- 57 kmToilets · on the route
- 63.2 kmBridge Inn · pub · 80 m off route
- 63.6 kmShell · petrol station · 150 m off route
- 98.6 kmMedical Centre · clinic · 100 m off route
- 106 kmToilets · 30 m off route
- 109.6 kmLidl · supermarket · 50 m off route
Need to bail out?
- 4.4 km — Porthmadog Harbour (station), 50 m off route
- 18.6 km — Criccieth (station), 300 m off route
- 49.9 km — Caernarfon (station), 50 m off route
- 66.6 km — Llanfairpwll (station), 840 m off route
- 85.4 km — Bodorgan (station), 610 m off route
- 109.7 km — Holyhead (station), 150 m off route
Worth a stop
- 17.8 km — Criccieth Castle (castle)
- 21.4 km — David Lloyd George's Grave (attraction)
- 44.2 km — Hên Gastell (ruins)
- 50.1 km — Caernarfon Castle (castle)
- 63 km — Gorsedd Stone Circle (ruins)
- 75.8 km — Bodowyr Chambered Tomb (archaeological site)
Stay after this ride
- The Dublin Packet · guest house · 240 m from the finish
- Travelodge Holyhead · hotel · 360 m from the finish
- George Hotel · hotel · 340 m from the finish
- The Beach Hut · hotel · 600 m from the finish
- The Orient · guest house · 780 m from the finish
Start and access
At the start
- Food and coffee
- The Eating Gorilla Coffee House (280 m), Silver Lake (240 m), Lemon Tree (280 m)
- Shops
- Spar (320 m)
At the finish
- Trains and ferries
- Holyhead (150 m), Irish Ferries (120 m)
- Food and coffee
- Port Shop R&F Travel Retail (60 m), The Port Inn (140 m)
- Shops
- Lidl (190 m), Port Shop (70 m)
Know before you go
- 12.6 km without café, shop or water between 84.7 and 97.3 km
- 5 km on main roads without a cycle lane
- 12.3 km on roads with 80 km/h+ speed limits
- 1.3 km above 5% gradient
