Cyclists.com

Welshpool to Rhayader

Welshpool, Powys, United KingdomMixed

Signed route The waymarked National Cycle Route 81 (Wales section) (Walk Wheel Cycle Trust), traced from OpenStreetMap and measured against the terrain model; no member has recorded it yet. Stage 1 of 2 of the National Cycle Route 81 (Wales section). Ridden it? Add your recording and photos.

72 km
Distance
743 m
Elevation gain
Hard
Difficulty
Mixed
Surface
Download GPXMap
A barber with the traditional red and white striped symbols.
Photo: grassrootsgroundswell · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Elevation profile

Total ascent
743 m
Distance
72 km
0100200300400m0 km20406072 km339 m · highest, at 53.8 kmStartFinish

Route overview

Suitable for cyclists ready for a moderately long ride with some climbing and mixed surfaces.

Stage 1 of 2 of the National Cycle Route 81 (Wales section): 71.7 km from Welshpool to Rhayader with 743 m of climbing, on the signed route.

The route starts in Welshpool at 78 m altitude and heads through Bronybuckley, Belan, Berriew, and Abermule, passing several places to stop for refreshments including pubs and cafés within the first 35 km. The surface is 74% paved and 25% gravel or unpaved, with roads consisting mainly of minor roads (59%), cycle paths (30%), and some quiet streets and paths. From Newtown (around 22.5 km) to Caersws (34.2 km), there are supermarkets, cafés, and bike shops for supplies or bailouts by train stations at Welshpool, Newtown, and Caersws.

Highlights

  • Climbs reaching up to 338 m
  • Dol-Llys Fach peak near the road at 43.7 km
  • Pen Y Banc peak at 310 m near 48 km
  • Longest stretch without café/shop for 16.3 km from 54.1 km to 70.4 km

Along the route

Measured from the recorded track and OpenStreetMap.

Places passed

  1. Belan 3.2 km
  2. Berriew 7.8 km
  3. Refail 8.7 km
  4. Garthmyl 9.8 km
  5. Fron 12.2 km
  6. Abermule 15.3 km
  7. Aberbechan 18 km
  8. Llanllwchaiarn 20.3 km
  9. New Barnfields 21.3 km
  10. Penygloddfa 21.5 km
  11. Newtown 22.5 km
  12. Treowen 22.5 km
  13. Milford 24.1 km
  14. Trehafren 24.4 km
  15. Garth Owen 24.7 km
  16. Maesyrhandir 25 km
  17. Vaynor 25.2 km
  18. Maesydail 25.3 km
  19. Stepaside 26.7 km
  20. Caersws 34.2 km
  21. Tyddyn 41.9 km
  22. Llanidloes 46.8 km
  23. Llangurig 54.1 km

Climbs

ClimbStarts atLengthGainAverageMaxTop
—25.5 km4.3 km196 m4.6 %7.5 %314 m
—36 km1.9 km74 m3.8 %7.2 %198 m
—38.6 km2.5 km93 m3.8 %5.5 %246 m
—42 km1.4 km58 m4.2 %7.6 %246 m
—47.8 km4.9 km158 m3.2 %8.8 %338 m

High point 338 m at 52.8 km; low point 78 m. Passes beneath Dol-Llys Fach, Pen Y Banc, Rhiw-Bron-Y-Gelli.

What this ride is like

Measured from OpenStreetMap along the track and the elevation profile.

Roads
59% minor road · 30% cycle path · 3% quiet street · 3% path
Main roads
2.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane — likely busier
Fast roads
3.3 km on roads with a limit of 80 km/h or more
Cycle paths
21.3 km on cycle paths or roads with a cycle lane
Surface
74% paved · 25% gravel or unpaved
Gradient
22% climbing · 16% descending · 62% flat
Steep sections
3.6 km over 5% · 0.6 km over 8% · steepest 500 m averages 8% at 52.3 km
Longest descent
3.3 km from 30.5 km, dropping 187 m

Along the way

Within a few hundred metres of the track, from OpenStreetMap. Opening hours change — treat this as where to look, not a promise.

Longest stretch without a café, shop or water: 16 km, from 54 km to 70 km.

Food, water and shops

  1. 0 kmCosta · café · 170 m off route
  2. 0 kmToilets · 190 m off route
  3. 0 kmTesco Petrol Station · petrol station · 230 m off route
  4. 0.2 kmMorrisons · supermarket · 120 m off route
  5. 7.9 kmSpar · supermarket · 240 m off route
  6. 10.1 kmThe Nag's Head · pub · 40 m off route
  7. 21.9 kmBP · petrol station · 90 m off route
  8. 22.4 kmDrinking water · 150 m off route
  9. 22.5 kmToilets · 70 m off route
  10. 22.8 kmSpar · supermarket · 110 m off route
  11. 27.2 kmDolau Inn · pub · 160 m off route
  12. 34.2 kmPremier · convenience store · 80 m off route
  13. 46.4 kmLlanidloes War Memorial Hospital · hospital · 60 m off route
  14. 46.6 kmSPAR · convenience store · on the route
  15. 46.7 kmTravellers Rest · café · on the route
  16. 46.8 kmLlani Bikes · bike shop · on the route
  17. 70.4 kmTriangle Inn · pub · 140 m off route
  18. 70.4 kmNeil's Wheels · bike shop · 220 m off route

Need to bail out?

  • 0 km — Welshpool (station), 370 m off route
  • 22.5 km — Newtown (station), 310 m off route
  • 34.4 km — Caersws (station), on the route

Whether bikes are carried depends on the service — check before relying on it.

Worth a stop

  • 8.7 km — The Naissance Experience (attraction)
  • 23.3 km — Newtown Hall Castle Mound (archaeological site)
  • 43.7 km — Dol-Llys Fach (peak)
  • 46.8 km — Old Market Hall (attraction)
  • 70.4 km — Rhayader Castle (castle)

At the start

  • Morrisons · supermarket · 140 m
  • Costa · café · 170 m
  • The Bay Tree · café · 200 m
  • The Wellington Arms · pub · 180 m
  • Welshpool Kebab House · fast food · 150 m

At the finish

  • Triangle Inn · pub · 140 m
  • Neil's Wheels · bike shop · 220 m
  • The Lost ARC · café · 280 m
  • Clive Powell Mountain Bikes · bike shop · 380 m
  • The Horseshoe · pub · 350 m

Stay after this ride

  • Lion Royal Hotel · hotel · 460 m from the finish
  • Crown Inn · hotel · 490 m from the finish
  • Ty Morgans · hotel · 520 m from the finish
  • Bryncoed Guest House · guest house · 620 m from the finish
  • Wyeside Caravan & Camping Park · campsite · 780 m from the finish

Practical information

Surface
Mixed
Route shape
Point to point
Riding time
5 h 07 min
Best months
May to Sep — daily highs of 16–20 °C in those months

Know before you go

  • 16.3 km without café, shop or water from 54.1 km
  • 2.4 km on main roads without a cycle lane
  • 3.3 km on roads with posted 80 km/h or more
  • 25% gravel or unpaved surface

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

2 photographs from the road

Photo: grassrootsgroundswell · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: Eirian Evans · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · Photo: David Smith · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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