Cycling in North Wales

Whether you are looking for a challenging long distance route, cycling trails or simply a day out with the family in areas of outstanding natural beauty, Snowdonia and the LLyn Peninsula have much to offer.

The Lon Las Cymru, from Holyhead in the North to Cardiff in the South via Porthmadog, is the ultimate challenging long distance cycle tour of Wales-the Welsh National Cycle route 250 miles of quiet lanes and cycle paths that take you over three distinct mountain ranges.

The LLyn Peninsula is a nature lover's dream. Being a peninsula the roads here are noticeably quieter without any 'through traffic' which means you can cycle along the lanes for miles, with only cows to whiz past. The scenery is dramatic with large hills dropping straight into the sea, breathtaking views of Snowdonia, and some 47 miles of coastline at your handlebars.

Golden sand beaches and villages that have fallen behind our busy times, the LLyn peninsula is one of the most varied and interesting places you could hope to visit.

A pub on the beach directly below Nefyn golf course is a great cycle destination and a spectacular spot.

LLyn Cycle Break Routes with Maps

Mynydd Yr Ystum:
Length: 19 miles/30.5km Start: Aberdaron.
Highlight: Pedal down to Porthor,also known as Whistling Sands and you can actually hear the sands whistle beneath your feet
[ map ] - [ directions ]

Garn Fadryn:
Length: 27 miles/43.5km Start: Abersoch Tourist Information.
Highlight: This ride takes you past Llanengan church, which some believe was the final resting place for pilgrims en route to Bardsey Island in the Middle Ages.
[ map ] - [ directions ]

Garn Boduan:
Length: 17 miles/27.5km Start: Styrd Y Plas, Nefyn
Highlight: The views of Nefyn and Porthdinllaen which unfold as you climb up the hill to Mynydd Nefyn, and views of Snowdonia thereafter.
[ map ] - [ directions ]

Garn Bentyrch:
Length: 14 miles/22.5km Start: Madryn Arms, Chwilog
Highlight: Crossing the beech and oak lined lane of Y Lon Goed which reaches inland from the southern coast.
[ map ] - [ directions ]

Snowdon and The National Park

In complete contrast, cycling from Porthmadog into the Snowdonia National Park is so very different from the LLyn Peninsula. One popular route is via Tremadog to Bedgellert passing rock climbers at Tremadog Cliffs, along windy roads. The seven mile route is mostly through forest, the Aberglaslyn and Aberglaslyn Pass, through to Beddgellert.

From Beddgellert, you can either take the road to Capel Curig, towards Llanberis Pass to Snowdon, 1085 m high-spectacular scenery with mountain forests and lakes as one cycles uphill for most of the journey. From that point, one can continue to Gwydyr Forest-the outdoor capital of North Wales-with over 7000 acres of managed woodland, an abundance of mountain streams, lakes and waterfalls, particularly Swallow Falls outside of Betwys y Coed. This has miles of new trails and forest roads.

Alternatively, one can cycle through Beddgellert Forest toward Rhyd Ddu and see the rugged landscape with the crags and ridges of Snowdonia, besides the newly built narrow gauge railway from Caernarfon. There are opportunities to cycle over mountain's bridleways.

Mountain Biking Trails

Coed y Brenin
On the road south of Porthmadog to Dolgellau, there is Coed y Brenin the award-winning forest centre and mountain bike Mecca. This boasts the the best purpose-built all weather tracks in the UK. The most demanding track is the Red Bull and MBR trails but the forest has tracks suitable for the whole family.

Coed y Brenin is home to some of the finest mountain biking in the UK with way marked technical trails and a newly opened family route. [ map & directions ]