Overview
This centre-based long weekend showcases the very best cycling of this unique region. Based in our excellent hotel in Caernarfon we’ll be riding out each day, soaking up the mountain vistas, exploring quaint Welsh villages, sampling local food, and admiring incredible coastal scenery. We have three main rides, two in Snowdonia National Park and one on Anglesey. There are two route options on two of the days in the itinerary, we can of course tailor the routes to suit the needs of the group.
On a single day here you can ride over a tidal estuary, encounter sand dunes and golden beaches, then up onto the wild roads of Snowdonia, over huge mountain passes lined with vertiginous cliffs, thundering rivers and countless resident sheep. The riding is varied, from narrow and slightly undulating country lanes to challenging climbs on roads that carve their way through open expanses of craggy peaks.
Highlights
- Breathtaking mountain scenery of Snowdonia National Park
- Conquering the mighty Pen y Pas (359m) at the foot of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)
- Visiting the picture-postcard village of Beddgelert
- Descending the exhilarating Llanberis pass
- Crossing impressive Menai Suspension Bridge onto Anglesey
- Relaxing in our comfortable, excellent quality hotel at the end of each day
- Admiring Caernarfon Castle, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Sampling food and drink from locally-owned cafes, pubs and restaurants
Our Star Ratings
Here is an explanation of our cycling trip grades. Please bear in mind that total ascent, wind, rain and general riding conditions can play as important factors as the daily distances involved. Whilst we have stated some example distances, the overall difficulty assigned to each trip will encompass a range of these factors. If you are at all unsure of whether you think the trip is suitable, please contact us.
Easy: Suitable for those new to cycling seeking an introductory and very relaxed yet active experience on two wheels. Easy riding on short, flat and/or gently undulating routes. Approx 20 – 40 miles a day
Relaxed: Undulating terrain with occasional minor undulations for semi-regular novices who wish to develop fitness and ability. May include a few short steep climbs. Approx 40 – 50 miles a day
Moderate: Designed for cyclists with a good level of riding experience and fitness, and are comfortable riding for full days in the saddle. Routes will include some steep and/or sustained climbs. Not for those completely new to cycling. Approx 50 – 80 miles a day
Challenging: Routes with multiple steep and sustained climbs and technical descents and/or long distances. Riders need to be have a high level of fitness and stamina in addition to experience in riding over extended distances and/or tackling long ascents and descents. Approx 70 – 110 miles a day
Advanced: Designed for experienced cyclists with an excellent level of fitness and stamina. Routes are consistently long with multiple serious and steep ascents and descents throughout. High altitude ascents may be undertaken followed by technically demanding descents. Approx 80 – 120 miles a day
Itinerary
Day 1: Meet at Caernarfon hotel or Bangor train station
The Cycling in Snowdonia and Anglesey trip begins in our hotel in Caernarfon. If you’re driving then we’ll meet you at the hotel and give details on where to park. If you prefer to arrive by public transport we can meet you at Bangor train station (daily direct trains from London and other major rail hubs throughout the UK) to transfer you, your bikes and luggage to our hotel in Caernarfon. At the hotel you will be met by the More Adventure team for a trip briefing and evening meal in preparation for tomorrow’s ride.
Day 2: Beddgelert and Betws-y-Coed loop
(117km & 1700m⇧ or 72km & 1000m⇧)
(73 miles & 5600 feet⇧ or 45 miles & 3300 feet⇧)
After breakfast in our hotel, we’ll begin our first ride of the trip. We have two options today, a demanding 117km ride or a shorter but still challenging 72km ride into Snowdonia National Park. The two rides begin by heading southwest towards the mouth of the Menai Strait before cutting inland to Penygroes where the mountains loom ahead. Our first climb tackles the valley east of here, the road flanked either side by disused mining operations and wild farmland as we approach Llyn y Dywarchen at the summit. A fantastic descent leads to Rhyd Ddu (Black Ford) then onto Beddgelert, a popular tourist village whose name translates as Gelert’s Grave in English. From Beddgelert the two routes split, with the shorter route tackling the spectacular Nant Gwynant climb up to the Pen y Gwryd hotel where you’ll be torn between pedalling and stopping for photos as the views back down the valley are simply stupendous.
The longer route continues southeast to tackle one of the biggest climbs in the area – the Crimea Pass (385m). Named after the Crimea War which was being fought at the same time as the road was being built, this mighty climb is undeniably one of the finest in Wales. We begin our ascent at Tan-y-bwlch then skirt around the historic mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog to the summit beneath Moel Dyrnogydd. A wonderful descent follows the river Lledr to Betws-y-Coed, a popular tourist village where we’ll regather and stop for refreshments. Our route continues west back into the heart of Snowdonia, climbing gradually through a wooded valley to Capel Curig. Here we turn left and continue to the Pen y Gwryd hotel. This historic hotel was used as a base for aspiring mountaineers when training for climbs in the greater ranges, including Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay! It also marks the point at which our two routes of the day converge. From the hotel we’ll tackle the final kilometre to Pen-y-Pass (359m) which is the starting point for most people climbing Snowdon. A definite highlight of the day is the road on the other side, the jaw-dropping descent of the Llanberis Pass, carving through a deep valley lined with vertigo-inducing cliffs. We pop out in the tourist town of Llanberis from which it’s a few kilometres back to our hotel in Caernarfon.
Day 3: Ogwen Valley and Nant Gwynant
(89km & 1300m⇧ / 55 miles & 4300 feet⇧)
After a good night’s rest we begin our second day cycling, starting with a gentle pedal along the Menai Strait northeast of Caernarfon. We’ll cut inland through open farmland to Llanrug before tackling our first climb on a lesser-known road above the town of Llanberis. On a clear day we’ll enjoy views of the summit of Snowdon, down to magical Llyn (lake) Padarn below, the peaks of the Glyders beyond and the glistening sea in the distance behind us. After many photos and a breather we’ll descend into Llanberis and ride around the lake to the start of our second climb through ancient woodland, opening out onto the moors beyond Dinorwig. A short descent leads to the foot of the Ogwen Valley just south of Bethesda. It’s impossible to ignore the presence of the once-thriving slate industry in this part of Wales. Welsh slate once “roofed the world”, with huge global exports providing employment for many people of the region, many of which were employed in nearby Penrhyn quarry which we’ll ride directly beneath. We turn off the main road and ascend the valley along Lon Las Ogwen (The Ogwen Trail), which mainly follows the route of the old railway line that brought slate down the valley from Bethesda slate quarry to the coast, where it was shipped around the world.
It’s a relatively gentle climb with two short and sharp sections near the top, but the views of the wide open valley behind are completely worth the effort. We’ll stop briefly at Ogwen Cottage on the banks of the lake, where you’ll see the shark fin peak of Tryfan towering above. On a clear day you can see Adam & Eve, two distinctive summit rocks that many people jump across when reaching the top of this mighty mountain. From here we descend to Capel Curig then turn right back up to the Pen y Gwryd hotel, this time continuing straight to descend the road above Nant Gwynant. It’s exhilarating, with immaculate tarmac, sweeping turns, and views that are difficult not to stop for. At Beddgelert we continue northwest towards Rhyd Ddu then ride along the beautiful banks of Llyn Cwellyn and back to our hotel.
Day 4: Anglesey loop
(114km & 1400m⇧ or 98km & 1200m⇧)
(71 miles & 4600 feet⇧ or 61 miles & 4300 feet⇧)
In order to maximise our time on Anglesey, we’ll quickly transfer any vehicles over to Bangor train station after breakfast (you can of course ride there from our hotel if you desire, it’s about 10km). There are two route options today, with one slightly longer than the other, so we can decide the night before which is best. A different riding experience altogether is to be had on Anglesey. It feels extremely remote in places, with only narrow country lanes, fields, the sea and sheep, as far as you can see. Don’t be fooled though, although the island doesn’t boast mountain passes, it certainly has its fair share of short and sharp climbs. We begin by crossing the Menai Strait over the Menai Suspension Bridge. Built by Thomas Telford and opened in 1826, it was the first suspension bridge in the world, and is a truly magnificent structure. Our route begins through open farmland heading northwest to Llangefni, Anglesey’s county town, which once held the largest cattle market on the island. We descend through Bodedern to sea level and to the small village of Valley. Just beyond here is where our two routes split with the longer route crossing over Four Mile Bridge. Four Mile Bridge is actually the name of the village that spans both sides of the Cymyran Strait connecting Anglesey with Holy Island. The bridge itself is named for being roughly four miles from Holyhead, not for being four miles long! From here we continue onto Holy Island to the beach at Trearddur Bay before following the coastal road to Yns Lawd (South Stack).
This protected nature reserve is extremely popular with bird watchers and home to one of Wales’ most spectacular lighthouses, perched on an impressive spit of land jutting out into the Irish Sea. Until 1828 when a suspension bridge was built, the only way of crossing the narrow channel between the mainland and the island was in a basket suspended above the crashing seas on hemp rope! After some photos and a breather, we head back along South Stack road to Four Mile Bridge where both routes once again converge. Back on Anglesey’s main island, we skirt the RAF Valley base and pass between Llyn Penrhyn and Llyn Traffwll. Our next stop is the pretty village of Rhosneigr which is situated on a series of long sandy beaches that are popular with wind and kite surfers. Continuing east, we’ll briefly drop down to the sensational sandy dunes of Newborough Beach. From the shore sticks out Llanddwyn Island, home to a ruined church that once belonged to Saint Dwynwen, the Welsh patron saint of lovers. We hope you’ll agree, it is certainly very difficult not to fall in love with this part of the world! From Newborough we head northeast back to the Menai Bridge then end our ride at Bangor train station. Here the trip ends and we say our farewells.
Please note
The trip begins in the evening of Day 1 but if you’d prefer to join us in the morning of Day 2 in time for the first ride, then no problem, just let us know. We have three main rides, two in Snowdonia National Park and one on Anglesey. There are two route options on two of the days in the itinerary, we can of course tailor the routes and trip length to suit the needs of the group.
If you are booking alone please ensure you select the single room supplement.
We can run this trip with smaller numbers of riders which means we can confirm trips earlier. Where this is the case, it will be guided by a cycle leader but without a support vehicle.
FAQs
Can I join you on the morning of the first ride instead of the night before?
Sure no problem, just let us know when you book.
Is it possible to extend this trip?
Absolutely! There are numerous options to extend this trip, with further excellent cycling on Anglesey, the Lleyn Peninsula, and to the east towards the Great Orme and Llandudno.
How do I get to the start of the trip?
If you're driving, Caernarfon is roughly 2 hours directly west of the M6. If you're arriving by public transport, there are direct trains to Bangor from London and various other main train hubs throughout the UK.
Can I arrive early to explore?
Yes! There's plenty to see and do in the area, including countless hiking opportunities, several stunning castles, vast sandy beaches and plenty more!
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