Road touring around Wales

Currently thinking something along these lines, i've got 10 days to do the 1000km but quite keen to do some big days and maybe a rest day in the middle.

Never been to wales before so no idea if this is taking in the nice bits or not. Will be aiming to YHA (and maybe bivvy if there are some accessible by road) all the way as to be somewhat lighter to enjoy the hills, but packing an emergency bivvy just in case.

Should I be going somewhere? Should I not be going elsewhere? Pubs? Food? Climbs? Roads? Towns? I know nothing!

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42531637

I cannot help you with the South Wales but looking at the route I would suggest going south rom Ruthin to Corwen, then Lake Bala, the route to Lake Vyrnwy from there is very nice, also hilly. Continue to Llanfair Caereinion, Newtown (or cut across to Caerws, Llanidloes, then continue to your original route to Elan Valley.
Not saying the original route is not nice but the closer you get to the border the busier the roads get and the flatter the terrain.
Depending where you're starting from, from Llandudno you could go south towards Betws-y-Coed and keep moving south through Blaneau Ffestiniog, then Harlech (nice castle and view if the beaches from there) or if you go west at Betws-y-Coed you'll go last Capel Curig (nice hostel there).
Both routes are very nice.
Another option from Barmouth is to go towards Dolgellau which is a nice town, follow to Brithdir, to Corris (that route is part of the Mach Loop, a circuit used by the RAF to practice so you might be able to see from fighter jets flying low between hills to helicopters and so on.) There's not schedule, but you might get lucky and the regulars usually know, oh and they only practice weekdays. You can look it up on YouTube to give you an idea, it's quite impressive. You could then continue to Machynleth.
There are a few bothies you could use depending which route you take. One is near lake Bala, by a small lake. It's tiny 2 people max but there's room outside to pitch and it's quite sweet.
The other is near Beddgelert, quite big, sleep 12 or so. There's a bit of hill walking with the bike but doable.
They're both in the bothy website if interested.
There are plenty places to eat in the towns you'll be passing but there's absolute nothing from Betws-y-Coed past Blaneau Ffestiniog for example.
Hope that helps.

Consider adding the short ride from Llanwrtyd Wells over the devils staircase and stay at Dolgoch hostel. Some great and very quiet roads around there. Note there is no phone reception or shops.

https://www.komoot.com/tour/1076039366?ref=avs&share_token=a1NxnFdX0z7Za4BJ5qAfKN2NPB6dTGAdHn3bcgdq0qKR1hpUQI

https://www.elenydd-hostels.co.uk/en/our/dolgoch-hostel

Skip the menai straights bit its mostly a strip of pavement next to the main road. Take a right at llanberis after the lake . I would also pick up the lon las cycle map for info. I have done most of that so i will look into it.
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@ElGato This all sounds excellent, especially for the bothie recs (which is what i meant when i said bivvy) I'm definitely into steering clear of the busier roads and staying in the hills. Nice reminder on the lack of re-supply points in some areas, i'd heard this from friends who have done the bryan chapman, the space I save not bringing a tent can be filled with haribo and cheese sandwiches.

@spinnnout Done and done, Devil's staircase looks amazing, heres a great video
of a group of convertible Morgans going over it with some of the most perfect Balearic house in the background. Hostel looks great, noting for mine and others future reference that there's no electricity there so bring your powerbanks.

@pacef8 Thats a great shout, have picked up!

Devil's staircase looks amazing, heres a great video

Excellent ! I'm determined to take a GoPro next time I'm there.

I cannot remember where exactly but on my tour doing the lon las we did strata florida and the ford crossing that was balls deep . Maybe not one to do on your own as people have drowned crossing in a 4x4

Links of the two I've mentioned but you might potentially be passing others.

https://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/bothies/wales/cae-amos/

https://www.mountainbothies.org.uk/bothies/wales/arenig-fawr/

Llyn Brianne is pretty stunning to ride around too, if you've climbed devil's staircase, with a stunning descent to Ystradffin.

Further east the Wye Valley (which can be busy with traffic) and Gospel Pass might be worth including if possible? Both nice scenery

I lived in Wales for 13 years, it took me about 2 to tell the difference between angry and happy…it’s nearly always happy.

@SimonInd yeah did consider the wye valley, think it's too far east for the current route and timings.

@Alf0nse I'll go in assuming this and hope for the best. Any tell-tale signs to help?

Here's the version 2 of the route that takes some of these suggestions! I also hear there's a pie shop inside a Spar in Betws-y-Coed that I must go to. Got it as close to 1000km as I can be arsed.

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42541521?highlight=10924-18205
?highlight=10924-18205

Yeh the spa has a great cake shop and does its own barra brith . You will be eating grass by then.

Bit of a dredge, looking at doing a little west wales tour over the bank holiday, got a first draft and seen it looks pretty similar to @stephens;
https://www.komoot.com/tour/1793924065?ref=itd&share_token=aI1nPOZUQhYu471YpL4q2rJTCHTpIUPpkOuf2E66t27jV1ds48&ref=its

Has anyone got any advice for what I’m missing or anything to add on. I’ve done Caernarfon to Chepstow before and the dragon ride this year so looking to keep more West.
Cheers

I've done much of this route a few times from the south, up. A few of suggestions:

1. Use the bridge at Barmouth to cross the Mawddach then use the designated path to ride up the estuary to dolgellau. It is flat, traffic free and beautiful.
   
2. Cletwr cafe in Tre r ddol is a nice cake stop
   
3. From tal-y-bont take a left and head up to nant y moch reservoir. It is great riding, though some dodgytarmac on the way up. Once over the dam, head south through devils bridge and on to tregaron yo pick up your existing route.
   
4. Coffi barra in tregaron does fantastic pastry. Closes at 2pm though.
   
   

Enjoy, there is some wonderful riding on the route.

Thanks for the advice, added it on to the route. What’s the road condition like on path by Barmouth, all I can see on maps makes it look pretty gravely and looks like rain so can see it being effort to get through on a road bike

I'd recommend crossing the Barmouth Viaduct (which is super cool but a bit bumpy) and taking the bike path along the south side of the river/estuary. It's a packed gravel path but very ridable, I did it on 25's, away from cars and only a few walkers and dogs to content with. here's my day 3 route

Edit: just realised JustJ4 said exactly this already, well have it again!

Dolgellau is really nice as well, i'd head to DD's bakery for some filled rolls, eat one there and pack a few more to have after you get over the climb before Aberllefenni Slate Quarry.

2 independent recommendations for the trail is good enough for me, will route that on tonight as well.
Good selection of on route bakeries to match as well, shaping up to be a good weekend

This looks great. Temporarily unemployed next month so thinking of taking five days to do some light touring from north to south wales, using much of your route down the coast.

Any tips on accommodation? YHAs seems to be the way to go. I’ll be doing it Sunday to Friday so shouldn’t have any issues getting rooms.

1. This hostel near Snowdonia is excellent. Old school breeze block vibes: https://www.basecamp.wales/
   
2. If you want an even more old-school experience, these are pretty unbeatable. We stayed in January in mad weather: https://www.elenydd-hostels.co.uk/en
   
3. Finally, I had this place to myself in August. Rhydian the owner is mega sound: https://independenthostels.co.uk/members/cabancaronhostel/
   

I booked out Ty'n Cornel for a friend's stag weekend some years ago...it's always such an adventure arriving by bike in the dark! What a wonderful place to stay.

Other top recs:

Toad Hall in Machynlleth - https://independenthostels.co.uk/members/toadhall/
(when I first stayed there it was temporarily run by an eccentric American guy travelling very slowly around the world on his 29er)

Middle Ninfa in South Wales - http://middleninfa.co.uk/

Yes! We came up and over the mental pass from Llyn Brianne in the pitch-black driving rain. It was quite a mental end to a long day on the bike. Some details here:

• https://www.instagram.com/p/C24QllFsfkb/
  
• https://www.komoot.com/highlight/5776804
  

Dolgoch is incredible yes! Stayed there on the penultimate night of the above tour. We got to it over the Devil's staircase. My favourite of the 'Devil's' something that the British landscape is littered with.

the library had a great cycling scrapbook of some (amazingly apt) literature on touring around the area.

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Dolgoch is incredible yes! Stayed there on the penultimate night of the above tour. We got to it over the Devil's staircase. My favourite of the 'Devil's' something that the British landscape is littered with.

the library had a great cycling scrapbook of some (amazingly apt) literature on touring around the area.

3 Attachments