Thursday: Holyhead - Caernarfon (30 miles - 3.5 hours)
Holyhead - Menai bridge - direct on the A5 - 22miles / 2.5hrs / 320m ascent
Menai bridge - Caernarfon - NCN8 - 8.5miles / 1h / 70m ascent
Notes:
Menai bridge - Caernarfon - NCN8 - 8.5miles / 1h / 70m ascent
Notes:
- pretty flat and fast, mostly road surface.
- The A5 route will save us about an hour on the sustrans route and allow us to get into Caernarfon in plenty of time for dinner.
- Staying at Cartref Guest house
Friday: Caernarfon - Barmouth (51miles - 8-9 hours)
Caernarfon - Penygroes - Portmadog - 29miles / 4h / 480m (steep ascent out
of Criccieth) (shortcut 20miles /3h)
Portmadog - Barmouth - 22miles / 4-5h / 620m (some very steep gradients
before flatter ride to Barmouth)
Notes:
of Criccieth) (shortcut 20miles /3h)
Portmadog - Barmouth - 22miles / 4-5h / 620m (some very steep gradients
before flatter ride to Barmouth)
Notes:
- there is 1100m of climbing today.
- Staying at Crystal House B&B
Saturday: Barmouth - Llandidloes (61m - 8-10 hours)
Barmouth - Dolgellau 10miles / 1h /20m
Dolgellau - Corris - Machynlleth - 28miles/ 3-4h/620m (route now takes to
hills with significant cumulative ascent)
Machynlleth - Landidloes - 23miles/4-5h/780m ascent (mountain road climbs to 509m)
Notes:
Dolgellau - Corris - Machynlleth - 28miles/ 3-4h/620m (route now takes to
hills with significant cumulative ascent)
Machynlleth - Landidloes - 23miles/4-5h/780m ascent (mountain road climbs to 509m)
Notes:
- 1400m of climbing - it's the start of the big hills.
- out of dolgellau 7km ascent first 2km steep followed by steep bits then 180m in 1.6km (10%+). Then 4km downhill, then up and down before run down into machynlleth.
- from Machynlleth there is a gentle ascent for 4km, then starts in earnest with 400m climb in 7km. false summits and steep sting in the tail.
- 5km descent is a joy
- Staying at Unicorn hotel
Sunday: Llandidloes - Brecon (64miles - 11 hours)
Landidloes - Rhayader - 15m/3h/490m
Rhayader - Builth wells - 17m/3h/430m
Builth wells - Glasbury - 16m/2h/190m
Glasbury - Brecon - 16m/3h/360m (one significant and steep ascent)
Notes:
Rhayader - Builth wells - 17m/3h/430m
Builth wells - Glasbury - 16m/2h/190m
Glasbury - Brecon - 16m/3h/360m (one significant and steep ascent)
Notes:
- biggest day of climbing with over 1 mile today!
- A long day of cycling but not very far which means lots of hills.
- Staying at The Beacons Guest House
Monday: Brecon - Cardiff (52miles - 7-8 hours)
Brecon - Merthyr - 23m/4-5h/540m (a major ascent and descent)
Merthyr - Cardiff - 29m/3h/90m (easy cycling)
Notes:
Merthyr - Cardiff - 29m/3h/90m (easy cycling)
Notes:
- A hilly start then a gentle 30 miles into Cardiff for a celebratory drink and the train home.