Cycling holidays in Wales
Builth Wells Cycles
Mountain bikes hire all sizes available. Guided rides also for all abilities, including families, with tag a long and buggies for hire. Discounts for group bookings.
Contact: John Lloyd on 01982 552923. Email bwcycles@aol.com
Clive Powell Mountain Bike
This mountain bike centre specialises in all inclusive guided dirty weekends with good accommodation and great food. The well stocked shop operates a repair service and they also offer a good range of good quality rental bikes.
Contact: Clive Powell on 01597 811343
www.clivepowell-mtb.co.uk
The Elan Valley Trail
Cycling around the Elan Valley with its five Victorian Dams and reservoirs is a truly memorable experience. The lakes are set in 70 square miles of the Elan Valley Estate, are three miles from the A470 at Rhayader. There are stunning views and wildlife. The dams were built in the late nineteenth century to collect water for the ever expanding population of Birmingham. The Claerwen, Caban-coch, Garreg-ddu, Penygarreg, and Craig Goch reservoirs still supply Birmingham with water. The Birmingham Corporation Railway was built during the construction period to transport materials, and it is this railway line which the Elan Valley Trails follows for over 10 Km.
The trail is flat and has self-closing gates and regular stopping points with seating where you can rest and enjoy the view. The trail starts at Cwmdauddwr on the outskirts of Rhayader and finishes 13 Km further up the Elan Valley at Craig Goch Reservoir. The Elan Valley Trail offers the perfect opportunity for peaceful, easy cycling in beautiful countryside.
Contact: 01597 810880/01597 810898
Email: info@elanvalley.org.uk
www.elanvalley.org.uk
The Radnor Ring
A spectacular 86 mile waymarked circular ride through the heart of rural Mid Wales taking in Llandrindod Wells, Rhayader, Knighton, Presteigne, Kington and Gladestry. It is also known as the Regional Route 25, part of the National Cycle Network. For those with mountain bike skills, there are exciting off road alternatives. It links with National Cycle Route 8 to complete the circuit.
The ride is described on an excellent large full colour map on sale for £5 which includes route profiles, background detail about places of interest and information about cycle shops, rail links and TICs.
Contact: Powys County Council, Neuadd Brycheiniog, Cambrian Way, Brecon, LD3 7HR
Nant-Yr-Arian
This route starts 8 miles due East on Aberystwyth Road. Several routes are marked starting at the Forest Visitor Centre where they feed the Red Kites daily at 2pm in the winter and 3pm in the summer. Nant-yr-Arian combine new sections of hand built singletrack, with longer natural routes. These use fire road and natural high mountain trails to create challenging often technical routes combining stunning scenery and strenuous riding. These trails have been developed to provide excellent all weather riding.
Llanwrtyd Wells
Although officially Britains smallest town, has been big on mountain biking since it began, with the famous Man v Horse v Bike back in operation (usually in June) The waymarked riding includes low to mid level CTC routes, following minor roads, green lanes and forest tracks through the beautiful river valleys and rolling hills. There's also a great number of trails leading into more challenging mountain areas, making this a perfect short break centre for every level of rider.
Email: llanwrtydtouristinformation@yahoo.co.uk
www.llanwrytd-wells.powys.org.uk
