Trans Cambrian Way
Cycle through the heart of Wales on a self-guided MTB holiday along the Trans Cambrian Way. With accommodation and luggage transfers.
Trans Cambrian Way
https://contourscycle.co.uk/trans-cambrian-way
Ride 102 miles off-road across the heart of Mid Wales, from Knighton to Dovey Junction.
From £435 per person
From £435 per person
From the English Border to the Irish Sea, the Trans Cambrian Way mountain biking route shoulders through the oldest mountain range in Europe to uncover the utter wilderness of Mid Wales. Through these sparsely populated landscapes, this self-guided mountain biking holiday charges along rocky technical trails, gravel paths beside Wales’ famous reservoirs, and through pine forest with fast single track descents to keep you busy.
There are numerous climbs to scale, but each and every effort delivers miles of adventure. You’ll enjoy a huge variety of scenery out here, between the dramatic landscape of the Cambrian hills, the green slopes of the Elan Valley and miles of wild open moorland. Cycling holidays along the Trans Cambrian Way are a whopping 70% off-road. The trail occasionally follows the route of Glyndwr’s Way and passes close by the sources of both Severn and Wye rivers. Cycle-friendly Welsh villages promise a decent pint and a bed at the end of each day.
Touring high above the endless hills of Wales, with staggering emptiness in all directions.
Blasting through the Elan Valley, with its great descents over enormous reservoirs and the odd ford in the mix.
Completing a trail that’s just over 100 miles long and crosses Wales from border to coast.
| Code | Tour | Duration | Price per person | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| C-TCW-MB1 | From Knighton to Dovey Junction (for Machynlleth) | 2 days riding | £435 | |
| C-TCW-MB2 | From Knighton to Dovey Junction (for Machynlleth) | 3 days riding | £555 | |
| C-TCW-MB3 | From Knighton to Dovey Junction (for Machynlleth) | 4 days riding | £685 |
Travel to Knighton where your first night's accommodation will be booked
Knighton to Pontrhydfendigaid. 53 miles (85km) / 4600 ft (1402 m) ascent
Pontrhydfendigaid to Dovey Junction (for Machynlleth). 49.5 miles (79km) / 4498 ft (1371 m) ascent
Depart from Dovey Junction (for Machynlleth) after breakfast
The daily mileages quoted are average trail miles only and do not include the distance from the trail to your accommodation. We do not expect you to have to travel more than 2.5 miles from the trail to your accommodation.
Below are the additional costs that may apply depending on your requirements. Our standard prices per person are based upon two people sharing a room; if you are on your own, or are part of a group but require a room of your own, then the Solo Traveller or Single Supplements apply respectively:
You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:
Touring high above the endless hills of Wales, with staggering emptiness in all directions.
Blasting through the Elan Valley, with its great descents over enormous reservoirs and the odd ford in the mix.
Completing a trail that’s just over 100 miles long and crosses Wales from border to coast.
You can add rest days at any of the overnight stops:
The Trans Cambrian Way includes a couple of steep climbs, occasionally on grassy surfaces that can be more challenging after wet weather, along with some longer, steady ascents that take you into the hills beyond and that staple of Wales: the steady dip and climb as you cross the many slopes of its endless hills and valleys.
The undulations of the first day give way to an easy descent into Rhayader, followed by a steep but rideable tarmac ascent the next day. Steady rising and falling becomes a staple again until the Trans Cambrian Way hits the long but spectacular climb from Ystwyth Valley, with a fast descent into the coniferous woodland of Esgair Ychion. The trail climbs again into the moors above Dylife, with a brilliant sliding slate descent down Foel Fadian to a sharp but not-too-long-climb at the end. There are several steep inclines on the final stretch into Dovey Junction, but with two excellent descents along the way, you’ll soon reach the final tapering downhill into Dovey Junction itself, or the cycle-path to take you into Owain Glyndŵr’s ancient capital of Wales at Machynlleth.
The Trans Cambrian Way is 70% off-road. It favours a mix of gravel tracks and trails over grassy fields and moorland, but weaves in stretches of single-track and some technical sections on the rockier, narrower trails. The slate dressing used in Wales can be daunting at first, with plenty of skittering about, but riding it becomes second nature after a while.
We recommend you have experience riding off road before attempting the Trans Cambrian Way. A mountain bike is by far the best choice, hardtail or full suspension.
To find out more about the weather forecast for your chosen holiday's general location, please see the following websites:
