The numbers don’t lie – RideCymru is ‘grippy’.
That’s because the route has been designed specifically to take you off the beaten track, showcasing some of the hidden corners of Wales’ most spectacular landscapes. But there’s no getting away from it – this is a ride where all but the most lightweight climbers will spend a fair bit of time getting familiar with their granny gear.
If that’s whetted your appetite, check out three of the incredible mountainous landscapes you can look forward to traversing at the RideCymru Pioneer Event this September.
Eryri (Snowdonia)
Home to Wales’ tallest peak, Eryri National Park comprises 800 square miles of protected natural beauty, or almost 10% of the country.
Once kept afloat by a thriving slate mining industry, Eryri was described in days gone by as having ‘roofed the world’. Today, it is one of the UK’s major tourist destinations, and Eryri’s mighty mountains offer a magnificent backdrop for Day One of the RideCymru route.
The Cambrian Mountains
On Day Two of RideCymru, the route passes through the sparsely populated uplands of Central Wales and the grassy, rolling peaks of the Cambrian Mountains.
Less celebrated than their Northern and Southern neighbours, these barren hills offer riders a taste of true wilderness, spanning an isolated region known colloquially as the Desert of Wales. The Cambrian Mountains are also home to the sources of the Wye and Severn Rivers, the latter of which is the longest in Great Britain.
The Black Mountains
The easternmost of the four ranges of hills comprising Brecon Beacons National Park, the Black Mountains reach across the England-Wales border into Herefordshire.
Popular with walkers due to the many ridge trails on offer, the Black Mountains are home to Wales’ highest paved road, Gospel Pass – a challenging cycle, to say the least. But the rewards will be well worth it, with a long descent into Abergavenny preceding the final stretch into Cardiff.
Assuming all this talk of mountains hasn’t put you off – entries will open to the 2025 RideCymru Pioneer Event on Tuesday 11th March. Make sure you have registered your interest to be the first in line!
Images: © Hawlfraint y Goron / © Crown copyright (2022) Cymru Wales
