Welsh riding: Snowdonia vs Beacons

Simon Notley

Not strictly touring as such, as we're planning on working from a fixed base, but I'm hoping to get away to Wales in a few weeks with a couple of friends and our bikes (racers, so no muddy bridleways please!).

I've been charged with deciding on the location and had been thinking Snowdonia (after reading a C+ article about a ride there), however the Brecon Beacons have now been proposed as an alternative.

My friends are both young and fit, although not regular cyclists and we'd be looking at riding maybe 60 miles a day for 4 or 5 days. Any thoughts on the relative merits of these locations for this kind of riding? Quality of roads/scenery etc?

Cheers

Simon

bucksmatt

If it matters to you, it's probably fair to say that the Beacons area has a denser network of minor roads - ie most of the routes through Snowdonia tend to be A roads, which could well be chock-a-block with caravans when you're thinking of going there.

I must admit that although I've ridden in both areas, I know the Beacons - particularly the eastern Black Mountains end - better. Haven't done it in a number of years, but the Gospel Pass road from Hay to Abergavenny is a stunner. Given your proposed daily mileage you could explore the stunning scenery northwards either side of the Wye or northwest in the Elenith mountains for variety as well as the National Park itself, especially if you based yourselves somewhere midway. That said, I have heard that accommodation's being squeezed at the moment in the whole area because of all the workers involved in building the new gas pipeline from Milford Haven.

littlestwoo

Hi Simon,

The choice is yours, I haven't got any experience of riding in the Brecons, but I'll tell you about Snowdonia,

Bucksmatt is right, the majority of Sowdonias roads are A-roads, if you are there mid-week they are generally empty, plus they are absolutely stunning!

Very close by you have also got Anglesey (Ynys Mon) which is a cycling paradise, a network of minor roads which you will see very little traffic on

Joining onto Snowdonia between Canaerfon and Portmadog is the Llyn Peninsula, again absolutely breath taking and beutiful.

spend a few days cycling the psses balanced with a few flat days on the island or the Llyn. Pack your swimmers and combine a cafe stop with a swim in the sea, a couple of hundred miles of coastline.

I am biased due to fact I live here, but the above is the main reason I do, beaches and mountains!

Steve