The RideCymru challenge starts in the beautiful town of Llandudno, easily accessible by train from across the UK via Manchester Piccadilly.

Sheltered from the Irish Sea by the Great Orme limestone headland, Llandudno traces its origins back to the Bronze Age, but it was during the Victorian era that it blossomed into a vibrant seaside resort town. With its many pubs, restaurants, and cafes, it’s worth arriving early the day before departing to soak in the atmosphere.

Day One of RideCymru sets the tone for the entire ride almost from the very first pedal stroke. Departing Llandudno, you’ll head immediately up and around the Great Orme, a mighty limestone peninsula jutting out into the Irish Sea. Its name means ‘sea serpent’ in ancient Norse – a fittingly fearsome title for the climb which introduces perhaps RideCymru’s most challenging day.

After passing by the ancient Conwy Castle, you’ll enter Eryri National Park, home to the highest mountains in Wales including Eryri (Snowdonia) itself. A series of challenging climbs punctuate the day, culminating with the epic ‘Three Gates’ ascent: a four-mile, 1300-foot climb up and out of Dolgellau, before the final descent into Machynlleth for a some well-earned recovery.

To call Machynlleth ‘historic’ is something of an understatement. A Royal Charter granted by Edward I in 1291 gave Owen de la Pole, Lord of Powys, the right to hold “a market at Machynlleth every Wednesday for ever and two fairs every year”. Today, almost 750 years later, that market continues to serve the town every week.

Machynlleth was also the site of Owain Glyndŵr’s coronation as the Prince of Wales in 1404. Today, the Machynlleth Comedy Festival draws visitors from around the UK to the town every May.

Day Two begins with a long climb out of Machynlleth – take a moment to look in the rear view mirror for sweeping views of Eryri’s southern peaks. Upon reaching the top, you’ll descent onto the Elenydd plateau, never dropping below 400 feet in elevation for the rest of the day.

Remote and sparsely populated, the Elenydd or ‘Desert of Wales’ is one of Britain’s most inaccessible regions. Mile upon isolated mile of unrivalled isolation and natural beauty awaits. Crossing Britain’s longest river, the Severn, just outside Llanidloes, you’ll ride down the stunning Wye Valley for 25 undulating miles before leaving the river at Builth Wells.

After crossing the vast, wild Sennybridge Training Area, the third largest military training area in the United Kingdom, you’ll then sweep back towards the east towards Brecon, where your finish line awaits. Keep your eyes to the right for unspoilt views of the iconic Brecon Beacons and Pen Y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales.

Sharing its name with the nearby Brecon Beacons, the ancient town of Brecon traces its origins back to Roman times, where its strategic location on the River Usk led to the establishment of a nearby Roman fort, Y Gaer in 75 AD. 1000 years later, the invading Normans built a castle in the town, which has withstood multiple sieges and battles to remaining standing today.

As with so many sites on the RideCymru route, Owain Glyndŵr’s story is woven into the fabric of Brecon, with the town walls having been fortified in 1404 to protect it from his forces. Today, only fragments of the wall survive, much having been destroyed in the English Civil War.

Departing Brecon, you’ll skirt through Hay-on-Wye, the “town of books”, hugging the Anglo-Welsh border before starting on perhaps the most iconic climb of the entire RideCymru route, Gospel Pass.

Climbing to an altitude of 1800ft over the course of 5 miles, the highest road in Wales winds its way between the Twmpa and Hay Bluff in the Black Mountains. Your reward for the challenge is the spectacular Vale of Ewyas descent on the other side!

Following Gospel Pass and the isolation of central Wales, civilisation gradually makes itself known again as you pass through Abergavenny and around the industrial city of Newport. There’s just one final, tough ascent up and over Caerphilly Mountain to conquer before you make your way into the heart of the Welsh capital to City Hall, where your RideCymru journey comes to a glorious end.

Home to countless historic sites, including the Senedd Building (Welsh Parliament), the Wales Millennium Centre, and the 11th century Cardiff Castle, Cardiff’s vibrant city centre and stunning bay make it the ideal place to spend an evening unwinding before returning home. The city’s fast transport links, however, mean getting around the UK is no problem, with regular trains travelling to London in less than two hours.