Wales is a brilliant country to explore by bike. We have over 1,200 miles of signed Sustrans National Cycle Network routes, a landscape that takes in everything from mountain passes to coastal estuaries, and a rail network that puts you within easy reach of some of the finest rides in Britain.
Whether you're after a gentle family day out on a flat traffic-free trail, a weekend challenge through the mountains, or the ultimate long-distance adventure, Wales has a route for you. Better still, you can take your bike on our trains and mix cycling with rail travel to make the most of it.
Read on for our favourite cycling routes in Wales, all accessible by train.
Taking your bike on the train in Wales
Bikes travel free on Transport for Wales services, but spaces are limited and must be booked in advance on many of our routes. Check our website for the latest information on taking bikes on trains before you travel, and always book your bike space at the same time as purchasing your ticket.
Our favourite cycling routes in Wales
Here are our top five cycling routes in Wales, from short family rides to epic multi-day adventures.
1. The Taff Trail
Distance: 55 miles (88km)
Ability: Moderate, with some challenging sections
Closest station: Cardiff Central
Highlight: Cardiff Bay to the heart of Bannau Brycheiniog
The Taff Trail is one of the great Welsh cycling routes, running for 55 miles from Cardiff Bay north to the market town of Brecon. It follows the course of the River Taff through a remarkable variety of landscapes, from Cardiff's city parks and the fairy tale turrets of Castell Coch to the industrial heritage of Merthyr Tydfil and the open moorland of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park.
The trail starts just a short ride from Cardiff Central station, making it one of the most straightforward long-distance routes to access by train. For those not tackling the full 55 miles, the route is easily broken into sections. Pontypridd and Merthyr Tydfil both have Transport for Wales stations, meaning you can plan a linear ride and take the train home. The surface is a mix of riverside paths, railway paths and forest roads, so a sturdier bike is recommended for the full route.
2. Mawddach Trail
Distance: 9.5 miles (15km) one way, 19 miles (30km) return
Ability: Easy, suitable for all ages and abilities
Closest station: Barmouth
Highlight: Cycling across the Victorian railway bridge over the Mawddach Estuary
Ask any cyclist in Wales for their favourite short ride and the Mawddach Trail is rarely far from the answer. This almost entirely traffic-free path follows a former Victorian railway line along the southern edge of the Mawddach Estuary, with Cadair Idris rising to the south and the Rhinog hills to the north. The views are extraordinary for a route this flat and accessible.
The trail runs from the handsome grey stone town of Dolgellau to the seaside resort of Barmouth, finishing with a crossing of the three-quarter mile Victorian railway bridge over the mouth of the estuary. Barmouth station sits on the Cambrian Coast line, with Morfa Mawddach station also along the route, making a one-way ride and train return a very satisfying option. The surface is compacted gravel for most of its length, suitable for most bikes, including hybrids and bikes with child trailers.
3. Lôn Las Cymru
Distance: 370 miles (596km) in full
Ability: Challenging, best tackled in sections
Closest station: Cardiff Central (southbound start) or Holyhead (northbound start)
Highlight: The full length of Wales, from Cardiff Bay to Holyhead
Lôn Las Cymru, National Cycle Network Route 8, is the big one. Running the full length of Wales from Cardiff to Holyhead, it crosses three mountain ranges, passes through two national parks and takes in some of the most dramatic and varied scenery in the country. It's a serious undertaking in full, typically taking between four and seven days for experienced riders, but it can just as easily be enjoyed in sections over several trips.
The southern section starts near Cardiff Central station and follows the Taff Trail north before crossing the Cambrian Mountains and descending to the coast at Barmouth. The northern section picks up from Machynlleth, heads through Eryri and finishes across the Menai Strait to Holyhead. With Transport for Wales stations at intervals along the route, including Cardiff, Pontypridd, Merthyr Tydfil, Machynlleth, Barmouth and Bangor, it's perfectly suited to a mix of cycling and rail travel.
4. Lôn Las Menai and Lôn Eifion
Distance: 16.6 miles (27km) combined, one way
Ability: Easy, completely traffic-free
Closest station: Bangor
Highlight: Castle views, coastal woodland and the peaks of Eryri
For a completely traffic-free ride in North Wales that packs in castle views, coastal woodland and some of the finest mountain scenery in Wales, this combination route is hard to beat. Lôn Las Menai follows a former railway line from Caernarfon along the shore of the Menai Strait to the old slate harbour of Y Felinheli, with views across the water to Anglesey throughout. From Caernarfon, Lôn Eifion heads south along the trackbed of the Welsh Highland Railway for 12 miles to the rural village of Bryncir, with the peaks of Eryri rising to the east.
From Bangor station, buses run regularly to Caernarfon, from where the traffic-free routes begin. Both sections are tarmacked and rated as easy, making this a genuinely relaxed day out. Caernarfon itself is worth a longer visit, with its UNESCO World Heritage Site castle standing at the start of the route.
5. The Celtic Trail
Distance: Around 200 miles (320km) in full, or ride individual sections
Ability: Moderate, with sections suitable for all abilities
Closest station: Multiple, including Swansea, Tenby and Pembroke Dock
Highlight: Sweeping coastal scenery from Swansea Bay to Pembrokeshire
The Celtic Trail (National Cycle Network Route 4) traces a course across South and West Wales from Chepstow to St Davids, following coastal paths, riverside trails, old railway lines and quiet lanes. It's one of the most scenically varied long-distance routes in Wales, passing through the Gower Peninsula, the broad sweep of Carmarthen Bay and the dramatic cliffs and coves of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
The trail is well-served by Transport for Wales stations throughout. Swansea is a natural starting point for the western sections, from where the route follows the famous five-mile sweep of Swansea Bay towards Mumbles before heading west into Carmarthenshire. Further along, Tenby and Pembroke Dock stations put you within easy reach of some of the most spectacular coastal stretches of the whole route. As with Lôn Las Cymru, the Celtic Trail lends itself perfectly to being enjoyed in sections over multiple trips.
Before you go, check our journey planner to plan your route to the start of your ride. Remember to book your bike space at the same time as your ticket, and we'd recommend buying your tickets in advance to get the best fares.
