Below is a selection of free motorcycling touring routes to download, ride and enjoy. If you have never ridden in Wales, then you are in for a treat.
Wales might be smaller than Scotland, but it packs so much into a smaller land mass.
Perhaps it is the absence of motorways – with the only exception being the section of M4 in the very south of Wales – that has helped to maintain so many exceptional routes for motorcycle tours.
You can pick just about anywhere in Wales or on the Welsh border and have a great time. Hotels, Farm Stays, Camp Sites, B&B or even formulaic Travelodge “hotels”.
Every type of overnight stay except wild (free) camping is catered for. In the majority of Wales, wild camping isn’t permitted, although the rules in the Snowdonia National Park and parts of the Brecon Beacons may differ. If wild camping is your thing, then more research is advised.
As Wales is covered in excellent motorcycling roads, we opted for Llanfyllin, which is 25 miles west of Shrewsbury and from there, you can reach most of Wales on a day-long loop.
The other reason for picking Llanfyllin is the Cain Valley Hotel – a superb, well-priced, motorcycle-friendly hotel with secure parking.
Download, ride and enjoy.
When importing GPX files, your GPS or Phone navigation app will recalulate the route based on your navigation preferences. We add waypoints to hopefully minimise any differences, but it is always worth double-checking.
If you have a route that you would like to share, get in touch and with the Editor, and we will do our best to include it. Download, ride and enjoy. What could possibly go wrong? All the motorcycle touring routes are GPX 1.1 version files.
All of the motorcycle touring routes are provided “as is” without guarantee, liability or any assurances. The lawyers said we had to include that sentence. All we can tell you is that we had an excellent time planning and riding them.
Motorcycle Touring Routes Wales
Route One
Motorcycle Touring Routes Wales
Route Two
Motorcycle Touring Routes Wales
Route Three
Motorcycle Touring Routes Wales
Route Four
Motorcycle Touring Routes Wales
Route Five
Route Five is a 164-mile loop based around the town of Llanwrtyd Wells, sixty-five miles further south from Llanfyllin.
Even in November and in the rain which is when we rode them, there is a lot of fun to be had.
Llanwrtyd Wells – perhaps the smallest town in Britain (population c.850) – is home to the quirky but welcoming Neuadd Arms Hotel.
The hotel was once the official party headquarters for the Monster Raving Looney Party (Screaming Lord Such), and makes a good base for a few days, opening up different route options.
Perhaps the most famous road in the area is the Devil’s Staircase on the Abergwesyn Road which runs all but past the front door of the hotel.
For a more detailed description, click on the article below.
Motorcycle Touring Routes Wales
The Mach Loop
Starting from our favourite hotel in Wales – the Cain Valley Hotel – this route takes you past the lakes at Bala (Lynn Tegid & Llyn Celyn) and then through the famous Mach Loop area where the Airforce carries out low flying.
Exiting the Mach Loop area to the north, the route stays on the back roads as you approach Betws-y-Coed, crossing the A470 at Llanrwst, continuing east and south to the Nant Y Garth and on to the Horseshoe pass.
Waypoint 42 – which is a Via Point – is 163 miles from the start and marks the famous Ponderosa Café before taking the relaxed route via the A5 and the A495 back to the Cain Valley Hotel.
The back roads on the route get a little narrow in places, but it is all tarmac and easy to ride on a motorcycle.
The scenery is stunning. The Airforce can make the Mach Loop section entertaining, but they only fly the Mach Loop in good weather and on weekdays.
Download, ride and enjoy. What could possibly go wrong?
Update: Having ridding the route again, we found a small improvement by extending to Llanfair Talhaearn. There is a cool cafe where the A548 meets the A544 too.
Llynne Brianne Reservoir & the Brecon Beacons
As planned, the route will take you to the Welsh Rarebit Centre, the Dan-y-Ogof National Showcaves, along the famous Black Mountain Road and to the Owl’s Nest Biker Café.
From the Café you have two options.
Option 1: Follow the road for 11 miles until you arrive back at Riverbank Bed and Breakfast. The total journey time without stopping is 3 hours 21 minutes.
Option 2: Extend your journey to visit the scenic Llynne Brianne reservoir and return via the Devil’s Staircase.
Devil's Bridge and the Elan Valley
As planned, the route will take you through Abergwesyn, Tregaron, and the hairpin bends of the Devil’s Staircase.
The Talbot Hotel in Tregaron is a good place for lunch, or perhaps a visit to the Welsh Gold and Craft Centre is of interest.
There is a cafe at the Devil’s Bridge (Pontarfynach in Welsh), and for a small fee, you can walk around the nearby waterfalls.
There is also a short detour on the route that will take you to Claerwen, the most impressive location for a view of the reservoir dams.
A more detailed route description is in the PDF file below or talk to Tony in the bar of the Riverbank B&B.
3 responses
It took me a moment, but I got there in the end. Thank you for the spot …. overlapping elements. All fixed. A page refresh might be required.
The link should take you to the Touring Routes for Wales. The Mid-Wales loop is route 5 at the bottom of the page. If you don’t see it, could you refresh the page, and let me know if it appears please?
Would it be possible to sort out the link for the Mid Wales route please? The text doesn’t point to a file at the moment.