Trans Cambrian Way

The Trans Cambrian Way is a point to point mountain bike route of about 175km (around 106 miles) across the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales, from Knighton on the English border to Dyfi Junction on the Dyfi Estuary, just south of Machynlleth. It is ungraded, remote riding on grassy hill climbs, forest bridleways, sunken roads, reservoir tracks and moorland, finishing on singletrack descents, with around 4,000 metres (13,000ft) of climbing in total. Most groups ride it in three days, staying in Rhayader and Llangurig on the way, and Mountain Bike Wales runs guided tours over the route. It is also bikepacked as a long weekend, and ridden on gravel bikes by experienced riders.

The Route

The route starts in Knighton, a town on the English border and Offa's Dyke, and finishes at Dyfi Junction, just south of Machynlleth. The route uses bridleways, byways and other rights of way. Mountain Bike Wales describes it as a long distance route that climbs over the oldest mountain range in Europe, and quotes about 175km (106 miles) with around 13,000ft of climbing. Published lengths vary slightly between sources, from about 160km to 175km, depending on the version of the route and how it is measured.

Plan to navigate with a GPS route rather than relying on signs, so download a route or use GPS navigation before you set off. GPX files for each of the three days, and a link to order a printed ride guide with waterproof maps, are hosted on the original Trans Cambrian Way website. A separate GPX file is also available from the Bikepacking.com route page. Compare your chosen file with the day descriptions below, because the sources differ slightly on distance and ascent.

Terrain by Section

These three sections follow the day by day description published by Mountain Bike Wales.

• Knighton to Rhayader (54km, 1,200m of climbing): A gentle start to Knucklas warms you up for the first grassy climb to Beacon Hill. The route stays high past Stankey Hill before dropping to Llanbadarn, then climbs again to Bwlch Sarnau and over the top above Abbeycwmhir Forest, before finishing in Rhayader. This first section runs through the hills of Radnorshire.
• Rhayader to Llangurig (74km, 1,600m of climbing): The longest and hardest day. It heads into the Elan Valley and follows a series of bridleways to the sunken road, then on to Claerwen Dam and around the reservoir to the Teifi Pools. From there it turns back east towards Cwmystwyth, and the day ends with two long climbs in Tarenig Forest. The Elan Valley also has its own network of waymarked riding if you want to add a day. A 2025 ride report describes the reservoir gravel as rough, with careful line choice needed, and technical singletrack and rock gardens near the Elan Valley.
• Llangurig to Machynlleth (47km, 1,200m of climbing): A more relaxed start towards Hafren Forest, but the route climbs all morning towards Staylittle and onto Glyndŵr's Way. At Foel Fadian it descends for over 200m down the valley onto the Mach 2/3 trail, then finishes on a local enduro trail into Machynlleth.

Planning Your Days

• Three days: This is the standard plan and the one used by the guided tours: Knighton to Rhayader (54km), Rhayader to Llangurig (74km), then Llangurig to Machynlleth (47km).
• Two days: Possible for very fit riders with good navigation skills and overnight bivvy gear, according to the original route website and Bikepacking.com. Expect very long days.
• Four or five days: Shorter days suit riders who are healthy fit rather than racing fit. Bikepacking.com suggests four shorter days with overnight kit, and the original route designer has described a five stage version.

Day two is the one to plan around. Mountain Bike Wales advises e-bike riders to contact them before booking a guided place, because the 74km day with 1,600m of climbing is big enough that older full-power e-bikes struggle to reach the end of it.

Bike Choice and Gravel Riding

The Trans Cambrian Way is a mountain bike route. Bikepacking.com estimates that about 70 percent of it is unpaved and about 30 percent singletrack, with around 95 percent rideable, so expect some pushing on the steepest grassy climbs. Grass and mud can be slow, and one 2025 rider counted around 88 gates, roughly one every mile, plus deep river crossings that guarantee wet feet.

Gravel bikes are used too. Mountain Bike Wales has run a guided gravel version, noting the lack of grip from time to time on the lush Cambrian grass and advising riders to carry luggage in a frame pack, and a 2025 bikepacker completed the route on a gravel bike with 50mm tyres. In practice that means a gravel bike suits experienced riders who are happy with rough, slow going, and a mountain bike is the safer choice for most riders.

Resupply and Accommodation

Bikepacking.com reports plenty of pubs and shops in the towns and villages along the route, so daily resupply is manageable. Rhayader is the obvious place to stock up around the end of day one, and Llangurig is the overnight stop on the standard plan. Options for staying include hotels, guest houses and campsites. Wild camping is technically not allowed in England and Wales without the landowner's permission.

Water is plentiful in streams but should be treated because of sheep. Fill your bottles before the exposed reservoir section on day two, since one 2025 rider found water hard to come by there. Carry food, drink, spares and tools, weatherproof clothing and a first aid kit.

Guided Tours and Route Guide

Mountain Bike Wales is based at The Lodge in Staylittle and runs guided Trans Cambrian Way tours, with a minimum of ten open tours each year and bespoke tours on request. The three day tour includes a fully qualified guide, three nights in bed and breakfast accommodation including The Lodge, two two-course evening meals, kit transfers between stops and a return journey to your car at the end, with safe parking for the duration. It was priced at £449 per person in September 2026, with a £99 deposit, and dates for 2027 are listed on the tour dates page. Prices are subject to change, so check the current price and dates on the Mountain Bike Wales website before you book.

Riding Responsibly and Route Status

The route follows public bridleways, byways and quiet roads across working farmland and open hill. Keep to the route, close gates behind you, give way to walkers and horse riders, avoid skidding on soft ground, and take your litter home. Expect livestock.

Sections of the route are subject to periodic closures and diversions. Always check the Powys County Council rights of way closures page for current notices before travelling, and check the relevant local council for any section outside Powys. Mountain Bike Wales, which specialises in multi-day mountain bike tours and adventures across Wales and whose photo appears at the top of this page, also publishes route information on its Trans Cambrian Way page and posts about the route on its Facebook page.

Getting Here

The route is point to point, so plan how you will get back to your start. Knighton has a railway station on Station Road, and Traveline Cymru covers public transport in Wales.

• Start, Knighton: The route starts in Knighton, a border town on Offa's Dyke, and heads up the Teme Valley to Knucklas.
• Finish, Dyfi Junction: The route finishes at Dyfi Junction on the Dyfi Estuary, just south of Machynlleth, and the guided tours finish into Machynlleth itself.

If you would like to ride on beyond Machynlleth, Traws Eryri is a separate long distance route that starts in Machynlleth.

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