Snowdonia tour
A Glaudax cycle tour
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6 days of cycling
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770 kilometres
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9,200 metres of climbing
Are you ready for the challenge?
Rider testimonials
2022 tour dates:
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Sunday 8 – Friday 13 May
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Sunday 11 – Friday 16 September
Tour price: £795
Single room supplement: £150
Deposit: £200
Payable by bank transfer or credit/debit card.
Set off on Sunday morning from our base in the Chilterns for six days of gloriously scenic and challenging riding across the finest of English and Welsh landscapes, finishing back where you started on Friday evening.
In total you'll cover some 770 km (480 miles) with around 9,200 m of climbing. You will need a good level of cycle fitness to enjoy this tour.
The maximum group size is just 12 riders, assuring you of a highly personalised service from the moment you first contact us right through your Glaudax experience.
The 6-day schedule
Stage 1, Sunday: Aldbury to Tewkesbury
distance 139 km; climb 1,300 m
Arrive at our base – the Greyhound Inn – nestled in the heart of the Chilterns, between 8am and 9am on the Sunday. We'll take your luggage, give you some breakfast and a briefing and set you off when you are ready. You will be following our GPS-mapped recommended route heading west across the Chilterns, Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds to finish for the night at your hotel in Tewkesbury where we will meet you with your luggage.
Night 1: The Royal Hop Pole Hotel
Stage 2, Monday: Tewkesbury to Rhayader
distance 134 km; climb 1,350 m
Head out across the Malvern Hills AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) to Ledbury and Hereford, then across the plains to cross the border into Wales at Hay-on-Wye – a good spot for lunch. From there it's a gentle climb up the Wye Valley all the way to your hotel in Rhayader.
Night 2: The Elan Hotel
Stage 3, Tuesday: Rhayader to Barmouth
distance 132 km; climb 1,500 m
A shorter but hillier day, up the stunning Elan Valley to Devil's Bridge Falls and via Machynlleth into Snowdonia. You will then follow the beautiful coast road through Aberdovey to the seaside resort of Barmouth where you will spend the night.
Night 3: Crystal House guest house
Stage 4: Barmouth to Welshpool
distance 114 km; climb 1,950 m
The Queen Stage! We venture into the remote heart of Snowdonia: Harlech, Trawsfynydd, Llanuwchllyn, Llanwddyn... Coastal, lakeside and mountain roads – you will ride them all today! For the specialist climbers there are also two bonus ascents on offer, taken from the popular 100 climbs app: Ffordd Pen Llech in Harlech which at 40% claims to be the steepest street in the world, and Bwlch Y Groes (also known as the Hellfire Pass), the highest tarmacked road in Wales tilting upwards at 11% average and 25% maximum.
Night 4: The Royal Oak Hotel
Stage 5: Welshpool to Pershore
distance 122 km; climb 1,350 m
Today's optional bonus climb come in at just 5 km from the start – Long Mountain is 3 km, rising at an average 9% and maximum 16%. Soon after that you'll cross the border back into England and winch yourself up into the Shropshire Hills AONB before lunch in Ludlow or Tenbury Wells. The afternoon, while not entirely flat, brings respite from the big hills through the Teme Valley to Worcester and Pershore.
Night 5: The Angel Hotel
Stage 6, Friday: Evesham to Aldbury
distance 131 km; climb 1,250 m
The final day of your tour takes you back into the Cotswolds using Dovers Hill which has been used for numerous National Hill Climb Championships, but it's not a particularly tough climb and only warrants 5/10 on the app, with a maximum gradient of 14%. After that the going gets easier on the rolling tranquil lanes of Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. A well-earned finishers meal will be ready for you back at the Greyhound Inn from 5pm – congratulations, you've completed Glaudax!