The Best Cycling Tours and Trails in Pembrokeshire
With its spectacular landscape, winding country lanes and fresh sea air there’s no better place than Pembrokeshire to go for a spin on your bike. Whether you’re a budding Bradley Wiggins or more of a relaxed cyclist, our stunning county has fantastic tour events and scenic trails to tempt riders of all abilities. Here are our picks of some of the best cycling experiences in Pembrokeshire.
Preseli Angel 2017
Sunday 30th April sees the 10th anniversary of the Preseli Angel,
a popular cycling tour which threads its way through the majestic north Pembrokeshire countryside. There are two distances to choose from of 40 or 78 miles, depending on how energetic you’re feeling. Starting at the The Parrog in Newport, both routes combine breath-taking sea views with the twists, turns, soaring peaks and dramatic descents of the Preseli hills. With its diverse terrain and quiet, well-marked routes Preseli Angel is not to be missed, particularly for riders looking to gauge their fitness early on in the cycling season. There’s a real emphasis here on cyclists coming together to celebrate the sport and a friendly and supportive atmosphere is guaranteed!
Tour of Pembrokeshire 2017
Further down the coast on the St David’s peninsula, this year’s Tour of Pembrokeshire takes place on the 20th and 21st May. Twinned with the Tour of Brittany and popular with British and continental riders this is an event with a big reputation. Also in its tenth year, it has attracted legendary riders such as cycling great Chris Boardman and is going from strength to strength. There are a few routes to choose from: on Saturday 20th you can cycle 60 miles, 80 miles or, if you’re really up for a challenge, 130 miles. If you fancy yourself as a King of the Mountains, this is your route - with 13,000 feet of incredible climbs it’s certainly not for the faint-hearted! On Sunday 21st there's a choice between a 28 or 40 mile tour designed for families or those wanting a recovery ride after all that effort on Saturday. Like the Preseli Angel, the routes combine stunning coastal terrain with the wooded valleys and moors that lay further inland so there's no better way to experience the beauty of Pembrokeshire.
Legends Cycle Trail
If an organised touring event isn’t your cup of tea, there are plenty of alternative cycle routes that you can tackle in your own time. The Legends Cycle Trail
is a great option for anyone who wants to dig a little deeper and explore the history of Pembrokeshire whilst enjoying an exhilarating bike ride. A beautiful route that stretches between the village of Trelech just over the Carmarthenshire border to Fishguard on the Pembrokeshire coast, The Legends Cycle Trail brushes the southern edge of the Preseli hills, taking you past many of the fascinating ancient sites dotted across the landscape. Famed for the bluestone used to build Stonehenge and their place in Arthurian legend, the Preselis provide a stunning backdrop. This glorious route, with waterfalls reputed to be the door to the Celtic underworld, mystical stone circles, dramatic bluestone cairns that cap the moorland peaks and an intricate tapestry depicting the last Invasion of Britain, is a must for history-lovers.
Or why not blaze your own trail?
Of course, if you’re more of a cycling maverick you can always just grab a map and go where the mood takes you; it’s all part of the fun of exploring our beautiful county! Detour on a whim, stop off in one of our charming villages to refuel or pause to enjoy the incredible views when your legs get a bit tired – there’s so much to enjoy about cycling around Pembrokeshire. The abundance of country lanes and off-road trails crossing the landscape make it a really accessible and exciting place for cyclists of all abilities, with a mix of terrain and stunning vistas you won’t find anywhere else. So what are you waiting for? Dust off that lycra and get on your bike!