Motorcycle Tour - The TOST Cambrian Loop
Overview
Distance: ~110 miles.
Pace: Relaxed day ride.
Road type: Empty B-roads, mountain passes, valleys, reservoirs, stunning countryside and sweeping bends.
Start (say 9-10am): Builth Wells
Easy fuel stop, cafés if you’re early, and a natural gateway into Mid Wales.
Ride to Llanwrtyd Wells via A483
A cracking warm-up road: flowing bends, light traffic, great visibility. Another fuel stop option in Llanwrtyd Wells town.
TOST – Coffee and Bakehouse – Llanwrtyd Wells (www.tost.wales)
Non-negotiable priority stop.
Go late morning if you can (say 11am-12 noon). Check opening times and days at www.tost.wales.
Coffee is excellent, and the bakes are also the point
Sit down, slow down, soak it in
River views in the summer
Pro tip: don’t rush this stop — this is your anchor, not a pit stop.
Llanwrtyd → Abergwesyn Pass / Abergwesyn Common
This is where the ride turns special.
Narrow, dramatic, remote
Sheep, rivers, zero phone signal
One of the most atmospheric roads in Wales
Devil’s Staircase
Take it steady and enjoy the isolation — it’s unforgettable.
Abergwesyn → Tregaron
Rolling uplands open out here and an unusually remote and isolated phone box!
Optional quick coffee or lunch in Tregaron or just fuel and roll on.
Tregaron → Elan Valley
Wide, smooth roads with long sightlines.
Multiple dam and reservoir viewpoints — worth stopping even if just for a helmet-off moment.
This is your “why we ride” section.
Option of a visitor centre coffee stop (if open).
Elan Valley → Rhayader
Coffee stop options such as Narrative Coffee (if open) or just stretch the legs and head on.
Return to Builth Wells
Gentle final leg, golden-hour friendly if you time it right.
Rider tips
Fuel up before remote sections.
Even in summer, pack a layer and waterproofs — weather flips fast.
Check opening times of coffee shops, pubs, and restaurants.
