Good news! The footbridge over the River Irfon has been reopened. It was closed for a couple of years and I put a revised route on the website. But now the original route can be used (turn left by the phone box just over a mile before Llangammarch Wells). I will update the GPX, map and route instructions shortly.
Sadly, the cafe at the Trallwm mountain bike trail centre is closed permanently. A great shame.
OS Map (zoom in for more detail):
Download file for GPSGPX and Directions
Route directions PDF (right click to download)
GPX file (right click to download)
I rode this route on the 3rd August to complete my 16th Lost Lanes Wales ride. It certainly lived up to its Watery Wales tag. What had been a dry day with the promise of sunshine when I set out, quickly deteriorated into a wet and windy day by the time I finished – not untypical weather for this area! I rode the route pretty much as described in the book (adding in the first section of the mountain road to Tregaron) and logged 37km with 480m of climbing.
This is a short ride (and also relatively flat by the standard of most of Jack’s Welsh routes!) but what it lacks in length is more than made up for with quiet roads and glorious scenery including the 360-degree views from the old Roman Road.
“Gair i’r gall” – Don’t miss out on the chance to cycle the first section of the mountain-road from Abergwesyn to Tregaron. Although you may baulk at the 1-in-3 slopes of the Devil’s Staircase, the three miles or so to the bottom of the climb is relatively flat and traverses one of the loveliest little valleys in Wales or beyond. On the day I rode all the birds listed on the descriptive notes in the lay-by on your left as you near the bottom of the Staircase were present and correct, including Red Kites and Dippers.
I did this ride today and it was fantastic- particularly the last section after Coed Trallwm. I really enjoyed the fabulous views up and down the valley. There is a really lovely spot to have lunch at Pwll Bo, and a few other gorgeous spots along the river there that you should’t miss. Take a towel for a dip in the river at the Washpool – such a lovely spot. However, the footbridge at 920470 is permanantly closed, but you can easily go on the lane to Llangammarch Wells, go left over the bridge to rejoin the route. Also, just in case you’re holding out for tea and cake at teh cafe at Coed Trallwm, that also is closed and has been converted into a holiday home so there’s no danger of that opening again soon.
A new bridge has now been erected at this location. So it is possible to follow the original instructions for this great ride.
On 25th July 2018, the footbridge over the River Irfon to Glancamddwr is open, appearing to have been repaired at both ends. Photo here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/pt1cDxMMzxuMVJEHA
3rd Lost Lane for me, although the cafe at Trallwm is closed I can highly recommend the holiday cottages there. This is where I started and ended the ride.
Being November it was quite cold and rained constantly, sometimes torrentially, but with the all the trees visibly losing their beautiful autumn leaves in the gale it was spectacular scenically. I especially enjoyed the entire section from Beulah to Llanwrtyd Wells, winding up and then down the valleys. I think I encountered one car, coming in the opposite direction in the entire hour it took me.
I was joined for the section into Llanwrtyd Wells by the short route of the Real Ale Wobble mountain bike event, next year I will enter this, it looked fun.
Rode the route on a hot August day, as mentioned above, the footbridge on the left just past the phone box is now open, and passable. Shame the old off-road gravel Singletrack route along the river up by the ex Trallwm Biking Centre are now overgrown and impassable. The ford just afterwards was shallow the day we went through it, but could be interesting after a period of rain. The ‘Washpool’ in the river was great for a swim to cool off, and after a blast down the lane back to Llanwrytd Wells through some of the most picturesque countryside to be seen a pint at the Stonecroft pub was most welcome, bikes can be parked around the back by the picnic tables. Food is to be recommended, don’t be put off by the somewhat ‘rural’ appearance of the pub!
Did this ride a couple of weeks ago – 5/5. Absolutely beautiful and the climbs are easy. Couldn’t get away from Llanwrtyd Wells as the locals were so friendly and chatty. Highly recommend.
Completed this lovely ride October 2025. We added a few extra ‘bits’ to make it just over 30 miles.
I would definitely recommend adding the minor road that leads to the bridge just before the Devils Staircase. We did it this time as a ‘there and back’ to rejoin the Lost Lanes route. If you fancy a challenge, you can go up the staircase which eventually leads to the Llyn Brianne road and then on to Llandovery (could catch the train back to the start of the route from there). Either way, well worth the detour.
We also added on the road to the north of the river once we got back to the start, which has fabulous views both to the south and north. Link below if you want to check out my route https://www.komoot.com/tour/2658690212?ref=aso