Tucked away in the quiet heart of mid Wales, the Radnor Ring is an 84-mile circular cycling route around the old county of Radnorshire, a place once memorably described as “neither England nor Wales, just Radnorshire.” Following a mixture of quiet country lanes, river valleys, traffic-free trails and the occasional testing mountain pass, the route offers some of the most spectacular and genuinely undiscovered scenery in Wales, all the more remarkable for how few visitors ever make it to this particular corner of the country.
The landscape along the way is one of constant variety. The route follows the valleys of the Teme, Lugg, Wye and Ithon at various points, climbing over open, sheep-grazed moorland between them, with far-reaching views towards the Black Mountains to the south, the Cambrian Mountains to the west, and the gentler Shropshire Hills across the border to the east. The long, grassy ridge of Hergest Ridge, made famous well beyond cycling circles by Mike Oldfield’s album of the same name, forms one of the route’s most memorable landmarks, straddling the border between Wales and England.
A string of handsome small towns punctuate the route, each with its own distinct character. Knighton, mainly in Wales but partly in England, makes a natural starting point, while Presteigne, just on the Welsh side of the border, has a noticeably Bohemian, black-and-white timbered charm and is home to the fascinating Judge’s Lodgings, once the base for the old Radnorshire Assizes. Kington, just across the border in England, and the handsome Victorian spa town of Llandrindod Wells add further variety, while Rhayader, gateway to the Elan Valley, offers a natural highlight roughly halfway around the loop.
Rhayader in particular is worth lingering over. Beyond its own considerable charm as a historic market town on the upper Wye, it sits close to Gigrin Farm, one of the best places in Britain to see red kites at close quarters, with daily feeding sessions drawing dozens of these once critically endangered birds of prey down from the surrounding hills. Red kites are a familiar and welcome sight throughout the whole of the Radnor Ring, a genuine conservation success story and one of the highlights of cycling through this part of Wales.
Adding a further layer of interest, much of the route runs close to the scenic Heart of Wales railway line, which calls at several of the towns along the way, including Knighton, Llangunllo and Llandrindod Wells, offering a useful and highly picturesque option for those wanting to shorten the route or arrange onward travel. Combine this with the genuine remoteness of the surrounding countryside, often described as the wildest part of Britain south of the Scottish Highlands, and the Radnor Ring offers a properly rewarding cycling challenge through a part of Wales that remains wonderfully quiet.
We offer the Radnor Ring as both a guided cycling holiday, with an experienced local leader on hand throughout, and as a self-guided tour for those who prefer to ride independently at their own pace. As this is a circular route, you can start and finish at whichever point suits you best, with Knighton, Presteigne and Rhayader all popular options. We take care of your accommodation each night, transfer your luggage between stops, and provide detailed route notes and mapping throughout, with quality bikes available to hire. Given the remote nature of much of the route, we recommend planning your days carefully around the towns, as facilities are limited in between, and we are always on hand for advice and support along the way.
Day 1: Arrive in Knighton Make your own way to Knighton, a historic market town straddling the England-Wales border, and settle in for the evening ready to begin the loop.
Day 2: Knighton to Rhayader The route climbs over open moorland via Abbeycwmhir, remote and quiet, before a long descent brings you into Rhayader, gateway to the Elan Valley.
Day 3: Rhayader and the Elan Valley A shorter day, or a rest day, exploring the Elan Valley’s chain of Victorian reservoirs, with a visit to Gigrin Farm’s red kite feeding station a real highlight.
Day 4: Rhayader to Presteigne A longer day through Llanbister and New Radnor, with fine views towards Hergest Ridge, arriving in the charming border town of Presteigne.
Day 5: Presteigne to Knighton The final leg completes the loop via Kington, just across the border in England, before a challenging climb back over the watershed and a memorable descent into Knighton.
Day 6: Depart Enjoy a final morning in Knighton before making your way home.
(Itinerary shown as an example – stages, mileage and overnight stops can be adjusted to suit fitness levels and available time, and the route can be started and finished at any point along the loop.)
