granfondo graean cymru6th september 2026 | Cerrigydrudionlong route80km | 1,570mBOOK NOWmedium route50km | 930mBOOK NOWOVERVIEWWHAT TO EXPECTROUTESFAQsLocal areaMAKE A WEEKEND OF ITPACKING LISTOVERVIEWThe official Granfondo of the Graean Cymru, part of the UCI Gravel World Series.Ride the route hours before the elites race it and watch the top gravel riders in the world from the side of the course! Be part of an event here in North Wales which attracts riders from all corners of the planet!Enjoy one of the biggest gravel cycling weekends of the year with camping available all weekend, track racing on Friday evening & ride outs in the Eryri National Park on Saturday!The Granfondo route is stunning taking in two remote lakes and some punchy climbs in Clocaenog Forest before finishing on one of Europes best karting circuits!RIDE HIGHLIGHTS:Ride the route of Graean Cymru hours before the world's best racersEnjoy one of the most beautiful gravel routes in Europe taking in Llyn Brenig, Llyn Alwen & Clocaenog ForestMake a weekend of it with camping & rides over 3 daysWhat to expectA challenging but glorious ride in the beautiful countryside of Denbighshire & Conwy. Plenty of climbs both on back roads and on the gravel & some lovely riding in forests & around the reservoirs.Ride difficultyBoth routes involve a decent amount of climbing starting with a tough climb to Alwen. The forest section is lumpy but the sections around the reservoirs is flatter and flowing.Long Route ****Medium Route ***Ride difficulty explained***** Reserved just for our hardest routes. Expect long distance & lots of challenging climbs both on and off road.**** Typically longer rides with regular climbs which could be both steep & long. Suitable for regular riders with some training.*** A mix of terrain & elevation. A decent day out with some tricky sections but still suitable for regular riders.** Some harder sections but suitable for all regular cyclists* Easy, suitable for all riders. Mostly flat route.Technical difficultyThe gravel in this part of North Wales is mostly smooth with a couple of soft spots which could be muddy if wet but overall this is an off-roader suitable for all abilities.Long Route **Medium Route **Technical difficulty explained***** A challenging route suitable only for experienced riders. Expect short hike-a-bike sections, a mix of terrain & loose climbs and descents.**** Suitable for regular off roaders, the route may contain rockier sections, technical descents etc.*** A mix of off road conditions with some more difficult sections.** More typical UK gravel which may be muddy when wet but no challenging sections* Smooth terrain suitable for all riders.TYRE & BIKE RECOMMENDATIONSThis route is designed for gravel bikes but you will be fine on a hardtail MTB. We do send out tyre recommendations closer to the time. A standard all-rounder gravel tyre (35-45mm) will be ideal for both routes.Included in entryFully Signed RouteOur team work tirelessly to create the best gravel routes in the UK. All courses are fully signed so you can just enjoy the ride.Checkpoints with proper foodAn epic ride deserves proper support. We have tea, coffee and cake at the first feed and sandwiches & crisps at the main feed. Checkpoints are approx every 30-40kmAccurate GPX FilesA few days before the ride, we will send GPX files for all of the route options so you can follow the course on your GPS as well as the signs.Mechanics AvailableAt the rider village & at selected feed stops we have mechanics available to help with any bike issues. We also have spare inner tubes, CO2 &more.Rider Support VansWe are here to make sure you have a great day on the gravel. If you have any major mechanicals or need collecting, support vehicles are a phone callaway.Beer at Finish LineYou will be greeted at the finish line with a beer & food available from our food truck. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders.Fully Signed RouteOur team work tirelessly to create the best gravel routes in the UK. All courses are fully signed so you can just enjoy the ride.Checkpoints with proper foodAn epic ride deserves proper support. We have tea, coffee and cake at the first feed and sandwiches & crisps at the main feed. Checkpoints are approx every 30-35kmAccurate GPX FilesA few days before the ride, we will send GPX files for all of the route options so you can follow the course on your GPS as well as the signs.Mechanics AvailableAt the rider village & at selected feed stops we have mechanics available to help with any bike issues. We also have spare inner tubes, CO2 &more.Rider Support VansWe are here to make sure you have a great day on the gravel. If you have any major mechanicals or need collecting, support vehicles are a phone callaway.Beer at Finish LineYou will be greeted at the finish line with a beer & food available from our food truck. Perfect to chat about your day with fellow riders.EVENT PROGRAM3rd September: GPX files and pre ride briefing sent by email to each rider.4th September: From 5pm, join us for some fun social racing on one of Europes best karting circuits.5th September: Club rides both out on the UCI course and in Eryri National Park or come and watch the Women & Men over 50s race6th September: 6.30am: Ride village at GYG Karting opens. Collecting your ride number takes approx 10 mins.6th September: 7am to 7.30am: Ride start. We will give you a short ride briefing and set you off in small groups.6th September: 11am to 1pm: ride finishes. Free shuttle service to Llyn Brenig to watch the elite race.6th September: 7pm: Link to ride times & rider photos sent to each participant by email.ROUTE DETAILSLONG ROUTEWe start with a lap of the karting track at GYG, one of the top circuits in the country & then head up (and we do mean up!) to Llyn Brenig with flowy singletrack and smooth gravel.At 21km we head into Clocaenog Forest where the riding gets spicier with plenty of short, sharp climbs. We do an exact lap of the Graean Cymru UCI course here including a stretch of singletrack and come out of the forest for the sprint by the lake.After crossing the UCI finish line we head over to the more remote Llyn Alwen for a lap and then descend back into the kart track for a fun finish!Percentage of Route Off Road: 90%Distance: 80kmElevation: 1,570mDifficulty:Technical Difficulty:Medium ROUTEThe medium route follows the long route to 25km and then skips 30km within the forest. A great option for any newer riders or anyone wanting a shorter ride on a beautiful route that is nearly all off road.Percentage of Route Off Road: 90%Distance: 50kmElevation: 930mDifficulty:Technical Difficulty:Medium ROUTEThe medium route follows the long route to 31.5km up to the lakes, around Alwen & Brenig and into the forest.We break off and cut out some of the many climbs in Clocaenog and enjoy a lovely descent back to the karting track.Percentage of Route Off Road: 90%Distance: 53kmElevation: 950mDifficulty:Technical Difficulty:SHORT ROUTELorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.Percentage of Route Off Road: 40%Distance: 104kmElevation: 750mDifficulty:Technical Difficulty:FAQsWHERE DOES THE RIDE START & FINISHThe ride starts and finishes at GYG Karting. There is free parking onsite as well as toilets & refreshments.IS CAMPING AVAILABLEYes, you can add camping when you book your entry. This is at GYG Karting and there are toilets, showers & a cafe onsite.ARE E-BIKES ALLOWED?Yes, e-bikes are allowed on all Glorious Gravel ride. These must comply with UK law.WHAT HAPPENS IF I HAVE A MECHANICAL OR ACCIDENT?We have first aiders & mechanics at the feed stops. There will be a phone number on the back of your ride number call this if you need collecting.LOCAL AREAThe North Wales Gravel X starts at GYG Karting, just off the A5 at Cerrigydrudion, around 2hrs from Birmingham, Liverpool & Manchester.There is camping onsite with facilities, smaller hotels in the area and then a larger selection in the nearby bigger town of Ruthin.The nearest train station is in Rhyl or Wrexham,Make a weekend of itThe ride village is close to Llyn Alwen and not far from Eryri National Park so you can combine this ride with a trip to the mountains or castles in the area.The nearest town is Ruthin which is a great base to explore North Wales. For an active day, there is great MTB nearby at Llandegla or climb Moel Famau, the highest peak in the Clwydian Hills and a challenging all day hike.Head over to Llyn Brenig where the ride goes around for some fishing or swimming. There is a sauna on site & a lovely visitors centre.Make a weekend of itThe ride village is close to Llyn Alwen and not far from Eryri National Park so you can combine this ride with a trip to the mountains or castles in the area.The nearest town is Ruthin which is a great base to explore North Wales. For an active day, there is great MTB nearby at Llandegla or climb Moel Famau, the highest peak in the Clwydian Hills and a challenging all day hike.Head over to Llyn Brenig where the ride goes around for some fishing or swimming. There is a sauna on site & a lovely visitors centre.Packing listThe route takes in some remote sections. We have support vans available but we recommend you are as self sufficient as possible including:Bike spares2 x inner tubes suitable for the size of your tyreIf running a tubeless set up, have a tubeless repair kit including plugs and spare sealant.Multitool | Chain link specific for your bike chainSmall pump | Brake pads (especially in wet conditions)Personal Medical kit1 x crepe roll bandage | Gauze or similar absorbent dressingAssorted plasters | Antiseptic (spray, cream or wipes) | Prescribed medicationThe post Granfondo Graean Cymru appeared first on Glorious Gravel Off Road Adventures in Cycling.