Swansea & Gower Cycling Festival 2025
Following another success of 2024 event, CTC Swansea will stage their third festival of cycling over five days, from Wednesday 28th May to Sunday 1nd June.
As with last summer’s festival, the programme will consist of three rides each day, with routes ranging from shorter, flat rides all or mostly on cycle paths suitable for those who have recently taken up—or returned to—cycling, and families with young children, to moderate rides over longer, hillier routes aimed at more experienced cyclists, to tougher rides with plenty of climbing intended for riders looking for more of a challenge.
Some of the rides will take in the wonderful scenery of the Gower Peninsula—UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and also some rides venture further afield to take in some of the stunning coastline and hills of Carmarthenshire, Neath/Port Talbot, Powys and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Our rides are not sportives or races, with the emphasis being on the social side of cycling, with most rides being ridden at a relaxed pace, giving people time to take in the beauty of the countryside, and to chat and make new friends along the way. All rides will feature regular stops to regroup at junctions and the top of climbs, breaks for coffee, and, for longer rides, a lunch stop. Each ride will have a specified ride leader, a back marker and one other support rider. As with our regular club rides, we adopt a ‘no drop’ policy, meaning no rider gets left behind.
Cycling is recognised as benefiting not only our physical health, but also our mental health. Being on a bike gives you time to think, enjoy nature, and the spectacular views. We have an enthusiastic and dedicated team of volunteer ride leaders ready to welcome you to Swansea and Gower, and share with you their knowledge and experience of our wonderful cycling routes.
See below for the full 2025 ride programme and details on how to book a festival pass, or tickets for individual rides.
Festival Rides Programme
To book a Festival Pass, which entitles participants to take part in as many rides as they can over the five days, the cost is £12. You can book you festival pass by clicking here.
Wednesday 28 May
Ride 1: Southgate/Three Cliffs.
Start Dunvant RFC, 10.00: The route heads up the cycle path to Dunvant, joining the road to head uphill through an estate to a quiet country lane to Three Crosses, where we turn south, past Swansea Airport and on to Kittle, joining Pennard Road, for the final stretch to Southgate where we will stop for lunch. Afterwards, the route proceeds along a narrow lane and then across the grass banks above the coast to a viewpoint looking down on Pobbles and Three Cliffs Bay. Return via Pennard Road, Kittle, Bishopston, Murton, Newton and Mumbles to pick up the promenade path back to Blackpill for the Clyne valley cycle path back to the start.
Grade: Leisure Ride - Distance: 24 miles, with 1230 feet of climbing.
To book tickets for this ride, click here.
Ride 2: Brynaman, via Ammanford & Amman River Cycle Path
Start Dunvant RFC, 10.00: A clockwise Loop heading north to Pontardulais, with a good climb up to Garnswllt, down into Ammanford to pick up the Amman River Cycle path. Heading east to Brynaman for lunch, then south-east to pick up another cycle path through Cwmllynfell and down to Ystalfera, where we join the Tawe cycle path and follow back through Pontadawe, Clydach, into Swansea and through the Marina, around Swansea Bay and back to the start.
Grade: Moderate - Distance 46 Miles, 1646 feet of climbing.
To book tickets for this ride, click here.
Ride 3: The Black Mountain
Start Dunvant RFC, 10.00: An anticlockwise circuit heading north through Gorseinon, Pontardulais, climbing up to Garnswllt, and down into Ammanford. The route then follows the road east through Glanaman and on up to Brynaman where we start the 4 mile climb up and over the Black Mountain, and down in to Llangadog. The route continues south-west with a short diversion into Llandeillo for lunch, then on undulating south west through Gorslas and Cross Hands, then south to Tumble, and Llannon and downhill into Pontadulais and on back to Dunvant.
Distance: 65 miles, with 4862 feet of climbing.
To book tickets for this ride, click here.
Thursday 29 May
Ride 4: Along the River to Clydach
Start Sainsbury's, Swansea Marina, 10.00: Follow the cycle path up the Tawe River, passing the Copper Quarter, scene of much of Swansea's Industrial heritage, reaching Clydach where we will stop for lunch before returning via the same route. This ride is suitable for families with young children, and for those new to cycling.
Grade: A Family/leisure Ride - Distance: 14 miles , with 270 feet ascent.
To book tickets for this ride, click here.
Ride 5: Kidwelly
Start Dunvant RFC: North on the cycle path to Gowerton, and the road through Loughor, Bynea and Dafen to join NCR 47 (Swiss Valley) at Felinfoel; continuing north to Cynheidre, then on the road downhill into Pontyates; the route follows a small country lane to Fos Las, then quiet roads to Kidwelly for lunch. Return via road to Pembrey, then pick up NCR 4 and follow the Millennium Coast path back to the Wetlands centre, before reaching Gowerton to rejoin the cycle path back to the start.
Grade: Moderate - Distance: 43 miles. Ascent: 1608 feet
To book tickets for this ride, click here.
Ride 6: Ferryside
Start, Dunvant RFC - 10.00: Initially following the same route as Ride 5, but then a longer, hillier anticlockwise loop via Loughor, Bynea and Felinfoel to the up NCR 47 to Cynheidre where we join the road down into Pontyates, then a long, stiff climb up to Meinciau, and onto Pontantwn, Llandyfaelog and Ferryside; return via Kidwelly and Millennium Coast Path.
Grade: Moderate + - Distance: 50 miles. Climbing: 2566 feet
To book tickets for this ride, click here.
Friday 30 May
Ride 7: Cwm Ivy, North Gower
Start Dunvant RFC - 10.00: A beautiful, undulating ride across North Gower to the pretty Cwm Ivy Cafe, with no difficult climbs, mostly on quiet roads and lanes, with a flat ride back along the north Gower coast with great views across the estuary.
Grade: Leisure Ride - Distance: 27 miles. Ascent: 1712 feet
To book tickets for this ride, click here.
Ride 8: Porthcawl
Start, Sainsbury's, Swansea Marina, 10.00: From the marina, heading east on cycle paths and quiet road to Briton Ferry, then on road through Port Talbot, Margam, to Kenfig Hill, before swinging south to Trecco Bay and on west into Porthcawl for lunch. Then north along the seafront, on to Kenfig and Margam, into Port Talbot and along the promenade at Aberavon beach, before returning via Baglan, back to Swansea.
Grade: Moderate - Distance: 49 miles, with 1653 feet of ascent
To book tickets for this ride, click here.
Ride 9: The Bwlch, Via Cwmavon
Start, Sainsbury's, Swansea Marina, 10.00: The classic ascent of the Bwlch starting from Swansea, via Briton Ferry, Port Talbot, and picking up NCR 887 cycle path through Cwmavon, Pontrhydyfen to Cymmer, where we join the road for the classic climb up over the Bwlch. Return via the fantastic downhill through Ogmore Vale before joining NCR 4 for the return west through Aberkenfig and Margam, Port Talbot and back to Swansea.
Grade: Challenging: Distance: 54.5 miles, with 2922 feet of ascent.
To book tickets for this ride, click here.
Saturday 31 May
Ride 10: Around Swansea Bay
Start, Dunvant RFC, 10.00: A pleasant leisurely ride down from Dunvant RFc along the cycle path to Swansea bay, then south along the promenade to Mumbles, perhaps for ice cream, before following the path back curving north east around the bay to the Marina to learn about Swansea's maritime history. Then back around the bay to the Clyne cycle path to return to the start.
Grade : Family Leisure ride - Distance: 17 miles, flat.
To book tickets for this ride, click here.
Ride 11: Rhossili
Start, Dunvant RFC, 10.00: A scenic clockwise circuit of Gower from Dunvant, via Upper Killay, Swansea Airport, Parkmill, Penmaen, Knelston and Scurlage to Rhossili for Lunch; return via Llandewi, Burry Green, Oldwalls, Llanrhidian, Marsh Road, Penclawdd, and Three Crosses.
Grade: Moderate - Distance 37.8miles with 2452 feet of ascent.
To book tickets for this ride, click here.
Ride 12: Carreg Cennen Castle
Start, Dunvant RFC, 10.00: The route heads north from Dunvant, through Gowerton, Gorseinon and on to Pontardulais, before it starts to climb up through Fforest and on to Llanedi. We skirt Capel Hendre, and headed north-east of Ammanford, to Llandybie and Derwydd, and on through Trap for the final, stiff climb up to the Castle grounds at Carreg Cennen for lunch. The return is back through Trap and Blaengweche on quiet country lanes, heading for Ammanford, after which there's a final steep climb up to Garnswllt, before the road undulates but prevailing downhill to Pontardulais and on back to the start.
Grade: Moderate+ - Distance: 44 miles, 3079 feet of climbing.
To book tickets for this ride, click here.
Sunday 1 June
Ride 13: Pembrey Country Park
Start, Dunvant RFC - 10.00: A pleasant, mostly flat ride suitable for most riders, along cycle path to Gowerton, on road through Loughor, picking up the Millennium Coast Path before Llanelli and following this along the coast with views of the Gower Penisula, through Burry Port and on to Pembrey Country Park, for lunch, before returning via a canal path, and the Millennium Coast Path.
Grade - Leisure ride Distance 33.5 miles with 667 feet of ascent.
To book tickets for this ride, click here.
Ride 14: Upper Lliw Reservoir
Start: Dunvant RFC - 10.00: A clockwise circuit up through Gowerton, Gorseinon, and east through Pontlliw, then climbing up to Felindre, before turning north for the clib up to the reservoirs for lunch. Return via Craig Cefn Parc, Clydach, Morriston and along the river to the Marina, around the bay and back up the cycle path to Dunvant.
Grade: Moderate - Distance 33.5 miles, with 1809 feet of climbing.
To book tickets for this ride, click here.
Ride 15: A Big Gower Circuit
Start, Dunvant RFC - 10.00: A tough clockwise circuit of Gower, heading aiurh east to the coast, then south around the bay to Mumbles, following the voast through Langland and Caswell Bay, on to Pennard via Bishopston, down to Parkmill, up and down to Ilston to the Mid-Gower Road, heading west over Cefn Bryn to Reynoldston, south to Penrice, following quiet country lanes winding west to Horton and Port Eynon for lunch. From there the route heads back north to Scurlage, Llandewi, Burry Green, Llanmadoc, turning east through Landimore, Llanrhidian, down to the Marsh Road, through Crofty, before a stiff climb back up to Blue Anchor, Three Crosses and back down to Dunvant
Grade: Challenging - Distance: 44.5 miles with 3827 feet of climbing.
To book tickets for this ride, click here.
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