Tour de France 2027 in Wales: routes, rides and things to do

On Sunday 4 July 2027, Stage 3 of the 2027 TdF will roll out from Y Trallwng in Mid Wales, passing through the spa and market towns of Llandrindod, Llanfair‑ym‑Muallt (Builth Wells) and Aberhonddu (Brecon). It will then ramp up across Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, before a thrilling series of climbs and descents across the South Wales Valleys of Rhondda and Cynon, Merthyr and Caerffili (Caerphilly). In the South Wales Valleys, the peloton will be set to tackle legendary climbs such as the Côte de Rhigos and Côte de Caerphilly, followed by a finish in Caerdydd.

This will be the final UK stage of the Grand Départ, the culminating act of a UK celebration of cycling - and one of the largest free-to-attend sporting events ever hosted in Wales.

It’s the first time a Tour stage has ever taken place in Wales and it's a great reason to come and discover our quiet lanes, epic climbs, world‑class mountain biking, gravel adventures and traffic‑free family trails. Whether you’re planning to come to Wales to cheer on the peloton, ride a classic climb, or simply pootle traffic‑free with the family. Below are just some ideas for planning your own cycling‑themed trip.

There are plenty of inspiring places in Wales to explore by road bike. Along the Wales stage route, from the hairpins of Rhigos to the punchy ramps around Caerffili (Caerphilly), South Wales delivers massive mountain views precipitous mountainsides carpeted in wild forests, rushing rivers and a lot of friendly villages and communities ready to refuel you along the way.

For long distance on and off-road adventures, our guide to 12 long‑distance road cycling trips in Wales pulls together memorable classic rides across the country - think Lôn Las Cymru, Brailsford Way and climbs up and over the Gospel Pass and Tumble - with maps, highlights and café intel.

If basing yourself in the capital city of Caerdydd, you'll be well placed to sample one of our largely traffic-free cycling routes on the Taff Trail from Bae Caerdydd (Cardiff Bay), through beautiful Bute Park to Llandaff, with its impressive cathedral, and fairy-tale-like fortress Castell Coch. A gentle warm‑up with plenty of places to stop, before continuing on the trail all the way through the South Wales Valleys to Aberhonddu if you choose.

For more of a challenge, ride the Caerdydd to Caerffili loop to experience short and sharp climbs, and explore Castell Caerffili (Caerphilly Castle) afterwards.

Mid Wales , where TdF 2027 Stage Three kicks off, is the great green heart of Wales, with acres of natural landscape that lends itself perfectly to outdoor adventure and exploration. Explore Powis Castle and Garden in Y Trallwng, stroll the streets of Llandrindod Wells, or take a detour to the Elan Valley reservoirs for walking, wildlife and easy cycling on old railway lines. For gravel biking fans the wider Cambrian Mountains are sublime.

A ride on the nearby Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway, one of the best‑preserved narrow‑gauge heritage railways in Britain, is a great option for a fun family day out.

There's plenty of things to do in Bannau Brycheiniog. Hike to viewpoints, paddle on reservoirs or picnic by waterfalls. After surging through pretty market town Aberhonddu with its beguiling cathedral, the route climbs by park high point Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in southern Britain. The mountain and surrounds are rich in prehistoric archaeology, including cairns and standing stones and it's one of Cymru’s most important areas for dark skies and biodiversity.

Rich in industrial heritage, the South Wales Valleys are packed with things to see and do.

In Rhondda Cynon Taf, pair spectating on the climbs with attractions like Zip World Tower, sporting the fastest seated zipline in the world on the side of Rhigos Mountain, or exploring coal mining heritage underground at A Welsh Coal Mining Experience.

Merthyr Tudfil has some of the best activity adventures in South Wales to offer: not least the best selection of all-weather mountain biking trails in the UK at the spectacular BikePark Wales. If you've a real head for heights, Rock UK Summit Centre offers one of the largest climbing walls in Wales, as well as a man-made caving system.

In the Caerffili area, the last TdF 2027 Stage Three climb, you can climb to Caerphilly Mountain for sweeping views out over Caerdydd, then explore mighty Castell Caerffili - the largest castle in Cymru and second-largest in Britain. Be sure to also sample the town’s famous cheese and a variety of street food and handcrafted goods while browsing the shops and the Ffos Caerffili market in the town centre.

Wales’ capital blends race‑day buzz with culture galore: Castell Caerdydd (Cardiff Castle), Principality Stadium, and waterfront Bae Caerdydd are all an easy ride or stroll from the finish. Our Taff Trail city section is a great self‑guided way to see the sights, or take a guided city tour to uncover the capital's rich history or sample local foodie flavours.

If road cycling the pro route isn't really your bag, Wales has all sorts of other cycling opportunities to suit your preference.

Wales is a world‑class MTB destination, with centres for every ability. Close to the 2027 route you’ll find BikePark Wales in Gethin Woods near Merthyr, a gravity‑fed trail centre with a mix of family‑friendly green and blue trails, with pro‑level reds and blacks, plus uplift, hire and coaching. It’s perfect for a day out before or after the stage.

Heading north on a longer trip? Coed y Brenin near Dolgellau, Britain’s first purpose‑built MTB centre, still sets the standard with waymarked singletrack, from easy family loops to legendary black routes, plus a skills area to build confidence. What's more, you don't need to bring your bike with you as you can hire one from Beics Brenin on site.

Explore mountain bike centres and trails across Wales and plan a whole trip around the trails.

Gravel is booming here for good reason: Roman roads, forest fire roads and drovers’ tracks link up into glorious loops. Explore our curated guide to adventures by gravel bike in Wales for route ideas from the Elan Valley and Cambrian Mountains to coastal gems on Penrhyn Gŵyr (the Gower Peninsula) and smooth circuits around Llyn Brenig.

Bringing the bikes and the kids? Wales has hundreds of miles of traffic‑free and low‑traffic routes that link country parks, estuaries and seaside towns – all with handy refreshment stops. Dip into our round‑up of fab family cycle trails to pick a route near where you’re staying. Highlights include:

• The Taff Trail (Caerdydd–Aberhonddu) – ride a bite‑size section from Bae Caerdydd (Cardiff Bay) through Bute Park and past Cardiff Castle to Llandaff and Castell Coch. It’s a brilliant way to see the capital between team presentations, fan zones and finish‑line festivities.
• Mawddach Trail (Dolgellau–Abermaw (Barmouth)) – flat, scenic and almost entirely traffic‑free along a gorgeous estuary. A superb add‑on if you’re touring Mid and North Wales as part of a longer cycling break.