Biker-Friendly Places to Stay in Wales

Bikers Retreat is on the Barmouth Road just outside Dolgellau, in southern Snowdonia below Cadair Idris. The A470, the spine of Wales covered in our A470 guide, passes through Dolgellau, and the A496 coast road to Barmouth and Harlech starts at the door. The name fits: bikes go in a garage, the owner is a rider who runs guided rides, and route tips are on hand. Bala, the Mawddach estuary and the mountain roads towards Dinas Mawddwy are all short rides away. Guided rides run on set dates, so plan around them.

The Clochfaen is an Arts and Crafts house near Llangurig, in mid Wales, offering bed and breakfast plus self-catering cottages. Llangurig sits where the A44 and A470 meet at the head of the Wye valley, so you are close to the A470, covered in our A470 guide. The A44 west over the hills to Ponterwyd and Aberystwyth is a fine ride, and the Elan Valley reservoirs are a short run south via Rhayader. Check bike parking with the hosts before arrival, as it is not on record. The choice of B&B or cottage suits both couples and groups.

The Baskerville Arms is in Clyro, a quiet village about a mile from Hay-on-Wye, on the Welsh border. It has ensuite rooms, food cooked from local produce, and a locals' bar. From Hay, the single-track Gospel Pass climbs south through the Black Mountains to Llanthony, one of the most spectacular small roads in Wales; take it slowly, with care at the passing places. The Wye valley and the Brecon Beacons, crossed by the A470 in our A470 guide, are close. There is no bike parking on record; raise it when booking.

Two Hoots is in Pisgah, on the A4120 between Aberystwyth and Devil's Bridge in mid Wales. It is a pub, tea room and restaurant serving local food, with space to sit outside. The A4120 itself is a good ride up to Devil's Bridge, and from there the mountain road to Cwmystwyth and the Elan Valley is one of the classic routes of mid Wales. The A44 and the coast at Aberystwyth are close. Check room availability and bike parking when you book, as the details on record are limited.

The Hampton Hotel is on Temple Street in Llandrindod Wells, the Victorian spa town in mid Wales, and welcomes riders at its hotel and pub. Llandrindod is a good base for the roads of the Cambrian Mountains: the Elan Valley reservoirs and the mountain road over to Devil's Bridge are within easy reach via Rhayader, and the A483 and A470, covered in our A470 guide, are close. Food and drink are on site. Where to leave the bike overnight is not on record, so ask the hotel.

Tenby House is on Tudor Square in the centre of Tenby, the walled seaside town on the south Pembrokeshire coast. It serves food and beer, so you can park up and stay in the old town for the evening. From Tenby the coast roads run west to Manorbier and the Stackpole and Bosherston area, and north to Saundersfoot and Amroth. The quieter lanes of the Preseli Hills are about an hour north. No bike parking is on record, and the town centre is tight and busy in summer, so ask the hotel where to leave the bike overnight.

The Bryntirion Inn is in Llandderfel, a village in the Dee valley a few miles east of Bala in north Wales. Bala Lake is close, and from Llanuwchllyn at its far end the steep Bwlch y Groes pass road climbs over to Dinas Mawddwy. The Evo Triangle, the popular loop of the A5, A543 and B4501 near Cerrigydrudion, is about 10 miles (16 km) north, and our A470 guide covers it. Bike parking is not mentioned in the details we have, so ask. As an inn, food is on site, which is useful in a quiet valley.