Élan, a region nestled in Mid Wales, is characterized by a diverse landscape of rolling hills, lush valleys, and rugged mountains, making it a notable destination for outdoor activities. The area features a system of majestic Victorian-era reservoirs and dams, which create distinctive backdrops for exploration. Situated within the Cambrian Mountains, Élan offers varied terrain, from open moorland and forested paths to winding rivers, suitable for several sports like road cycling, mountain biking, touring cycling, jogging, and more.
61
Routes
4.2
(73)
Average rating
509
People visited

5.0
(1)
12
riders
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

12
riders
29.9km
01:17
190m
190m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

3.0
(1)
10
riders
46.9km
02:11
580m
580m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

10
riders
223km
09:18
1,440m
1,440m
Hard road ride. Very good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
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4.5
(45)
101
riders
32.9km
01:52
80m
80m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5.0
(2)
27
riders
68.7km
04:19
180m
180m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.7
(3)
11
riders
15.1km
00:54
40m
40m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4.5
(2)
9
riders
26.5km
01:41
80m
80m
Easy bike ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.5
(2)
65
riders
40.7km
03:45
770m
760m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

3.0
(1)
8
riders
40.8km
03:01
430m
430m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

15
riders
41.8km
03:22
600m
600m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

11
riders
27.1km
02:23
450m
450m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.
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4.7
(3)
25
riders
57.5km
03:44
840m
840m
Hard gravel ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

1
riders
33.9km
02:28
300m
300m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
18.1km
01:11
140m
140m
Easy gravel ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
riders
22.6km
01:38
300m
300m
Moderate gravel ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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10
runners
20.4km
02:24
370m
370m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
runners
9.75km
01:14
210m
220m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
runners
5.83km
00:44
120m
110m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
runners
7.42km
00:53
160m
160m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
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4.5
(2)
5
hikers
7.05km
01:55
100m
100m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

2
hikers
3.14km
00:54
80m
80m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
16.4km
04:41
360m
360m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Élan offers a variety of outdoor activities including Road cycling, Mountain biking, Touring cycling, Jogging, Gravel biking, and Hiking. The region features more than 20 routes, with an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars from over 9,000 visitors on komoot.
Élan is known for its road cycling, offering routes for various skill levels. The 17-mile (27 km) Cwm Elan Circular Route provides a challenging ride with steep climbs and descents. For more options, explore the Road Cycling Routes around Élan guide.
Yes, Élan provides mountain biking opportunities, including technical sections and forest trails. The 10-mile (16 km) Nantgwyllt to Garreg Ddu Mountain Bike Trail is a notable route for experienced riders. Find more trails in the MTB Trails around Élan guide.
The Elan Valley Trail is a 9-mile (14.5 km) traffic-free route following a former railway line, ideal for families and casual cyclists. This paved path offers relatively easy riding with views of the reservoirs and dams. It is accessible to people of various abilities.
Élan offers numerous trails suitable for jogging, including paths around the reservoirs and through areas like Radnor Forest. The 3-mile (4.8 km) Water-break-its-neck walk leads to a picturesque waterfall and is a moderate option. Discover more routes in the Running Trails around Élan guide.
The Élan region is characterized by its system of majestic Victorian-era reservoirs and dams, which create distinctive backdrops. It also features rolling hills, lush valleys, rugged mountains, and areas of open moorland and forested paths like Radnor Forest. The region is situated within the Cambrian Mountains.
Élan is a popular destination for outdoor activities on komoot, with more than 9,000 visitors sharing their experiences. The available routes have an average rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars. There are 27 total routes recorded in the region.
Komoot offers several guides for Élan, including Road Cycling Routes around Élan, MTB Trails around Élan, Cycling around Élan, Running Trails around Élan, Gravel biking around Élan, and Hiking around Élan.
The official website for the Elan Valley Trust, which manages much of the estate, is elanvalley.org.uk. For general inquiries and information about the Elan Valley Visitor Centre, the phone number is +44 (0)1597 810880.
Yes, for more experienced cyclists, the 17-mile (27 km) Cwm Elan Circular Route presents a greater challenge with steep climbs and thrilling descents. Mountain bikers can also find challenging trails like the 10-mile (16 km) Nantgwyllt to Garreg Ddu trail, featuring technical sections.
Élan offers various hiking trails, from moderate to strenuous. Radnor Forest provides routes like the challenging 10-mile (16 km) Black Mixen and Great Rhos Circular, which leads to the highest points in the forest. The 3-mile (4.8 km) Water-break-its-neck walk is a more moderate option. Explore the Hiking around Élan guide for more.
Yes, Élan offers opportunities for gravel biking. The region's diverse terrain, including forest paths and quiet roads, is suitable for this activity. A dedicated guide, Gravel biking around Élan, is available on komoot.

