Wales · United Kingdom
Cadair Idris Road
A487Penegoes to Brithdir
A flowing inland climb between Machynlleth and Dolgellau, up the wooded Dulas valley with Cadair Idris rising above the road.
The A487 runs between Machynlleth and Dolgellau, climbing inland through the wooded Dulas valley past Corris beneath the great bulk of Cadair Idris. It is a flowing road with valley and mountain views; mind the towns, the bridges and the summer traffic.
Where it runs12.6 mi · point to point
PenegoesStart · Wales
BrithdirEnd · Wales
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Character
Corners16bends
Tightness4of 10
Max gradient7%≈ 1-in-14
Climb452 mtotal ascent
Summit295.9 mhighest point of the line · 971 ft
Corners
busiest around mile 5Elevation
under 4%4–8%over 8%7.7 – 295.9 mPoints of interest3 stops
- Cad WestViewpoint11 mi in
- Machynlleth War MemorialLandmarkat the start
- Hughes MemorialLandmark5.4 mi in
Hazards
- Narrow bridges
- Heavy summer traffic
- Coastal weather
Sources
“This leads you through one of the most spectacular mountain passes in Wales – the Tal-y-llyn Pass – with Cader Idris high above you to the right.”
Verified route: mapped from real road geometry and fact-checked by a human editor. How roads get checked
Driving the Cadair Idris Road: quick answers
How long does it take to drive the Cadair Idris Road?
Cadair Idris Road runs 12.6 miles (20 km) and takes about 24 min to drive without stops.
How difficult is the Cadair Idris Road to drive?
We rate it moderate: 16 corners, a maximum gradient of 7%, and a tightness of 4 out of 10.
When is the best time to drive the Cadair Idris Road?
Spring and Summer and Autumn are best.
Nearby roads
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Cadair Idris Road
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