Completed · 16 Aug 2026

2026 Brecon Beacons Devil

Come and ride the best of the Brecon Beacons and tackle Wales’ highest road. Starting from gorgeous Hay-on-Wye, we have three cracking routes from 80km to over 200km, taking in Gospel Pass, The Tumble and plenty of cheeky little climbs in between.

WhenSunday 16 August 2026
RegistrationOpens 7.30am
Departures8.00am – 8.30am
StartDrover Cycles, Hay-on-Wye, HR3 5EH
This event has finishedThanks for riding

Choose your route

One feed station on the short route and two on the medium and long routes.

Short

£30

Distance
83km
Climbing
1,098m

Medium

£35

Distance
128km
Climbing
1,819m

Long

£40

Distance
175km
Climbing
2,583m
Route updateIn response to advice from Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, we have taken the decision to exclude The Tumble from this year’s LONG ROUTE. A road closure remains in place between Blaenavon and Llangynidr due to the Llangynidr Reservoir moorland wildfire and air quality and visibility are both affected by the smoke. We hope you understand the decision is made in the interests of safety and to allow the rescue services to carry out their vital work. The amended route is shown on the map below. The MEDIUM and SHORT routes are unaffected by this change.

Entry includes

Signed routesMarked with our trademark fluorescent pink arrows.
GPS & mapsGPS file and paper map for back-up route finding.
Feed stationsSweet and savoury food plus hot and cold drinks.
SupportMechanical and first aid help at the feed stations.
Goody bagA little something to take home on the day.
Finish feastHot food, cake and a drink at the finish.
Broom wagonBack-up support and an emergency contact number.
Event HQParking, toilets and changing facilities.

Tackle Wales’ highest road

The event HQ is our very own Drover Cycles shop and cafe conveniently situated at the lowest point of the highest road pass in Wales!

So it’s straight out of the door and a 5 mile uphill warm up over Gospel Pass before descending the sunken lane through the Llanthony Valley. There’s hardly a car to be seen so you’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you ride on to meet the Usk Valley near Crickhowell.

The short and medium route continue alongside the picturesque Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. Meanwhile the long course ascends the infamous Tumble as featured in the Tour of Britain a few years back before a brief dip into the industrial heads of the valleys, topped off by a huge downhill to reach feed station number one at Llangynidr.

Continue westwards along the wonderful Usk Valley on quiet but lumpy back roads past the source of the Usk towards the Black Mountain and the superb but remote western Fans of the Beacons. A much needed pit-stop awaits at Llangadog for the long route riders, and from here you head back eastwards through a landscape speckled with sheep and farmhouses. Breathtaking views, in more ways than one!

Back in the Wye Valley, medium and long routes re-join and there’s a chance to take on some calories before the long but wonderful climb from Aberedw up and over Llanbedr Hill back towards Painscastle and on to Hay. The shorter route winds its way through the back lanes at the foothills of the Black Mountains arriving back at base.

All routes have a substantial amount of climbing (nearly 4000 meters in the case of the long route). Even for experienced riders, it’s a fairly testing day in the saddle but one that you’re likely to remember for a long time to come.

Back at base, we’ll have cake, hot food, drinks and ice-cream for all finishers.

Entry fee in advance is £30/£35/£40 for Short/Medium/Long routes. Event base is Drover Cycles HR3 5EH. We will have one feed station for the Short route and two for the Medium or Long Routes. Both feed stations will be in village halls with toilets, mechanical assistance and route maps on hand.

Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult.

Pre-event information

Drover Cycles hire bikes

Need a bike for the day?

Bike hire is available from Drover Cycles for this event. Please book early to avoid disappointment.