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Cycle Routes & Bike Hire Colwyn Bay
North Wales is a great destination for cycling holidays, with some stunning cycle routes particularly along the famous North Wales path.
Stretching out for 60 miles from Bangor through to Prestatyn, this scenic coastal cycle route takes in a section of the newly refurbished Colwyn Bay promenade. This makes it a safe and part of this of course includes a section of the Colwyn Bay promenade which makes for a great starting point for a bike ride in North Wales thanks to the ready availability of car parking spaces along the seafront.
Give the popularity of the activity with our holiday home owners and holiday guests, we thought that we had better put together a details guide highlighting the best cycle routes in North Wales and the best sources of bike hire in Colwyn Bay in case you haven’t brought your own set of wheels along with you on your getaway.
Bike Hire in Colwyn Bay
If you’re looking to hire a bicycle in Colwyn Bay, the most convenient option currently is to go through Beics Betws, a well-established bike hire and repair company based in nearby Betws-y-Coed.
Beics Betws offer a wide range of bikes—including standard cycles, children’s models, balance bikes, trailers, e-mountain bikes, and even electric cargo bikes suitable for bulky loads or little ones. Best of all, they provide delivery across North Wales—including Colwyn Bay—via their “Us2U” service, so you don’t need to travel to their shop to pick up your bike. It’s wise to book in advance since they may close on quieter days, but their service makes arranging bike hire in Colwyn Bay both easy and flexible
Best Cycling Routes Near Colwyn Bay
Once you’ve got your wheels, Colwyn Bay and its surrounds offer a wonderful variety of cycling experiences.
One popular easy ride follows the National Cycle Network Route 5, which runs along the North Wales coast through Colwyn Bay, Rhos-on-Sea, Abergele, Kinmel Bay, and beyond. A particularly enjoyable segment is the Rhos-on-Sea to Pensarn route, a largely traffic-free promenade along the seafront. You’ll cycle beside the sea with wooded hills rising behind you and even spot curious heaps of concrete anchors used for coastal erosion control.
If you want something a little longer but still moderate, the “Pier to Pier” ride from Llandudno to Colwyn Bay is around 6 miles (9.9 km). Beginning at Llandudno Pier, it follows the shared promenade paths past Rhos-on-Sea, with hills, cafés, and scenic seaside landmarks along the way.
One of the most memorable cycle routes runs from Colwyn Bay to the Great Orme and back—a road route of roughly 24 km (15 miles). It takes you along the coast toward Llandudno, climbs up toward the Great Orme, and brings you back, offering vistas over both sea and town and passing local natural highlights like Pwllycrochan Woods and the Welsh Mountain Zoo
If you’re keen on heading inland, the Conwy Valley road cycle route follows river paths from Conwy to Betws-y-Coed—about 15 miles each way—with pretty villages and trains nearby as a fallback if you choose to cut it short. Mountain biking fans will enjoy the forest trails around Gwydir Forest or Penmachno, and the Cycle Centre at Llyn Brenig offers hire of suitable bikes as well.
Get Cycling!
Arranging bike hire in Colwyn Bay is relatively straightforward via Beics Betws’s. Once you’re equipped, you can choose from gentle coastal promenades ideal for families, scenic loops around the Great Orme, or more challenging inland routes with stunning landscapes.
Whether you’re after relaxed seaside riding or an off-road adventure, the Colwyn Bay area has something to delight every kind of cyclist.