Horseshoe Pass
A542 · Llangollen → Llandegla · Wales
- Length
- 7 miles
- Drive time
- 15 min
- Type
- Mountain pass
- Region
- Wales
Before you go: Can close briefly in winter snow
The great horseshoe sweep above Llangollen: a wide, well-sighted climb curling around the head of the valley to the moor top at Llandegla. A long-time weekend biker meeting spot — note the famous Ponderosa Café at the summit closed in late 2024 after 42 years, so plan food down in Llangollen.
Highlights of the Horseshoe Pass
- The horseshoe curve itself
- Panoramic summit viewpoint
- Valle Crucis Abbey at the base
Where to stop
- Llangollen — Cafés, pubs and fuel in town at the base — best bet now the Ponderosa has closed
- Horseshoe Pass summit — Big lay-by viewpoint at ~417 m (café here closed 2024)
Drive the Horseshoe Pass
Open Horseshoe Pass on the map → ⬇ Download GPX
GPX works with Garmin, TomTom, Beeline and most bike sat-navs. Free, no sign-up — these are indicative waypoints, so follow the road signs, not the arrow.
Plot it, add it to a club run with a meeting point and pit stops, then share the whole trip as one link. Free, no account, works offline.
Route research: Top Gear
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