South Wales roads...Midlands to Penarth

[Hard-Drive]

Got a family do in Penarth on Saturday. Plan is to set off from the Midlands early and go and have a bit of a hoon on the way down. Be nice to combine it with a short walk, and take in some nice vistas.

Any recommendations? I seem to remember that Llangyndr (sp?) mountain near Crickhowell was a bit of a gas. Stumbled across a journo test last time I was there (1M, Evora, Ginetta, Cayman and some other stuff). My three series M Sport was good fun, even if it was blunted somewhat by an oil burner in the front, a slush box in the middle, and two full suss mountain bikes on a rack out the back! I suspect the Boxster ready for this trip will deliver a better experience!

So...any recommendations?

[Mave]

I remember that llangynidr route from when I bought my Alfa 145 in 1998- caned it from the cattle grid, all the way to the T-junction near llangynidr. Me sweating; brakes smoking; returned around and went back again. Happy days...

[Mave]

Forgot to say, not that much driving fun to be had into Penarth itself- I'd come off the A4232 at wenvoe, through Peterson super Ely into dinas Powys, head in the direction of Barry, then sully, lavernock, and into Penarth.

[Hard-Drive]

Thanks Mave! Any more for any more?

[Mr Taxpayer]

I live in Hereford and all the roads west of me are fun drives. The A4104 Hereford-Worcester road is big fun early in the morning, if it's clear. One easily spotted camera in Leigh Sinton and never mobile one.

From Hereford, the route to Brecon through Hay-on-Wye is good.

If you want a fast road with long sweeping bends rather than knotty 2nd/3rd gear stuff, then the A465 Hereford-Abergavenny road is your choice. This will give you the chance to stop at Lock's in Allensmore, about 5 miles south of Hereford. Lock's is a Shell garage (all fuel grades available including LPG, red diesel and paraffin) that does the best ice-cream you get all weekend. And probably all summer too!