Road trip to the Elan Valley, mid-Wales

Road trip to the Elan Valley, mid-Wales

Author
Discussion

mr_fibuli

1,109 posts

195 months

Saturday 19th May 2012
quotequote all
What road is that last picture with the ruins on? I've driven it before, but was never able to remember how to find it again!

lupy

Original Poster:

54 posts

145 months

Saturday 19th May 2012
quotequote all
FisiP1 said:
a bunch of BMWs from a club meeting of some description taking extreme liberties taking the 'racing line' around blind bends. My dad also narrowly avoided a head-on with the same group on a separate day up there. Drive safe!
Some of those roads have nasty drops on them, pretty terrifying that people drive like that without realising the potential consequences!

mr_fibuli said:
What road is that last picture with the ruins on? I've driven it before, but was never able to remember how to find it again!


It's the left pin in this one:


hms

164 posts

198 months

Tuesday 22nd May 2012
quotequote all
Group of us did this at the last Royal Wedding, roads were absolutely empty, Brilliant.





Didn't stop for photo's, having too much fun!
Overnighted in Merthyr Tydfill, hence the odd start location!
h

AndyWoodall

2,625 posts

259 months

Wednesday 23rd May 2012
quotequote all
Sad to hear this road has been discovered by the racing line set.

I confess, I would drive rather too fast along that road when I commuted on it, but it was always 1-2am or 5-6am when I was passing through and I'd often not see a car from Brecon to Aber!

Trefy5

459 posts

152 months

Saturday 26th May 2012
quotequote all
Lupy - just sing out and i shall point
- helped out a bunch of Caterhams recently and the roads seemed to go down well

Re the ruins
People refer to them as the Elan valley - an understandable mix up but it's the Ystwyth valley - the ruins (old mines) are at Cwm Ysywth so anyone wantng to google/you tube info would be as well to use that term as well as Elan valley

Fisi - rather hoping the BMW thing doesn't become a habit across there
Only the day before i was at Crossgates and a group of BMW(predominatly) bikers were in.
They left whilst i was still there.
Respectful bunch which was great to see - shame about their car equivalents it seems.
Btw, is it your Cayman i see regularly parked opposite the Aspidistra?

FisiP1

1,279 posts

153 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
Trefy5 said:
Fisi
Btw, is it your Cayman i see regularly parked opposite the Aspidistra?
Hi again,

If you are referring to the restaurant in Llandrindod then I'm afraid not. I'm around Aberystwyth fairly frequently in it(since it has my parking stickers for work), there are 2-3 others around Aber too but none I have seen are the same color as mine(Guards Red).

I'm sometimes around Aber in a white 991 Carrera on the weekends too.

Trefy5

459 posts

152 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
Ah right
There's a regular dark blue Cayman in Llan'dod
got me a soft spot for them smile

HeatonNorris

1,649 posts

148 months

Sunday 27th May 2012
quotequote all
I went over there on Saturday and got stuck behind a 50-odd seater coach for a few miles!

Don't know if he did it deliberately, or if he was lost - but it's bloody irresponsible taking something like that on the Aberystwyth Mountain Road.

Daggers89

905 posts

160 months

Monday 28th May 2012
quotequote all
Only ever been around this area once - at night! Didn't really get the benefit of the beautiful surroundings but would definitely be up for a trip if one was organised! biggrin

tomtomh5

40 posts

143 months

Monday 28th May 2012
quotequote all
Me and my dad went down that road last year on the way back from aber.

http://youtu.be/LyvIpJLIRp8 is the video we recorded, yes, its on motorbikes.

smile

Crease

583 posts

169 months

Friday 29th June 2012
quotequote all
that b4343 road, is the abergwesyn road, amazing to drive! especially on a hot summers day!

at one point i had friends that lived up towards llynbrianne lakes, and i used to love the spin up there to see them!

there seems to be a few of you on here that dont post in the south wales section!

good to see a few more ph's from aberystwyth thumbup

e21Mark

16,205 posts

173 months

Sunday 13th July 2014
quotequote all
Please forgive the thread bump but myself and some friends are heading to Wales for a road trip next weekend. Below is the route we have in mind but I wondered if there are any changes those with more experience may make? The plan is to start at Betsw-y-coed and finish in Brecon, but other than that we're open to input.

Shame to read about past experiences of BMW owners (we're going in a selection of 60's, 70's & 80's BMW) but rest assured we won't be putting others at risk.

Anyway, here is what we have in mind, heading off Saturday morning with an overnight stop at the midway point. As I say, any input and helpful advice would be much appreciated. smile



I have to drive up from Cornwall first next Friday.


mr pg

1,954 posts

205 months

Monday 14th July 2014
quotequote all
That's a pretty good route. We did much of that about 3 weeks. Road from Ffestiniog to Bala (B4391) is a real gem, and my favourite. The road from Machynellth to Llandidloes is also worth considering, and make sure you include the A4069 Black Mountain pass.

e21Mark

16,205 posts

173 months

Monday 14th July 2014
quotequote all
Thanks for input. Black mountain pass will be pencilled in. smile

Trefy5

459 posts

152 months

Tuesday 15th July 2014
quotequote all
Hi Mark
When you come from Rhayader >> Builth Wells consider turning right at Newbridge and go down to Beulah.
There turn left for Garth where you can turn right and head over Epynt and on down to Brecon via Upper and Lower Chapel.
Not only is the A4069 reasonable but so is the A4059 which runs between the A470 by the Brecon Reservoir and the Heads of the Valley via Penderyn (home to the Welsh distillery).
There's more but you can revisit for those smile

e21Mark

16,205 posts

173 months

Tuesday 15th July 2014
quotequote all
It's a good job I've got the optional auxiliary fuel tank! wink

I'm actually going to head for Brecon on Friday (plan to stop in at JFi Classics and do an oil change and spanner check) and take a leisurely drive up to Betws Y Coed to then spend Sat / Sun heading back down again.

Sonic

4,007 posts

207 months

Tuesday 15th July 2014
quotequote all
e21Mark said:
It's a good job I've got the optional auxiliary fuel tank! wink
There are lots of tesco 99 stops around if needed thumbup

will_

6,027 posts

203 months

Tuesday 15th July 2014
quotequote all
Rhayader to Devil's bridge is absolutely terrific - bit narrow in places but the road towards the end has just been resurfaced and is like a mini Nurburgring. Highly recommended, in fact your whole route looks excellent. Don't miss the A4069 Black Mountain road though!