East Midlands to North wales - best route?
Discussion
Getting away for a few days next week near Pwllheli, and will be leaving, probably from market harborough at about 4.30pm on Wednesday. Sat nav suggests either:
1). M6 to brum, M54 and A5 to Shrewsbury, then A roads via Welshpool and Dolgellau, or
2). A6 to Leicester, then M1 and A50 to Stoke, M6 and M56 to Chester, then A55
Option 2 is longer distance but both appear to be c. 4.5 hours by Google maps
Can anyone advise which route is best, or an alternative? Good driving roads not essential as just looking to get there easily with the wife and kids.
Any thoughts appreciated
1). M6 to brum, M54 and A5 to Shrewsbury, then A roads via Welshpool and Dolgellau, or
2). A6 to Leicester, then M1 and A50 to Stoke, M6 and M56 to Chester, then A55
Option 2 is longer distance but both appear to be c. 4.5 hours by Google maps
Can anyone advise which route is best, or an alternative? Good driving roads not essential as just looking to get there easily with the wife and kids.
Any thoughts appreciated
I'd take option one. No dual carriageway after Shrewsbury, but it's an interesting drive through the 'heart' of Wales. Mountains, lakes and nuclear power stations. Look out for speed cameras just after Dinas Mawddwy. 
Not overly blessed with service stations or similar, so you'd want to get pees and petrol sorted around Shrewsbury or Welshpool.
Not overly blessed with service stations or similar, so you'd want to get pees and petrol sorted around Shrewsbury or Welshpool.
silentbrown said:
I'd take option one. No dual carriageway after Shrewsbury, but it's an interesting drive through the 'heart' of Wales. Mountains, lakes and nuclear power stations. Look out for speed cameras just after Dinas Mawddwy.
Not overly blessed with service stations or similar, so you'd want to get pees and petrol sorted around Shrewsbury or Welshpool.
Where abouts after Dinas? I've travlled that road bundreds of times and have never seen one. Heard reports of one in Dinas once and that's it. Not overly blessed with service stations or similar, so you'd want to get pees and petrol sorted around Shrewsbury or Welshpool.
Find your way to Shrewsbury, then A5 towards Oswestry, turn off towards knockin. On to A495 towards Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, then B4931 to Bala, then B4212 to Ffestiniog, then on to where you want to end up. check it out on Google for full route, but some lovely roads and stunning scenery. And you get to drive past my house.
Once you get to stoke, you can go left on the a500 towards m6 j15. Don't get on the motorway though, instead pick up the road (a53) to Shrewsbury, after a few miles along this there are options to carry on to Shrewsbury or go via Woore and Bala.
Obviously I'm glossing over the detail but a map should see you right.
Obviously I'm glossing over the detail but a map should see you right.
Once you get to stoke, you can go left on the a500 towards m6 j15. Don't get on the motorway though, instead pick up the road (a53) to Shrewsbury, after a few miles along this there are options to carry on to Shrewsbury or go via Woore and Bala.
Obviously I'm glossing over the detail but a map should see you right.
Obviously I'm glossing over the detail but a map should see you right.
D4VE 3LL said:
Where abouts after Dinas? I've travlled that road bundreds of times and have never seen one. Heard reports of one in Dinas once and that's it.
Cwm Cerist: http://www.gosafe.org/goSafe_camera.aspx?cameraID=...Coming downhill from Bwlch Oerddrws towards Dinas, in the layby here.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.732237,-3.748202...
They can see you from a long way off.
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@52.731609,-3.755805...
silentbrown said:
I'd take option one. No dual carriageway after Shrewsbury, but it's an interesting drive through the 'heart' of Wales. Mountains, lakes and nuclear power stations. Look out for speed cameras just after Dinas Mawddwy.
Not overly blessed with service stations or similar, so you'd want to get pees and petrol sorted around Shrewsbury or Welshpool.
Took this route on the way out and it worked well. Busy traffic on the M6 past Birmingham but once off the M54 was able to make surprisingly good progress. Not tanking along as the family were in the car, but a lovely run along the A470 over to Dolgellau.Not overly blessed with service stations or similar, so you'd want to get pees and petrol sorted around Shrewsbury or Welshpool.
Came back a different route with a cracking run over the A4212 into Bala. Unfortunately missed the B4391 as we headed up to Llangollen but a good run all the same.
will pick all these up properly when I come back in June without the family in tow...
Thanks all
the route shown on the map in the previous post is great if you want great driving roads and good scenery. I took family holidays in Bala for years and always used to take the section list b-c as it was far more fun and generally worked out faster than the A5. The section out from bala c-d is also great driving. Enjoy, it will make up for the through all the traffic to get to wales.
edward1 said:
the route shown on the map in the previous post is great if you want great driving roads and good scenery. I took family holidays in Bala for years and always used to take the section list b-c as it was far more fun and generally worked out faster than the A5. The section out from bala c-d is also great driving. Enjoy, it will make up for the through all the traffic to get to wales.
Fantastic, that's what I like to hear!
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