Dragon Loop - Scenic Driving Road Circuit in Wales

[ARHarh]

tropicalpalmtree said:

ARHarh said:

Tried to get Bwlch-y-Groes on the road from lake vyrnwy, this morning only to find a car stuck in the collapsed road. The road has given way somewhere near the top. The poor couple were well and truly stuck. Bloke had started walking towards the lake when we found him. Took him back to his car just as a bunch of motor cyclists had come across the car, We managed to get them out of the hole. But the road is now only about 3 feet wide with 8 inch deep holes on either side. Luckily I was in the Lexus RX, so could manage to tug their little hatchback out. I didn't bother to try and get past the broken bit of road, just turned round, after reversing for what seemed ages back down the pass.

So don't go up there from the lake for a while.

This is why i didn't include that road man. It isn't fit for driving unless its really quiet like in the winter because its single track, and in the summer you're too likely to encounter problems with other cars and cyclists.

Edited by tropicalpalmtree on Sunday 23 July 18:06

Yep sI aid similar earlier on in this thread. OK if you know the issues and have the ability to reverse long stretches of a single track mountain pass, which in reality a lot of townies never get to practise.

[Mr Roper]

I'd be up for a little PH meet up/ run out if anyone's game?

[untakenname]

tropicalpalmtree said:

I think i passed you coming out of dolgellau onto the bala road. Did you see me? I swear i passed an RX8 that looked just like yours.

Edited by tropicalpalmtree on Sunday 23 July 17:56

Yep, I saw you as I was turning left, took a double take as thought it was a Subaru at first with the bonnet.

[tropicalpalmtree]

Can anyone let me know if the map is still working? Having issues on my end. Cheers

[ARHarh]

tropicalpalmtree said:

Can anyone let me know if the map is still working? Having issues on my end. Cheers

Seems to load up fine on my PC.

[Alex Z]

Just worked ok on an iPad.

[Riley Blue]

ARHarh said:

tropicalpalmtree said:

Can anyone let me know if the map is still working? Having issues on my end. Cheers

Seems to load up fine on my PC.

OK here too.

[tropicalpalmtree]

Thanks all for letting me know. Getting an error code when logged in to my email for some reason

[tropicalpalmtree]

I've found three roads that are going to make up my brecon beacons part of the loop. A4069 Black Mountain pass, A4067 fast road and the A4059. A4069 is the best driving road, but A4059 might just be my favourite road of the three. It's like a bigger and better B4407, the landscape is like driving through a dream.

[c4gts]

hi all really enjoyed reading this thread, planning for a wales weekend driving getaway!

however, due to how stressed i get with single track roads (car is a f430) i always check every route on google streetview with an obsession.

appreciate the single track roads are likely the best for views, but i get majorly stressed and it would likely ruin the trip for me.

for those of you who know wales well/have done many routes here before, i don't suppose there are any non single track road routes anyone knows of?

many thanks
alan

[Red Devil]

tropicalpalmtree said:

I've found three roads that are going to make up my brecon beacons part of the loop. A4069 Black Mountain pass, A4067 fast road and the A4059. A4069 is the best driving road, but A4059 might just be my favourite road of the three. It's like a bigger and better B4407, the landscape is like driving through a dream.

You might well be dreaming on the A4069. It's a sleep inducing 40mph throughout.

c4gts said:

hi all really enjoyed reading this thread, planning for a wales weekend driving getaway!

however, due to how stressed i get with single track roads (car is a f430) i always check every route on google streetview with an obsession.

appreciate the single track roads are likely the best for views, but i get majorly stressed and it would likely ruin the trip for me.

for those of you who know wales well/have done many routes here before, i don't suppose there are any non single track road routes anyone knows of?

many thanks
alan

For starters, the three mentioned above.

Then, off the top of my head:
B4520, Brecon to Builth Wells.
B4520/B4519, Brecon to Garth.
B4518/unclassified, Rhayader to Machynlleth via Llanidloes.
B4396/B4393/B4391/A4212/B4391, Porth-y-waen to Ffestiniog via Abertridwr and Bala.

Others are available.

[ARHarh]

c4gts said:

hi all really enjoyed reading this thread, planning for a wales weekend driving getaway!

however, due to how stressed i get with single track roads (car is a f430) i always check every route on google streetview with an obsession.

appreciate the single track roads are likely the best for views, but i get majorly stressed and it would likely ruin the trip for me.

for those of you who know wales well/have done many routes here before, i don't suppose there are any non single track road routes anyone knows of?

many thanks
alan

Not many if any of these roads are single track roads. The OP left out single track roads as lots don't like them. Yes some single track roads have been discussed but driving over Bwlch-y-Groes if you don't like single track roads will probably not go down well.

[c4gts]

to

ARHarh said:

Not many if any of these roads are single track roads. The OP left out single track roads as lots don't like them. Yes some single track roads have been discussed but driving over Bwlch-y-Groes if you don't like single track roads will probably not go down well.

the bits on the original route which caused me mild palpitations on street view was the bit west of rhayader to cwmystwyth, and then the bit through dylife! i know, pathetic..

[c4gts]

Red Devil said:

For starters, the three mentioned above.

Then, off the top of my head:
B4520, Brecon to Builth Wells.
B4520/B4519, Brecon to Garth.
B4518/unclassified, Rhayader to Machynlleth via Llanidloes.
B4396/B4393/B4391/A4212/B4391, Porth-y-waen to Ffestiniog via Abertridwr and Bala.

Others are available.

thanks mate going to try to put some of these in to divert from the single track bits of the OP route!

[silentbrown]

c4gts said:

the bits on the original route which caused me mild palpitations on street view was the bit west of rhayader to cwmystwyth, and then the bit through dylife! i know, pathetic..

Those two sections really aren't single track. The Dylife road is practically a motorway.

[ARHarh]

c4gts said:

to

ARHarh said:

Not many if any of these roads are single track roads. The OP left out single track roads as lots don't like them. Yes some single track roads have been discussed but driving over Bwlch-y-Groes if you don't like single track roads will probably not go down well.

the bits on the original route which caused me mild palpitations on street view was the bit west of rhayader to cwmystwyth, and then the bit through dylife! i know, pathetic..

If those roads are worrying you, you are not going to enjoy north Wales, they are practically motorways round here, as silentbrown says. You really aren't going to find many roads wider than that. You will almost certainly need to be able to reverse, drive through a gap with inches to spare and not fall off the edge whilst staring at the view.

[Red Devil]

You're welcome.

Be prepared for those palpitations though: Dylife is on the the unclassified section of the Rhayader-Machynlleth route.
The single track section starts half a mile after Dylife - https://maps.app.goo.gl/VUEbM48v33KH95iC9
It's well worth it though, if only for the cracking view at the superb downhill sweep here - https://maps.app.goo.gl/f4xFAssF6DgeHamP7
If you need a breather, pause at the Cadair Viewpoint/Vaughn-Thomas memorial above the clump of trees

[tropicalpalmtree]

c4gts said:

the bits on the original route which caused me mild palpitations on street view was the bit west of rhayader to cwmystwyth, and then the bit through dylife! i know, pathetic..

This route will avoid both of those sections and will be 2 solid lanes all the way

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1KlgzIP...

You could also turn off at Cemmaes Road and follow the A470 all the way to Rhayader through Caersws and Llangurig.

[Riley Blue]

tropicalpalmtree said:

c4gts said:

the bits on the original route which caused me mild palpitations on street view was the bit west of rhayader to cwmystwyth, and then the bit through dylife! i know, pathetic..

This route will avoid both of those sections and will be 2 solid lanes all the way

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1KlgzIP...

You could also turn off at Cemmaes Road and follow the A470 all the way to Rhayader through Caersws and Llangurig.

I seem to have to request access to that link.

[tropicalpalmtree]

Riley Blue said:

I seem to have to request access to that link.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1KlgzIP...