Rich's Amazing Wales Road Trip 2013

Rich's Amazing Wales Road Trip 2013

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RichwiththeS2000

Original Poster:

443 posts

134 months

Friday 21st June 2013
quotequote all
Time for a Wales road trip!

2nd-4th August

The aim of the trip is to explore some nice (hopefully quiet) open roads and enjoy the scenery Wales has to offer. Plenty of stops for photos/food/pubs smile

All are welcome and if anyone is interested in joining me we will pick a location to meet somewhere along the M4 or you could join me en route. The below is a rough itinerary which includes some roads I’ve tried before and some I’ve researched. Any suggestions for other places we should include are more than welcome.

I am suggesting we stay at the Giler Arms which is just on the edge of the Evo Triangle in a great location (with a pub!). http://www.giler.co.uk/ I am going to camp there (£20), and a hotel is available on site too if you feel fancy. Book now to avoid disappointment!

If you’re not familiar with what Wales has to offer, please do a google image search for some of the locations I’ve mentioned below wink


Day 1:

After progressing through the Welsh Motorway we will Start at South West Brecon Beacons, up through black mountain pass. Hit Lake Clywedog via the B4518 on the way up to B458. Head west via A470 then north east via A494 past Lake Tegid and continue to The Giler Arms pub/campsite/hotel.

We may stop at the pub to set up / have a break / dinner and then maybe do some afternoon and evening trips around the triangle!

Updated to include West End Cafe and llyn Brianne

Day 1 route: http://goo.gl/maps/IaqnN
The Evo Triangle: http://goo.gl/maps/Pl4e9


Day 2:

Grab some breakfast earlyish then take a trip towards Snowdon, around Llanberis Pass (nice high walls for sound testing ) and Snowdonia Park before heading South.

We'll then head south down the A470 through Snowdonia Park and stop off at Tal-y-llyn Lake. We'll head back to visit Lake Tegid / Bala and then Llyn Celyn.

Maybe in the evening drive into Betws Y Coed as it's a nice small town not far from the triangle, with some different restaurants and shops.

Updated to include Updated Harltech Castle and Blaenau Ffestioniog, we'll drive through them and stop if a sensible place to park is available.

Edited route to skip Porthmadog and Dolgellau due to roadworks. Added the A4212 and a loop of a lake.



Day 2 route: http://goo.gl/maps/REcRr


Day 3:

Modified day 3 to forget about Horseshoe pass as the roads too/from it are busy and not very exciting. On a recommendation I've added a drive from Bala to the B4391 down bia Llanfyllin and the A490 to Welshpool. We'll then go to the Brecon Beacons and explore the eastern side of them before we head South and homeward.

Day 3 route: http://goo.gl/maps/uk4S4

A PDF Containing print outs with directions for each day can be downloaded here:
http://www.gtxm.org/public/Wales%20Road%20Trip%202...


Things to take:

Camping stuff (if needed)
Camera (if you like)
Octane booster if needed (It’s not always possible to find 99RON in the middle of Wales)
Petrol money - budget for around 2-3 tanks actually moving around Wales, and then whatever it takes you to get there and back.

Things to watch out for:

Blind corners with sheep sat in the middle of the road!
Blind corners with numpties riding push bikes
Blind corners with tractors doing 5mph
Driving off of mountains is frowned upon


Register your interest in this thread and I'll update closer to the time with meeting points and any other relevant info smile

Be good if we can get a few people along for the ride!

Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/139495306250798



Edited by RichwiththeS2000 on Thursday 25th July 15:56

everatomboy

5 posts

165 months

Friday 21st June 2013
quotequote all
Trip sounds great and would love to join some fellow PHers! Evo Triangle is local so might try and intercept you on day2. Driven some great roads round the area but like usual forgot to take notes, this is when a co driver comes in handy! As everyone knows the plod are extremely keen in N Wales, both me and my brother got done only last week, he was on his bike, so driver/rider beware!!! Sneaky tricks detailed below.
http://www.drivingroads.co.uk/evo-triangle

nta16

7,898 posts

234 months

Friday 21st June 2013
quotequote all
having toured Wales a few times and it's been our week's holiday for the last 4 years and we're going again this year - so you can guess I like the place for driving - I'd say this is a good introduction especially if you have a faster car that suits the bigger roads on the route

I hope it encourages those that haven't toured Wales before to come back after this introduction and explore more of the lovely scenery and roads you drive past this time (and the great pubs off theses routes)

yes I am an old f*rt in an old car that's not fast (me or the car) but 8 years ago I did have a nearly new S2000 so I do know both sides of the coin

good luck with your road trip of 'suggested places' to go as you're not organising anything just suggesting to others where you're going

TackMEU

454 posts

145 months

Saturday 22nd June 2013
quotequote all
This is just what I want to do. I am in Cornwall for the week, but I think I may well join you on Saturday and Sunday, if that is ok?

assadahmed

467 posts

190 months

Saturday 22nd June 2013
quotequote all
Definitely will be up for this. Keep us posted!

hoyin

1,233 posts

237 months

Sunday 23rd June 2013
quotequote all
Keep me posted. Always up for a bit of camping!

RichwiththeS2000

Original Poster:

443 posts

134 months

Monday 24th June 2013
quotequote all
Everyone is welcome!

Feel free to book yourself into the same campsite/hotel I'm at (Y Giler Arms). I'm all booked up and have the Friday off work so this is 100% going ahead! - you can even book your camping/hotel online.

Will be nice to not have to camp alone! wink


I've had some feedback WRT the route home on Sunday, and some other good roads near the triangle and will update with revised routes finalised closer to the time.

Also closer to the time I'll declare a time and meeting point on each of the days people who just want to come up for part of the ride can attend on one day.

I've also shared the trip on the S2000 owners club so hopefully we'll get an interesting range of cars coming along.

hoyin

1,233 posts

237 months

Tuesday 25th June 2013
quotequote all
Just want to check that we are staying at the same camping place for two nights?


RichwiththeS2000

Original Poster:

443 posts

134 months

Wednesday 26th June 2013
quotequote all
Yep smile

Makes an ideal base as it's right on the edge of the Triangle and central to a lot of the other good roads!

Updated day 2's route to include Tal-y-llyn Lake and Celyn Lake. Going to be great for photos :]


I'm hoping to get some sort of video camera that's better than filming stuff off my phone, might be fun to make a road trip video

hoyin

1,233 posts

237 months

Wednesday 26th June 2013
quotequote all
Just checked out the route. You starting near reading?

What time do you think you will leave?

I have a go pro so I can bring that.

RichwiththeS2000

Original Poster:

443 posts

134 months

Wednesday 26th June 2013
quotequote all
Yep, I live just outside Reading so was going to suggest meeting people at the M4 services. There's a few services along the way we can stop off to meet people at if needed.

Will finalize that closer to the time but will probably leave about 10ish on the Friday. Avoid the rush hour, should be able to spend the early afternoon at the Brecon Beacons / Black Mountain pass that way and then get to the triangle mid/late afternoon depending how much we mess about. Probably check in to the camp site around 5/6ish and see what people want to do. smile

Always the possibility of sorting out a BBQ/grabbing a couple of beers and chilling out or going round the triangle for some evening runs. Night time on the triangle is amazing, you really feel like you are the only people out there then biggrin

Go Pro sounds great smile

assadahmed

467 posts

190 months

Wednesday 26th June 2013
quotequote all
The hotel does not have any rooms for the Friday night so looks like I might be camping there too!

assadahmed

467 posts

190 months

Wednesday 26th June 2013
quotequote all
I have found another guest house which is very close by. http://www.llwynonnguesthouse.co.uk/rates-availabi...


hoyin

1,233 posts

237 months

Wednesday 26th June 2013
quotequote all
I am all booked in.

Looking forward to it!

RichwiththeS2000

Original Poster:

443 posts

134 months

Thursday 27th June 2013
quotequote all
Great stuff chaps!

Camping with the cars has got to be the way forward, anyone in the hotel/staying at another location we'll make sure to grab your numbers and then we arrange meeting points etc smile

Going to be fun smile

TackMEU

454 posts

145 months

Thursday 27th June 2013
quotequote all
assadahmed said:
I have found another guest house which is very close by. http://www.llwynonnguesthouse.co.uk/rates-availabi...
Just booked this one, I would have camped but as I cannot make it until Saturday frankly I could not be bothered to put a tent up for the night.

So I aim to get there for 10ish in the morning. Maybe earlier if I can get a Friday night stop on the way.

Edit, well done for organising this Rich.

RichwiththeS2000

Original Poster:

443 posts

134 months

Thursday 27th June 2013
quotequote all
Thanks smile

Betws y Coed is a nice place to be and it has the Shell petrol station! smile

BadBanshee

650 posts

137 months

Friday 28th June 2013
quotequote all
I read your post in my thread, Rich. I would come to this but I'm working on all of those days and I doubt I'd be able to swap so many shifts :/ Brilliant idea though.

TackMEU

454 posts

145 months

Friday 28th June 2013
quotequote all
Rich, are you limiting this or can I put this on another forum? I may only get 1 or 2 interested, but might be an idea.

RichwiththeS2000

Original Poster:

443 posts

134 months

Friday 28th June 2013
quotequote all
Share it out mate, feel free - the more the merrier smile Be good if you could let me know numbers though if you get any interest just so we know what to expect!