Escape to Wales

[Pickled Piper]

Wife and sprogs will be away for a few days shortly, so with no family taxi duties for a while I thought I would take a day out to enjoy some driving and scenery.

I am in the West Midlands and would appreciate any route suggestions for getting to and enjoying Wales. I am happy to miss out on the Evo Triangle, if that is likely to be too busy. I have read that there are other equally good roads nearby.

Any suggestions appreciated.

pp

[plenty]

I hate to be one of those annoying forum beards who implores you to use the search function....but there are soooo many threads on this topic.

Here's a tip: the roads of North Wales, including the triangle, are almost never too busy, regardless of day or time. It's one of the reasons why it's such tremendous driving country.

[Hawkers]

Check out this thread.

Wales Road Trip

[sideways20vT]

A4069 - Black mountain pass

[Zed 44]

My buddy and I liked the Brecon Beacons area particularly the Devil's staircase - a bit narrow to start with but worth pursuing to get to the better parts.

[Pickled Piper]

Cheers everyone.

A plan is forming.

pp

[RickfocusST]

B4391. Over and over again

[TOYNEG]

RickfocusST said:

B4391. Over and over again

+1

[Ace1968]

sideways20vT said:

A4069 - Black mountain pass

Not any more I'm afraid, well the scenery is still superb but it is now 40mph on the whole stretch and is policed.

[kith]

Wife and kids away so me and a mate are off to North Wales this weekend too. Will take in the triangle and Llanberis pass amongst others, staying at the Groes Inn. Look out for an M135i and Golf R in close formation!

[Allyc85]

TOYNEG said:

RickfocusST said:

B4391. Over and over again

+1

+2

Agreed about the A4069 too sadly.

[Red Devil]

Nant Gwynant -> Llanberis
Rhyader -> Devils Bridge
Abergwesyn -> Tregaron (plus detour to Llyn Brianne if desired)
Dinas Mawddwy -> Bala (via Bwlch-y-Groes aka Hellfire Pass)
Llanidloes -> Machynlleth
Brecon -> Garth

The Triangle is a bit over-hyped imo. Head further south and avoid all the grockles infesting Snowdonia.

[Lancs Dave]

I was there driving with some friends yesterday

[Major Floater]

^Bumped into your group in Betws Y Coed, I was in my "company" car, sent you a PM Dave.

[spicjt]

Ace1968 said:

Not any more I'm afraid, well the scenery is still superb but it is now 40mph on the whole stretch and is policed.

Is the Black mountain pass that bad now? Planning a trip in September and was going to do this road. If it's that bad may give it a miss!

Thanks

[Craikeybaby]

Another vote for the B4391, to get to there from the West Midlands, take the M54/A5 past Shrewsbury, then turn off onto the B4396, which eventually turns into the B4391.

[Pickled Piper]

Craikeybaby said:

Another vote for the B4391, to get to there from the West Midlands, take the M54/A5 past Shrewsbury, then turn off onto the B4396, which eventually turns into the B4391.

Cheers Craikey. That sounds perfect. I may stop of and look at the Ironbridge enroute.

pp

[JimmyConwayNW]

Much chance of seeing the fighter jets at Machynlleth when out and about that way wouldn't mind combing driving and seeing them on the Mach loop?

Cheers.

[Red Devil]

Can get a bit crowded on that mountainside.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-7zHlOi4T4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3o-Eaixw6ec
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kT7qrYi8R_M

http://machloop.co.uk/
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/operati...

That said, there are no guarantees that there will be any activity at the Loop on those dates/times.
It's a bit like going fishing. You'll need a lot of patience and/or luck to land a bumper catch.

[SmilerFTM]

As I don't want to start a whole new thread on Wales again I thought I would put these two routes (below) on here for thoughts and possible tweaks. I'm going to be spending two full days driving around Wales and thought I'd do South one day and North the next. The start, mid, and end points can be changed to suit as nothing is set yet, a reason for that is me and my mate live in the County Durham and Essex respectively and it's going to be a big drive for both of us to get there irrespective (although my drive there/back may be a bit more fun as I've kinda got the Peak district and the Yorkshire Dales in my way ).

Day 1

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z-_W6J3HJg5...

Day 2

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z-_W6J3HJg5...

Edited by SmilerFTM on Saturday 18th July 17:20

Edited by SmilerFTM on Saturday 18th July 17:37

Edited by SmilerFTM on Monday 20th July 19:55