East Midlands to North wales - best route?

[sleepersix]

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

[sleepersix]

Thanks for the comments. Tempted to head up to the A50 as I would be hitting the M6 round Birmingham at 5.30 to 6pm, but the route through Shrewsbury and A5 sounds interesting. I may just need to 'make good progress' if there is much traffic.

[sleepersix]

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.

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