Dragon Loop - Scenic Driving Road Circuit in Wales

[tropicalpalmtree]

Hello. I have compiled a driving route that i think is the best is North/Mid Wales. This takes in the best roads and best scenery this part of the country has to offer. I live in this area and have tried and tested to find the best roads to create a full circuit for people to enjoy. This is the finished product. It's approximately 300 miles long.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1nl9trE...

If this post garners enough interest i can go into more detail on the route layout, some diversions and suggestions, but for now i will leave you the map and hope you get chance to drive it.

Edited by tropicalpalmtree on Sunday 2nd July 22:06

[tropicalpalmtree]

Krikkit said:

As above I think I'd disagree in parts, but a great effort to put it together nonetheless!

Which parts?

[tropicalpalmtree]

pherlopolus said:

Nice, any reason you missed out llanberis to capel curig via pen y pass and went via Bethesda instead?

Because Ogwen valley is a faster and far better road to drive on imo. And pen-y-pass is a nightmare in any holiday season or Sunny weekend. It's always clogged up with traffic and inconsiderate parking (so is Ogwen but definitely less so than Pen-Y-Pass). Potentially you could cut out Ogwen and just go (anti-clockwise direction on loop) down the A4086 from Capel Curig then down Pen y Pass and pick up the route again.

Edited by tropicalpalmtree on Monday 3rd July 00:12

[tropicalpalmtree]

I had to get both roads of evo triangle in. Also I wanted to include the b5513 for its amazing view across snowdonia peaks.

[tropicalpalmtree]

I have decided to include Pen-Y-Pass on the map. Please be aware though that during peak season the road to nant gwynant is hassle if the illegal Parking is still really bad. If you drive the route outside of holiday season, you will have no problems. I have also swapped the A470 at Mallwyd for the A493 coastal road. I want to make this as complete as possible. I just found that my OG route was all mountains and no water (besides lakes)

Edited by tropicalpalmtree on Monday 3rd July 23:36

[tropicalpalmtree]

Mr Roper said:

My house is on this route.

As it happens i'm doing a road trip around Mid Wales this Sat with my son....He's bought a new toy so we're taking the cars out early for some fun.

I've done most of the roads on your route at one point or another..Quite fancy doing the whole lot. I followed your link which brought up the route but how do I store it on my device? I'm a total nugget with this stuff.

Cheers.

Screenshot the entire route for back up. Otherwise just keep the link handy so you can use it for reference. I will make full navigation instructions sometime this week.

You could also open the map and click the star in the top left corner to bookmark it.

[tropicalpalmtree]

Krikkit said:

OK got it, it's more a scenic route not a good driving route

I've done a quick anti-clockwise loop (because that'd be my starting direction), have to break it into multiple legs as I can't remember how to make a sufficient number of waypoints:

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Sportsman's+Arms...

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Tremadog,+Porthm...

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Welshpool/Foulke...

Edited by Krikkit on Tuesday 4th July 17:23

I have tried to get a blend of the two as i wanted it to be great driving but also lots of different scenery too hence i included the A493 coastal road over the A470 between Dolgellau and Machynlleth. As on the map, if the long distance visibility is poor or if it's raining, Avoid the B5113 and just stick to the A5 between Pentrefoelas and Betws Y Coed (if you can't see the mountains the B5113 probably isn't worth doing) I included it because this is the view on a clear day

Edited by tropicalpalmtree on Tuesday 4th July 21:06

[tropicalpalmtree]

silentbrown said:

A490 NW from Welshpool is a much nicer road than the A483.

I was worried about people getting lost on the A490 because there are so many roads shooting off everywhere seemingly to all places beginning with Llan-. But i agree it's nicer. I just thought A483 and through Llansantfraid was more straightforward to get onto the B4391. My route does pick up the A490 but near Llanfyllin

Edited by tropicalpalmtree on Wednesday 9th August 19:28

[tropicalpalmtree]

Red Devil said:

Each to their own, but I prefer this inland route - https://goo.gl/maps/WFNaRuGauwixUNeM7 - far fewer towns/villages to negotiate.
Superb scenic views from the road over the pass at Bwlch-y-Groes - https://goo.gl/maps/eoieh9N1x2Aj5qzR7 & https://goo.gl/maps/pqbgrYMctx1L5GNZ7

My issue with Bwlch Y Groes is that it's only 1 car wide and if you visit anytime between march and october you're likely to find cyclists on there.

[tropicalpalmtree]

I have just recieved some information and a slight route change. I asked my friend to drive on the B5113 today between Llanrwst and the A5 on his way back from Llandudno. Apparently the road quality is worn down in places. It's drivable but i would rather not be responsible for car issues if anyone decides to drive it. So i have changed the route. A5 from Pentrefoelas to Betws y coed, but i will leave the marker incase anyone wants to go up there for the amazing view. Sorry for the inconvinience.

[tropicalpalmtree]

Mr Roper said:

Did a lot of the Dragon run today….I’m lucky it’s on my door step. Rain held off and it wasn’t too busy!

What parts did you do? What did you think of them? Did you see my amendments to the route? There were some parts i was having second thoughts about so we went out and drove them again, my friend drove the B5113. I think overall a smoother drive now, removed some sections where the road was below standard surface wise or narrow.

I think the route as written now is how it will stay for good. drivers have the choice of A470 over the Bwlch Oerddrws or A493 coastal road to get to Machynlleth or vice versa. Both are great in their own way (coast more scenic but slower, A470 more mountainous but fast)

Edited by tropicalpalmtree on Saturday 8th July 21:38

[tropicalpalmtree]

Mr Roper said:

We skipped the Aber route and went Welshpool A458 - A470. Didn’t have time to do the lower stretch.

Followed your northern route which is pretty much what I’d do anyway.

Then Betws, Bala, Llanfyllin then home to Welshpool.

I prefer the narrow roads, anything wider than I drive would be less fun but it’s a route a know and enjoy.

I do agree with you. I love narrow roads and i wish i could include them all (i.e B4407 etc) just wanted it to be easier to drive and navigate.

Llyn Clywedog mountain road and Elan valley is mostly 1 1/2 wide roads. I think you would really enjoy those.

Edited by tropicalpalmtree on Monday 10th July 16:13

[tropicalpalmtree]

cheeky_chops said:

Great thread thanks! - im flexible on time (work for myself from next week) so been thinking about a drive over from Brum to Cental Wales

a - am i better waiting til Sept and the great unwashed have gone back home?
b - im guessing the roads will be a mix of amazing/nightmare in an Ariel Atom! Any to especially avoid?

Yeah if you can wait until after the holidays it will be much better because in the summer the traffic is wild and infuriating. The whole route should be okay in an atom i think. I tried my best to avoid bad roads with lowered cars in mind because i've sump scraped my car on roads everywhere.

Edited by tropicalpalmtree on Tuesday 11th July 01:09

[tropicalpalmtree]

silentbrown said:

I got stuck behind 30+ vintage tractors on the mountain road from Machynlleth to Llani...

That sucks. I've been occasionally stuck behind a car but never anything that bad. Was that recent?

[tropicalpalmtree]

Red Devil said:

https://goo.gl/maps/VTGfunDuj7tA6LsX9 -

Been up there yet?

[tropicalpalmtree]

Krikkit said:

They're great if they're quiet, then you get stuck behind a in a Quashqai who can't drive and you're stuck at their pace for miles.

Yeah it does your head in.

[tropicalpalmtree]

EVOTECH3BELL said:

Will Google maps do turn by turn navigation of the route?

Don't think so. If you open the map on your phone and keep gps on you get a blue dot showing your location so you could keep phone on dash maybe and follow it that way. You could split the route into sections i.e Welshpool - Betws Y coed / Betws Y coed to Porthmadog etc. with waypoints on google maps and then you can get turn by turn navigation. Google maps doesn't allow enough waypoints to log the whole route in one go unfortunately.

Edited by tropicalpalmtree on Tuesday 11th July 01:43

[tropicalpalmtree]

ARHarh said:

First if you are used to Brum traffic levels any of these routes on a weekday will feel deserted, even in peak summer. Weekend will be a different case and much busier. If you do get caught behind someone just stop and take in the view for 10 minutes then you won't see them again.

My choice would be a sunny day in mid winter, if its not icy. The roads are properly deserted.

Edited by ARHarh on Tuesday 11th July 07:31

Where is that? Looks familiar

[tropicalpalmtree]

ARHarh said:

Bwlch-y-Groes on the road from lake vyrnwy just before the t junction at the top.

Yeah that's it. Someone else on here mentioned that road aswell.

Edited by tropicalpalmtree on Saturday 15th July 14:31

[tropicalpalmtree]

Pica-Pica said:

Catch that view of Fairbourne while you can, it will eventually be subsumed by the sea.

The Council have knocked the idea on the head and said they 'didn't know of any plans' to flood fairbourne out. House prices have gone up again and people can get morgages. Apparently there is going to be some major flood defence work in the future out in the bay.

Edited by tropicalpalmtree on Sunday 23 July 18:04