Rich's Amazing Wales Road Trip 2013
Discussion
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
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
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
Be good if we can get a few people along for the ride!
Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/139495306250798
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
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
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
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
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!
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.
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!
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.
Yep
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
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
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.
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
Go Pro sounds great
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.
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
Go Pro sounds great
Day 3 updated to include this section as mentioned in a recent PH article: http://www.pistonheads.com/doc.asp?c=159&i=280...
Thanks nta - all the input is appreciated, it's a work in progress and the itinerary is being adjusted fairly often to try and include as many awesome roads as possible!
I'll have a look over these and any other suggestions and integrate as many of them as we can realistically fit in.
Cheers again
I'll have a look over these and any other suggestions and integrate as many of them as we can realistically fit in.
Cheers again
nta16 said:
yeap S2000 isn't wide for a modern car but still a bit wide across the beam compared to a Midget
ah, the joys of computers, I see an original post and then a repeat of it
on the repeat post, on Day 1 map you go to point F on the B4403 and then turn back to go up the other side of Llyn Tegid on the A494 - up to you of course but if you're running short on time as Point F is so far up the B4403 I'd continue up the short distance of that road and turn left on to the B4391, the right/left/straight-on to A4212as it's a lake near a town and the road is narrow with few pull-ins
by coincidence my wife was in Wales last long weekend in a cottage in the woods Barmouth way (and the weekend before that on the beer bus stopping at Llandrindod Wells)
which has now reminded me - if you take Dinas Mawddwy to Pandy you could save time and avoid sitting in a traffic jam as she said last weekend there was a very long queue on the A470 going west towards Dolgellau and it stretched back to the hill which is about 4 miles from the town centre, the queues are because the road is being altered and the work may still be going on when you're out that way (good job I kinda remembered)
Thanks - I've removed the duplicate first post and updated the day 1 route again.ah, the joys of computers, I see an original post and then a repeat of it
on the repeat post, on Day 1 map you go to point F on the B4403 and then turn back to go up the other side of Llyn Tegid on the A494 - up to you of course but if you're running short on time as Point F is so far up the B4403 I'd continue up the short distance of that road and turn left on to the B4391, the right/left/straight-on to A4212as it's a lake near a town and the road is narrow with few pull-ins
by coincidence my wife was in Wales last long weekend in a cottage in the woods Barmouth way (and the weekend before that on the beer bus stopping at Llandrindod Wells)
which has now reminded me - if you take Dinas Mawddwy to Pandy you could save time and avoid sitting in a traffic jam as she said last weekend there was a very long queue on the A470 going west towards Dolgellau and it stretched back to the hill which is about 4 miles from the town centre, the queues are because the road is being altered and the work may still be going on when you're out that way (good job I kinda remembered)
We'll go up the one side of Lake Tegid with the option to spin back round if we feel like seeing the other side rather than looping it.
We also now go through the road I think you're talking about through Pandy which cuts out that piece of the A470.
mr_fibuli said:
Just a suggestion for one of my favourite roads that you are right by on Day 3. The A525 Nant-y-garth pass - its a tight, twisty, tree covered river gorge.
Then do a U-turn at the college junction at the other end of the pass, wait for a large gap in the traffic, and do it again in the other direction on your way back towards Horseshoe Pass
Great info - thanks for that, updated day 3 route to include this Then do a U-turn at the college junction at the other end of the pass, wait for a large gap in the traffic, and do it again in the other direction on your way back towards Horseshoe Pass
Cheers
topalwaysdown said:
Hi Rich
Just replying to your email, presumably you found my write up on my blog?
The picture below was taken on the Great Orme Marine Drive at Llandudno. Honestly, it's worth a drive if you're going to Llandudno but I probably wouldn't make the diversion especially for it. It's a one way toll road (costs a pound or two) but it's only a couple of miles long and not suitable for fast driving - it's more of a scenic tour
Everything that you've already got planned looks great, the only road you've missed, that I'd try and squeeze in on one day is the B4391 between Penybontfawr and Bala (in that direction), it's one that really sticks in my mind from my drive last year, quiet, quick, lovely corners and breathtaking scenery
Thanks mate - yep I found you when google imaging for some of the roads above! Just replying to your email, presumably you found my write up on my blog?
The picture below was taken on the Great Orme Marine Drive at Llandudno. Honestly, it's worth a drive if you're going to Llandudno but I probably wouldn't make the diversion especially for it. It's a one way toll road (costs a pound or two) but it's only a couple of miles long and not suitable for fast driving - it's more of a scenic tour
Everything that you've already got planned looks great, the only road you've missed, that I'd try and squeeze in on one day is the B4391 between Penybontfawr and Bala (in that direction), it's one that really sticks in my mind from my drive last year, quiet, quick, lovely corners and breathtaking scenery
Thanks for the tip - I've updated the day 2 route so we can shoot down the B4391 towards Penybontfawr after we get to Bala - sounds good to me!
nta16 said:
===general notes about Day 2===
first time we went up the Llanberis pass it was heavy drizzle and had been raining there for weeks before and small streams were running across the road in several places, next time dry and warm but the wet time was more dramatic and fun driving
the town with the railway is very busy and you can’t even stop to use a toilet without paying so just drive through as quick as possible, if anyone is interested in trains they can stop at Waunfawr
personally I’d avoid Porthmadog as it’s busy but of course it does have the Purple Moose brewery, if you see their ales on your travels they are good
of course if you’re “not a number” you might visit Portmerion
Diversion(?) on Day 2
Going down to Point D may involve you in those road works queue to Dogellau – if it does you can work round it by turning right (instead of left) back on to the A470 (thus not in the queue) and then very shortly left and keep left on a short back road to turn right back on to your route on the B4416
I think this is still current with your latest update but you’ll have to check as I’ve got to drive my wife to drink
Instead of turning off the A470 at Llyswen (was on to A479) stay on the A470 until the A40 roundabout and turn left on the dual towards Abergavenny but after about half a mile turn on to the B4558 to Llangynidr to rejoin the route (near enough at Point E)
Thanks! I was on the fence with Porthmadog as I've heard it can be good to go on the beach, but I think it depends how early we (want to) get up. If we make good time and it looks quiet we might pop in, otherwise may well carry on past it. first time we went up the Llanberis pass it was heavy drizzle and had been raining there for weeks before and small streams were running across the road in several places, next time dry and warm but the wet time was more dramatic and fun driving
the town with the railway is very busy and you can’t even stop to use a toilet without paying so just drive through as quick as possible, if anyone is interested in trains they can stop at Waunfawr
personally I’d avoid Porthmadog as it’s busy but of course it does have the Purple Moose brewery, if you see their ales on your travels they are good
of course if you’re “not a number” you might visit Portmerion
Diversion(?) on Day 2
Going down to Point D may involve you in those road works queue to Dogellau – if it does you can work round it by turning right (instead of left) back on to the A470 (thus not in the queue) and then very shortly left and keep left on a short back road to turn right back on to your route on the B4416
Day 3
I think this is still current with your latest update but you’ll have to check as I’ve got to drive my wife to drink
Instead of turning off the A470 at Llyswen (was on to A479) stay on the A470 until the A40 roundabout and turn left on the dual towards Abergavenny but after about half a mile turn on to the B4558 to Llangynidr to rejoin the route (near enough at Point E)
I've done Llanberis pass before, it's a fun stretch but normally busy with cyclists and rock climbers so 'wasn't expecting to go too mad anyway! Although the stone walls make for some nice "sound checks"
I've updated the day 3 route to include that recommendation - wasn't too sure about the best way to attack Brecon on the way back so will go with this recommendation. Thanks again all, appreciate the input!
Exactly We won't be rushing as we have pretty much 3 full days of driving!
I'm looking forward to filming a lot of it as I've always wanted to make a road trip type video, so I expect the format will be a lot of;
Drive down a road
Turn around to drop of camera man at a nice/interesting location
Drive back to film that section and then grab camera man and carry on!
A couple of people have GoPro type cameras too, so I'm hoping to edit together some nice sections. Should be interesting to see what we can come up with
We won't be rushing as we have pretty much 3 full days of driving!I'm looking forward to filming a lot of it as I've always wanted to make a road trip type video, so I expect the format will be a lot of;
Drive down a road
Turn around to drop of camera man at a nice/interesting location
Drive back to film that section and then grab camera man and carry on!
A couple of people have GoPro type cameras too, so I'm hoping to edit together some nice sections. Should be interesting to see what we can come up with
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