Driving through Wales, north to south - any recommendations?
Discussion
This Wednesday I'll be driving from Liverpool to Torquay, now I do this quite often, but usually take the M6 then M5. But on Wednesday I think I might try the A49 down through Shrewsbury & Hereford before crossing back over the Severn.
Has anybody done this route, I can see it's all straight forward, but are there any decent places to stop/look out for, or a better route that I've not heard about? I've got plenty of time, so just fancy a nice drive back.
Has anybody done this route, I can see it's all straight forward, but are there any decent places to stop/look out for, or a better route that I've not heard about? I've got plenty of time, so just fancy a nice drive back.
).Re the A49 - great road but too much traffic through most of the day
However, if you're in no hurry -
Church Stretton has Cardingmill Valley (National Trust) and the Long Mynd (weather forecast hit n miss for Saturday)
Craven Arms - Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre and just south of CA is Stokesay Castle http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/ an historic fortified elizabethan manor house
Ludlow - castle, food, history
Leominster - home to an historic ducking stool
Hereford - cathedral and home to the Mappa Mundi
Great road is the old hereford road to Monmouth - turn right not long after clearng Callow Hill - A466
Monmouth - birthplace of Henry V and Charles Rolls
Has the Nelson museum and the Naval Temple just outside on The Kymin
Follow the Wye Valley down to Chepstow - en route is Tintern Abbey
Okay, rather historically orientated but if you do like that kind of thing then take your pick
However, if you're in no hurry -
Church Stretton has Cardingmill Valley (National Trust) and the Long Mynd (weather forecast hit n miss for Saturday)
Craven Arms - Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre and just south of CA is Stokesay Castle http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/ an historic fortified elizabethan manor house
Ludlow - castle, food, history
Leominster - home to an historic ducking stool
Hereford - cathedral and home to the Mappa Mundi
Great road is the old hereford road to Monmouth - turn right not long after clearng Callow Hill - A466
Monmouth - birthplace of Henry V and Charles Rolls
Has the Nelson museum and the Naval Temple just outside on The Kymin
Follow the Wye Valley down to Chepstow - en route is Tintern Abbey
Okay, rather historically orientated but if you do like that kind of thing then take your pick
OP, if you want to drive N to S through Wales on the A49 then I'd brush up on your geography chap 
Actually, Trefy5 (as usual, being a bit of an Oracle on Welsh roads) has posted some good suggestions. As a Salopian, it's a +1 for Stokesay and Ludlow; lovely spots and not too far off the '49.
What I usually do when visiting family in S. Wales is come off the A49 at Leominster and follow the signs for Brecon (off the A49 at the first island outside Leominster, follow the road - you have no choice - to the traffic lights, turn right and follow the signs). If clear, it's fast, interesting, and twisty and offers a few diversions: Dunkertons Cider Mill, Cheese making as Dilwyn, The Sun Inn at Winforton, The Rhydyspence Inn just over the border (both very nice pubs with great food).
When you get to Brecon (itself a very agreeable town on the River Usk), go straight on at the first island onto the DC, then first left at the next island. This will take you through the middle of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Very agreeable, very scenic, and will eventually get you to the M4 at Cardiff.
Just my tuppence worth
Actually, Trefy5 (as usual, being a bit of an Oracle on Welsh roads) has posted some good suggestions. As a Salopian, it's a +1 for Stokesay and Ludlow; lovely spots and not too far off the '49.
What I usually do when visiting family in S. Wales is come off the A49 at Leominster and follow the signs for Brecon (off the A49 at the first island outside Leominster, follow the road - you have no choice - to the traffic lights, turn right and follow the signs). If clear, it's fast, interesting, and twisty and offers a few diversions: Dunkertons Cider Mill, Cheese making as Dilwyn, The Sun Inn at Winforton, The Rhydyspence Inn just over the border (both very nice pubs with great food).
When you get to Brecon (itself a very agreeable town on the River Usk), go straight on at the first island onto the DC, then first left at the next island. This will take you through the middle of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Very agreeable, very scenic, and will eventually get you to the M4 at Cardiff.
Just my tuppence worth
HeatonNorris said:
Depending on how lucky you are with traffic, the run through Wales can be epic or a frustrating slow run.
Don't envy you, I did the run down to North Devon a couple of weeks back - the M5 around Bristol was an absolute nightmare.
I frequently drive up to Liverpool, pick my son up & drive straight back, it's 550 miles altogether - usually it's ok - but I've got time on my side on Wednesday & just fancy a change from the motorway. Don't envy you, I did the run down to North Devon a couple of weeks back - the M5 around Bristol was an absolute nightmare.
kiteless said:
OP, if you want to drive N to S through Wales on the A49 then I'd brush up on your geography chap
Actually, Trefy5 (as usual, being a bit of an Oracle on Welsh roads) has posted some good suggestions. As a Salopian, it's a +1 for Stokesay and Ludlow; lovely spots and not too far off the '49.
What I usually do when visiting family in S. Wales is come off the A49 at Leominster and follow the signs for Brecon (off the A49 at the first island outside Leominster, follow the road - you have no choice - to the traffic lights, turn right and follow the signs). If clear, it's fast, interesting, and twisty and offers a few diversions: Dunkertons Cider Mill, Cheese making as Dilwyn, The Sun Inn at Winforton, The Rhydyspence Inn just over the border (both very nice pubs with great food).
When you get to Brecon (itself a very agreeable town on the River Usk), go straight on at the first island onto the DC, then first left at the next island. This will take you through the middle of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Very agreeable, very scenic, and will eventually get you to the M4 at Cardiff.
Just my tuppence worth
Agreed on the geography, someone mentioned 'Wales' & pointed out the A49 & I didn't think too much about it, perhaps a little further west is called for :-)Actually, Trefy5 (as usual, being a bit of an Oracle on Welsh roads) has posted some good suggestions. As a Salopian, it's a +1 for Stokesay and Ludlow; lovely spots and not too far off the '49.
What I usually do when visiting family in S. Wales is come off the A49 at Leominster and follow the signs for Brecon (off the A49 at the first island outside Leominster, follow the road - you have no choice - to the traffic lights, turn right and follow the signs). If clear, it's fast, interesting, and twisty and offers a few diversions: Dunkertons Cider Mill, Cheese making as Dilwyn, The Sun Inn at Winforton, The Rhydyspence Inn just over the border (both very nice pubs with great food).
When you get to Brecon (itself a very agreeable town on the River Usk), go straight on at the first island onto the DC, then first left at the next island. This will take you through the middle of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Very agreeable, very scenic, and will eventually get you to the M4 at Cardiff.
Just my tuppence worth
Trefy5 the floor is yours, girl.Thank you, Kiteless (i thought we were trying to keep mum about certain salopian aspects? )
One of my favourite roads top to tip is the A488 - join at Shrewsbury - finish at Penybont (near Llandrindod Wells)
I'd heartily recommend The Three Tuns at Bishop's Castle
or
The Horse & Jockey in Knighton
You could forego the last 14miles of the A488 and go from Knighton >> A44 at Walton
Turn RIGHT on A44 >> Fforest Inn then left down the lovely A481
Before Llanelwedd turn left toward Aberedw along the B4567 - this is the windy quieter route on the northern side of the Wye as opposed to the busy, frustrating A470 on the other side
Just keep an eye out for turns after Erwood Station cafe to find Llanstefan bridge - then down part of the A470 - don't turn for Brecon >>> Bronllys (nice cafe there call The Honey Cafe)
Turn for Talgarth and up over Pengenffordd along the A479 >> A40 >> Crickhowell >> Abergavenny >> Usk >> B4235 >> Chepstow
)One of my favourite roads top to tip is the A488 - join at Shrewsbury - finish at Penybont (near Llandrindod Wells)
I'd heartily recommend The Three Tuns at Bishop's Castle
or
The Horse & Jockey in Knighton
You could forego the last 14miles of the A488 and go from Knighton >> A44 at Walton
Turn RIGHT on A44 >> Fforest Inn then left down the lovely A481
Before Llanelwedd turn left toward Aberedw along the B4567 - this is the windy quieter route on the northern side of the Wye as opposed to the busy, frustrating A470 on the other side
Just keep an eye out for turns after Erwood Station cafe to find Llanstefan bridge - then down part of the A470 - don't turn for Brecon >>> Bronllys (nice cafe there call The Honey Cafe)
Turn for Talgarth and up over Pengenffordd along the A479 >> A40 >> Crickhowell >> Abergavenny >> Usk >> B4235 >> Chepstow
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