Off to Wales

[Stuck In A Lift]

Im off to Wales next week for 5 days, heading up to the A4069, then Elan Valley, onto the Mach Loop then North wales for the EVO Triangle, Llanberis pass etc.

Any hidden gems around these parts I should look our for scenery & road wise? I have been to all these areas before, apart from Elan Valley. Any advice is appreciated.

[Tickle]

Not sure what the Mack Loop is but the B4391 is brilliant. Enjoy your road trip.

[Rick Cutler]

For starters come over the old Severn Bridge, you can see the new bridge in all her excellence, Then come off and head toward chepstow, continue through and join the B4235 to USK, That is a good start! on your way back join the A466 at Monmouth provided you don't get stuck behind someone its a great road.

I live just outside Chepstow and love going out on these two roads. There was a route posted on PH a few weeks ago not far from Cardiff but may be too far over for your trip.

Edit:

Found it....

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

[Trefy5]

Mach Loop? you got wings?
The roads are, unsurprisingly, saturated at the mo.
Whilst this will make the roads even quieter they are also in a state that we're not used to in Powys
In the event you do still come (if not already) then from Llandovery (near A4069) >> Beulah on A483
Left to Newbridge on Wye along B4358
At NoW Left for Rhayader on A470.
Choice to get to Llanidloes: either straight up A470 >> Llangurig and then RIGHT to Llani
or
in Rhayader after the clock tower turn right on to B4518 for St Harmon - Pant y Dwr - Tylwch - Llanidloes.
In Llani. aim for bridge, cross the Severn and turn immediately on to (same number B4518 for Staylittle.
You can divert for the Clywedog Dam if interested and it's a fun road.
Not very long after Staylittle turn Left for Machynlleth instead of carrying on to Llanbrynmair going via Dyliffe Gorge viewpoint and Forge.

Of course, in Rhayader, you could head for the Elan valley or directly on to the Aberystwyth Mountain road.
Head to Mach from Aber (check out the damaged promenade) and then do Mach >> Llani the other way about.
Even if you don't find all the roads people generally talk about there are plenty of good roads in mid Wales but they're just so horrbly waterlogged at the moment. This is not as usual as some may think or suggest
Anyway - enjoy

[Louis911]

I had to drive to Aberystwyth on business a couple of weeks ago. I went via Hereford, credenhill, Rhayader, and then the sat nav took me along some lovely roads and through a place called devils bridge. I must say the roads were amazing and the scenery out of this world. I am going to make some time in the summer to drive back this way with the roof down and the other half in tow!

[Red Devil]

Trefy5 said:

Of course, in Rhayader, you could head for the Elan valley or directly on to the Aberystwyth Mountain road.
Even if you don't find all the roads people generally talk about there are plenty of good roads in mid Wales but they're just so horrbly waterlogged at the moment. This is not as usual as some may think or suggest
Anyway - enjoy

The weather forecast suggests another soaking on Friday. Possibility of some sun on Sunday though, so was thinking of heading out that way.

Then this route from Devil's Bridge
A4120/A44/A470 to Llanidloes
B4518 to Llanbrynmair
Unclassified to A458
A458/A470 to Dinas Mawddwy
Over Hellfire Pass to Llanuwchllyn
B4403/B4391/B4393/B4382/B4389/A458 to Llanfair Caerenion
B4389/A483 to Crossgates
A44 back to Leominster

Worth a punt or am I being too ambitious? Any of it likely to be impassable?

[Trefy5]

Things have calmed slightly although, funnily enough and quite normally, there is some snow in a few places now and there could well be a layer on a few of your listed roads eg Hellfire Pass but i don't know tbh since i don't live on the doorstep.
I can tell you that central mid Wales is, right now, fine.
The wind has dried out the main roads.
Not to say there aren't a few choice puddles here and there!
The smaller lanes connecting roads have more in the way of flooding now (not exactly Somerset Levels scale thankfully)
Worth a punt?
Yes - but with an extra degree of care, perhaps

[Red Devil]

Thanks. All limbs crossed and sacrifice duly made to the weather god.

[Trefy5]

Enjoy!

[Trefy5]

It's a beautiful frosty start to the day.
Things are looking good.
Shame I'm in work but thems the breaks

[Red Devil]

Brilliant sunshine throughout.

The only fly in the ointment was the Aberystwyth mountain road has been severed due to the collapse of this bridge.

So after the Elan Valley dams we did a big detour south to Beulah then on to Abergwesyn and the Devil's Staircase to Tregaron. It's a challenging road with lots of blind crests and sharp bends at the best of times, but at present it's something else. I've never seen so much detritus scattered over the tarmac. Also in places it was totally awash with water streaming off the hills. It made for 'interesting' progress.

In all a cracking day out though.

[Bonefish Blues]

Red Devil said:

The only fly in the ointment was the Aberystwyth mountain road has been severed due to the collapse of this bridge.

To be fair, they did warn it was weak

[Trefy5]

Ah ha! that'd explain the signs I came across heyday.
Likewise an Impreza had to do an about turn but it's the best driving part that's accessible from the east.
Sounds like a good time was had so good news all round

[Red Devil]

There is a rumour that some wag has used sticky black tape to add a K to the Welsh language part of the sign...

[Claude455]

Does anyone know if the collapsed bridge mentioned earlier in this thread has been repaired?

[Trefy5]

Yes
I believe it was completed within a few days of the above.
You can yell at me if it's wrong.
I may be across there in the coming days and will report back should I be wrong

[Claude455]

Many thank Trefy. I'm heading up that way in a couple of weeks so if you do get there before then and can confirm one way or another that would be grand.

[Bartz1]

Having done the EVO triangle and Llanberis Pass this time last year we're off to the Brecon Beacons next week, staying in Llandeilo and looking to visit the Elan Valley, "the bend" on the A4069, Devils Bridge and anything else we can find. We've got two and a half days (Thurs-Sat), so any idea's about roads to drive or places to visit are welcome....

[Red Devil]

Off the top:

Elan valley dams
Mountain road to Devil's Bridge (if bridge has been repaired)
A4120 to Aberystwyth
A487/A485 to Tregaron
Mountain Road via Devil's Staircase to Abergwesyn
(include diversion to/from Lynne Brianne if desired)
Abergwesyn to Beulah
A483 to Garth
B4519/B4520 to Brecon
A40/B4558 to Talybont-on-Usk
Unclassified via Pontsticill to A465
A465 to Glynneath
A4109/A4221/A4067 to Ystalyfera
A4068 to Upper Brynamman
A4069 to Llangadog

I'm sure there are more I haven't thought of.

[Bartz1]

Many thanks, I'm sure that'll keep us busy...