Snowdonia.....any decent roads?

[Nezquick]

We're off to Snowdonia for 3 days next week to do a bit of walking/biking/eating/drinking etc but I wondered if there were any decent roads in that part of Wales? I've heard of the Evo triangle which doesn't seem to be too far away and might get a visit but is there anywhere else recommended?

Thanks.

[Nezquick]

In fact, never mind. Just seen the "Off to Wales" thread which covers just about all I wanted to know.

Mods - you can delete this topic if you wish.

[Fantomx]

A4212 from Bala to Trawsfyndd I can't spell it but it's 21 miles of fast bike / supercar heaven no cameras and stunning scenery

[plenty]

Mobile cameras have been spotted on the A4212.

[Mostro]

Heading west, turn off the A4212 and take the B4391 to Ffestiniog. One of the best roads in the country, regularly featured in Evo mag.

Also the triangle from Beddgelert - Caernarfon - Capel Curig, taking in the Llanberis pass and then the Evo triangle nearby. Can't go far wrong.

But yeah, there are loads of Wales threads if you search back a few pages.

[HughS47]

My previous answer to a similar question:

Snowdonia is a lovely choice - shame that the weather can be so changeable. Here are some good driving routes, be aware that the local plod do sometimes watch them as they're popular routes with the road-testers and also the local subaru impreza owners...

I've added a couple of maps for you with some ideas:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...

The b4407 is an excellent road as you may already know (if you read EVO)
Point B is a small lake where Evo mag do a lot of their photo shoots.
Points D-E-F are the Evo Triangle. (pub at point F in Cerrig but on the main A5 road)
Points H-I are the b4391 which is amazing.


http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...


Some alternatives out of Bala. (Pubs on main street of Bala). The B4391 is fantastic A-B. (Pub at point B in Llangynog)
Maybe a little trip round Lake Vrnwy E-F-G. Not a great road but may calm the mrs down after the B4391!!

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...

Anywhere around Snowdon is good but the roads can get busy. Scenery is awesome though.

If you use Shell V-Power its located at point E (the far side if Betws-Y-Coed).

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...

Another V-power is at porthmadog on the main street. Point B.
Point C is Black Rock Sands. You can drive your car on the several miles long hard sand beach if you fancy it! Be watchful for big ruts in the sand. It used to be where they ran the old land speed records. Around Porthmadog are two very highly recommended sightseeing spots: the 'village' of Portmerion is a great place to spend half/full day:

http://www.portmeirion-village.com/en/visit/

Perfect for the other half. It is where they filmed the series 'the prisoner' (bit before my time!). Great walks through the gardens and quite scenic. My advice is to eat lunch before at the restaurant at the castle brassiery:

http://www.portmeirion-village.com/en/eat/castell-...

last time I visited you got half price entry after their set lunch which is really VERY good indeed and worth the travel on its own if you're into food.

I also recommend the town of Harlech on the coast - the castle is fun to look around (for a morning or afternoon). This town also has an absolute stormer of a restaurant in Castle Cottage:

http://www.castlecottageharlech.co.uk/

Book in advance but amazing if you're into food. They do a tasting menu that is other-worldly but quite pricy. Perfect if you're treating the other half on a special occasion. Not much there otherwise.

Finally, I'd highly recommend the slate mine tours at http://www.llechwedd-slate-caverns.co.uk/.

If you're both feeling a lot more active and into a proper slate mine experience then you can't beat the fantastic Go-below: http://www.go-below.co.uk/ - the website makes this look like you have to be Bruce Willis to do this but if you're in reasonable shape you'll be fine and it makes a great day out - really good fun. If you only did one event in Snowdonia, this is my pick. Followed by the lunch at Castell Deudraeth brasserie with a visit to Portmerion afterwards.


I should start working for the Welsh tourist board!! My uncle has a holiday home in Harlech so I've visited a few times in my Impreza and hoping to take the MX-5 up there in due course.

Have a great trip - Let me know if the map links don't work.

[Zed 44]

None of the map links work for me unfortunately. This has happened to me since the introduction of the poxy "Maps Engine Lite".

Might be worth opening the map then right clicking on it, then copy "copy link location" and paste that into the body of your thread.

[ss1977]

FYI, it's only the Shell in Betws-y-Coed that sell V-Power, the Porthmadog branch only sells the regular stuff. However, the Porthmadog Tesco does sell Momentum99.

[Nezquick]

HughS47 - thanks for all of that information, much appreciated. Thank to everyone else as well.

I hope the weather's going to be ok - we're setting off Thursday morning so fingers crossed.

[theshrew]

plenty said:

Mobile cameras have been spotted on the A4212.

Ive never been hunting for nice roads in Wales before but went down there on my bike last Sat. I saw a Police bike and a Car but its a dam nice road its worth a run.

One thing the that I found and nearly found the hard way on Sat is. There are feck all petrol stations the couple I did see were closed. Don't suppose its as bad in a car but its something to be aware of.

[Dblue]

HughS47 said:

My previous answer to a similar question:

Snowdonia is a lovely choice - shame that the weather can be so changeable. Here are some good driving routes, be aware that the local plod do sometimes watch them as they're popular routes with the road-testers and also the local subaru impreza owners...

I've added a couple of maps for you with some ideas:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...

The b4407 is an excellent road as you may already know (if you read EVO)
Point B is a small lake where Evo mag do a lot of their photo shoots.
Points D-E-F are the Evo Triangle. (pub at point F in Cerrig but on the main A5 road)
Points H-I are the b4391 which is amazing.


http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...


Some alternatives out of Bala. (Pubs on main street of Bala). The B4391 is fantastic A-B. (Pub at point B in Llangynog)
Maybe a little trip round Lake Vrnwy E-F-G. Not a great road but may calm the mrs down after the B4391!!

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...

Anywhere around Snowdon is good but the roads can get busy. Scenery is awesome though.

If you use Shell V-Power its located at point E (the far side if Betws-Y-Coed).

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...

Another V-power is at porthmadog on the main street. Point B.
Point C is Black Rock Sands. You can drive your car on the several miles long hard sand beach if you fancy it! Be watchful for big ruts in the sand. It used to be where they ran the old land speed records. Around Porthmadog are two very highly recommended sightseeing spots: the 'village' of Portmerion is a great place to spend half/full day:

http://www.portmeirion-village.com/en/visit/

Perfect for the other half. It is where they filmed the series 'the prisoner' (bit before my time!). Great walks through the gardens and quite scenic. My advice is to eat lunch before at the restaurant at the castle brassiery:

http://www.portmeirion-village.com/en/eat/castell-...

last time I visited you got half price entry after their set lunch which is really VERY good indeed and worth the travel on its own if you're into food.

I also recommend the town of Harlech on the coast - the castle is fun to look around (for a morning or afternoon). This town also has an absolute stormer of a restaurant in Castle Cottage:

http://www.castlecottageharlech.co.uk/

Book in advance but amazing if you're into food. They do a tasting menu that is other-worldly but quite pricy. Perfect if you're treating the other half on a special occasion. Not much there otherwise.

Finally, I'd highly recommend the slate mine tours at http://www.llechwedd-slate-caverns.co.uk/.

If you're both feeling a lot more active and into a proper slate mine experience then you can't beat the fantastic Go-below: http://www.go-below.co.uk/ - the website makes this look like you have to be Bruce Willis to do this but if you're in reasonable shape you'll be fine and it makes a great day out - really good fun. If you only did one event in Snowdonia, this is my pick. Followed by the lunch at Castell Deudraeth brasserie with a visit to Portmerion afterwards.


I should start working for the Welsh tourist board!! My uncle has a holiday home in Harlech so I've visited a few times in my Impreza and hoping to take the MX-5 up there in due course.

Have a great trip - Let me know if the map links don't work.

Couple of corrections to this , excellent, guide from Hugh.

The B4407 is a rubbish choice for driving pleasure only, its virtually single track for most of its length, very bumpy indeed almost all the way. Its useful to get from the sublime B4391(Western bit) to the A5 and EVO triangle but pants otherwise.

The Shell garage in Porthmadog does NOT sell V Power unfortunately (Though the Tesco at the other end of town sells Momentum 99)

Castle Cottage is excellent as is The Brondanw Arms in Gerrig between Beddgelert (Also recommended) and Penrhyndeadraeth

Porthmadog has a very good lunch place called Yr Hen Fecws, highly recommended.

The Zip-line (ZipWorld.co.uk) at Bethesda is brilliant too.

[JonVTR]

There isn't one good road in Snowdonia and surrounding areas.


Have fun exploring!

[Montezooma]

Hi guys

Firstly, apologies for resurrecting an old thread, but secondly - thanks for all the awesome input in this the first time around! I'm planning a ~5-day trip to Wales and thanks to this thread, plus the also very helpful thread here: http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... I have an idea of most of my driving route.

I'm travelling with the wife so need to include some 'rest periods' as well as driving days, so current plan is to drive from London to the Brecon area, stay for a couple of nights. Then drive a convoluted route up to either Harlech or Bala, again stay a couple of nights, then head up to Conwy for a wedding. So I would love to pick your brains on a couple of things:

1) Anyone have suggestions for the best place to stay or best things to do near Brecon?
2) Same question in / near Snowdonia - Harlech interests as a potential location because of visiting Portmerion and the Castle Cottage hotel & restaurant. But would Bala be better and we can simply drive to visit Portmerion?
3) I grew up in N Wales, but it's been a looong time since I've been back to Snowdonia, I'm looking into the 'Go Below' trip linked above, anything else I should be doing up there? I'm planning to head via Betws-y-Coed, stopping off at swallow falls, mainly to satisfy my own rose-tinted spectacles..

thanks in advance,
Ben

[Carbon Based]

For Breacon /Black Mountains, we stayed at http://www.ty-croeso.co.uk in Crickhowell. Nice B&B accommodation, good breakfast.

Moving North, http://lakevyrnwyhotel.co.uk is a short drive from Bala. Very good hotel with an excellent restaurant and great views over the lake (which is a reservoir, but you knew that already?). They do have a spa which is small but OK for a splash about in a jacuzzi.

Haven't stayed here but there is a hotel in Portmeirion - http://www.portmeirion-village.com/en/stay/hotel-p...

[Red Devil]

Zed 44 said:

None of the map links work for me unfortunately. This has happened to me since the introduction of the poxy "Maps Engine Lite".

I hate it. Easily dealt by authors though. Click the ? icon (bottom right of screen) and choose the option to return to classic Google Maps. When it opens you will then get a screen prompt to remember that choice for future sessions. Much better for those who want to view your links.

Zed 44 said:

Might be worth opening the map then right clicking on it, then copy "copy link location" and paste that into the body of your thread.

That won't work as "Maps Engine Lite" uses a different file format. You get an error message
"could not be displayed because it is not a valid KML or KMZ file"

[Montezooma]

thanks very much for the suggestions, will report back once we've been!