Deserted Welsh roads

[mmm-five]

Got fed up with the cold, damp & miserable weather, so decided to have a little drive even if it meant going slow behind a caravan.

Didn't have a plan of where I was going, or what route I was going to do, so just took a map & my sat nav and headed for Lake Bala.

3.5 hours later and I'm back home after covering about the 200 miles below (although thinking about it later, I didn't get to Denbigh as another road caught my eye and I went straight from Mold to Ruthin)




Once I was over 400ft the fog cleared and my efforts to get out of town were rewarded with some beautiful roads and scenery.
















Unfortunately some of the 'nice looking' roads ended up a bit tight:




The highlight must have been the deserted Horseshoe Pass between Ruthin & Llangollen (C & D on route map above) which was twisty, dry, fast & beautiful - and the Z handled it perfectly.

[enioldjoe]

Fantastic!

I did a similar thing a few weeks ago but in the Elan Valley. Absolutely stunning scenery - probably the best that I have seen in this country.

The change in climate conditions around each corner was amazing. Mist, then freezing fog followed by bright sunshine on my side of the lake while looking across the valley to forests festooned with heavy frost. Quite incredible. And as you experienced, all this with very little traffic about. Almost too good to be true.

Don't let on about these gems though or else everyone be out there enjoying it too

[mmm-five]

I'm not drinking much more than a couple of glasses of wine this evening, so I might be doing another trip tomorrow, but going a bit further into Snowdonia.

Edited by mmm-five on Friday 2nd January 20:05

[cs02rm0]

Looks great

[mmm-five]

Well, today's planned excursion didn't happen, as before I knew it I was pissed and watching Jools Holland's Hootenanny. When I finally got up at 11:00 I decided I was in no fit state to drive anywhere, never mind some Welsh twisties.

The plan is to try again tomorrow.

[Howard-]

I did this on Tuesday and Yesterday, too. You didn't spot a red MX5 and a white Nova did you?

Elan Valley and Brecon Beacons are automotive heaven


Some pictures if anyone's interested:

Here and here

Edited by Howard- on Thursday 1st January 17:44

[mmm-five]

Howard- said:

I did this on Tuesday and Yesterday, too. You didn't spot a red MX5 and a white Nova did you?

Elan Valley and Brecon Beacons are automotive heaven


Some pictures if anyone's interested:

Here and here

Edited by Howard- on Thursday 1st January 17:44

Didn't get down that far. It'd be a 2 hour drive from Liverpool just to get there.

I have done some driving down there when I've been rally marshalling at Epynt. I normally camp, but the marshals were told that they couldn't due to it being a live firing range, so had to pay £30 on top of petrol there and back just to marshal.

[Don]

On Tuesday I drove from Anglesey down to Raglan. A470 largely. North to South Wales.

It was no less than stunning the whole way. Recommended.

[snorkel sucker]

me and a few mates went out on monday and went as far as betws y coed. only live 15mins from the horseshoe pass - the gateway to some glorious roads! the scenery around there is truly stunning and if you catch a quiet bit of road its automotive heaven. the weather was freezing but gorgeous blue sky - made the driving all the more intoxocating!

i was lucky enough to get an uninterrupted run down into betws which is a lovely stretch of the black stuff but usually busy.

the evo for me is still the pinnacle though!

Apart from the sheep, the scenery and the roads in north wales are simply awesome

[johnbear]

For brillant roads join us on one of the North Wales Tours. Next one is April.

[mmm-five]

Quinny said:

snorkel sucker said:

Apart from the sheep, And N. Wales Policethe scenery and the roads in north wales are simply awesome

Corrected for you mate

Edited by Quinny on Friday 2nd January 17:04

In about 600 miles over 2 days, I didn't see one marked car or officer - although the state of my rear number plate meant I'd have probably floored it to make them work for it

PS, photos from today to come (5 hours of driving and it was only once I got onto normal roads that the tossers appeared in force - two near misses and one town centre avoidance meant one kerbed alloy)...

[mmm-five]

Well, it took me 5 hours, and involved driving home in the dark, but that meant I got to photograph the sunset near Bala :thumbsup:

Route was as previously posted except for a detour over the B5105 between Ruthin & Cerrigydrudion - it was a bit rough, so will stick to the A494 & A5 next time :thumbsdown:

I think I also took a wrong turn just after Ffestiniog as the sat nav kept telling me to do a U-turn even though I'm sure the road signs were pointing me in another direction :headbang:

And the Horseshoe Pass is not as much fun in the pitch black

Didn't see any parked up vans/horseboxes/motorhomes - only normal cars - so unless the Welsh BiB have changed their MO, I should be okay.

[NWVT]

beautiful pics as before and to see a fast car being well used as evident by the road grime

[John D.]

NWVT said:

beautiful pics as before and to see a fast car being well used as evident by the road grime

+1

Great way to spend the afternoon

[Shropshiremike]

Some nice pics there - New year's Day is always a bit quiet - like driving 20 years ago!

Plenty of ice at the side of the roads....and occasionally over it as well! Makes you pay attention









Had a nice drive, walked on the beach and caught the sunset

[robwales]

Great photos everyone.

Shropshiremike - Last pic but one, you are parked on that stuff that they put down for camera vans to park up - where was that? Might be useful for the rest of us to be aware of.

[Shropshiremike]

Quinny said:

Looks to me like the Bala to Transfynyth (sp) Road

About 17 years ago I overtook an unmarked Cavalier, just around there, on my ZZR1100.

I was eventually stopped by another car about 5 miles futher on. Made to wait for the first car and was promptly awarded 6 points (3 for speeding and 3 for overtaking on solid white line)

You're right on the road - they also habitually use a chopper over that one on summer weekends - extremely fast for most of it's length

[nick francis]

mmm-five said:

Well, it took me 5 hours, and involved driving home in the dark, but that meant I got to photograph the sunset near Bala :thumbsup:

Route was as previously posted except for a detour over the B5105 between Ruthin & Cerrigydrudion - it was a bit rough, so will stick to the A494 & A5 next time :thumbsdown:

I think I also took a wrong turn just after Ffestiniog as the sat nav kept telling me to do a U-turn even though I'm sure the road signs were pointing me in another direction :headbang:

And the Horseshoe Pass is not as much fun in the pitch black

Didn't see any parked up vans/horseboxes/motorhomes - only normal cars - so unless the Welsh BiB have changed their MO, I should be okay.

I was in the same region on Friday afternoon, drove down Conwy valley to Trefriw, Betws y Coed, along to ffestiniog. Then doubled back up to Pentreefoelas and along the evo route towards Denbigh. Car did get a bit mucky though!












Only saw an Audi TT near betws and a black exige on the route

Lucky me got these roads in my back yard!

Nick

[cw42]

Some great pics on this thread. I was planning on a route today but the squirts have put paid to me leaving the house nevermind driving to Wales!
However, we've got a drive planned to Elan and the Breacons in Feb, so I'm looking forward to that!

[amaftau]

Fantastic. Would anyone mind telling me how I put point on maps like that and how I search for peoples bookmarks of great driving roads etc?(guess it is just a search in googlemaps but cant seem to find things people have linked too before)