July 1st Summer Drive Through Snowdonia

[VanquishRider]

I'm looking for names on organising an Aston Martin drive through Snowdonia.

It will be impossible to sort dates to suit everyone. I'm going to suggest we do it on July 1st. We can always bump it back a week if the weather is terrible and not paying ball.

Meet at Ponderosa Café arrive early if you want breakfast and we intend to depart at 11am.

This is the route I would run the drive over:

Ponderosa Café on the Horseshoe Pass, allowing a late breakfast for drivers and passengers. Hotels in nearby Llangollen, Chester, Mold, Ruthin etc for anyone travelling a long distance.

Down the back of the Horseshoe pass via Nanty Garth Pass towards Ruthin

Through Clocaenog Forest where the RAC/Welsh Rally often has a stage.
Cross the A5 at Cerrigydrudion, t/clipping the end of the Evo Triangle and down the B4501 towards Bala, often used by Autocar on road test.

Then the A4212 to Trawsfynnyd which is one of my favourite roads in the UK, fantastic views of the hills of southern Snowdonia.

A short hop up the A487 where we turn right onto the A496 to Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Then the Crimea Pass towards Betwsy Coed, probably the best road in Wales these days?

Then onto the A5 to Pentrefoelas and the EVO Triangle, which was the best road in Wales but now massacred by average speed cameras.

Then we can visit the beautiful lakeside café at Llyn Brenig before people can head their different ways or head of on the final leg back to the A5 and on towards Llangollen if you are heading towards the Midlands or the South.

Looking forward to it already.

Steve E

[F1NDW]

I'm in for this.

[AMV8Stuart]

I'm up for this as well, just looking into accommodation for the dogs over the weekend before I commit fully.

Stuart

[VanquishRider]

Drivers Cars
1 Steve Ellis Vanquish
2 Nat Davis
3 Simon Land
4 Neil Woodward Vanquish
5 Paul Clark
6 Andrew Williams
7 Ray Khan
8 Coral Clark
9 Joe Slow
10 Andrew Sington
11 Jonathon Peterson
12 Stuart AMV8 AMV8

[DBA086]

Yes, would be keen.

[VanquishRider]

DBA086 said:

Yes, would be keen.

14 Cars and counting


Drivers Cars
1 Steve Ellis Vanquish
2 Nat Davis
3 Simon Land
4 Neil Woodward Vanquish
5 Paul Clark
6 Andrew Williams
7 Ray Khan
8 Coral Clark
9 Joe Slow
10 Andrew Sington
11 Jonathon Peterson
12 Stuart AMV8 AMV8
13 Holly Thomas
14 DBA086

[VanquishRider]

16 Cars and counting.

1 Steve Ellis Vanquish
2 Nat Davis
3 Simon Land
4 Neil Woodward Vanquish
5 Paul & Coral Clark Vantage
6 Andrew Williams
7 Ray Khan
8 Joe Slow
9 Andrew Sington
10 Jonathon Peterson
11 Stuart AMV8 AMV8
12 Holly Thomas
13 DBA086
14 Keith Forster
15 A & G Fawkes V8 or DB6
16 Lloyd Parker DB9

[VanquishRider]

17 Cars, we will cap this at 20.

Drivers Cars
1 Steve Ellis Vanquish
2 Nat Davis
3 Simon Land
4 Neil Woodward Vanquish
5 Paul & Coral Clark Vantage
6 Andrew Williams
7 Ray Khan
8 Joe Slow
9 Andrew Sington
10 Jonathon Peterson
11 Stuart AMV8 AMV8
12 Holly Thomas
13 DBA086
14 Keith Forster
15 A & G Fawkes V8 or DB6
16 Lloyd Parker DB9
17 Jonathon Morris

[AMV8Stuart]

Sorry guys, have to drop out due to no one available to dog sit - leaves a space for someone else though - enjoy, hope to see some good pics.

[j4r4lly]

This looks excellent and I'd love to join you but have a prior commitment for this weekend.

Hopefully someone will take plenty of pictures to post.

[VanquishRider]

AMV8Stuart said:

Sorry guys, have to drop out due to no one available to dog sit - leaves a space for someone else though - enjoy, hope to see some good pics.

Thanks for letting me know.

[VanquishRider]

July 1st Snowdonia Drive out. Hope everyone is still up for this? Names of those due to attend are below.

If you are interested all you need to do is turn up at the Ponderosa Cafe before 11AM on July 1st.

[F1NDW]

Still up for it Steve. Hope to see you Sunday morning at CNC Liverpool
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Carsandcoffeeliver...

[Nigel_O]

As long as the weather isn’t rubbish, I’ll probably make this. I drove a lot of this route about a month ago and really enjoyed it. Put me down as a ‘highly likely’ - V8 Vantage.

I’ve never driven out with a group of Astons before - I used do a lot of group drives when I had a Westfield, so I’m hoping it’s similar, but probably a bit louder…

[VanquishRider]

Weather forecast is iffy at present, but likely we will have a much clearer position by Thursday. I'm local, but going anyway.

The original alternative date was today and the weather has been a scorcher.

[VanquishRider]

Weather forecast for Saturday



July 1st Snowdonia drive out. Be at the Ponderosa Cafe before 11 AM for our departure. Weather report is very favourable also. So looking forward to a great day out with you all. I will bring Tulip type maps for everyone. Just bring a smile and an Aston.

[Nigel_O]

VanquishRider said:

Weather forecast is iffy at present, but likely we will have a much clearer position by Thursday. I'm local, but going anyway.

The original alternative date was today and the weather has been a scorcher.

Forecast is looking a bit more favourable now - not exactly scorching, but no rain at least...

Just a suggestion, as I drove a part of this route recently - consider cutting out the (admittedly pretty) route down to Trawsfynydd in favour of the B4391, as highlighted below. It's a less busy road and for a 'B' route, its well-surfaced, well-sighted and flows really well. Highlighted in red....



It has views like this...

[VanquishRider]

Nigel, that is an excellent road and one I've used plenty on the bike. Sometimes cutting back to Pentrefoelas via Ysbyty Ifan but that road (B4407) is a little too narrow for Aston's and occasionally has sheep on it.

The B4391 is very popular with certain magazines these day. Possibly the new road to replace the EVO which is now ruined by cameras.

I run this trip every year and try to vary the route enough to keep people coming back and to keep those who are more local learning new roads. Perhaps we could get you on it next year?

[Nigel_O]

VanquishRider said:

Perhaps we could get you on it next year?

Ah, apologies - I had missed the 20-car cap

I’ll jump in earlier next time….

[VanquishRider]

Welcome this year. Not capped at 20. But that was the sensible target. We will probably run in 2 groups if more than 14 cars turn up. 10 mins apart. Never, ever do they all turn up, not even on the events where they have paid for hotels.