Brecon area

[jimed]

I am having a few days in the Brecon area next month. Plan is to come down round Chester area through Llangollen and Bala then past Aberystwyth south down the coast(ish) and then cutting across to Brecon for 2/3 nights. We do have a couple of planned things to do but will hope to get a couple of decent drives in as well. Brecon area apparently is (?) used by Chris Harris in some of his videos and the roads do look nice. One route I've seen is along the A40 W from Brecon to Llandovery then S to Llangadog then over the tops to Brynamman and then (A4068)Gurnos and on N to Sennybridge and so on back to Brecon.
Any views on this and also the route S of Aberystwyth and other ideas for a decent day out sort of drive??
Jim

[Red Devil]

Bala-Aberystwyth.

B4391/B4403 to Llanuwchllyn
Unclassified via Bwlch-y-Groes to Dinas Mawddwy (Hellfire Pass).
A470/A489 to Machynlleth
A487 to Aberystwyth

Aberystwyth-Brecon
I wouldn't bother with the coast road.

A487/A4120 to Devils Bridge
B4574 to Cwm Ystwyth
Unclassified to Rhyader via Elan valley dams
A470 to Newbridge-on-Wye
B4358 to Beulah
A483 to Garth
B4519/B4520 to Brecon

or

A487/A485 to Tregaron
Unclassified (mountain road) to Abergwesyn and Beulah
(including optional detour to Llyn Brianne)
Then as above

[jimed]

Thanks for that Anthony I'll look that up and see how it fits in.
Jim

[jimed]

Now had a chance to look at the suggested routes on the map; looks interesting but are the routes driving roads or more scenic (or both??). Any more info appreciated so I can decide ......
Jim

[Red Devil]

Rather than give you a personal assessment, my suggestion would be that you find a spare evening and 'drive' them on Google Streetview and make up your own mind. I find it extremely useful when planning runs on roads I don't already know. A much more rewarding use of time than the rubbish which passes for entertainment on the idiot's lantern.

[daved]

There are a few options heading south from Aberystwyth. The A4120 to Devil's Bridge and then south the Tregaron is a nice run. The B4340 and then the B4343 to Tregaron is also a good run. Another option is the A485 from just south of Aberystwyth to Tregaron, which isn't so nice but will get you there.

Once you're in Tregaron head east and take the Abergwesyn pass road which is very scenic but not really a driving road as it's mostly single track. Take this over to the A483 or drop down to Llyn Brianne - either road will get you to Llandovery. Or, from Tregaron, stay on the B4343 towards Lampeter and pick up the A482 across to Llandovery. This route seems popular with car clubs if the number of MGs, TRs and Austin Healeys passing recently is anything to go by.

[jimed]

Thanks Dave. We will decide when we are on the way down next monday; may be dependent on the time but ideas always useful. (Like the Wedge by the way - we will be in a yellow Griff and stopping in Talybont area for a few nights).
Jim

[daved]

Let me know if you need any more advice and I'll see what I can do. We're south of Aberystwyth on one of the route options mentioned but will keep an eye out for the Griff as we pass Talybont next Tuesday. I'll be swapping locations with you almost as we're off to visit my folks in Cleveleys for the week. Won't be in the wedge unfortunately.

[woodypup59]

Tregaron to Abergwesyn - fantastic road.

We had a convoy along there one year while watching the RAC Rally (when it roamed around the country).

Those were the days.

[Red Devil]

My introduction to that road was at around 2am on a cold winter's night.

That was well over 40 years ago before competitive rallies were taken off road.
Back then the navigator was by far the most important crew member.
The ability to plot the route and read the road from the map was crucial.

No pace notes back then so local knowledge was a distinct advantage.
Fortunately for me my navigator had done it before so I could get the hammer down.
We passed 2 cars on the stage and set 3rd fastest (Targa) time.

At the halfway point were leading our class by a country mile and were second overall.
A missed passage control after the break dropped us completely from the leader board.

We ended up 16th overall/5th in our class. I have the Motoring News rally report somewhere.
Must see if I can find the file its buried in along with the results sheet.