Wales (again)

[Red Devil]

JB! said:

https://goo.gl/maps/PkFmEnkT67w

I would make a couple of changes:
https://goo.gl/maps/Txzy6oPbVYM2

Head for Machynlleth via Dylife rather than Llanbrynmair.
A much better drive imo and with far better scenery.
https://goo.gl/maps/B5HT7hsMk3P2

Just in front of the trees is the memorial to Wynford Vaughan-Thomas.
The view from there is well worth pausing for.
if the weather is kind you can see both Cadair Idris and Yr Wyddfa

At the Cross Foxes turn right instead of left and head for Bala via Bwlch-y-Groes.
English translation: Pass of the Cross (aka Hellfire Pass).

More great views.
https://goo.gl/maps/esTH4JTYqkr
https://goo.gl/maps/aHLCrZPinuj

[tuffer]

Red Devil said:

JB! said:

https://goo.gl/maps/PkFmEnkT67w

I would make a couple of changes:
https://goo.gl/maps/Txzy6oPbVYM2

Head for Machynlleth via Dylife rather than Llanbrynmair.
A much better drive imo and with far better scenery.
https://goo.gl/maps/B5HT7hsMk3P2

Just in front of the trees is the memorial to Wynford Vaughan-Thomas.
The view from there is well worth pausing for.
if the weather is kind you can see both Cadair Idris and Yr Wyddfa

At the Cross Foxes turn right instead of left and head for Bala via Bwlch-y-Groes.
English translation: Pass of the Cross (aka Hellfire Pass).

More great views.
https://goo.gl/maps/esTH4JTYqkr
https://goo.gl/maps/aHLCrZPinuj

I have done that road a few times and it is epic but you also need some caution as it has some surprises. Also tried it on a bike once from teh Mach side, I did not enjoy as much as in my GTS.

[Red Devil]

tuffer said:

Also tried it on a bike once from teh Mach side, I did not enjoy as much as in my GTS.

Mad fool.
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2012/jul/20/bri...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ob2czShVMA0

[JB!]

tuffer said:

JB! said:

Yeah still MK. Found a Top gear route that takes in loads so will map it all out and have a look!

ETA:

https://goo.gl/maps/p2rfTtnREA92

https://goo.gl/maps/Qf6MkbUXfLU2

https://goo.gl/maps/PkFmEnkT67w

https://goo.gl/maps/ac9yoh5yqgv

https://goo.gl/maps/wQ7PmhHT5692

Edited by JB! on Wednesday 29th March 15:37

Fixed that last day for you

Ha!

Hell no!

That road is like pulling teeth! Always end up stuck behind a lorry

[JB!]

Booked Up!

Staying in Bluestone National Park, Portmeirion, and just outside Welshpool!

[Bystander1978]

Posted on porsche thread but just come back from Brecon hoon simliar to day 1 above

[Pulse]

I'd love some help planning my trip. A lot of the routes here are looking very good, but I'm conscious I'm in a fairly new car which needs some space around it (so as not to stuff it up, and because it's not the best handling car of all time). Is there anything in the routes last posted for 'days 1-3' which should be avoided?

Not sure when I'm going to go yet, but it'll be this year. Perhaps July/August time. I'll be heading up to stay near Snowdon, and will likely stay for 2-3 days. It'd be ideal to get in some driving while I'm there, though I'll likely be looking at routes for the way there and back (from Swindon) as well. I'll also be doing some walking/biking.

P.S. Hello again in this thread, RD!

[V8junkie]

SmilerFTM said:

So these are the three days I've penciled in for this coming May, obviously taken a lot from last year but added a few chunks in here and there. Criticisms welcome

Wales Day 1 2017

https://goo.gl/maps/wj66PCoxMf12

Wales Day 2 2017

https://goo.gl/maps/WbPbJyfKSZn

Wales Day 3 2017

https://goo.gl/maps/PtyG7KsbtaB2

Rather cheekily I drove your Day 3 today. Had to print off the route step by step directions and get the missus to navigate. Not an ideal way to do it and it showed up a few flaws in the way google translate the maps.

Certainly some very good sections of road but I'd personally drop certain sections (particularly around Bedgellert) as although the roads are interesting they are very narrow in places and busy. Got fed up having to keep reversing to a wider sections to allow campervans to pass.

Care needed at first cattle grid on B4391 if wet!!

Unfortunately we had to cut the route short after Bala due to time constraints but we enjoyed pretty much all of it up to then.

I'm sure you will have a great time.

[SmilerFTM]

I dont mind narrow too much as my car is narrower than most anyway but I could do without reversing for caravans as we'll have more than just my car there. When you say around Begdellert do you mean the little section just after when you go up the A498 back along the unmarked road to the A4085?
I know the rest of that route fairly well as I've done it a couple of times before, I just added that in for something a little different.

Edited by SmilerFTM on Monday 17th April 11:08

Edited by SmilerFTM on Monday 17th April 12:38

[V8junkie]

SmilerFTM said:

I dont mind narrow too much as my car is narrower than most anyway but I could do without reversing for caravans as we'll have more than just my car there. When you say around Begdellert do you mean the little section just after when you go up the A498 back along the unmarked road to the A4085?
I know the rest of that route fairly well as I've done it a couple of times before, I just added that in for something a little different.

Edited by SmilerFTM on Monday 17th April 11:08

Edited by SmilerFTM on Monday 17th April 12:38

We struggled with campervans all along the A4085. We had one in front of us for a while and he obviously had no idea how wide the vehicle was as he kept stopping when cars approached from the opposite direction despite him being about 3ft away from the edge of the road. We met soooo many campervans and caravans down that one road it really was tedious. Couldn't take the unmarked road as a farmer had left some equipment blocking the road so we had to double back to Bedgellert.

[imahuman118]

You've missed out one of the best roads in the country, on day one when you pass llangorse head to brecon. The b4520 between brecon and the b4519 (also on your map) is an incredible road with constant gradient changes and lots of fast sweepers.

[SmilerFTM]

imahuman118 said:

You've missed out one of the best roads in the country, on day one when you pass llangorse head to brecon. The b4520 between brecon and the b4519 (also on your map) is an incredible road with constant gradient changes and lots of fast sweepers.

It's on this year's routes (the original post has last years routes that I did) although I'm missing out the B4519 heading up to Builth Wells continuing on the B4520 and coming back around on the B4358. Not sure if I should though based on what you've just said and just turn off onto the B4159 missing out Builth Wells

Edited by SmilerFTM on Wednesday 19th April 17:21

[griffgray]

samsul89 said:

B4560 - Llangynidr to Garnlydan. You won't regret it!

Drove this route on Sunday, Wow !!! You're not wrong, drove it both ways, so big thanks The very sharp chicane almost caught me out .

[ftogpx]

SmilerFTM said:

So these are the three days I've penciled in for this coming May, obviously taken a lot from last year but added a few chunks in here and there. Criticisms welcome

Wales Day 1 2017

https://goo.gl/maps/wj66PCoxMf12

Wales Day 2 2017

https://goo.gl/maps/WbPbJyfKSZn

Wales Day 3 2017

https://goo.gl/maps/PtyG7KsbtaB2

Hi chaps, I thought I'd resurrect this thread as I'm thinking about doing a 3 day driving trip to Wales next week and I've been searching for routes taking in the best roads in the south and north.
I'll be in a Mercedes C63 so I'd like to avoid any narrow single tracks and badly surfaced roads.

OP if you're still around, how did the trip go? Are there any parts to the route that you'd change?

Do the above routes cover the 'must do' roads in the country, or are there other roads I should do?

Many thanks for any input.

[SmilerFTM]

I ended up doing a modified version of it because when I got to Wales my mate had only booked enough time for two days driving rather than three (the knobhead)

[blitzracing]

Just my 10 pence worth. Nice little loop . All fast flowing A roads.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Brecon/Llandover...

[SmilerFTM]

blitzracing said:

Just my 10 pence worth. Nice little loop . All fast flowing A roads.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Brecon/Llandover...

Looks canny although I'd probably miss out a bit of the A483 and fit in the Tirabad to Trecastle military road

[Claude455]

Bumping this thread because the modified three day routes are an aspiration for when the time is right - they look superb!

Just one question for anyone in the know... How would you rate the B4518 from Rhayader to Llanidloes, out of 10?

I’ve driven plenty of other roads in the area quite a few times, but never that stretch, so just wondering whether it’s an unmissable 8 or an average 5.

[mmm-five]

Claude455 said:

Bumping this thread because the modified three day routes are an aspiration for when the time is right - they look superb!

Just one question for anyone in the know... How would you rate the B4518 from Rhayader to Llanidloes, out of 10?

I’ve driven plenty of other roads in the area quite a few times, but never that stretch, so just wondering whether it’s an unmissable 8 or an average 5.

Been a while since I last drove it (a least a year I'd guess), and it was in the other direction, but it was very rough - not potholes, but very cracked/rough surface with almost ruts in some places which made comfortable progress impossible.

If you've ever gone the other way from Rhayader to Devil's Bridge on the B4518 then the road condition is similar to that - except the Elan Valley side is half the width

I'd give it a 5/10 for a wide-tyred car with track-focused suspension, or 7/10 for something on normal tyres and road suspension.

FWIW, I came back via the A470 instead.

Edited by mmm-five on Monday 4th May 19:01

[Red Devil]

mmm-five said:

If you've ever gone the other way from Rhayader to Devil's Bridge on the B4518 then the road condition is similar to that - except the Elan Valley side is half the width

The B4518 doesn't go anywhere near Devil's Bridge. I assume you mean the mountain road to Aberystwyth.
The single track section starts at the junction with the road coming up from the Elan Valley reservoirs.