Best roads in Wales? (and places to stay)

Best roads in Wales? (and places to stay)

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Adrien2207

Original Poster:

44 posts

98 months

Wednesday 26th December 2018
quotequote all
Hi Phers,

Planning our Wales Weekender 2019 and wanted your opinions on the below itinerary. I tried to mix A- and B-roads as well as the usual scenic single tracks (e.g. Abergwesyn).

Any views, any roads missing or suggestions? (and if anyone has any recommendation re. restaurants and hotels, am keen too smile

  • DAY 1* = Bridgend > Treorchy > A4069 > Old Military rd to Tirabad > Abergwesyn > Elan Valley > Devil's Bridge > A44 > B4518
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Bryncethin/Treorch...

  • DAY 2* = Snowdonia... This one is a bit of a left-field itinerary. I included the usual suspects like B4391, Llanberis pass and A470, but am slightly unsure about the bits East of Snowdonia (e.g. B5113 - A544 - are these any good?). Am in 2 minds about the EVO Triangle.. I know they are great roads, but often controlled!! Any views?
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Ty'n+y+Cornel+Hote...

  • DAY 3* = back South via B4518 > Builth Wells B4520 > B4560
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Bala/Machynlleth/L...

Many thanks!

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Wednesday 26th December 2018
quotequote all
You have most bases covered. smile

You're only doing one side of the EVO Triangle.
I wouldn't omit it: just don't give in to temptation on that section.

The only change I would suggest you might consider is on Day 3.
Go via Bwlch-y-Groes (in English, Pass of the Cross: aka Hellfire Pass) south of Bala.
https://goo.gl/maps/bJBxW3dDjZw

Great views/scenery:
Looking north - https://goo.gl/maps/yHz6jFoh5uE2
Looking south - https://goo.gl/maps/h4yP68yuVMn
(scroll through the latter 180 degrees to see the Cross).

ARHarh

3,705 posts

106 months

Thursday 27th December 2018
quotequote all
if you want to see some proper scenery turn of at Dinas Mawddwy and head to lake Vyrnmy over https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bwlch_y_Groes then on to Llanfyllin.


Adrien2207

Original Poster:

44 posts

98 months

Thursday 27th December 2018
quotequote all
Many thanks! Will add to the plan.

Would you have any recommendations re. Accommodation or restaurants?


Byker28i

58,860 posts

216 months

Thursday 27th December 2018
quotequote all
Evo triangle is filled with police most weekends

s70rmp

649 posts

128 months

Thursday 27th December 2018
quotequote all
This is a great place, really nice rooms and excellent food

http://www.crossfoxes.co.uk/

Brithdir, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, LL40 2SG


Adrien2207

Original Poster:

44 posts

98 months

Thursday 27th December 2018
quotequote all
Byker28i said:
Evo triangle is filled with police most weekends
Indeed.. that's my concern. I have included an "alternative" with the B5113 - A544 - But are these any good? (I am conscious those will not be as good as the EVO roads... but at least will be less "busy").

Adrien2207

Original Poster:

44 posts

98 months

Thursday 27th December 2018
quotequote all
s70rmp said:
This is a great place, really nice rooms and excellent food

http://www.crossfoxes.co.uk/

Brithdir, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, LL40 2SG
Thanks for the recommendation! I have heard of it but never been.

LarsG

991 posts

74 months

Thursday 27th December 2018
quotequote all
Had no idea people just went out for a drive anymore.

In th 70's and 80's my dad would ask if we wanted to go for a drive..... a whole day in the height of summer cooped up in a Ford Cortina, or later in the Granada..... Then he'd stop off at a pub, have a couple of pints and drive home,

twibs

181 posts

137 months

Friday 4th January 2019
quotequote all
10 of us did a wales weekender and stopped here https://www.carregbran.co.uk/ it has a large car park and they allowed us to cordon a section off .

We enjoyed the B5105 and the Llanberis pass

Adrien2207

Original Poster:

44 posts

98 months

Saturday 5th January 2019
quotequote all
Thanks for the recommendation! B5105 looks like a good alternative to the EVO T... does anybody know any others in the area?

Will be in there on a Saturday in June so the EVO Triangle is likely to be heavily "patrolled"... spoils the fun...

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Saturday 5th January 2019
quotequote all
ARHarh said:
if you want to see some proper scenery turn of at Dinas Mawddwy and head to lake Vyrnmy over https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bwlch_y_Groes then on to Llanfyllin.
That route would be on Day 1. I included Bwlch-y-Groes (the full monty, rather than half of it) in my amendment to Day 3
If the OP has enough time he could add in Lake Vyrnwy. Turn left at the cross, loop round the lake, then return to the junction and head on down to Dinas.

springfan62

831 posts

75 months

Sunday 6th January 2019
quotequote all
ARHarh said:
if you want to see some proper scenery turn of at Dinas Mawddwy and head to lake Vyrnmy over https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bwlch_y_Groes then on to Llanfyllin.
Thats a scenic but very narrow route, not great driving really.

I much prefer the A4212 Bala to Trawsfynydd road if you want good driving roads.

ARHarh

3,705 posts

106 months

Sunday 6th January 2019
quotequote all
springfan62 said:
Thats a scenic but very narrow route, not great driving really.

I much prefer the A4212 Bala to Trawsfynydd road if you want good driving roads.
I agree a much better driving road . But the challenge of a narrow mountain pass has its own appeal.

Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Monday 7th January 2019
quotequote all
springfan62 said:
ARHarh said:
if you want to see some proper scenery turn of at Dinas Mawddwy and head to lake Vyrnmy over https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bwlch_y_Groes then on to Llanfyllin.
Thats a scenic but very narrow route, not great driving really.

I much prefer the A4212 Bala to Trawsfynydd road if you want good driving roads.
The A4212 is already on the OP's Day 2 route. Keep up at the back. biggrin

ARHarh said:
I agree a much better driving road . But the challenge of a narrow mountain pass has its own appeal.
+1

Driving is not all about WOT. Why go to Wales if you're not going to enjoy the scenery?
Bwlch-y-Groes is the second highest pass in Wales.*
Austin and Standard Triumph used to use it to test their prototype cars' hill climbing ability.
The panoramic view north from the summit is worth it imo.

 * The highest, by a mere 4 metres, is Gospel Pass (Welsh: Bwlch yr Efengyl) in the Brecon Beacons.

kiethton

13,883 posts

179 months

Monday 7th January 2019
quotequote all
Vs. the Evo triangle I personally prefer the kiethton triangle, best suited to smaller, narrower cars and good in either direction (I personally prefer anti-clockwise);

B4520 - B4519 - A483

A full triangle is about 20 miles and takes about 18 minutes

Kewy

1,462 posts

93 months

Monday 7th January 2019
quotequote all
Watching because I want to do a north Wales road trip in the next month or so.

Spent a lot of time driving round south Wales, Beacons and Pembrokeshire, but not done north yet smile

ARHarh

3,705 posts

106 months

Monday 7th January 2019
quotequote all
Nearly at the top of Bwlch-y-Groes


Red Devil

13,055 posts

207 months

Tuesday 8th January 2019
quotequote all
That's the road to/from Lake Vyrnwy.
https://goo.gl/maps/b2ECX8Rkzs42
Turn right at the T-junction to reach the top of the pass.
https://goo.gl/maps/5ay3ZRNCPQ32




ARHarh

3,705 posts

106 months

Tuesday 8th January 2019
quotequote all
Red Devil said:
That's the road to/from Lake Vyrnwy.
https://goo.gl/maps/b2ECX8Rkzs42
Turn right at the T-junction to reach the top of the pass.
https://goo.gl/maps/5ay3ZRNCPQ32
It is