Wales Driving Weekend help?
Discussion
I’m turning 30 next month and my wife has come up with loads of great ideas to treat me. All of which COVID has firmly put a stop to. The latest idea has been to get her mum up to look after our disabled son for a few days so that we can go away. This would be the first night we have spent away together for 5 years.
Obviously depending on COVID we would like to borrow my Dads f430 and go explore Wales for a few days. We live in North Norfolk so it’s a day there and back which I might try making interesting by taking no motorways. Leaving with 2 days there.
Have never been Wales before other than Pontypool dry slope
have no idea where to go or what the good routes are. Would like some advice on good roads with good views and what sort of area I should be trying to stay in.
Normally I would wing it but as we aren’t there long I would like to have an idea what we are doing. Hoping to do this March but seems unlikely if not try and fit it in later in the year.
Obviously depending on COVID we would like to borrow my Dads f430 and go explore Wales for a few days. We live in North Norfolk so it’s a day there and back which I might try making interesting by taking no motorways. Leaving with 2 days there.
Have never been Wales before other than Pontypool dry slope
have no idea where to go or what the good routes are. Would like some advice on good roads with good views and what sort of area I should be trying to stay in. Normally I would wing it but as we aren’t there long I would like to have an idea what we are doing. Hoping to do this March but seems unlikely if not try and fit it in later in the year.
It depends on which bit of Wales or the whole of Wales. I know north Wales well, and there are plenty of nice routes to found on previous threads.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... just an example. Have a look at some of those threads and plan a route, post it u and there will be plenty to help.
Lets hope COVID allows us out in time for your trip. The weather can be interesting this time of year and may be much nicer later in the year.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&... just an example. Have a look at some of those threads and plan a route, post it u and there will be plenty to help.
Lets hope COVID allows us out in time for your trip. The weather can be interesting this time of year and may be much nicer later in the year.
ntiz said:
I’m turning 30 next month and my wife has come up with loads of great ideas to treat me. All of which COVID has firmly put a stop to. The latest idea has been to get her mum up to look after our disabled son for a few days so that we can go away. This would be the first night we have spent away together for 5 years.
Obviously depending on COVID we would like to borrow my Dads f430 and go explore Wales for a few days. We live in North Norfolk so it’s a day there and back which I might try making interesting by taking no motorways. Leaving with 2 days there.
Have never been Wales before other than Pontypool dry slope have no idea where to go or what the good routes are. Would like some advice on good roads with good views and what sort of area I should be trying to stay in.
Normally I would wing it but as we aren’t there long I would like to have an idea what we are doing. Hoping to do this March but seems unlikely if not try and fit it in later in the year.
Live in N.Norfolk too - defo go North Wales and take the quickest route there. Better off spending the time in Wales then roads on the way over so to speak.Obviously depending on COVID we would like to borrow my Dads f430 and go explore Wales for a few days. We live in North Norfolk so it’s a day there and back which I might try making interesting by taking no motorways. Leaving with 2 days there.
Have never been Wales before other than Pontypool dry slope
have no idea where to go or what the good routes are. Would like some advice on good roads with good views and what sort of area I should be trying to stay in. Normally I would wing it but as we aren’t there long I would like to have an idea what we are doing. Hoping to do this March but seems unlikely if not try and fit it in later in the year.
Norwich - Cambridge - M6 toll over to M54 - Shrewsbury A5 - take the B4396 at Knockin and just head West! enjoy and hope you get to go! I would try and stay in Betws-y-Coed.
ntiz said:
I’m turning 30 next month and my wife has come up with loads of great ideas to treat me. All of which COVID has firmly put a stop to. The latest idea has been to get her mum up to look after our disabled son for a few days so that we can go away. This would be the first night we have spent away together for 5 years.
Obviously depending on COVID we would like to borrow my Dads f430 and go explore Wales for a few days. We live in North Norfolk so it’s a day there and back which I might try making interesting by taking no motorways. Leaving with 2 days there.
Have never been Wales before other than Pontypool dry slope have no idea where to go or what the good routes are. Would like some advice on good roads with good views and what sort of area I should be trying to stay in.
Normally I would wing it but as we aren’t there long I would like to have an idea what we are doing. Hoping to do this March but seems unlikely if not try and fit it in later in the year.
The three best driving roads for me in Wales are Obviously depending on COVID we would like to borrow my Dads f430 and go explore Wales for a few days. We live in North Norfolk so it’s a day there and back which I might try making interesting by taking no motorways. Leaving with 2 days there.
Have never been Wales before other than Pontypool dry slope
have no idea where to go or what the good routes are. Would like some advice on good roads with good views and what sort of area I should be trying to stay in. Normally I would wing it but as we aren’t there long I would like to have an idea what we are doing. Hoping to do this March but seems unlikely if not try and fit it in later in the year.
1. A4069 Black Mountain road - west to east from llangadog, just gets better and better.- https://fweels.com/the-black-mountain-pass-a4069-b...
2. A4059 from A470 - a hoot
3. B4520 Brecon to Upper Chapel / Builth Wells
4. Rhayder to Devils Bridge - https://www.visitmidwales.co.uk/destination/Rhayad...
bennno said:
if there is a better road than the 4069 then I challenge you to name it
Don't get me wrong, the Black Mountain Pass is biblical but the 40 limit, traffic and BiB attention have all conspired to take the shine off it since about 2016. Also it's quite short and if you get stuck behind dawdlers there are few opportunities to get past.The B4391 from Porthmadog to Bala and beyond contains stretches that match the majesty of A4069 but is 50 miles long and is NSL. Also check out Llanidoes to Machynlleth which is far less famous than the Brecons or Snowdonia and as a result attracts far less traffic. This stretch is a fabulous way to get from North to South as well as being a highlight in its own right.
Doofus said:
B4391 north west from Llanfyllin to Bala, round the lake and back again.
Or carry on all the way to Porthmadog...Whenever you go I’d pray for good weather and head straight towards north Wales and overnight somewhere like Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Llangollen or even Betws-y-Coed if you can make it that far (Shell V-Power station here).
Then the real driving - Betws to Capel Curig then A4086 to Llanberis to experience the dramatic scenery. Retrace route back and turn right down to Beddgelert, then pick up the A4085 south. Head to Llan Ffestiniog and the B4391 will blow your socks off. Pass through Bala, south west on the A494 then the A487 to Machynlleth.
From there south east through Forge and Dylife before heading south on the B4518 all the way to Llanidloes - that whole stretch from Mach is right out of the top drawer and for me it easily trumps the Black Mountain Road bennno mentioned.
A470 to Rhayader, then continue south on the B4520 to Brecon. A470 again, turning right to enjoy the A4059 then why not jump back on the A470 again to the M4 and the long slog home.
Obviously you’ll need an overnight somewhere, and there are plenty of places to explore and extend your route but that might at least give you some ideas. Personally there’s way too much A470 for my liking but they might suit your weapon of choice better than a winter trip over Bwlch-y-Groes!
Have a great time!
Then the real driving - Betws to Capel Curig then A4086 to Llanberis to experience the dramatic scenery. Retrace route back and turn right down to Beddgelert, then pick up the A4085 south. Head to Llan Ffestiniog and the B4391 will blow your socks off. Pass through Bala, south west on the A494 then the A487 to Machynlleth.
From there south east through Forge and Dylife before heading south on the B4518 all the way to Llanidloes - that whole stretch from Mach is right out of the top drawer and for me it easily trumps the Black Mountain Road bennno mentioned.
A470 to Rhayader, then continue south on the B4520 to Brecon. A470 again, turning right to enjoy the A4059 then why not jump back on the A470 again to the M4 and the long slog home.
Obviously you’ll need an overnight somewhere, and there are plenty of places to explore and extend your route but that might at least give you some ideas. Personally there’s way too much A470 for my liking but they might suit your weapon of choice better than a winter trip over Bwlch-y-Groes!
Have a great time!
ntiz said:
Thanks for the advice everyone looks like it’s North Wales then. Unfortunately looks like it’s going to have to wait until a little bit later in the year but that may not be a bad thing.
Thanks again.
May be better later in the year, its pretty wet and muddy here right now, most river are in flood or nearing it. And the farmers haven't quite finished moving all the mud from the fields to the roads yet, they should be finished by the beginning of March though Thanks again.
Come through the midlands from Norfolk and make your starting point the A44 at Worcester. The A44 is excellent all the way to Aberystwyth as mentioned above, however it is a main road, which means unless you start at 6-7am you will encounter traffic.
Crossgates to Newtown A483 is 22 miles of twisty fun. From there you could explore a route via Clun to Knighton, that road is very quiet, all times of the day and is very twisty.
A44 just east of Cross gates to Builth Wells via Hundred House is an excellent B road.
The black mountains have a 40mph speed restriction now, but if you want to make the journey early AM there are no fixed speed cameras. If you start at the GlynNeath side and head West you will have an excellent B road to the Welsh coast.
The coastal road out of Aber is also good, but is a main route.
As a general rule of thumb, look for B roads which used to be the main roads, as long as they have two lanes, they will all be fairly well kept roads (only due to low traffic) and very twisty.
My advice, plan where you want to stay, plan a few stop points, eg Crossgates Cafe, and then look at google maps for B roads and just go and explore. The more off the main road, but not quite single track will give you some exceptional experiences. Get out a map of Wales. Find Brecon, draw a straight line West to East and ignore anything much below, (except black mountains, although thats one road) Do the same from Shrewsbury but angle your pen towards Bangor and ignore everything above. There will be roads outside of that area that are very good, but the main treasure trove of gods country for driving will be there.
Have fun and oh a video or two wouldnt go a miss.
Crossgates to Newtown A483 is 22 miles of twisty fun. From there you could explore a route via Clun to Knighton, that road is very quiet, all times of the day and is very twisty.
A44 just east of Cross gates to Builth Wells via Hundred House is an excellent B road.
The black mountains have a 40mph speed restriction now, but if you want to make the journey early AM there are no fixed speed cameras. If you start at the GlynNeath side and head West you will have an excellent B road to the Welsh coast.
The coastal road out of Aber is also good, but is a main route.
As a general rule of thumb, look for B roads which used to be the main roads, as long as they have two lanes, they will all be fairly well kept roads (only due to low traffic) and very twisty.
My advice, plan where you want to stay, plan a few stop points, eg Crossgates Cafe, and then look at google maps for B roads and just go and explore. The more off the main road, but not quite single track will give you some exceptional experiences. Get out a map of Wales. Find Brecon, draw a straight line West to East and ignore anything much below, (except black mountains, although thats one road) Do the same from Shrewsbury but angle your pen towards Bangor and ignore everything above. There will be roads outside of that area that are very good, but the main treasure trove of gods country for driving will be there.
Have fun and oh a video or two wouldnt go a miss.
we are looking to organise a one day tour of North East Wales for some TVR's and would appreciate some thoughts about the roads - I am based in Teesside so cannot check out the route before hand, although would like local knowledge.
I have generally used B roads as are usually quieter. I used to compete in road rallies 30 years ago.
My basic route (google maps) is below but willing to change. Trying to stick to about 150 miles.
https://goo.gl/maps/eSDjr4m5C95nXn9m9
I have generally used B roads as are usually quieter. I used to compete in road rallies 30 years ago.
My basic route (google maps) is below but willing to change. Trying to stick to about 150 miles.
https://goo.gl/maps/eSDjr4m5C95nXn9m9
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