London to Dolgellau

[Chris71]

In a couple of month's time me and a mate are heading off to Snowdonia for some mountain biking. He's quite keen to incorporate some driving into the trip and were wondering about the best way to get from London to Dolgellau?

The idea is to get to Wales pretty quickly and maybe take in a few interesting roads once we're over the border.

Now just have to persuade him to take both bikes in his car, so I can take the TVR.

[Mar10]

Chris71 said:

In a couple of month's time me and a mate are heading off to Snowdonia for some mountain biking. He's quite keen to incorporate some driving into the trip and were wondering about the best way to get from London to Dolgellau?

The idea is to get to Wales pretty quickly and maybe take in a few interesting roads once we're over the border.

Now just have to persuade him to take both bikes in his car, so I can take the TVR.

Hi Chris,

You could try the M4 to Cardiff, join the A470 heading north and just follow it the whole way. Takes you through some epic scenery and more importantly some epic roads.

M4 to J32, A470 North to Merthy Tydfil (Dual Carriageway), A470 to Brecon through the Brecon Beacons National Park (awesome scenery), A470 to Builth Wells, A470 to Rhayder (good road), A470 to Llanidloes (good road), then on to Dolgellau via the A470 (you might want to turn around and do it again!).

Not that I have some sort of fetish for the 470 it's the only road I use when going North, I'm sure there're plenty of other decent routes there....

Also while you're there the A4212 from Bala to Trawsfynydd is a pretty epic road, I think it's one of the roads EVO use for their road tests.

Edited by Mar10 on Tuesday 12th August 14:50

[Chris71]

Near Cardiff.

That would take us near Cwm Carn (another awesome mountain biking location), might be a plan...

The other option is to go diagonally up so we enter Wales about level with Birmingham somewhere (A458?)

Used to live in Swansea, but after a few yeara away from Wales it suddenly seems like a whole other country.

[joepane]

I'd say going west through Worcestershire/Herefordshire. It includes roads such as Rhyader, Llanidloes etc. I was on holiday in Tywyn last week, and I went on these roads.

[Mar10]

joepane said:

I'd say going west through Worcestershire/Herefordshire. It includes roads such as Rhyader, Llanidloes etc. I was on holiday in Tywyn last week, and I went on these roads.

Hmm... yeah some good roads out that way too! As a brucie bonus you get to avoid the Severn bridge toll as well.

Edited by Mar10 on Tuesday 12th August 23:12

[mr pg]

We normally go via Telford, Shrewsbury, Welshpool to Dolgellau. Some bendy roads the nearer you get, including a very tight bend on a steep climb. Spectacular views from the top in both directions. If you're going M4 route, there's better biking to be had at Afan now (20 mins from M4) than Coed Y Brenin. Do the Skyline route.

[mr pg]

This is the bend I mention above. Can't appreciate the steepness in this view though.
http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=welshpool&cou...

[Shropshiremike]

mr pg said:

This is the bend I mention above. Can't appreciate the steepness in this view though.
http://www.multimap.com/maps/?qs=welshpool&cou...

Just north of Dinas Mawddwy I presume?

[Chris71]

Hmm. This may now be put on the back burner for a while - I've been invited out to the Nurburgring the same week for a stag do (yes, I appreciate the phrases 'Nurbugring' and 'stag do' are a worrying combination!) and I don't know how much holiday time I'll have to spare.

Still, I should get a decent road trip either way!

[King of Dings]

Speed cameras
Speed cameras
Speed cameras
Speed cameras
Speed cameras

And that's before you get out of London - watch out in Wales, particularly that area, mobile cameras abound.

[King of Dings]

Speed cameras
Speed cameras
Speed cameras
Speed cameras
Speed cameras

And that's before you get out of London - watch out in Wales, particularly that area, mobile cameras abound.