South Wales (Brecon Beacons) road trip - pics/route
Discussion
What a weekend! Went down to Wales on Friday night, dropped in at the Adrenaline Motorsport track day at Llandow on Saturday, then went for a hoon around the Brecon Beacons before heading back on Sunday.
Start of the A4059:
And again:
The A4069 heading south (the best way IMO) just above the hairpin:
Parked up on the hairpin, who should we meet but PHer pwd95 in his fabulous black Griffith (hope you don't mind me pinching the photo Wyn
) was genuinely a complete coincidence:
Would have taken the obligatory shot from the layby down towards the hairpin, but an inconsiderate OAP in an Astra had parked up there. Don't these people know that spot is reserved for visiting PHers?
Anyway, the route was basically:
North on the first half of the B4560 - epic road, but many blind crests making hooning difficult
Across to Brecon on the B4588 - huge dissapointment, very narrow
Down the A4059 - awesome road, quite fast and open
Up the A4069 - a little tricky at the southern end (narrowish, cambers etc.) but epic views, stretch down past the hairpin is fantastic, but still demands respect. Then gets much wider, quicker and better surfaced as you head north and towards the lower lying parts of the road. So good we went back up and did it again.
Then sat nav'd it across to the B4235. I think this is my new favourite road. What starts as an idylic country lane at the Monmouth end becomes almost alpine as it goes down the hill and through the switchbacks under the trees to Chepstow. Chasing a sports bike down there has to rate as one of the best drives I've ever had! Came back up and did it again, but in truth I could have gone backwards and forwards along there all day.
Lots of traffic on the main roads (A40 etc) which is a shame as some of them had the potential to be great fun too. Far fewer people on the high moorland stretches though. Great fun!
Google map here:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&...
Lots more about the trip on my blog, here:
http://chriscarblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/run-to-hi...
Start of the A4059:
And again:
The A4069 heading south (the best way IMO) just above the hairpin:
Parked up on the hairpin, who should we meet but PHer pwd95 in his fabulous black Griffith (hope you don't mind me pinching the photo Wyn
) was genuinely a complete coincidence:Would have taken the obligatory shot from the layby down towards the hairpin, but an inconsiderate OAP in an Astra had parked up there. Don't these people know that spot is reserved for visiting PHers?
Anyway, the route was basically:
North on the first half of the B4560 - epic road, but many blind crests making hooning difficult
Across to Brecon on the B4588 - huge dissapointment, very narrow
Down the A4059 - awesome road, quite fast and open
Up the A4069 - a little tricky at the southern end (narrowish, cambers etc.) but epic views, stretch down past the hairpin is fantastic, but still demands respect. Then gets much wider, quicker and better surfaced as you head north and towards the lower lying parts of the road. So good we went back up and did it again.
Then sat nav'd it across to the B4235. I think this is my new favourite road. What starts as an idylic country lane at the Monmouth end becomes almost alpine as it goes down the hill and through the switchbacks under the trees to Chepstow. Chasing a sports bike down there has to rate as one of the best drives I've ever had! Came back up and did it again, but in truth I could have gone backwards and forwards along there all day.
Lots of traffic on the main roads (A40 etc) which is a shame as some of them had the potential to be great fun too. Far fewer people on the high moorland stretches though. Great fun!
Google map here:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&...
Lots more about the trip on my blog, here:
http://chriscarblog.blogspot.com/2009/03/run-to-hi...
Cheers. It's well worth a look, but I don't doubt you could get equally good roads in Snowdonia or North Yorkshire. In fact the next one I want to investigate is B3081 in Dorset - Britain's twistiest road.
The major plus side was how quite the decent roads were, but it was February I suppose.
The track day at Llandow was fantastic fun too and can't wait to get back on track now I've got the setup sorted!
The major plus side was how quite the decent roads were, but it was February I suppose.
The track day at Llandow was fantastic fun too and can't wait to get back on track now I've got the setup sorted!
Edited by Chris71 on Friday 6th March 13:15
Chris71 said:
Apologies for the derail - but how do you save your directions in Google Maps into the URL like this? I can use the Directions function just fine but am unable to save any routes.plenty said:
Apologies for the derail - but how do you save your directions in Google Maps into the URL like this? I can use the Directions function just fine but am unable to save any routes.
No worries. Simply plot out your route (using 'From: xXx To: yYy' to start with and then clicking add destination to insert the next waypoints is a good way of doing it) then click on the link that says 'link' above the map and copy the web address it gives.On a related note I'm a big fan of a program called TYRE that allows you to plot out routes and then save them as a TomTom itinerary file. It's well worth a google if you're planning a road trip and have some recomendations to follow like I did.
John D. said:
Nice 
Did the Brecon Beacons with a load of fellow PH'ers back in '07. Superb roads and scenery. Must go back!
Any suicidal sheep issues?
ETA - Just noticed that you randomly met another Pistonhead out there! Love it! D
Cheers John. No suicidal sheep, but on the way out to the B4560 there were a couple of dogs on the side of the A-road. I slowed right down and went past - I thought about stopping, but assumed the owners were nearby and might object. Instead I carried on and a moment later my mate behind said over the walkie talkie: "The car behind me just took out one of those dogs in a big way." Made me feel sick, absolutely love dogs and it's been in the back of my mind ever since. Did the Brecon Beacons with a load of fellow PH'ers back in '07. Superb roads and scenery. Must go back!
Any suicidal sheep issues?
ETA - Just noticed that you randomly met another Pistonhead out there! Love it! D
But, on a cheerier note, yes the Brecon Beacons are a great hoon and can thuroughly recommend another trip down. Just make sure if you go to or from Wales via the bridge that you check out the Usk to Chepstow road. It's truly superb. Best drive of the lot in many respects.
Thanks for the email Chris, all the information you've supplied me with is superb and should make a great trip. Depending on funds I might nip up the A470 and have a few laps of the Evo triangle and westwards around Snowdonia.
I was up around the Brecons a couple weeks ago and did see a few stray dogs myself, but just thought it was a rare thing. Makes me sad and angry that people can let them rome around like that and put them in danger
Edit: wow I was really drunk last night..
I was up around the Brecons a couple weeks ago and did see a few stray dogs myself, but just thought it was a rare thing. Makes me sad and angry that people can let them rome around like that and put them in danger
Edit: wow I was really drunk last night..
Edited by Allyc85 on Sunday 8th March 08:49
Great pic's and write up (like the blog). Thanks for sharing
I have something similar planned (still planning) for the end of the month as a double 'use the end of my leave/happy birthday to my self' kind of thing. I probably won't get a chance to get to the B4235 to Chepstow as i want to go a little further up to the Elan Valley. I'll have to save that for another day
FG
I have something similar planned (still planning) for the end of the month as a double 'use the end of my leave/happy birthday to my self' kind of thing. I probably won't get a chance to get to the B4235 to Chepstow as i want to go a little further up to the Elan Valley. I'll have to save that for another day
FG
sider said:
Chris,
What is that little green car behind your TVR on the track?? Is it one of those Ozzie things???
It is indeed a Toniq R.What is that little green car behind your TVR on the track?? Is it one of those Ozzie things???
Fantastic little Lotus Seven inspired roadster now also owned by Adrenaline Motorsport who were hosting the day. Went very well indeed (as far as I could see) and sounded superb with a 2-litre Duratec in there.
Hi Chris. Matt here. Bought (and sold) the rs-ltd Eunos off you a while back.
Glad you had a good trip round South Wales. The A4059 from Hiwaun is always good fun and is one of my favourite roads. You shold have also tried the A4061 from Hirwaun to Treherbert. Epic views and a great drive. I used to regularly attack it when late for work. It made my commute from Swansea to Treorchy something to look forward to.
Llandow is a nice track, if a little small. Pembrey is also a good track and can be combned with some good driving roads.
Glad you had a good trip round South Wales. The A4059 from Hiwaun is always good fun and is one of my favourite roads. You shold have also tried the A4061 from Hirwaun to Treherbert. Epic views and a great drive. I used to regularly attack it when late for work. It made my commute from Swansea to Treorchy something to look forward to.
Llandow is a nice track, if a little small. Pembrey is also a good track and can be combned with some good driving roads.
Hi Matt,
I did mean to explore the A4061 actually. I used to live in Swansea and the A4107 (the next valley along at Afan) was my route out to the local mountain biking trails. I'd like to have done both, but we just didn't have enough time.
Llandow was indeed great fun. In fact so much so that I'm after another Eunos to build as a track day and sprint car now. Not sure I can bear to be parted from the TVR to fund it though.
I did mean to explore the A4061 actually. I used to live in Swansea and the A4107 (the next valley along at Afan) was my route out to the local mountain biking trails. I'd like to have done both, but we just didn't have enough time.
Llandow was indeed great fun. In fact so much so that I'm after another Eunos to build as a track day and sprint car now. Not sure I can bear to be parted from the TVR to fund it though.
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