Wales this weekend, south and north?

[Birdster]

Hi,

I've Friday to Sunday in Wales and need some help please. I've a hotel booking Friday night in Tredegar, South Wales and Saturday night in Betws-y-Coed, North Wales. I can stay both nights in Tredegar but imagine driving North > South and back would be too much?

We're leaving London around 10am Friday, so should have the afternoon to ourselves and my plan is as below

Starting from just above Ebbw Vale I'll take B4560 to Talgarth. Then up and left A479 > A438 > A470 down to B4602 on to Brecon. Then Down the A470, A4059, turn around and then back to Brecon. Here I'll take the B4520 Lower Chapel > B4519 Upper Chapel to Carth. I'm then thinking take A483 down to Landovery, using A4069 back down (maybe a few passes).

I'd like to visit Elan Valley but have no idea of where to drive around there.

I know there is the Evo Triangle in the North and then is it the Horseshoe pass? I was there briefly before, but not overly familiar and I'm stuck how best to piece the weekend together.

My idea was complete the drive on Friday, come back for a few beers. Then Saturday, up and out by 9am, take a pick of those routes and ask for guidance on a route up to the North whilst making a day of it. Then whatever driving we can fit in Sunday as long we're back in London for around 8pm.

Thanks in advance.

[Red Devil]

Birdster said:

Starting from just above Ebbw Vale I'll take B4560 to Talgarth. Then up and left A479 > A438 > A470 down to B4602 on to Brecon. Then Down the A470, A4059, turn around and then back to Brecon. Here I'll take the B4520 Lower Chapel > B4519 Upper Chapel to Carth. I'm then thinking take A483 down to Landovery, using A4069 back down (maybe a few passes).

If I have understood your Friday afternoon itinerary it looks like this - https://goo.gl/maps/QFbJqyyEm4P2
When you head north from Tredegar on Saturday you may well end up repeating a large segment of what you did the previous day.
Try this instead - https://goo.gl/maps/ihk4YHt1bg72

Birdster said:

I'd like to visit Elan Valley but have no idea of where to drive around there.

Saturday: to Betws-y-Coed via the Elan Valley Dams, Aberystwyth Mountain Road, Hellfire Pass* - https://goo.gl/maps/LnA5VCzGEPn

 * Between Dinas Mawddwy and Bala

Birdster said:

I know there is the Evo Triangle in the North and then is it the Horseshoe pass? I was there briefly before, but not overly familiar and I'm stuck how best to piece the weekend together.

My idea was complete the drive on Friday, come back for a few beers. Then Saturday, up and out by 9am, take a pick of those routes and ask for guidance on a route up to the North whilst making a day of it.

If you're going to do the EVO Triangle I would wait until Sunday rather than at the end of a long day's drive.
Make it the first part of the route, clockwise then back again anticlockwise.
I would omit the Horseshoe Pass and substitute a loop through Snowdonia.
After the Triangle take the B roads to Llanwrst followed by Llanberis Pass and Beddgelert.
If you prefer you can do Ffestiniog to Bala via the B4391 the opposite way to the day before instead of the A roads via Trawsfynydd.
https://goo.gl/maps/An1m5bxjAn62

Birdster said:

Then whatever driving we can fit in Sunday as long we're back in London for around 8pm.

See above. From Llanfyllyn it depends how much time you have left to get back to London. Quickest way is via A5/M54/A5/M6 toll
If you have the time for a more interesting/challenging cross country route then head for the M5/M42/M40.

[Birdster]

Thank you. That's really helpful and much appreciated. Will be a busy weekend.

[Claude455]

Look out for a dozen red Renaultsport Clios - we'll be traversing north to south so our paths may cross at some point.

Enjoy, and drive safe!

[Red Devil]

https://youtu.be/VfTqfa5_jlA
@1:34 - https://goo.gl/maps/daGgh6ukWaC2

[Birdster]

Thanks for the tips.

Enjoy your road trip. We'll be in a night blue Golf R. I'll give a wave if I see you.

[Birdster]

Thank you for the routes. We had a great time.

Saw some Clios on Saturday about 16:45 on the A470 heading South and then two more down some back roads. Did flash the headlights in case it was yourself.

[Claude455]

We were 18 at the start of the day but got very fragmented by that point.

We used a point a few metres up the road from where yours was taken