Discussion
Evening Chaps.
I guess a few of you have used this road on a Wales trip before so thought id ask here.
I have to go from near Chester to South Wales at weekend in my Car. I'm trying to decide which route is going to be my best / fastest option.Google maps says i'm going to better via the A road route rather than Motorway but i just get that feeling ill be stuck behind Caravans etc all the way down.
I know what the road is like from here to Shropshire but what is it like south of that ? Is it mainly single track road without many passing places ? I kinda like the idea of going the A road way but i'm coming back the same day so cant be hanging about.
I guess a few of you have used this road on a Wales trip before so thought id ask here.
I have to go from near Chester to South Wales at weekend in my Car. I'm trying to decide which route is going to be my best / fastest option.Google maps says i'm going to better via the A road route rather than Motorway but i just get that feeling ill be stuck behind Caravans etc all the way down.
I know what the road is like from here to Shropshire but what is it like south of that ? Is it mainly single track road without many passing places ? I kinda like the idea of going the A road way but i'm coming back the same day so cant be hanging about.
Where in South Wales are you headed for? The route you would use to go to Carmarthen is a lot different from the route you would use to go to Newport, for example. You mention the 483 so I assume you're probably heading for somewhere between Cardiff and Swansea.
I expect that the quickest way would be to head down to Shrewsbury and pick up the M54, M6, M5, M50, A469 and M4. That's 200 miles compared with 151/152 miles (per Google Maps) for all the A road routes, but once you get to Shrewsbury it's Motorway or Dual Carriageway the whole way. The issue there is what time would you hit Birmingham as the section on the M6 between the M54 and the M5 can be very congested.
The A49 route through Church Stretton, Ludlow, Hereford to Ross is a major trunk road but there's a lot of HGV traffic. On a bike you could get past but in a car you could easily be stuck behind for miles.
The scenic route using the A483/A470 i.e. Welshpool, Newtown, Crossgates, Brecon, Merthyr is good on a bike, but the section the bikers love between Newtown and Crossgates can be dreadfully slow in a car if a caravan/motorhome/HGV is in the way. The section from Merthyr onwards is all dual carriageway.
I think I'd go down using the motorway but if I was coming back late afternoon/early evening I'd come back on the A470/A483 route.
I expect that the quickest way would be to head down to Shrewsbury and pick up the M54, M6, M5, M50, A469 and M4. That's 200 miles compared with 151/152 miles (per Google Maps) for all the A road routes, but once you get to Shrewsbury it's Motorway or Dual Carriageway the whole way. The issue there is what time would you hit Birmingham as the section on the M6 between the M54 and the M5 can be very congested.
The A49 route through Church Stretton, Ludlow, Hereford to Ross is a major trunk road but there's a lot of HGV traffic. On a bike you could get past but in a car you could easily be stuck behind for miles.
The scenic route using the A483/A470 i.e. Welshpool, Newtown, Crossgates, Brecon, Merthyr is good on a bike, but the section the bikers love between Newtown and Crossgates can be dreadfully slow in a car if a caravan/motorhome/HGV is in the way. The section from Merthyr onwards is all dual carriageway.
I think I'd go down using the motorway but if I was coming back late afternoon/early evening I'd come back on the A470/A483 route.
As a regular rally spectator, especially in Mid/South Wales, this road is very familiar. It has improved, slightly in the last few years, especially around Newtown, were there is now the by-pass. And depending on your destination in South Wales, you can stay on the A483, or take the A489/A470 just after Newtown that takes you through Llanidloes, Rhayader, and Builth Wells were both A483/A470 meet.
However, I'd still try and leave as early as possible (6 o'clock-ish) - and you will still get stuck behind the inevitable HGV at some point.
However, I'd still try and leave as early as possible (6 o'clock-ish) - and you will still get stuck behind the inevitable HGV at some point.
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