Trip to South Wales from Leeds - EVO Triangle and what else?

[PaulZR]

Evening all.

Thought I would ask for some input from y'all. I've got a work thing in Brecon, Powys in South Wales on Thursday and have all day Wednesday to drive down. This being the case, I'm trying to plan a route that takes me off the beaten track.

I'll be sticking to the M62 from Leeds to Manchester and then on to North Wales. According to Multimap et al, the quickest route (4hrs) is past Chester, Stoke, Shrewbury and Ludlow on a mixture of A5 and A49.

However, plan is definitely to visit the EVO triangle area around Betws-Y-Coed as a minimum. From there to the destination is a further 3 hours so I'd like to pick up some other good roads on the way down. Doesn't matter how long it takes. Anywhere I really shouldn't miss?

Thanks in advance.

Edit to add: I understand the A470 from Ffestiniog to Brecon is a jolly wheeze. Would certainly be a good fit with the journey.

Edited by PaulZR on Monday 28th June 19:38

[PaulZR]

Search is your friend...

Here's what I'm thinking:

1) Leeds to Denbigh in N Wales by whatever route PCM suggests
2) Denbigh to Betws-Y-Coed on the B4501
3) Round the EVO triangle
4) Round the EVO triangle again
5) Betws-Y-Coed to Trawsfynydd including B4391 and A470
6) Trawsfynydd to Bala on the A4212
7) Bala to Llynclys on the B4391 and B4396
8) Llynclys to Dolgellau on the A458 / A470
9) Dolgellau to Newbridge on Wye on the A470 et al
10) Newbridge on Rye to Treflys on the Abergwesyn Pass (B4358)
11) Treflys to Brecon on the B4520 and B4519
12) Bed

All in I reckon about 7.5 hours. Have I missed anything obvious?

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...

Edited by PaulZR on Monday 28th June 21:19

[G Man]

Look at this its 5 mins off your route to Brecon but 1 hrs on your journey

http://pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f...

[PaulZR]

Eep, that looks good too. Including one tour of the triangle I think I'm up to 8.5 hours, so what's another hour on that?

It looks quite narrow from the photos, are the representative of the whole road?

[G Man]

Its a car and a bike wide .... search for Devils staircase and llyn brianne reservoir

[PaulZR]

Cheers, will give it a look.

[mr_fibuli]

If you fancy a little detour on the end of the journey, or are bored while in Brecon, I'd recommend a lap of these roads:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF8&am...

Single lane tarmac poured over hills, hairpin bends, amazing views.

Then head back to Brecon on the A4059 - Fast open flowing road, can see for miles ahead. Watch out for sheep and ponies.

To give you an idea, this video is all filmed on this route: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ljcq-5RiR78

[Overlag]

PaulZR said:

Search is your friend...

Here's what I'm thinking:
All in I reckon about 7.5 hours. Have I missed anything obvious?

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...

Edited by PaulZR on Monday 28th June 21:19

doubt that will take 7.5hours, average speed down some of those single track roads can be in the 20s

for instance this...

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&a...

...took well over 9hours. Granted i was stopping quiet often but with such good scenery You have to stop for pictures...

Edited by Overlag on Thursday 1st July 11:08

Edited by Overlag on Thursday 1st July 11:12

Edited by Overlag on Thursday 1st July 11:31