Fun roads near Swansea

[twazzock]

Hi all,

I'm visiting friends in South Wales this weekend and it seems like a good opportunity to have a nosy at the local roads! I've had a look at Google Maps and some of them look pretty interesting, but some advice from previous experience would be nice.

Starting from Swansea, I'd like to be out for a couple of hours. What are the best roads to take and when's the best time? (I assume early Sunday morning, so I may have to take it easy on the beer on Saturday night)

As an aside: any tips for London to Swansea on a Friday afternoon/evening? Will be leaving from J30 M25 between 3 and 4pm.


Any advice much appreciated, thanks

[Red111]

As only couple of hours a mixture and a little run for you. Unfortunately, you always have to go on boring roads to get to good ones but try junction 45 of M4 to Brynnaman towards A4069, great road and fantastic view if you stop on top, take A40 left and then right onto B4302 (Talley), right onto A482, left onto A40, left in Llandovery after railway line onto A483, right onto B4519 (again great view from top), B4520 (watch the juction here), into Brecon and then back onto A40, left onto A4067 all the way back to M4 and Swansea.

Ps don't envy you driving down on Friday, watch cameras on the 7 bridge and also the 50mph average speed camera section by Newport (stick to it as people have been caught - 57mph!).

Edited by Red111 on Wednesday 3rd November 19:03

[kik1.6se]

Thats is a good route. I'd suggest the A4061 between A465 and j36 M4 (or A4061 - A4107 - J40 M4, both good), maybe on the return leg.

The A4069 is a must, but watch out for sheep.

[twazzock]

Thanks for your replies, much appreciated.

That route looks very good indeed, but it's about 130 miles, and my wallet really can't take that at the moment

Would it be worthwile doing a shorter version of that loop? For example, A4069, A40, B4302, A482, A40, A4069 (85 miles). Maybe even just the A4069 in each direction? (60 miles)

I need to bring the length/cost down but if it's not going to be worth it (seeing as ~30 miles is just getting to the fun roads and back!) then I'll have to save it for another visit.


Thanks again.

[Red111]

That route is fine, careful on A4069 as its narrow in parts, the little bridge for eg and you sometimes feel like your falling off the edge. The Talley road will make your stomach turn but all good fun.

Looks like Sunday is the best day of week weather wise so enjoy yourself and watch out for the bikers and sheep who will no doubt also be out to play especially on the A4069.

Edited by Red111 on Thursday 4th November 09:01

[kiteless]

A quickish blast would be:

Out of Swansea following the signs for the M4
Once over the island next to the Amazon warehouse, follow the signs for Llanelli / Carmarthen M4
You'll shortly see a big oil refinery on your left
Off at the next exit (A465 Merthyr)
Blast up the A465 (fast, well surfaced, friendly cambers)
Past Glyn-Neath
At the top of the hill, at the next island, take the first exit (A4059 - many TG features filmed there e.g. MK 1 Focus RS)
Over the moors to the T-junction with the A470
Left
Blast down the A470 (sweeping bends, decent overtaking spots, agreeable scenery)
At the island, turn right (A465 Neath / Swansea)

Hour and a half. Probably less.

[A4069]

Lots of great road mentioned here. But the A465 and A470 have plenty of regular speed traps, be careful out there!

[Chris71]

The A4107 North from the M4 at Port Talbot is quite good. Used to do that one regularly en-route from uni in Swansea to the MTB trails at Afan.

[Allyc85]

I finally got a clear run on the A4059 yesterday morning and it is a brilliant road! very up and down in places with some nice sweepers and stunning scenery!

[A4069]

excellent, quick isn't it :] and that lovely blind crest around half way...must admit i came too quick over there one day and just had to briefly cross onto the other side of the road over the actual crest luckily it was clear

[Allyc85]

Great video of it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkIBNkm3yAs

[Chris71]

Allyc85 said:

Great video of it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkIBNkm3yAs

It's quite strange your directional these roads can be. That's the opposite direction to the way I did it and looks even better in that video.

I also re-drove the B4560 recently and found it far more fun going north to south (from Llangindr up the steep switchbacks and then down off the moor to Garnlydan). The visibility just seemed to be better and I guess psychologically it's more reassuring making progress towards a tight corner if you're going steeply uphill rather than steeply down.

Similarly I much preferred the Black Mountain Road in the direction that takes you uphill through the quarry with the famous hairpin (can't remember if that's north or south...)