2 day trip out of London ... what to do?

[zcacogp]

Chaps,

Quickie.

Next weekend, a friend and I are planning a driving weekend. Criteria are that it starts and ends in London, and involves a night away. So, leaving on Saturday morning and back by Sunday late afternoon.

Has to involve good roads, as little traffic as possible, and an overnight stay somewhere not too pricey (thinking a decent B&B or YHA.) It would be good to spend the evening near a decent pub, for supper and a beer or two, and maybe some pleasant scenery for a ramble in somewhere along the way as well.

What would anyone suggest? Current thoughts are to go south west, into Dorset and spend some time on the coastline there, but there must be other suggestions as well.

(I'm hoping there is enough traffic in here to get an answer before the weekend! If not, I'll try moving it to GG - hope this is OK mods.)


Oli.

[plenty]

South Wales would be top of my list. Easy and quick blast across the M4 and head over the the Brecon Beacons for stunning scenery, good pubs and wonderful roads.

[zcacogp]

Interesting idea, thanks Plenty.

I don't know South Wales at all (although I know North Wales fairly well.) Where would you suggest going once across the border?


Oli.

[G Man]

plenty said:

South Wales would be top of my list. Easy and quick blast across the M4 and head over the the Brecon Beacons for stunning scenery, good pubs and wonderful roads.

Yep M4 to Chepstow, take the Usk Rd to Abergavenny into the Brecon Brecons cannot go wrong
from there

Stay here http://www.neuaddarmshotel.co.uk/

[RizzoTheRat]

Motorway to Sheffield(ish) and then you're in to the peak district, lake district, etc, it's possibly to get all the way to Scotland without touching main roads. This time of year there won't be that much traffic, especially if you keep off the beaten track.

The further north you go generally the more intersting the roads and the less traffic around. That said I also agree with the Wales suggestion, has a great weekend in the Brecons on the bike a while back.

Edited by RizzoTheRat on Monday 22 November 12:09

[zcacogp]

G-Man, thanks. Will look at the website.

Rizzo - a good idea, but a bit too much of a jaunt. We only have two days, and don't want to spend all of both of them in the car. If it was a week, we'd be off to Scotland for sure (or possibly France), but time won't permit such a distance.

Thanks for the suggestion tho'.


Oli.

[G Man]

zcacogp said:

G-Man, thanks. Will look at the website.

Rizzo - a good idea, but a bit too much of a jaunt. We only have two days, and don't want to spend all of both of them in the car. If it was a week, we'd be off to Scotland for sure (or possibly France), but time won't permit such a distance.

Thanks for the suggestion tho'.


Oli.

Here are some pics of the routes
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

[Chris71]

zcacogp said:

I don't know South Wales at all (although I know North Wales fairly well.) Where would you suggest going once across the border?

Cross the border at Chepstow and take the road to Usk (B4235 I think?) This is a fantastic road.

Maybe do the B4560 up onto the Beacons - a few crests that restrict visibility in places, but it's suitably epic introduction to the wilderness.

Make sure you do the A4069 Black Mountain Road (with 'that hairpin) on the Western tip of the Beacons. One of the other main A-roads (I think it might be the A4059) is good too, but very fast.

A lot of people rate the B4520 and B4519 heading north towards the Elan Valley. I found them pleasant, but a little bit limited on visibility for pressing on in places (too many hedges!)

The Mountain Road that runs past the top of the Craig Goch Resevoir (between Rhayader and Devil's Bridge) - famed for being the ECOTY base a few years ago - is another case of epic views, but perhaps a little narrow and bumpy for having fun. Would be awesome in a little old school hot hatch on a night rally, but a bit daunting when there's the chance of meeting a Land Rover coming in the opposite direction.

In the same area (heading north from Rhayader) the B4518 is something of a hidden gem. Very nicely surfaced, well sighted (barring a short narrow section at the northern end) and good fun.

Other things to bear in mind: The B-road are often strictly single track and even the treeless moorland roads often have bumps and dips that could hide oncoming traffic. In contrast the A-roads are often quieter, twistier and generally more entertaining than you'd expect a main road to be elsewhere. In other words, don't assume the major roads are going to be worse than the minor ones.

Found some awesome roads in Snowdonia last month, but I guess they're a bit beyond the scope of a 2-day trip. Managed to cook the brakes on the Focus again on this obscure arse-end-of-nowhere B-road that the sat nav sent us on, but the landscape (and the fact we didn't see another car in 30 minutes) was almost surreal.

Edited by Chris71 on Monday 22 November 17:12

[mr pg]

G Man said:

plenty said:

South Wales would be top of my list. Easy and quick blast across the M4 and head over the the Brecon Beacons for stunning scenery, good pubs and wonderful roads.

Yep M4 to Chepstow, take the Usk Rd to Abergavenny into the Brecon Brecons cannot go wrong
from there

Stay here http://www.neuaddarmshotel.co.uk/

If you're heading to Llanwryted Wells (where the above hotel is), I'd recommend here instead http://www.kilsbybb.co.uk/.
Stayed there a number of times, most recently a few weeks ago. It's in a fantastic setting, rather than in the town, and is a great, welcoming B&B. We normally get an evening meal at the first pub you come to on the walk/drive into town from the B&B (can't remember the name).