Wales (again)

[SmilerFTM]

After reading through various threads already on here I'm pretty confident I've got a well sorted route done for two big days in Wales towards the end of May. Just wondering if anyone thinks I should tweak it slightly and will googlemaps estimated time be accurate. I know from driving boring roads I always beat the time it states but these are a bit more twisty and slow going so should I be expecting to add much time onto them? 1st day estimate time is 7 hours 51 mins and the 2nd day 7 hours.

Day 1

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z-_W6J3HJg5...

Day 2

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=z-_W6J3HJg5...

Edited by SmilerFTM on Thursday 14th April 14:35

[SmilerFTM]

I thought I'd actually put me going along the B5106, sorted it now thanks

[SmilerFTM]

Tyretotravel to transfer routes onto my Garmin sat nav. I also transfer stuff onto copilot on my phone 1st by saving the route as a gpx file using gpxvisualizer.com. I then convert it to a .trp file that copilot recognises using software I can't remember the name of (its on my PC, I'm at work). It can be a slight pain as no matter how many way points I put in on google maps copilot always seems to find a slightly different route but you can fine tune them by dragging the route to the desired road which usually doesn't take too long.

[SmilerFTM]

To use gpxvisualizer you just need to copy the Googlemaps URL into it and it does the work for you. Depends what type of sat nav you're using as to what file type you need after that. Be wary though as some (like Copilot) will always adjust the routes slightly so you may need to tweak them which is why I like Copilot as its very easy to drag the route to the desired roads if it is off them slightly. If you have a Tom Tom or Garmin then Tyre to travel is good but you'll need to input the route onto it yourself, it uses googlemaps and it'll transfer and save the route to your sat nav using the correct file type.

[SmilerFTM]

samsul89 said:

B4560 - Llangynidr to Garnlydan. You won't regret it!

Will change the route so its on, do you reckon continue along that road to Talgarth or turn off onto the B4558 and head up towards Brecon?

[SmilerFTM]

Claude455 said:

I'd consider taking a slight detour to explore the dams and reservoirs of the Élan Valley.

I was thinking about that but was worried day 1 will get too long in the saddle. Its already just under 8 hours according to Google Maps

[SmilerFTM]

So me and my mate are heading back to Wales again this coming May but have decided to do three days driving around instead of two. The 2 routes on the 1st post are exactly what we did last year and we are going to keep most of the good roads but as mentioned as we have 3 days this time we can easily add in extra. Elan Valley is obviously one area we'd like to drive around (any road recommend to hit or miss?), what other areas and in particular roads should we be looking at?

[SmilerFTM]

So these are the three days I've penciled in for this coming May, obviously taken a lot from last year but added a few chunks in here and there. Criticisms welcome

Wales Day 1 2017

https://goo.gl/maps/wj66PCoxMf12

Wales Day 2 2017

https://goo.gl/maps/WbPbJyfKSZn

Wales Day 3 2017

https://goo.gl/maps/PtyG7KsbtaB2

[SmilerFTM]

Looks like roadworks are ongoing there for many many months well into next year. I can easily miss that out as only going to Ebbw Vale because I know there is a Morrisons for a cheap breakfast, food for lunch later and cheap petrol there. Can easily stop at Waitrose in Abergavenny for a slightly more expensive breaky and petrol stop instead.

[SmilerFTM]

Thanks Red Devil, would've been a nightmare hitting those roads with a Boxster and a lowered MX-5

[SmilerFTM]

Slippydiff said:

Two excellent Welsh hoons, and unfortunately on both occasions you've missed the best road out of Bala

I think you might be looking at last year's trip, I started this thread last year. This year is 3 days and I've a feeling day 2 has the road you're thinking about included although if I'm wrong I'll gladly be corrected.

[SmilerFTM]

Slippydiff said:

Was well aware that this piece had been maturing nicely in the barrel for a year now
I'm posting from an iphone currently, but looking at both your routes yesterday on my desktop, indicated you'd missed a trick twice (and the mother of all sections of road in the process)
I'll double check once I'm back home and update accordingly (possibly by way of a PM).

Cool thanks

[SmilerFTM]

Nice one, can't wait to get over there again

[SmilerFTM]

South to North is probably slightly better due to the views you get when running the A4069 on day 1, the unmarked road between the B4518 and Machynlleth on day 2 and the Llanberis Pass on day 3. The drive down to Lake Vyrnwy​ is also good fun going downhill which is done both day 2 and 3. You've also got a slightly shorter drive home when you've finished if Milton Keynes is still where you live although I imagine it depends exactly where you start and finish as there is little in it.

[SmilerFTM]

I dont mind narrow too much as my car is narrower than most anyway but I could do without reversing for caravans as we'll have more than just my car there. When you say around Begdellert do you mean the little section just after when you go up the A498 back along the unmarked road to the A4085?
I know the rest of that route fairly well as I've done it a couple of times before, I just added that in for something a little different.

Edited by SmilerFTM on Monday 17th April 11:08

Edited by SmilerFTM on Monday 17th April 12:38

[SmilerFTM]

imahuman118 said:

You've missed out one of the best roads in the country, on day one when you pass llangorse head to brecon. The b4520 between brecon and the b4519 (also on your map) is an incredible road with constant gradient changes and lots of fast sweepers.

It's on this year's routes (the original post has last years routes that I did) although I'm missing out the B4519 heading up to Builth Wells continuing on the B4520 and coming back around on the B4358. Not sure if I should though based on what you've just said and just turn off onto the B4159 missing out Builth Wells

Edited by SmilerFTM on Wednesday 19th April 17:21

[SmilerFTM]

I ended up doing a modified version of it because when I got to Wales my mate had only booked enough time for two days driving rather than three (the knobhead)

[SmilerFTM]

blitzracing said:

Just my 10 pence worth. Nice little loop . All fast flowing A roads.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Brecon/Llandover...

Looks canny although I'd probably miss out a bit of the A483 and fit in the Tirabad to Trecastle military road