Reading to Wales Any nice roads?

[Adrien2207]

Hi there,

Soon on my way to a roadtrip to Wales ... We are driving from London, and instead of going on the boring M4, I am wondering if there are any nice roads we could take between Reading and Wales that would run alongside(ish) the M4.

I have read about the A4 Newbury > Marlborough > Chippenham.

Any recommended others?

Thanks

[Drew106]

Many many nice roads in Wales.

Where exactly in Wales are you going?

The Black Mountain Pass (A4069) in the Beacon Beacons is worth a trip.

[sunbeam alpine]

I think I'd be more inclined to bite the bullet - drive the M4 - then use the time you've won to enjoy more time on the roads in Wales.

Parts of the A4 are very enjoyable, but the other bits more than cancel it out.

[Adrien2207]

A very fair comment... May do a quick detour around Chepstow/Tintern before our first night in Cowbridge.

(@Drew106 - we are then spending 3 days criss-crossing all of Wales, so pretty much doing all of the usual suspects in terms of roads, including A4069, B4519, Elan Valley, B4391 in NW, etc.)

[Crippo]

Use the M4 to get to Wales as quickly as possible and don’t waste valuable time mincing about on the over crowded roads you’ll be otherwise bypassing.

[Red Devil]

Adrien2207 said:

We are driving from London, and instead of going on the boring M4, I am wondering if there are any nice roads we could take between Reading and Wales that would run alongside(ish) the M4.

Try this - https://goo.gl/maps/1tiEEELea5EELXM96

[Ryan-nunm9]

I work in Reading, and am from Bridgend is South Wales.

Whilst there are a some "good roads" on the way they're either very busy or short lived. More doable on two wheels as you can all but cancel out the traffic. I sometimes go home up via Cirencester, Gloucester, Ross on wye, Abergaveny, Brecon and then down but again, on the bike.

[blueg33]

Go through the Cotswolds, something like Wantage to Burford to Stow on the Wold to Broadway pick up m5 at Tewkesbury for a few miles, onto the M50 towards Ross, after Ross head for Chepstow then Tintern.

First part needs the M4 from reading towards Oxford.

The road between Burford and Stow is great.

[Dr Jekyll]

blueg33 said:

Go through the Cotswolds, something like Wantage to Burford to Stow on the Wold to Broadway pick up m5 at Tewkesbury for a few miles, onto the M50 towards Ross, after Ross head for Chepstow then Tintern.

First part needs the M4 from reading towards Oxford.

The road between Burford and Stow is great.

The one from Burford to Cirencester is almost as good and heading in the right direction for south Wales.


A good way to get to Burford from Reading is via Wallingford and Abingdon then once you are west of the A34 some great quiet roads past Brize Norton, but perhaps a bit slow to use as part of a trip to Wales.

[Adrien2207]

Thanks all for the recommendations! Very useful.

[blueg33]

Dr Jekyll said:

The one from Burford to Cirencester is almost as good and heading in the right direction for south Wales.

It tends to be busier though.