Annual wales road trip Jan 2023 new roads
Discussion
Good evening.
So January every year me and the misses do a wales trip usually driving north and starting snowdon area then driving through Mach loop and down to elan valleys doing the roads around there and then a470 onto black mountains (top gear road) sooooo looking for new roads this year with scenery or mountain passes to drive through. We are staying in Llandovery so fairly southerly but we live a drive north to south or south to mid wales ect just need some more suggestions.
Thank you 🙏
So January every year me and the misses do a wales trip usually driving north and starting snowdon area then driving through Mach loop and down to elan valleys doing the roads around there and then a470 onto black mountains (top gear road) sooooo looking for new roads this year with scenery or mountain passes to drive through. We are staying in Llandovery so fairly southerly but we live a drive north to south or south to mid wales ect just need some more suggestions.
Thank you 🙏
We haven't explored Wales much but did something similar to you last autumn on our way home from Tenby.
The further north you go, the more enjoyable the roads though our idea of 'enjoyable' may differ from yours; the lanes around Bala and Penmachno were most fun in our Riley (a sump guard is essential!) : https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1691946?units=mil...
The further north you go, the more enjoyable the roads though our idea of 'enjoyable' may differ from yours; the lanes around Bala and Penmachno were most fun in our Riley (a sump guard is essential!) : https://www.plotaroute.com/route/1691946?units=mil...
Take a small detour via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bwlch_y_Groes. Goes from lake Vyrnwy toward Dinas Mawddwy or Bala. scenery in excess. Carful if its icy as they don't grit and falling off the side is a real possibility.
ARHarh said:
Take a small detour via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bwlch_y_Groes. Goes from lake Vyrnwy toward Dinas Mawddwy or Bala. scenery in excess. Carful if its icy as they don't grit and falling off the side is a real possibility.
100% agree with this, had a great run around Lake Vyrnwy and towards Bala last year.If you go out of Llandovery up to Llyn Y Bryniau/ (Llyn Brianne) you can then do the road around the eastern edge of the reservoir, then either cross to Tregaron or, more favourable would be to continue on to the Abergwesyn pass, the “Devil’s staircase” is on this road, it is a steep hairpin climb on the pass, however if travelling from the top of the Towy Valley towards Abergwesyn you will be going down rather than up it. There is still a climb leaving the upper Towy valley and crossing into the upper Irfon valley. After the Devils staircase, the road goes through Abergwesyn, to Cwm Irfon and rejoins the A483 in Llanwrtyd.
This route is all single track and parts are logging routes, so can be a little rough (potholes/poor surfaces) and muddy in winter, assuming they aren’t icy as they don’t usually get gritted! I wouldn’t recommend if you’re car has low nose. You aren’t going to be going more than 40 anywhere, and often down to 20, but is more about the scenery than speed and spirited driving. And watch for sheep!
If you are interested in looking at things, there is a “remote postbox and phone box” which is a popular photo spot, just off the route on the road to Tregaron, and also Capel Soar-y-mynydd, Wales’ most remote place of worship. It may be closed now though. There are a few places to walk as well, though given the time of year may not always be the best choice of activity!
Don’t use the closed road which is between the Dolgoch hostel and the Remote postbox and phone. There are closed road signs at each end, but may be nocked/ laid down. The road is shut because it is, to put it mildly f
d! It’s passable in a tank, maybe, or in a tractor, unless you are very careful. I’ve walked a bit of it and the potholes are as wide as the road, shin deep in places..
I’d also recommend the Elan Valley, should be quieter this time of year too, again the roads are not really built for spirited driving as are often narrow.
The road from Llangammarch or Builth Wells to Capel Uchaf/ Upper chapel through to Brecon is supposed to be a good drive but I’m ashamed to say have never driven it!
The way to avoid the Traffic Police is to take more back routes, single track etc: they can’t pull you for excess speed because it would be nigh on impossible to exceed the speed limit on most single track routes! HGC/NWP (North Wales: Denbigh Flint, Clwyd, Gwynedd etc) tend to be the most active on speed enforcement, as many of the most popular route are in their area, (think EVO triangle, A5, Eryri, Mach Loop) but Dyfed Powys are still proactive. Unmarked traffic still tend to be BMW 3/5/X5 but also Volvo V/S 60/90 and XC. But, I suppose the easiest way to avoid them is to drive within the limits! Sorry folks, but the locals will appreciate it too, especially farmers, for you not flattening their sheep.
Happy driving
This route is all single track and parts are logging routes, so can be a little rough (potholes/poor surfaces) and muddy in winter, assuming they aren’t icy as they don’t usually get gritted! I wouldn’t recommend if you’re car has low nose. You aren’t going to be going more than 40 anywhere, and often down to 20, but is more about the scenery than speed and spirited driving. And watch for sheep!
If you are interested in looking at things, there is a “remote postbox and phone box” which is a popular photo spot, just off the route on the road to Tregaron, and also Capel Soar-y-mynydd, Wales’ most remote place of worship. It may be closed now though. There are a few places to walk as well, though given the time of year may not always be the best choice of activity!
Don’t use the closed road which is between the Dolgoch hostel and the Remote postbox and phone. There are closed road signs at each end, but may be nocked/ laid down. The road is shut because it is, to put it mildly f
d! It’s passable in a tank, maybe, or in a tractor, unless you are very careful. I’ve walked a bit of it and the potholes are as wide as the road, shin deep in places.. I’d also recommend the Elan Valley, should be quieter this time of year too, again the roads are not really built for spirited driving as are often narrow.
The road from Llangammarch or Builth Wells to Capel Uchaf/ Upper chapel through to Brecon is supposed to be a good drive but I’m ashamed to say have never driven it!
The way to avoid the Traffic Police is to take more back routes, single track etc: they can’t pull you for excess speed because it would be nigh on impossible to exceed the speed limit on most single track routes! HGC/NWP (North Wales: Denbigh Flint, Clwyd, Gwynedd etc) tend to be the most active on speed enforcement, as many of the most popular route are in their area, (think EVO triangle, A5, Eryri, Mach Loop) but Dyfed Powys are still proactive. Unmarked traffic still tend to be BMW 3/5/X5 but also Volvo V/S 60/90 and XC. But, I suppose the easiest way to avoid them is to drive within the limits! Sorry folks, but the locals will appreciate it too, especially farmers, for you not flattening their sheep.
Happy driving
ARHarh said:
Take a small detour via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bwlch_y_Groes. Goes from lake Vyrnwy toward Dinas Mawddwy or Bala. scenery in excess. Carful if its icy as they don't grit and falling off the side is a real possibility.
Which way is this looking, it it south to Llanmawddwy or is it North looking up toward Llanuwchllyn? I assume you took this near the Bwlch y Groes summit. There are a few mountain routes including the one around Vyrnwy, never done them but would like to. Ffordd Ar Gau said:
If you go out of Llandovery up to Llyn Y Bryniau/ (Llyn Brianne) you can then do the road around the eastern edge of the reservoir, then either cross to Tregaron or, more favourable would be to continue on to the Abergwesyn pass, the “Devil’s staircase” is on this road, it is a steep hairpin climb on the pass, however if travelling from the top of the Towy Valley towards Abergwesyn you will be going down rather than up it. There is still a climb leaving the upper Towy valley and crossing into the upper Irfon valley. After the Devils staircase, the road goes through Abergwesyn, to Cwm Irfon and rejoins the A483 in Llanwrtyd.
This route is all single track and parts are logging routes, so can be a little rough (potholes/poor surfaces) and muddy in winter, assuming they aren’t icy as they don’t usually get gritted! I wouldn’t recommend if you’re car has low nose. You aren’t going to be going more than 40 anywhere, and often down to 20, but is more about the scenery than speed and spirited driving. And watch for sheep!
If you are interested in looking at things, there is a “remote postbox and phone box” which is a popular photo spot, just off the route on the road to Tregaron, and also Capel Soar-y-mynydd, Wales’ most remote place of worship. It may be closed now though. There are a few places to walk as well, though given the time of year may not always be the best choice of activity!
Don’t use the closed road which is between the Dolgoch hostel and the Remote postbox and phone. There are closed road signs at each end, but may be nocked/ laid down. The road is shut because it is, to put it mildly fd! It’s passable in a tank, maybe, or in a tractor, unless you are very careful. I’ve walked a bit of it and the potholes are as wide as the road, shin deep in places..
I’d also recommend the Elan Valley, should be quieter this time of year too, again the roads are not really built for spirited driving as are often narrow.
The road from Llangammarch or Builth Wells to Capel Uchaf/ Upper chapel through to Brecon is supposed to be a good drive but I’m ashamed to say have never driven it!
The way to avoid the Traffic Police is to take more back routes, single track etc: they can’t pull you for excess speed because it would be nigh on impossible to exceed the speed limit on most single track routes! HGC/NWP (North Wales: Denbigh Flint, Clwyd, Gwynedd etc) tend to be the most active on speed enforcement, as many of the most popular route are in their area, (think EVO triangle, A5, Eryri, Mach Loop) but Dyfed Powys are still proactive. Unmarked traffic still tend to be BMW 3/5/X5 but also Volvo V/S 60/90 and XC. But, I suppose the easiest way to avoid them is to drive within the limits! Sorry folks, but the locals will appreciate it too, especially farmers, for you not flattening their sheep.
Happy driving
Thanks this is amazing info we don’t tend to drive to fast as we like to look about although saying that last year we got tangled up in a car club for a while and had some good fun. But generally take it easy cars not super low mk6 golf gti 25mm drop so still good clearance. Elan valley is an all time place to go we just looking for more routes other than the a470 so will defo look at places you mention. Thanks This route is all single track and parts are logging routes, so can be a little rough (potholes/poor surfaces) and muddy in winter, assuming they aren’t icy as they don’t usually get gritted! I wouldn’t recommend if you’re car has low nose. You aren’t going to be going more than 40 anywhere, and often down to 20, but is more about the scenery than speed and spirited driving. And watch for sheep!
If you are interested in looking at things, there is a “remote postbox and phone box” which is a popular photo spot, just off the route on the road to Tregaron, and also Capel Soar-y-mynydd, Wales’ most remote place of worship. It may be closed now though. There are a few places to walk as well, though given the time of year may not always be the best choice of activity!
Don’t use the closed road which is between the Dolgoch hostel and the Remote postbox and phone. There are closed road signs at each end, but may be nocked/ laid down. The road is shut because it is, to put it mildly f
d! It’s passable in a tank, maybe, or in a tractor, unless you are very careful. I’ve walked a bit of it and the potholes are as wide as the road, shin deep in places.. I’d also recommend the Elan Valley, should be quieter this time of year too, again the roads are not really built for spirited driving as are often narrow.
The road from Llangammarch or Builth Wells to Capel Uchaf/ Upper chapel through to Brecon is supposed to be a good drive but I’m ashamed to say have never driven it!
The way to avoid the Traffic Police is to take more back routes, single track etc: they can’t pull you for excess speed because it would be nigh on impossible to exceed the speed limit on most single track routes! HGC/NWP (North Wales: Denbigh Flint, Clwyd, Gwynedd etc) tend to be the most active on speed enforcement, as many of the most popular route are in their area, (think EVO triangle, A5, Eryri, Mach Loop) but Dyfed Powys are still proactive. Unmarked traffic still tend to be BMW 3/5/X5 but also Volvo V/S 60/90 and XC. But, I suppose the easiest way to avoid them is to drive within the limits! Sorry folks, but the locals will appreciate it too, especially farmers, for you not flattening their sheep.
Happy driving
Ffordd Ar Gau said:
ARHarh said:
Take a small detour via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bwlch_y_Groes. Goes from lake Vyrnwy toward Dinas Mawddwy or Bala. scenery in excess. Carful if its icy as they don't grit and falling off the side is a real possibility.
Which way is this looking, it it south to Llanmawddwy or is it North looking up toward Llanuwchllyn? I assume you took this near the Bwlch y Groes summit. There are a few mountain routes including the one around Vyrnwy, never done them but would like to. Gassing Station | Roads | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff