Good route suggestions in Wales please?

[WareMartin]

Hi

My wife and I are heading to Wales for a week's blatting and walking next week .. 3 days based around the Brecon Beacons and 4 days in Snowdonia. Can anyone suggest any good routes? I'm sure there must be one or two... 

Thanks!

Martin

[SM25T]

The route of the famous annual Club fish and chip run takes you from Chepstow to Aberdovey in around 4 hours on some fabulous roads.

[SM25T]

Here you are ... https://www.caterhamlotus7.club/guides/blat-maps/2018-leg-and-hairy-taffia-fishnchip-run

[graearea]

I enjoyed this:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Gellihaf+House/52.961928,-3.9162614/@53.0802572,-5.1800277,9.04z/data=!4m59!4m58!1m55!1m1!1s0x486e221dbd8161a7:0xa772c72b286b181b!2m2!1d-3.2154204!2d51.6531776!3m4!1m2!1d-3.4900396!2d51.653091!3s0x486e3fc07533c005:0x76778edf7cbbdbb0!3m4!1m2!1d-3.6642852!2d51.7820512!3s0x486e458e203066dd:0x7f108da4b8f3d0c8!3m4!1m2!1d-3.5891928!2d51.9132332!3s0x486e4a4cf5f08b9b:0xe8daeb07609eadbc!3m4!1m2!1d-3.8967203!2d52.0020433!3s0x486faba018a02311:0x963c9087c828445f!3m4!1m2!1d-4.078223!2d52.1179756!3s0x486f061ce8137f6d:0x16c091ad944bd970!3m4!1m2!1d-3.9970368!2d52.3516627!3s0x486f9e466115040d:0xed929a45f32344f7!3m4!1m2!1d-3.8359559!2d52.3431199!3s0x486f984ace5c7293:0x1e5efb9fb8d5eea4!3m4!1m2!1d-3.657278!2d52.4174977!3s0x486f930837e76763:0x4253e8c74e5d3ea2!3m4!1m2!1d-3.8492432!2d52.703785!3s0x48656336b8e13281:0x2b57025771e0ddec!3m4!1m2!1d-3.620305!2d52.8964981!3s0x48654232c3bffb5d:0x9f49b9cc0b282953!1m0!3e0

there was one problem when I eneded up going down a 3-ply road. just stop and go around.

[jonsymons]

You can't go too far wrong following the F&C run route imho...the first section from Chepstow to Abergavenny is great as it gets you off the M4/A449 dual carriageway route and passes a number of pubs if you need to stop for refreshment.

You may also like to try the A479 from Tretower (right turn off the A40 west of Crickhowell) to Bronllys - with a coffee stop at the Honey Cafe at the end as a reward?  Further afield, and maybe off your route, the B4574 road from Rhayader to Aberystwyth via Cymystwth is amazing albeit single track - you can throw in lunch at the Hafod Hotel by Devils Bridge falls...

Pretty sure some local members will be along soon with other (better) suggestions but frankly most of the A road are great if you get the timing right.

Just watch out for the 'Mobile Safety Cameras' in the 30/40 mph zones especially once you are into Powys...

[WareMartin]

Thanks - great suggestion! Hadn't passed my IVA in time for this year's run, but maybe a practice run next week in preparation for next year...

[WareMartin]

Thanks - can probably use most of that to get us from our southern base to the northern one! 

[WareMartin]

Great, thank you - all added to the list! And thanks for the warning - thankfully I'm taking my driving standards monitor with me. She'll be sat in the passenger seat... 

[SM25T]

The fuel station with Cafe on the A470 is a very welcome pit stop with toilets after the bumpy road across the Epynt military ranges ! See http://SPAR - Euro Garages - Doldowlod 01597 810166 https://maps.app.goo.gl/QvWve8Ttwz6FdViZ6

[2cv7]

Also the Baffle Haus Pontypool is a good place for a Coffee, bikes and cars.

[Dannyboy]

The petrol stations with the Greggs you mean.... Used to be really nice, but the toilets absolutely stink!  (Its on my regular route from Anglesey down to our HQ in Abergavenny)

A personal favourite road of mine is the  B4518 from Ryayader to Llanidloes, then continue on this road all the way to Llanbrynmair. On the way home after a long meeting it's a gorgeous piece of road to enjoy through the mountains and normally fairly clear! 

Once in snowdonia - most routes you choose will be spectacular as long as you're happy so divert off the main roads. Personally - avoid Blaenau FFestiniog - beautiful around it but the greyest place in the world due to the slate mines and generally wet climate.

[Paul D]

B4235 Chepstow to Llangym one of my favourites, especially as it's close to the bridge so I always start and finish with it. I think it's on the fish & chip route?

B4246 Govilon to Blaenavon

B4560 either way (although I prefer going south) Llangynidr to Garnlydan

A470 Bronllys to Builth is good if you do it outside the peak traffic times, otherwise you get stuck behind others

A4069 Llanadog to Brynamam 'The Black Mountain Road" or the Top Gear road, even at 40mph limit it's still good, be very careful about speeding on it as it's full of bikers so I reckon the chance of unmarked police is higher than most roads

"You may also like to try the A479 from Tretower (right turn off the A40 west of Crickhowell) to Bronllys - with a coffee stop at the Honey Cafe at the end as a reward? "

I prefer the B4560 through Llangorse; less traffic and twistier. Agree that Honey Cafe is great.

A489 climb south out of Newtown

Agree about the Llanidloes reservoir road and that if you turn off at Dylife for the moutnain pass to Mach a la Fish & Chip route you miss some good stuff after Staylittle.

Obviously Pen-Y-Pass A4086 from Llanberis

Lots more that I'm yet to try in the Seven but have done in other cars and on bikes in the past. I know the south better than the north as the latter is more than a day trip from Dorset so I get up there less.

Hope that helps

[Trunnie]

Can I suggest the following in South Wales -

• The Rhigos Road - the A4061 from Treherbert to Glynneath (taking the old Rhigos Road up from Glynneath, rather than the A465).I got lucky in August and the section at Treherbert was closed, so I had the first half of the road from Hirwaun Industrial estate to myself:)  It can be coupled with
• The A4107 from Port Talbot through Cymmer to Treorchy.
• If you're doing the A4069 from Llangadog to Brynamman (I agree with the recommendation for this route, though the 40mph limit is a shame) and need to head N from Llangadog, then the A4069 from Llangadog to Llandovery is more interesting than the A40 option.
• The A481 from Builth Wells to Llanfihangel-nant-Melan (especially the Northern section after Hundred House).
• Not exactly ideal for a 7, but if you're near Beulah, Abergwesyn Common and the Devil's Staircase are great views (though the forest thereafter from the start of LLynb Brianne towards the dam wall has been cut, so it's a lot less scenic.The section from LLyn Brianne down through Rhandirmwyn to Llandovery is still scenic and is more 7 friendly as the road is wider as it was used for the dam's construction traffic.

[WareMartin]

Huge thanks to you all for the suggestions! The map book is now criss-crossed with all the routes and we can't wait to give them a try. We'll endeavour to keep track of what we do and reciprocate with anything new we find 

[WareMartin]

One last huge thanks to everyone who responded with ideas. We had an amazing trip (despite the weather!!) and fitted in as many of the suggestions as we could. Wales truly is beautiful and some incredible routes to blat along. We'll definitely be on the Taffia fish'n'chip run next year if at all possible.

I'm going to add one more route here in case anyone stumbles across this thread in the future: the B4407 off the A5 south of Betws-y-Coed down to Pont yr Afon-Gam is an awesome winding narrow road across open moorland. Quick, flowing, challenging, with lots of blind crests and corners, so it's a case of blat-what-you-can-see, back off, repeat. National speed limit applies and that's plenty for being hugely fun and not utterly reckless. There are loose sheep around but they seemed generally content to stay on the verge and ignore the cars - but still another hazard to be aware of. Enjoy!