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What are your favourite B-roads for a bit of spirited driving? I know there are a couple of decent ones on the Shropshire border which take you into the Tanat valley area. There's also stuff out towards Vrynwy and Llanberis but my knowledge is a bit patchy and I'd like a decent route to do from Shropshire and back in a few hours.
I think you have covered the nice one over to Bala.
There’s the EVO Triangle too
I’ve not been living in the area long enough to work out all the best stuff, but we do get some lovely cars going through the Tanat Valley
No idea about the "spirited driving" bit but I did a classic car run a couple of weeks ago and the the roads around the Mach Loop (so B4405 up the valley) and around Dolgellau are lovely.
It was sunny and I was lent a convertible 993 for the weekend - couldn't have been better frankly.
The A4212 out of Bala to Trawsfynydd is proper - but not a B road obvs!
the B4391 Llan Festiniog to Llyn Celyn is the road you are looking for.... @52.9583173,-3.8852378,3a,75y,268.03h,75.33t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sgqTzco26ppOZ-pyFgdQG-Q!2e0!7i16384!8i8192?hl=en">think it's one of top gears favourite roads. Apart from the views it's the quality of the tarmac that appeals the most so smooth and pothole free
TrailriderJim
Full MemberWhat are your favourite B-roads for a bit of spirited driving?
Grow up! Spend some of your pocket money on a track day if you fancy some “spirited driving”. Don’t come tear-arsing around my back yard like an over privileged ****er.
I find that many of those roads have motorbikes doing spirited riding and fat cyclists like me shaking their first at the spirited riders/drivers
We've just had 2 weeks in mid and south Wales and the motorbike riders were mostly utter cocks.
Grow up! Spend some of your pocket money on a track day if you fancy some “spirited driving”. Don’t come tear-arsing around my back yard like an over privileged ****.
Calm down Karen.
I don't think this thread is going to go the way you wanted it to.
Wait until all the roadies get back from their Sunday pootles.
Sorry, I'm with tillydog on this.
Just because some media tossers think it's fine to rag around on roads used by locals, walkers and cyclists doesn't make it right.
Those roads are all much busier than usual this year too.
Please don't.
Im with tillydog as well
Grow up! Spend some of your pocket money on a track day if you fancy some “spirited driving”. Don’t come tear-arsing around my back yard like an over privileged ****.
This.
There are pleasing windy roads you can drive on, many of them A roads, at sensible speeds but don't let rip as it's extremely antisocial and unpleasant for everyone, never mind the danger.
We live a few hundred metres away from a dual carriageway leading out of Cardiff and most evenings and weekends every few minutes you hear some noisy sod flooring it out of the speed limit. My daughter keeps her windows closed all summer when it's baking in her room cos she doesn't like the noise.
A55 is probably the best road, but it's a bit further north.
Wait until all the roadies get back from their Sunday pootles.
Sorry I didn’t make it clear I am a local roadie, I love seeing some of the nice cars being driven in a spirited manor through the Tanat Valley whilst I’m out on the road bike.
Makes a change from the local idiots who cannot drive and are a liability
I'd much rather be passed by a fast biker than a caravan or motorhome. Bikers are generally far more aware of blind entrances, safety etc as their lives depend on it.
OP - Dinas Mawddy can be good. I also like stopping at the Clywedog reservoir just North of Llanidloes, but that road is very much not for spirited driving, small vehicles only.
Im with tillydog....just grow up and take it to a track.
That stuff really isnt welcome on any roads
Ian
Bikers are generally far more aware of blind entrances, safety etc as their lives depend on it.
That's why you hardly ever see them in A&E smashed up, and you probably don't know any bikers who've got metal pins in their bones and similar.
You would be surprised Moley - to ride a motorbike you have to be much more aware of everything around you. Less likely to crash, outcomes if you do are worse
Have you ever ridden one?
That’s why you hardly ever see them in A&E smashed up, and you probably don’t know any bikers who’ve got metal pins in their bones and similar.
Good point, well made.
That kind of spirited driving on B roads in n Wales has led to serious injury and death of motorcyclists. Don’t be one of them. Thankfully a lot of the B roads now have average speed cameras to save people from themselves.
I haven't said anything about the safety of biking for the biker. As a cyclist/other vulnerable road user, I'd much rather share space with a fast biker than a tourist/school run SUV/caravan.
Complain about caravans in North Wales - fine. Complain about bikes? Not really.
These bikers who are so aware of all their surroundings that the vast majority of them think it’s a good idea to ride within 2m of the car in front’s bumper whilst they wait for their next overtake?
As above really, grow up. It's not a toy.
APF
As an aside, I properly hate the term 'spirited driving', like it's some sort of jolly jape. I put in the same ****y, entitled box as 'cheeky trails'. If you own a Porsche and drive like a loon on country roads, you're 'spirited'. If you have a chavved up Nova or one of those shite black Audi A3s, you're reckless. Because as well all know, spending more on a car makes you a better driver.
I’d much rather be passed by a fast biker than a caravan or motorhome. Bikers are generally far more aware of blind entrances, safety etc as their lives depend on it.
Which is all great until said oncoming 'fast biker' drifts over the centre line on a blind bend because he or she is feeling 'spirited'.
Speaking of which:
I love seeing some of the nice cars being driven in a spirited manor through the Tanat Valley whilst I’m out on the road bike.
Please don't publish them on a public forum, the last time this happened the evo triangle got invaded and now we have average speed cameras every where
Average speed cameras so you cant speed??
As before, grow up and take it to a track.
Ian
'Kin hell people - lighten up!
You can "push on a bit" and enjoy driving your car (which doesn't have to have to have huge power) on interesting roads without being a complete moron, whilst entirely in control, and wholly within the law. Not everyone who's into cars is akin to an 18 year old with a red top in a Nova.
'Spirited driving' neither has to be reckless or illegal, and is a quite legitimate pastime. I agree it's best not to publish routes or roads on an open forum, and feel for people who live on roads that have become a mecca for idiots, but we're not the police - actual or moral.
To the OP - go do it, responsibly, and just google where to go - there will be plenty of information out there for you!
Recreational driving on B roads is for arseholes. Find something better to do with your time.
Well this escalated quickly, didn't it?
The OP says 'spirited driving' and some of you wildly assume he is going to drive like a knob?
I've done lots of these 'spirited drives' back in the days of my hot hatches and I didn't die, drive wrecklessly, or cause road rage. I also have a motorbike and the same can be said for that. I can ride fast in the right conditions and be very safe. And yes, riding a bike is a completely different type of ride/drive. So much more to take into account and the consequences are not worth thinking about.
Horseshoe pass would be a road I'd recommend OP, near Llangollen.
I’ve done lots of these ‘spirited drives’ back in the days of my hot hatches and I didn’t die, drive wrecklessly, or cause road rage.
Yeah a lot of people do though. Why do you think this comment got the response it did? Because we drive and ride around these places and we have to deal with absolute arseholes doing exactly what the OP appears to be suggesting he wants to do.
It's quite possible that when doing this kind of driving you are oblivious to the effect it has on others. I have driven fast on windy country roads, and enjoyed it, and I love doing it. But I don't any more. Not because I am too old or nervous, but because I realised as I grew up that it's a dick move.
I can ride fast in the right conditions and be very safe.
No-one does things they think are unsafe. They wouldn't do it otherwise. But the fact that so many peopel demonstrably ARE unsafe suggests that people are very bad at determining what 'safe' actually is. Never mind the antisocial aspect of it.
‘Kin hell people – lighten up!
How many of us have lost loved ones due to this sort of behaviour, and the culture that creates it?
Less likely to crash
Erm yeah I'm not going to take your word for that, sorry.
The causality rate for motorcyclists decreased in 2017 but remains at an exceptionally high figure of 6,042 per billion passenger miles travelled
Pedal bikes saw an increase in causalities per mile travelled with an amount of 5,604
The pedestrian casualty rate stands at a consistent level of around 1,800 for both years
For cars, the 2017 figures amount to 238 casualty rate per billion passenger miles
Nice one molgrips, thanks for lumping us all into the same group. I'm well aware of the stats for deaths on our roads, thanks.
Why do you think this comment got the response it did?
Again, stop assuming everyone is the same. At least have a think about the person who is posted and perhaps side on them being a rational human being who isn't out to be wreckless rather than shout out that everyone is not going to be responsible.
And as for people not doing things they think are unsafe, er, what? I know plenty of people who do things they know are unsafe, or dangerous, but do it anyway.
The other week, we were in some roadworks between Llandovery and Llanwrtyd Wells with a rolling 10mph convoy/escort vehicle (probably to protect the workers from daft people). Anyway despite the narrow lanes, the four morons on their crotch rockets were doing their very best to overtake every vehicle in the queue behind the red light and also whilst moving through the roadworks area behind the escort vehicle - the road was barely 8ft wide. Absolute muppets.
Before anyway says it's not every rider, there is always one in every group. You'd think given how vulnerable they are that racing to overtake, then pull in just in front of you, to then brake sharply wouldn't be a good idea.
Molgrips - what that shows is the severity of crashes not the incidence because it is not showing the amount of crashes per mile but the amount of injuries.
As an aside, I properly hate the term ‘spirited driving’, like it’s some sort of jolly jape. I put in the same ****, entitled box as ‘cheeky trails’
That's ****in insane. You'd categorise someone who goes out essentially racing on public roads with someone who rides a mtb on a path.
Wow. Just wow
Anonymity breeds contempt. It's road rage in forum format really isn't it? I'm sure face to face we'd all be a bit more rational with one another.
...stop assuming everyone is the same. At least have a think about the person who is posted and perhaps side on them being a rational human being who isn’t out to be wreckless rather than shout out that everyone is not going to be responsible
Well said. OP was written with fun and safety in mind. I don't want to go out and wreck an expensive car, let alone risk any lives. Lots of factors not possible to cover in a forum thread, such as considering when and where to increase speed. 60 mph at 6:00 am on an empty road across moorland, with plenty of visible open road ahead can still offer a spirited driving experience.
I can ride fast in the right conditions and be very safe.
Yeah bollocks to the noise pollution and air pollution, you crack on.
you crack on
Thanks, appreciate it.
As an aside, I properly hate the term ‘spirited driving’, like it’s some sort of jolly jape. I put in the same *, entitled box as ‘cheeky trails’
That’s * insane. You’d categorise someone who goes out essentially racing on public roads with someone who rides a mtb on a path.
Wow. Just wow
The potential consequences may not be as high, but the 'rules don't apply to me' sense of entitlement is similar, if by 'cheeky trails' we are talking about riding on public footpaths.
From say, an elderly walkers perspective it's just as intimidating, frightening and illegal.
People are blinkered hypocrites, they justify rule breaking when it comes to their own chosen leisure activity, but demonise others for breaking the rules they think matter.
I'm not sitting in judgement of either btw, because I've been guilty of both in the past.
Roads are not to be "enjoyed" by motor traffic. Their use is a (revokable) privilege to get you from A-B, nothing more, nothing less
60 mph at 6:00 am on an empty road across moorland, with plenty of visible open road ahead can still offer a spirited driving experience.
Bollox it can - thats pootling along slowly
" spirited driving" means exceeding speed limits
Stop trying to row back from your original post.
No-one does things they think are unsafe.
Are you joking or naive? Many, many people do things they know to be unsafe on a regular basis. MTBing, scuba diving, sky diving to name just three. Not every MTBer is a bridleway plodder, some get out there and push their limits on every ride. If you think Scuba diving is safe you're a liability to everyone around you, and jumping out of a perfectly serviceable aircraft? ****ing mental! And don't get me started on cycle commuters...
"From say, an elderly walkers perspective it’s just as intimidating, frightening and illegal"
Except riding on footpaths isn't illegal....
We live a few hundred metres away from a dual carriageway leading out of Cardiff
Hm that narrows it down a bit! I'll keep an eye out for a Merc on stands, on my cycle home from work. Or maybe I'll boot it that bit harder when I drive there 😉
I'll just add that, as someone who lives on a moorland road that is seemingly quite popular for 'spirited driving', I'd ask people to really, really think about where it's appropriate and where it's not.
In lots of cases, even when you think you're in the middle of nowhere there will be driveways you don't know about, never mind horses/walkers/cyclists around that bend, and and as much as you might like the sound of your engine revving hard, the people that live nearby very probably don't so much (and the sound really, really carries).
So, well, as I say, please think.