So as the weather turns rubbish my weekend car is tucked up in the garage for winter whilst I do some maintaince and mods
I got to thinking where I would like to take it next spring for a day of driving some nice roads with great views etc..
Living in the South East means South Wales is only a couple of hours away so was thinking a day driving in the Brecon Beacons with a lunch stop somewhere nice
Anyone done this before? where did you go and what did you see?
I've driven in Wales a lot. This summer we drove across the newly finished Heads of the Valleys from Abergavenny to Swansea late afternoon on a clear sunny day. Some magnificent views and a new perspective on many of the old valleys towns
Not what you asked for, but frankly what you're after doesn't really exist.
It sounds like you've got an oldish vehicle which is good. My mate has a new Defender which detects road signs and adjusts speed accordingly. There is a proliferation of 20 signs (I don't mind 20 limits) but when it picks one up on a slip road or a bridge you're driving under as you're doing 70 on the M4 and suddenly decelerates, that's not much fun.
Not sure if you can tie them together, but three main (B or A roads) with views...
Ebbw Vale to Llangynidr B4560 heading north. layby at https://maps.app.goo.gl/heB3XxgdYX7i5kYh6
Bryamman to Llangadog A4069, heading north, laybys including https://maps.app.goo.gl/4HrbEc699B1Fj3Gd9 favoured by Top Gear type programmes.
Rhigos/Hirwaun to Treorchy A4061, heading south, again favourite of the tv driving programmes. The view opens up south of Hendre'r Mynydd https://maps.app.goo.gl/ph2J2jaoiQbF7EW26
There are lots of single track roads south-north too, which emerge out over the fans, like the Llanthony to Hay road, and between Ystradfellte and Heol Senni. These are surprisingly remote.
^ I was going to add the Gospel Pass. Do pop in to Llantony Priory for a 1/2 or a pint and park at the top and walk to Hay Bluff or Lord Herefords Knob, great views.
^ I was going to add the Gospel Pass. Do pop in to Llantony Priory for a 1/2 or a pint and park at the top and walk to Hay Bluff or Lord Herefords Knob, great views.
Often stay at the campsite there which is great!
Dont want to derail the thread -but I've been contemplating doing a bit of a tour in my camper van so if anyone knows a route with nice stop overs that'd be great!
A4125 from Libanus
B4329 from Haverfordwest to Eglwyswrw (this is an awesome drive as well as having views)
newly finished Heads of the Valleys
😲
They've actually finished it?!?!?!?!?!?!
Watching with interest.
Cheers for the replies, ill start looking at some of those on Google maps and plan a route in RidewithGPS
It sounds like you've got an oldish vehicle which is good
God no! I gave up with project cars years ago, everyone I know with a project never actually finishes them and gets them on the road, or if they do they then sell them and buy another project!
I've got a 50 thousand mile Ford Focus RS ill be using, over the winter ill be just doing minor maintaince jobs (wheel refurb and a brake fluid change etc...) along with some mods like upgrading the speakers and some coding
They've actually finished it?!?!?!?!?!?
Yes, they were waiting for a day when it wasn't going to rain.
After 6 years they gave up that idea and opened it anyway.
Spend most of my days driving these whilst visiting forests. As well as the usual suspects would add some that stretch into Mid Wales;
- Roads over the Eppynt firing ranges,
- Llandovery to Builth/Newbridge
- Ffarmers to Llandewi Brefi
- Llagadog to Brynamman
- Trecastle to Usk reservoir and link to above
- Abergwesyn and Llyn Brianne
- Elan Valley and Cwmystwyth
Gospel pass isn’t a great road for driving imo, but it was resurfaced in last year or two so better than it was. It’s just narrow and slow with only the top sections having views.
Great, encouraging pointless driving in beautiful places.
B4358 Beulah to Newbridge on Wye. Going more towards mid wales but it's a roller coaster of a road
Not much different than encouraging all sorts of things, like visiting a beach, or a trail centre perhaps in beautiful areas.
I live in the area in question. I drive all of the roads mentioned on a regular basis and a few more besides.
Visitors spend money here. So long as people aren't breaking Rule #1 I think that they should be welcomed.
Lots of good suggestions above, but frankly it's hard to go wrong as soon as you're off the M4/A48 corridor especially if you head northwards. Lots of good road cycling, too, very little traffic on the smaller roads, although the state of some/lots of them means I'm considering buying a gravel bike next!
There are lots of single track roads south-north too, which emerge out over the fans, like the Llanthony to Hay road, and between Ystradfellte and Heol Senni. These are surprisingly remote.
That’s what I was going to suggest, Llantony Priory has a pub/restaurant, IIRC, and Hay has masses of book shops, and it’s a very scenic area. Be prepared to pull in and give way to other traffic. Not unlike South Devon, my part of Wiltshire, etc.
You’re heading north from Abergavenny, between the eastern edge of the Black Mountains and Hay Bluff.
Make sure not to end up in the Longtown/Craswall valley next to Gospel Pass though, that's Herefordshire and just a selection of pot holes with tarmac in between, thankfully I'm normally in the pick-up when in that valley. 😉🤣
Ebbw Vale to Llangynidr B4560 heading north.
I was going to suggest the same road. Then go for dinner at Morgans Wine Bar in Ebbw.
This is supposed to be quite good - The EVO Triangle though not really "south" Wales 😀