WALES, perfect for a weekender
 

Hi all,

Being Welsh I proudly promote my country to all of you adventurers who dont have too much spare time on your hands.

If you are looking for a weekend trip then look no further than mid and south Wales. The scenery is fantastic with everything from stunning coastline to beautiful mountains.

I have posted on here a few times and told of my plans to do some european touring next year, but in the meantime i get some great experience on ride outs from home. There are plenty of campsites and small hotels in Wales and some excellent 'A' roads and Wales is not too far away from most places.

I have tried to post photos on this thread but i cant do it.....help please

Gods own country.
 

:welcome:
Sorry can't help with the photo's but living in the middle of It I've got to agree.
Though I will add that although the A roads are great there are tonnes of fantastic Bs Cs and Unclassifieds not to mention the unsurfaced lanes but you 'll have to be quick with those before all the facists close them like the mid wales bike show the police cancelled 'cos we all go around bustin caps in each others ass.
Rant aside it's a great place for a shakedown trip on rough (rather than mud plugging) roads.
Cheers

Couldnt agree more, i am from Shrewbury and most weekends have a trip over the border, great roads and scenery!!!!

Me toooo!
 

Yip, just did a trip round ireland and the little bit of Wales from Shrewbury to hollyhead was fantastic! cant wait to do mid and south!
So whats your favorite route then?

I love wales and spend most of my off roading time in wales... tho it can be wet!
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j8...e/VS4Z3092.jpg

favourite route
 

I live near an A road which is only minutes from the mountains so I generally head toward Rhigos on the A4061 which takes me into the Rhondda Valley and over two wonderful mountain passes and then on to Brecon via Penderyn and the A470 for the last few miles into Brecon.

At Brecon I head towards Sennybridge and Llandovery on the A40 which is a really scenic road with great sweeping bends and little traffic. This route is through the heart of the Black Mountains. If you continue on the A40 it will take you all the way to Fishguard in the west but i generally change direction at carmarthen and head up the A48 and then a short stint on the M4 until Briton Ferry wher i pick up the B4286 and then the A4107 through the Afan Valley which takes me right back to the top of the nearest mountain to my home on the A4061.

This is a convenient route of about 4 hours with stops and is really enjoyable, of course being local i know many other 'roads' which only local knowledge will give you which can enhance this route.

From Brecon the whole of Wales is easily accessible but the above route is my personal fave when riding out from home.

Anybody else have any good routes?:funmeteryes:

Wet !
 

Great photo of the bike in the wet stuff... I like the headlight under the water.

Croeso i Cymru

I've got loads of good routes, and they all involve avoiding merthyr like the plague :P

:D

I particularly like crossing from one valley to the other over the hills, mainly without the use of 'proper' roads..

:D

theres a place on my playground that sounds exactly like 'fecker' not far from pontypridd. Classic! :rofl:

I've driven or riden most of the roads mentioned here: Great Driving Roads in Wales : POINTandSQUIRT

Tim

Must agree with Wales for a weekend, eiter on a shakedown or not it's nice.

1 draw back though - (sorry had to do it as no one else has just yet) sheep !

What is the next level of "wet"? I presume "Wales" :clap: Sorry, not serious... But last year I had intended to do a nice trip all over Wales after the HU meeting. Ripley had :stormy: - in Wales I nearly drowned :eek3:

To be fair: I fled back to the continent and got sopping wet there as well. But Wales is still on top of my list. How do you Welsh guys judge that link from Tim? Sounds quite interesting to me.

Hans

They're all worth a go, tho i wouldn't expect a lot of riding fun over Llanberis pass unless right outside tourist times, altough i did enjoy hassling someone in a ferrari who was scared of the stone walls.

the sheep
 

Ok OK, i wondered when the sheep would get a mention.... dont disrespect the sheep...they dont answer back and never complain when you want to disappear for hours on end on your bike when you have not yet mowed the lawn. By the way the best excuse for not mowing the lawn is that its wet because it has just rained !!With regard to Tims' link, the first route over the A4069 Llangadog is a nice detour off the route that i mentioned in the first post on this thread, you can join the 4069 from Llandovery and follow it right through to its end and then join the A474 to Neath and you are back in civilisation and right on the M4. The viewing point from the top of the mountain pass on the A4069 has great panoramic views for miles around.I have some great photos taken at the view point on the top of the mountain on the 4069 but i cant find out how to post them on here.. I cant copy and paste and i dont seem to have a URL for my photos.. If anyone can help i will put the photos on for you all to appreciate the beauty of these routes.. The routes mentioned in South Wales are so accessible from the M4 that even a good day out can be had within a short time of the midlands or south west.Please advise on photo posting if you can...anyone !

Whilst riding may 'favourite route' very early in the morning about three weeks back, I stopped in carmarthen after about 2hrs 15 minutes riding for a cup of coffee and to stretch my legs. I met a fellow biker who had ridden down from Cheshire the night before, camped in the Gower Peninsular (near Swansea) and was proceeding up the west coast of Wales and in to Bettws y Coed. He said he does it annually and then heads accross Snowdonia and eastwards across North Wales and back to cheshire and this takes him three days in total.I cant think of a more pleasant three days ridingI mentioned on here previously that i have been off a bike for 11 years and have only been back in the saddle since last November so i am enjoying exploring the routes close to home at the moment but the urge to venture further afield is getting stronger all of the time.

Photos ??
 

On the Black Mountains in Wales

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/...1b14e070_m.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3176/...6ac2c582_m.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3224/...7a997f2e_m.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3198/...1541775a_m.jpg

All taken on the viewpoint on the A4069 which is mentioned in one of the routes on Tims link earlier in this thread. These were taken earlier this month (June) so not really typical summer weather and not a sheep in sight.. BAAAAAAAHH

ahh my homeland!
 

I can't recommend it enough - for some reason the tarmac is better in Wales - the women are fluffier - and the beer is certainly the best in the country (with the possible exception of a pint of Pedigree in Burton).

My hometown is Brynmawr, just at the top of the valleys, where the Heads of the Valleys road hits it's highest point. The roads in that area right up into Brecon and beyond just take your breath away.

Photos... I have a few ;-)

From our last little trip

Wales Training Run - a set on Flickr

Here's a taster

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/198/4...776df3.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/190/4...63635a.jpg?v=0

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/200/4...7d39a4.jpg?v=0

Its not always raining.
 

Here are a couple of photos taken today while i was out dodging rain and sheep.
The photos were shot at the view point on the Eppynt Ranges looking towards Mid Wales.

Beautiful!

You'll have to stop you're making me home-sick.

m

Great photos, really showing Wales at its best.

I have been away for a few days, but these photos make me want to get out on the bike right now........Oh I just looked out of the window and its raining..

:rolleyes2:

Early on Sunday Morning
 

Quite early this morning, when the roads are even more quiet than usual, I headed up to Brecon, on to Builth Wells, around to llandovery, coffee in Sennybridge and then home via Brecon just in time for the roast beef to carved.....not a bad life Eh?

Here are some photos to make matt even more homesick.

1. On the A4061, Bwlch y Clawdd, looking toward cwm parc in the Rhondda Valley.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3169/...a15324e7_m.jpg

2. Same place, but with the mountains in the background

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/...fb521184_m.jpg

3. On the A470 near Brecon.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3045/...1c88b573_m.jpg

4. Same place, near Brecon

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3011/...57a54f1c_m.jpg

5. And finally, all of the flies washed off the screen and ready for the next rideout

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3233/...3055fda7_m.jpg

What better way to spend a sunday morning?...well my wife says painting the bedroom, cutting the lawn, weeding etc etc etc..

:funmeteryes:

Cheers

Lee

:cursing:

Spent this weekend in Normandy - very nice indeed - but not a patch on home.



m

i had a great but very wet weekend in wales last july, dropped my FZ6 on the mountain road from the Elan Visitor Centre to Aberystwyth (sp?) not far from devils bridge, had to cut the weekend short because of that but would definitely go again! The A44 runs all the way from Oxford to Aberystwyth is a cracking fast A road.
this is how wet it was, water level upto the pegs:
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y84...y/P1010277.jpg

Its not normally as wet as that !!!!!

Come back and enjoy the scenery and the slightly laid back lifestyle.

If you get to Aberystwyth area and stay for a day or so you have access to some great roads in all directions.

Time is my enemy at the moment and I am limited to Sunday mornings or weekend evenings....Thankfully i can get right into the heart of wales within an hour so i can still get my fix.

:thumbup1:

i'm hoping to come back either at the end of ugust or end of september, but the diary's filling up quickly!!!

great rideout
 

I spent, most, well all of yesterday exploring with an open mind on the route.

I headed west to carmarthen, then out on the A484 to Cardigan, stopping on the way Cenarth Falls (see photos below) then on the coast road A487, which was in a recent copy of MCN as a great ride out road. This road takes you from Cardigan to Aberystwyth. I stopped at the pretty seaside village of New Quay for coffee and then carried on toward Aberystwyth but I turned inland at Aberaeron and headed to Lampeter on the A482. This then brought me back to near Llandovery, on to Brecon and then home.

That was seven and a half hours out and riding for at least 5 and a half but only 210 miles in distance. Thats a low average speed but the scenery was worth browsing as i went through it.

And i do tend to stop for photos a little too often, see below.

Photos dedicated to MattCBF600 hahahaha

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3207/...339b548f_m.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3236/...db490aa1_m.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3232/...4f98329d_m.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3209/...b931d9d9_m.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3043/...46161d75_m.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3215/...95fe2a36_m.jpg

What more can a man want........who said sheep..!!


Lee:thumbup1:

Wow :)

Me and the other half are planning a wee trip for early october to Wales, After seeing all these pics our appetites certainly wetted
Cant wait:funmeteryes:




Can anyone recomend a couple of good campsites? (Breacon area and some where a bit south of Snowdonia

Any places that we1ve gotta see?

Cheers

Pete

Pete,

I will give that some thought and post some route ideas, sightseeing tips etc on here for you, and anyone else.

I dont know too much about the campsites but they are plentiful.

Will you be entering Wales by the M4 ?

Lee

Thanks for that,

i'm not sure which way were comin in yet, We want to start at the brecons and work our way north,

Our Basic idea is to get from here, (Norfolk Coast near Great yarmouth) to Brecon on the first day,
Then just amble our north towards the Wirral taking in the sights



Thanks for the help so far :thumbup1:

Campsite.
 

Try The Torrent Walk campsite Dolgun Uchaf, which is just off the A470 as you enter Dolgellau from the south. I stayed there in february on the way to the Dragon Rally. The site was clean with very good toilets/showers and if the weather is too wet for you they also have bunkhouse rooms available.
Cheers Ade

ice cream!
 

i know this car park because i'm now living a couple of miles away in cwmllynfell. did you have ice cream lee!:innocent:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3287/...1b14e070_m.jpg

i see there's a few boy's on here from wales who ride around brecon area.
fancy meeting up for coffee/ride one weekend before the summer:stormy:ends!
anyone else welcome also not just the welsh!:innocent:
personally my favourite ride is starting in cwmllynfell-A4068 to brynamman,A4069 over the black mountains to llandovery,A483 to builth wells,A470 to rhayader,B4518 out of rhayader and up the wye valley(i think it's called or maybe elan) towards devil's bridge passing 3 resevoirs with falls.(gorgeous!) then continue to devil's bridge,A4120 to aberystwyth,A487 to aberaeron,A482 to llanwrda going through lampeter. and then back home over the black mountains.
this is about 200 miles i think and usually stop at a pub for my lamb dinner somewhere on route. it's a great spin with lovely views but most of wales is like that!

Wales ride.
 

Good idea, name the time and place.:scooter:
Cheers Ade.

Ice Cream
 

No Ice Cream, kevin just some older chap reading a book in his ford fiesta, all i wanted was a pee behind the rocks.!

That route sounds great, we should arrange it, thats at least three of us so far.

I am a plodder though, not a speed merchant, i like to take in the views and surroundings.

Lets do it before the summer ends......did the summer start this year ? :stormy:

Lee

coffee
 

If we cant all make the full route ride out, then a coffee sounds good too.

Maybe in Sennybridge, llandovery area ????

Look forward to it.

Lee

no worries
 

we can meet at the cafe/llandovery and see how it goes. this sunday?

this sunday
 

Lets see how the weather is this sunday morning, if its decent then a coffee in Llandovery would be nice about 11 o'clock ish ?

Llandovery sunday.
 

Tea with milk, no suger please.
Cheeers Ade.

Nice to meet you today Ade, thanks for the coffee.

I will buy you one back next time....

Me and the lad spent a few days going up to Snowdonia and back.

Left on Friday 10am and headed for Bideford. Why do lorries and buses think they can travel in opposite directions along country lanes.
Across Exmoor , Lynmouth & Porlock where my speedo packed in.
Had a look at it in Minehead and decided it was the cable had gone.
Found a Honda dealer in Bridgewater but they would have to order it.

Joined the M5 to come to a snails pace with 2 accidents. Glad I was on the bike. Across the Severn Bridge into Wales (no passport required :D )
Up to Abergavenny then on the A479 to Bronllys. This was a cracking stretch of road and I felt like a pendulum swinging from one bend to another :thumbs: Arrived at my friends caravan near Bronllys at 5:30pm

Up early and heading west by 9:30 on some un-named roads between Beulah and Tregaron. Some fantastic scenery but very slow road as it's very twisty, steep and narrow but well worth travelling. Perhaps someone can let me know what those mountains are called ?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...toTregaron.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...toTregaron.jpg

Reached the coast at Aber-Arth and followed it all the way to Portmadog.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...hWestCoast.jpg

Quirky toll bridge at Penmaenpool

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...TollBridge.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...lechCastle.jpg

On to the A4086 stopping at Llanberris but we just missed the last chuff chuff up Snowdon by 3 min and I wasn't walking up it.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...Snowdonia2.jpg

Camped just off the A5 (Gwern Gof Uchaf £4ea. Showers 50p). where we were joined by ALL of the Scottish Midges on their holidays. (Arrived 6:30pm)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...aNightStop.jpg

We emerged from the tent in our anti midge gear having to dive back in the tent when the bacon rolls were done.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...iMidgeGear.jpg

Thick cloud in the morning meant it wasn't worth trying Snowdon again.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...rightThing.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...Snowdonia1.jpg

Decided to go home via the motorway saving a couple of hours off the 7hr ride time. The back was starting to suffer with all this time in the saddle. I feel a modded seat coming on.

We both had a great time.

Beulah/Tregaron
 

Good photos, showing one of my favourite parts of Wales. Good to hear you enjoyed yourselves. You were at the bottom end of the Cambrian mountains.
Cheers Ade.

Great Pics and write up Thankyou Rambrose.

Seeing all That has really wetted my appetite now, We`re goin 2nd October for a few days then the lakes

Pete

Those are great photos, good to see the young lad out on the bike aswell.

After meeting Ade on Sunday and looking at Rambrose' photos, I now realise that i dont know very much about the roads and routes in my own country..

That means one thing... lots more riding until I know my way around.

As for your trip Pete, there are enough roads mentioned on this thread to keep you going.

:mchappy:

Bike meets/camping in Wales
 

Evening folks, i was planning a 10 day trip thru France starting on the 19th sept. but i've just been offered a new job thats just too good to refuse, only problem is the start date is 22nd of sept.!! so unfortunately i've had to cancel my ferry and put my trip on hold till spring.
I have a few free days before i start my new job, im free from thursday night 18 sept. till sunday 21 sept and i was thinking of doing a small camping trip in the U.K. on these days.
Looking at the pics you lot have posted on this thread it seems that Wales would be a good choice, so does anyone know of any bike meets etc. taking place in Wales over the dates i mentioned above? i'd love to get a small trip done before i start my new job as it might be the last chance i get this year.
Thanks in advance.

sorry i missed you guys but i only got the internet when i'm in work! (mon to sat morning(early)) so i missed the message! i wont say this weekend as i'm watching a bike on e-bay and will collect it sunday if i win.

No problem, kevin,

Thers always another time mate.

:thumbup1:

Some areas of Wales really are untouched gems... :)

Anyone camped here?

http://static3.bareka.com/photos/medium/16095746.jpg

It's Shell Island (just South of Harlech). 400 acres of sandy island to chose from.