Decent destinations near Oswestry?

[1198]

Hi,

I'm thinking of a place to ride to that's about 30 to. 45 minutes ride from the Oswestry area, where I can have a coffee or tea. I'm just after a destination to aim for more than anything, so my none riding pillion chum feels there's an objective to the ride. The Ponderosa is the kind of thing in thinking of - in fact the Ponderosa is the current favourite...
Thanks!

[Frost]

Lake vrynwy?

[1198]

[N cee thirty]

might aswell go the cat and fiddle if you're in the area and its not snowing, but Ponderosa will be your best bet
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[1198]

[bezzabsa]

been to the cat and fiddle once...January 2nd 2006 and it was FOOKIN FREEZIN' ....
still had the wooly hat brigade out in shorts tho

[sidewinder]

Ponderossa is your best bet Bala lake is about a 1/2 hr ride from there...

[yambabe]

Go south on the A483, turn right at Four Crosses and follow the signage to Bala.

You will ride across the Tanat Valley which is a spectacular road in terms of scenery and fun.

Once at Bala you can either stop there for a brew - there are loads of cafes - or head up the A494 and stop at the Route 66 Diner (on your left a couple of miles before the Corwen traffic lights) which would be my preferred option as they do lovely chips and cheese and there is also a petrol station.

Go on up to the lights, turn right onto the A5 and you can either follow that all the way back to Llangollen and then home or take the next left onto the A5104 then take the A542 at the roundabout and come back down into Llangollen via the Ponderosa and the Horseshoe Pass.
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[1198]

[flat eric]

A stop in Dolgellau could be worth a go. There is a coffee shop at the top of the town by an electrical store. they do tasty breakfast baps.

Woods of abergele: where you can make a cup of tea or coffee for free. no food there though.

Ponderosa is probably the best destination. (just up the road from me).

A & D (motorcycles) in Denbigh is another one for the future. they've got a cafe across the carpark called Sam's cafe. they do a top all day big breakfast. then you can look round the bike shop. check opening times before going there. sunday, they open at 1o or 11 i think.
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[1198]

Thanks for all the replies (so far)! I'll see how many I can manage in the next fortnight!
If you live on these routes keep an eye out for a zzr1100 in black, and give me a wave!

[tactical_pancake]

Just to add another one I liked when I stayed around there for week earlier in the year:

Pistyll Rhaeadr

It's a pretty impressive waterfall, with some nice woodland and walks around. And there is a cafe right by the waterfall where you can have hot drinks and food.

https://www.pistyllrhaeadr.co.uk/

[Scythe]

By usual route is Ponderosa -> Bala -> B4391 to Ffestiniog (AMAZING road) and then head up towards the coast or back North.

Have a look on Google Maps around Bala and you can't really go wrong IMO.
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[1198]

Slightly out of my anticipated two week slot but two ticked off - Woods in Abergele and a bits to eat at the Ponderosa. Admittedly I was solo, but even though the roads were wet and greasy I enjoyed myself. The Plod seemed a bit keen on the Horseshoe - is this normal? There was more bikes there than I expected there being too.

[Scythe]

[1198]

They had a car on both sides of the hill and a van in the car park on the top. Aparrently they were after some who were on off road bikes. They certainly didn't bother me, in fact I followed one of them for a few miles and he was making progress - he was barely getting in my way.

[stevo as b4]

What's the real truth about the over zealous almost intimidating presence of police in the north wales region, on all the best biking roads?

Is it a really good failsafe summer revenue generator and way for them to make a killing in fines and bans etc?

Or is it really as some would say that they have become bored with picking up bodies from single vehicle rural accidents, and mopping up after?

I havn't been up to north wales for 8years now on a bike, but used to enjoy some great rides in central and north wales and weekends away with biking mates.

[yambabe]

Depends where you are.

There are always plenty on the A5 and around the Horseshoe on a Sunday, but go there during the week and you will rarely see them.

Go off the "main" routes - there are loads of excellent rides on the smaller back roads - and you also rarely see them.

I reckon from the number of pulls they get (and that includes a lot of cars as well as bikes from my own observations) I'm sure they do generate a lot of revenue. However, seeing a crashed bike or car at the side of the road when out and about is a regular thing in the summer and I suppose it makes sense that they are out and about so they can be at the scene quickly if something does happen.
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[sidewinder]

To be honest the police around here are pretty ok?there usually only after the complete muppets doing dangerous shit.if your making progress safely. They tend to leave you alone .i ride the roads around the ponderossa area a lot and rarely have had any bother

[mentalboy]

Bit of a longer blast than 40 mins (although on a zzr1100 you've no excuse ) would be to carry on past the Ponderosa and head on into Snowdonia to the delights of Betws y Coed, Capel Curig and Llanberis.
Llanberis pass is quite impressive and there's a scabby café in Llanberis, Pete's Eats, that's great if you get a hankering for cheap, greasy food
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[doggone]

I always like Betws-y-Coed, lots of coach parties stop but it's good roads every way in and out.
There used to be a cafe in parked up old train carriages.

[chickenstrip]