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Wales - bank holiday weekend

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willis1337
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PostPosted: 13:05 - 19 Aug 2014    Post subject: Wales - bank holiday weekend Reply with quote

Have just booked a hotel for Sat and Sun night in BETWS-Y-COED near Snowdonia in Wales. Has anyone got any pointers on where to go / what to do / roads to ride in the area?

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Mozza
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PostPosted: 14:27 - 19 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Head down to Newtown, (A470) and then take the A483 to Llandrindod wells. The A483 is one of the best roads around and about 20 miles of twisties Very Happy

When you get to crossgates, (traffic island) turn left and there's a cafe and petrol station about 100 yards up. Have a brew, fuel up then do it backwards Laughing
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Mozza
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PostPosted: 14:29 - 19 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Another thought, you could also head up to the Horseshoe pass in Llangollen. Not a bad run and there's Ponderosa café at the top.

So many good roads in Wales you can't go too wrong. Just watch the plod, they're a bit keen.
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CaNsA
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PostPosted: 14:33 - 19 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mozza wrote:
then do it backwards


It doesn't say "GoldWing" in his sig, mate.
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ukdiceman
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PostPosted: 15:13 - 19 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

One of my favs in that area is the A4212 from Bala to the A470

Also the "Evo triangle" is in that area, a well known car testing road which is also a great ride.

https://www.drivingroads.co.uk/evo-triangle

But as stated watch out for plod, very active at weekends!
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ukdiceman
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PostPosted: 15:21 - 19 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mozza wrote:
Head down to Newtown, (A470) and then take the A483 to Llandrindod wells. The A483 is one of the best roads around and about 20 miles of twisties Very Happy

When you get to crossgates, (traffic island) turn left and there's a cafe and petrol station about 100 yards up. Have a brew, fuel up then do it backwards Laughing


If you do venture this far south, the A44 into Aberystwyth from the A470 is superb in parts, and then back north up the A487.

As said you can't really go wrong.
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chickenstrip
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PostPosted: 17:19 - 19 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

As indicated above, the best riding roads are really in mid-Wales, and I'd agree with those mentioned.

For scenery, you'll already be close to the Snowdon horseshoe, so out to there via Capel Curig (small café at the outdoor gear shop there, not a bikers stop, but good enough for coffee etc). then Llanberis pass out towards Caernarfon. The pass would be a nice ride, but you'll probably get stuck behind slow cars, so just take in the scenery. Then come back to Betws via the A5, which I've often found to be quite empty, but of course we're still in peak season, so might not be great traffic-wise. Worth a look though, as it's a good road if you get it clear, and again, the scenery is good.

If you do go down to Lake Bala, the A4212 to Trawsfynydd, past Llyn Celyn, is a good one. Also, for a slower pace with scenery, the B4391 from Bala is good, a loop of Lake Vyrynwy - and the little road that runs from the north of that lake to Bala - all well worth exploring.

Caernarfon itself is a medieval walled town, and the castle is magnificent. Same with Conwy and it's castle.

If you do Llangollen to Bala, be careful, as the police sometimes have crackdowns on speeders along there - I think it has a high accident rate or something.
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Alan 29
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PostPosted: 20:54 - 19 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

A453 from Denbigh to Pentrefoelas, then the B4407 to Ffestiniog. Magnificent empty roads over the moors.
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Monkeypony
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PostPosted: 07:52 - 20 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mozza wrote:
Head down to Newtown, (A470) and then take the A483 to Llandrindod wells. The A483 is one of the best roads around and about 20 miles of twisties Very Happy

When you get to crossgates, (traffic island) turn left and there's a cafe and petrol station about 100 yards up. Have a brew, fuel up then do it backwards Laughing


This.. x 1000000

Brilliant, ear to ear grin inducing piece of road.
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willis1337
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PostPosted: 12:54 - 20 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks everyone. Will do a route tonight. Thumbs Up Karma
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KLR600
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PostPosted: 19:36 - 20 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

The A496 from Dolgellau to Barmouth is good and pretty much every road leading into Dolgellau is pretty good so try and take it in. The coast road north out of Barmouth has it's moments, especially as you start heading back inland (and putting you right in the middle of a load of other great roads already mentioned above) but it also has great views over the Llŷn Peninsula for when it's not twisty.

I'd definitely second all the warnings about not riding like a goon on a bank holiday weekend. If the weather is nice the roads will be full of old biddies doing 40mph everywhere and there will be a lot of police about. They do use unmarked bikes in biking hotspots (Betws Y Coed is one of them) so try not to get egged on by anyone into some overly spirited riding. Saying that, I lived in North Wales for 10 years and rode motorbikes there for 7 and I only had 3 dealings with the police and each time I was either let off for doing something bad or they were just doing routine breathalyser Christmas stops.
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willis1337
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PostPosted: 15:49 - 26 Aug 2014    Post subject: Reply with quote

Had an excellent weekend, did a huge route on Sunday as rain held off - best road was the B4391. If anyone want the route as an itn or gpx file just pm me.

Also did the evo triangle on Saturday evening - twice Smile

TBH you don't need to go mush over the speed limits (mostly at 60) to enjoy the roads. Saw a few cops but no probs.

Thanks for all the recommendations - I think I covered most.

(Got v wet riding back to B'ton yesterday though)
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