Long Weekend - Scotland Or Wales Ideas?

Discussion in 'Touring' started by damodici, Jul 7, 2016.

  1. OK then! I spent a couple of nights in Betwys y Coed (pronounced betsoo e coed I'm told) in Snowdonia. Very pretty little town but also very touristy. There is some lovely walking along the river and, of course, the iconic Llanberis Pass which is defo worth a trundle along.
     
  2. With all due respect, taking that route you'll be missing the better biking roads that Wales has to offer. Whilst riding the coast, which you seem to be proposing, is scenic you'll also encounter quite a bit of traffic. The lumpy bits inland are better IMHO offering more impressive scenery and less traffic.

    I would suggest from Pembrookeshire heading to Aberystwyth and then inland via the Elan Valley to Rhayader, then North to Llanidloes and past the Llyn Clywedog reservoir, over the mountain road to Machynlleth, Coris, Bala, Ffestiniog and then Snowdonia. Quite involving roads but scenery and towns/villages are all good. Could whistle up a route, Google Maps or Garmin, if you like.

    If you can get to Porthgain, The Shed is wonderful for seafood, wife runs restaurant, husband is fisherman landing his catch onto the quay outside. Advisable to book though. I have print of a painting of Porthgain harbour hanging above my desk.
     
    #22 Bumpkin, Jul 7, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 8, 2016
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  3. Inland wales roads are great. I need to do them more, its only half an hr to wales for me.

    I recently went to Antwerp, it took 5 1/2 hrs driving at not warp speed plus an hour messing at the tunnel. In that times I'd have been lucky to hit the Wall.
     
  4. Plod are anywhere and after bikers in Wales at the mo make sure your bike is 100% and watch your speed
     
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  5. Stayed at a great little place in Wales last month...Highly recommend it...
    Bikers Retreat,Trem Hyfryd Guest House, Dolgellau
    Owner Nige is a biker himself and can point you towards all the good roads around Snowdonia...
     
  6. A Google map route would be great, thanks very much
     
  7. This is my suggestion to get you from Aberystwyth to Betws-y-Coed. Get to the former by just riding along the coast from Pembrokeshire. There's a diner on the seafront that's popular with bikers. Not sure what the parking situation there is currently, council have changed their minds a few times on this. Used to be the case of parking on the broad paved area of the seafront wasn't an issue. Follow the route from there. Although it's around 175 miles there is a fair amount of narrow B road involved in this route. Given the fact that you will have had to have reached Aberystwyth from where you're staying in Pembrokeshire you might want to stop earlier than Betws-y-Coed, depends on your, and your partner's, touring stamina.

    Given a good day weather-wise I reckon that you'll have a great time on this route with a Multistrada.

    Stopping for food/drinks; there are plenty of places to do this:

    Haford Arms at Devils Bridge
    Elan Valley Visitor Centre
    Rhayader
    Machynlleth
    Bala
    Beddgelert
    Llanberis

    If getting short on time before the end turn right at Beddgelert and follow the A498 to Capel Curig, you'll miss the Llanberis pass but will cut out a chunk and still have a nice scenic ride.

    If it's raining anything above 'light', and/or high winds, avoid the mountain section before Machynlleth, just follow the B4518 up until it joins the A470 (shame as on a clear day that bit is pretty spectacular). Similarly the Dinas Mawddwy to Bala mountain section, avoid if anything more than light rain, follow A470 and then turn right onto A494 to Bala instead. If it's chucking it down just do the coast road and accept that it's not the ideal weather to be doing Wales...

    Have a great trip whatever you decide to do.
     
    #27 Bumpkin, Jul 10, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2016
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  8. Both Scotland and Wales offer fantastic biking roads. But be prepared to get soaked whichever you choose.
     
  9. not if you come around the end of april through to the end of june you wont. early july is almost always damp.
     
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  10. Damp? Damp? Friggin' damp? :rage::rage::rage:
     
  11. ha,, my thots !!!!!
     
  12. I'd echo what others have said, coast road is ok but not great.

    The inland roads are generally all fun but you MUST do the A44, it's fast, flowing and epic when ridden in either direction! If pushed I say ride it from the Brecon end to the coast but it's definitely one of my most favourite roads ever!

    Downsides to Wales at this time of year? Bloody Shedpullers, or caravaners as they are also known, apparently! Guaranteed to turn even the best riding roads into a journey of pure frustration, as safe places to overtake are often few and far between!

    If you do get stuck behind one just chill and take in the generally epic scenery. Still bloody frustration though :rage:
     
    #32 Samurai, Jul 11, 2016
    Last edited: Jul 11, 2016
  13. everything's relative.i had nice commute in to work in the damp this morning. i was still no less pumped had it been dry. for three or four years know i have been saying on here avoid july. april, may june late august and early september are the months to tour up here. but nope. you guys now best. :smileys:
     
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  14. I do tell him but it's not my decision unfortunately:)
     
  15. I took these on 5th of June this year.
    Kyle of Tongue (I included the bins just for you guys).
    upload_2016-7-11_21-6-57.png
    Near Loch Eriboll
    upload_2016-7-11_21-9-14.png
    Just saying. :rolleyes:
     
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  16. Couple of pics from this weekends Ducati Manchester trip to Scotland

    image.jpeg image.jpeg
     
    • Funny Funny x 4
  17. We also saw the Ducati Glasgow lads test riding the new Scottish Multistrada

    image.jpeg
     
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  18. red still the preffered ( fastest ) colour..
     
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