Hello all, I'm chomping at the bit to get my lovely 1199s out on the road for an adventure up to Snowdonia. I've mapped out a provisional route, see pics below. Any tips, routes, B&B's etc gratefully received. We kick off in Hayle and head up the Atlantic highway to the M5 near Taunton/Bristol and then over to Cardiff before heading north to enjoy the mountain twisties. and then.... I'll head west to the coast and then hug the ocean all the way to Snowdonia. Soak up the sights and then head back south probably taking the same route back. Roll on the first decent/dry forecast and I'm off! Cheers Max
Looks like an awesome trip!! If you're stopping over in Aberystwyth,stay at the Starling Cloud,good breakfast and nice rooms,but plenty of B+Bs around the whole area
The Newtown to Builth road is good, there's also a small road from Builth down to Brecon, the mid Wales area is my favourite part of the country. I can spend a weekend there quite happily. Have fun
Cheers guys. I'll look into those roads and B&B's. I remember the Black Mountains from my days in the forces years ago. I've always wanted to go back see them again without being piss wet through and miserable. Ha. I'm half tempted to move to Cardiff just to have all the great roads on my doorstep.
I'd second the starling cloud in Aberystwyth as a handy place to stop - it's kind of like a travelodge type place. Parking can be a pain elsewhere in town (and deffo don't park on the promenade when a storm is forecast!) For great beer and a dangerously large selection of whiskey I'd also recommend the Glengower on the north end of the Prom. As to roads, if you're used to Cornwall then twisty welsh A and B roads should hold no fears ;-) If you like picturesque I can recommend a spin through the Elan valley and down past the dams - though it's bumpy in places - more Multistrada than 1199 territory perhaps - though you see sports bikes up there all the time so... Looks like you've got the A4212 to Bala on your route, that's a nice one. As is the A487 from Machynlleth to Dolgellau past Cadair Idris, and the B4405 past Tal-y-llyn too. In fact, getting lost will lead to good roads in most places. I see you're doing the 'Top Gear' road too - good choice! the A487 coast road from Cardigan is good - great views up to snowdonia on a clear day, but is busy so I suggest not being in a hurry and enjoying the view ;-)
You got it spot on Aberduc. Even though I've got an 1199, I like to cruise along and enjoy the views. I've done all my Rossi impressions when I were younger... That ended up with my Honda SP1 in two halves at the side of the 'cat n fiddle' in Buxton and me unconscious in Maccelsfield General for four days. I'll save the red line and knee down for the track
We did a weekend blast through mid-Wales last year and couldn't believe how good the roads were, especially around Elan Valley. We stopped in a hotel on the Aberystwyth seafront which was excellent value and it had secure covered parking (old out buildings) within their secure Car park. The 'Back Yard BBQ' is immense place for dinner if you like enormous ribs/steaks....It's well hidden but highly recommended!
Christ on a bike! What an experience that must of been for the two people in the pic. Did you take that photo Panigale66?
I wish! Nice hotel at the bottom end of the lake for lunch or what ever carry on to the coast road to Barmonth where's there is the best ice cream shop ever in the harbour, Some of the best road in the UK are around north/mid Wales let us know when you set off I'm sure people will meet up and show you some of the best roads
+1 - I would change your route up to take in the A483 Builth Wells/Crossgates/Newtown/Welshpool then up to Bala. A perfect introduction to the great biking roads in Wales (that I'll be enjoying in September). I took a trip around Cornwall and Devon last Summer and the A39 is a rather good road also Have fun.
I'm trying to put together a loop to and from Llandridnod Wells heading south and west. My cunning plan was A483 to Builth Wells, A470 to Brecon, A40 to Sennybridge, A4067 towards Ystradgynlais, A4068 to Upper Brynamman, then over the Black Mountain (A4069), and back (via the West End cafe in Llandovery) up the A483 to Llandridnod Wells. But then I read they've imposed 40mph speed limits on the A4069 Black Mountain road (which I remember having been an absolute cracker when I did it about 5 years ago when it was NSL). Is Black Mountain A4069 still worth doing? If not, any bright ideas for an alternative Brecon Beacons route? Or would I be better trying to head into the Elan Valley I don't fancy anything as gnarly as the Devil's Staircase (which some joker at Touratech recommended - spectacular views but too narrow & gravelly for my tastes, and the logging truck coming the other way didn't help!) (Rideouts planned for other days will involve A483 Newtown to Crossgates, heading further north and west one day, and bimbling through the borders (the Clun-somethings) another)
I'll happily help out with a route, is this for the Saturday or the Sunday? I'll happily lead a ride on the Saturday if you wish Cheers Martin
Hi Martin, Excellent - many thanks for volunteering. I'm looking at routes for the Saturday - JP has put together a great Welsh border route for the Sunday, and we have a long route north and west for the Saturday, but I wanted to offer a shorter alternative for the Saturday as well. Are you going to be at Friar Tuck in Amesbury tomorrow? If so we'll bring the satnavs and show you what we have planned, and fine tune with your assistance.
Hi, there's also The Owl's Nest cafe in Llandovery which is another biker friendly and a popular bike meet point now. It's in an old garden centre just on the edge of town. Not been on the 4069 for years so can't comment on the speed limits I'm afraid. All I will say is all those main roads around Brecon attract a lot of bikers with the associated mishaps that sometimes happen. this means the Dibblu tend to keep an eye on them, moreso in the summer I guess. Similarly the crossgates newtown stretch. Other roads to consider depending on whim and weather might be the A482 to Lampeter and on to Aberaeron (quality chips at the seaside!) or the A/B roads up towards Tregaron and Pontrhydfendigaid if you end up going to the Elan valley. The A44 to Aberystwyth is oft-quoted as 'the Most Dangerous Road In Wales' which of course means it's a good biking road too (if you catch it outside caravan season anyway). Hah ha, I nearly recommended the Abergwesyn pass too ;-) One of my occasional routes is through the Elan valley one way, and back via abergwesyn. Cheers!
elan valley is great. I really like the A44 and A483. Rhyader is a great overnight. Plenty of petrol heads of all kinds about. The road from Llanidloes to Machynlleth is stunning. Fish n chips at the mermaid in Barmouth. Win.
I wouldn't bother with west Wales myself (unless you really want to) The black mountains are great bit watch the kamikaze sheep. Then food at the owls nest Llandovery. Up the A483 to beulah then b4358 to A470 up to Rhayader. Turn left and up the elan Valley to devil's bridge then drop into Aberystwyth. I wouldn't bother coming back the same route though I'd definitely try to fit in Newtown to Builth on A483. Then from Builth Wells stay off the A470 and go on the A483 old brecon Road over the epynt firing ranges to brecon.
