Planning a 4-5 day Wales trip - Roads & places to stay

TallPaul_S

TallPaul_S

TallPaul_S

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So as a first 'taster' trip on my bike (before I go abroad/do longer trips) I'm thinking of planning a few days away in Wales, could do with a hand with roads not to miss and B&B's that are biker friendly, specifically in the Brecon Beacons area.

My plan at the moment is to ride from Kent up to Chepstow, avoiding the M4 apart from a mile or 2 over the Severn - this would mean joining the A272 south of Tunbridge Wells, then taking the A36 up to Bath, then onto the M4 across the Bridge. Then once in wales, taking the Wye valley road north and into the Brecon Beacons proper.

That will take a day's riding to get there, I could do it quicker and more boring by going motorway all the way until Chepstow, under 3 hours by motorway vs 6 hours on the A roads, but that can be decided on the day.

The main reason for posting, is the ask if people know of decent (cheapish!) B&B's in the Brecon area, specifically that don't have lengthy cancellation terms? Though I'd found one, £55 a night but if you cancel within 21 days it's expensive. As we all know with the UK weather, even in July it can be riubbish and I won't want to go if it's gonna be ****ing it down all week!

I'm planning on doing a days ride to Brecon, then stay 2 nights in the Brecon Beacons area (giving me a full day to enjoy the roads), then on the 3rd day going up to North Wales, Snowdonia area - found a B&B there in Barmouth that seems to have decent cancellation terms and have a bike storage area. So day 3 would be ride up to Snowdonia, explore the area before staying 2 nights again in Barmouth, giving another full day to explore the North Wales roads. Then the final day would be the ride back home, again taking in some decent roads on the way to meet up with the motorway for an easy few hours ride home. :D

So, TL: DR - anyone know of decent biker B&B's in North wales that won't charge the earth to cancel at a few days notice, and what roads in North Wales/Snowdonia/Anglesey are not to be missed? Brecon Beacon roads I'm sorted for, but North wales is a big area!

I worked out even if I do 1000 miles, at £50 a night it's only gonna cost me £300 for 5 days away, plus food.
 
I tend to go to rhyl then down the coast to barmouth,good roads are the dinas mawdy,and the Letchworth slate mines
 
Great roads in North Wales, best roads are the scenic one's around Snowdon and a few slightly North of Betws-Y-Coed.

Hint of caution though, these roads are notorious for accidents and sadly death.

Not sure if this links works, but I've made a loop via Google Maps.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Barmouth/52.732793,-4.0641299/@52.9085638,-4.0631817,10z/data=!4m44!4m43!1m40!1m1!1s0x4865789cd1298843:0x741a82a30ca3f8cc!2m2!1d-4.0560919!2d52.722873!3m4!1m2!1d-3.9139725!2d52.8650099!3s0x486571b7f34c7303:0x731026fef8dc122!3m4!1m2!1d-3.6594793!2d52.9486764!3s0x4865403562f8ab2f:0x3f11a8bfeff83af4!3m4!1m2!1d-3.8056105!2d53.0934602!3s0x486516ca0424d895:0xf166b8f283dcfa2e!3m4!1m2!1d-3.8035999!2d53.1329005!3s0x48651739eaff8a3f:0xd4f68d7760095848!3m4!1m2!1d-3.8260964!2d53.1186938!3s0x486510d0c6b0c869:0x9defe3d2db5c90e0!3m4!1m2!1d-3.8656906!2d53.1005395!3s0x4865110868d22763:0xf040c7355f688ce7!3m4!1m2!1d-4.1927853!2d53.1333074!3s0x4865a632a8dda2b9:0xfe81ad50ed9e153f!1m0!3e0

Look on Street View, especially around Snowdon route and the route between Betws-Y-Coed and Llanrwst. Infact, look it entirely it's a fantastic day's drive. Avoid Anglesey it's open, flat and barren not worth the petrol.

I've lived in Llanrwst for 20 years and I've explored every inch of this place.
 
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I'm off to wales this weekend / 4 days... 1000 miles :)

I didn't organise the route so can't help a great deal but the roads in Wales are just stunning. Praying for some sunshine.
 
Betws-Y-Coed is good,just go explore and get lost,you might sweat a bit with petrol stations,they tend to be sparse

love barmouth and the surrounding area and conwy
 
Psyoletic said:
Great roads in North Wales, best roads are the scenic one's around Snowdon and a few slightly North of Betws-Y-Coed.

Hint of caution though, these roads are notorious for accidents and sadly death.

Not sure if this links works, but I've made a loop via Google Maps.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Barmouth/52.732793,-4.0641299/@52.9085638,-4.0631817,10z/data=!4m44!4m43!1m40!1m1!1s0x4865789cd1298843:0x741a82a30ca3f8cc!2m2!1d-4.0560919!2d52.722873!3m4!1m2!1d-3.9139725!2d52.8650099!3s0x486571b7f34c7303:0x731026fef8dc122!3m4!1m2!1d-3.6594793!2d52.9486764!3s0x4865403562f8ab2f:0x3f11a8bfeff83af4!3m4!1m2!1d-3.8056105!2d53.0934602!3s0x486516ca0424d895:0xf166b8f283dcfa2e!3m4!1m2!1d-3.8035999!2d53.1329005!3s0x48651739eaff8a3f:0xd4f68d7760095848!3m4!1m2!1d-3.8260964!2d53.1186938!3s0x486510d0c6b0c869:0x9defe3d2db5c90e0!3m4!1m2!1d-3.8656906!2d53.1005395!3s0x4865110868d22763:0xf040c7355f688ce7!3m4!1m2!1d-4.1927853!2d53.1333074!3s0x4865a632a8dda2b9:0xfe81ad50ed9e153f!1m0!3e0

Look on Street View, especially around Snowdon route and the route between Betws-Y-Coed and Llanrwst. Infact, look it entirely it's a fantastic day's drive. Avoid Anglesey it's open, flat and barren not worth the petrol.

I've lived in Llanrwst for 20 years and I've explored every inch of this place.
Click to expand...

Cheers, I'm not a balls-to-the-walls rider, especially when there's a 1000ft drop on the other side of the road! Sounds like it's pick a direction and fine good roads sort of place, I'll avoid Angelsey though :D
edd1e said:
I'm off to wales this weekend / 4 days... 1000 miles :)

I didn't organise the route so can't help a great deal but the roads in Wales are just stunning. Praying for some sunshine.
Click to expand...
Nice, I look forward to pictures etc.
wazza300 said:
Betws-Y-Coed is good,just go explore and get lost,you might sweat a bit with petrol stations,they tend to be sparse

love barmouth and the surrounding area and conwy
Click to expand...

As above, sounds like it's all good round there then, with brecon beacons I just spent a few hours finding roads that looked great... :p "Hmm, that one looks good, street view... :eek::cool: yep that's gone on the list!"

Also, a 200 mile tank range comes in handy sometimes ;):D Probably get 170-180 miles pushing on a bit, so I should be all good.
 
TallPaul_S said:
Cheers, I'm not a balls-to-the-walls rider, especially when there's a 1000ft drop on the other side of the road! Sounds like it's pick a direction and fine good roads sort of place, I'll avoid Anglesey though :D

Nice, I look forward to pictures etc.


As above, sounds like it's all good round there then, with brecon beacons I just spent a few hours finding roads that looked great... :p "Hmm, that one looks good, street view... :eek::cool: yep that's gone on the list!"

Also, a 200 mile tank range comes in handy sometimes ;):D Probably get 170-180 miles pushing on a bit, so I should be all good.
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Aye man you won't be disappointed and as soon as the sun is shinning they're hundreds of bikers out. It's a catch because when the sun is out, the bikers are out and so are the Police randomly stop checking. Perhaps a biker on the forum (if there is one) could be more helpful as they tend to set up in particular spots.

Hope you have an epic time mate, I know of a taxi driver in Worcester that ferries this old lady from Wrexham to Worcester (how and why this came about I have no idea) and purposely takes a detour to take the scenic route.

Anglesey is bleak at best with a dual carriage running up the middle of the island to a town long forgotten. Llandudno and Conwy are pleasant spots if you want to reach the coast and enjoy a lunch time meal.
 
Psyoletic said:
Great roads in North Wales, best roads are the scenic one's around Snowdon and a few slightly North of Betws-Y-Coed.

Hint of caution though, these roads are notorious for accidents and sadly death.

Not sure if this links works, but I've made a loop via Google Maps.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Barmouth/52.732793,-4.0641299/@52.9085638,-4.0631817,10z/data=!4m44!4m43!1m40!1m1!1s0x4865789cd1298843:0x741a82a30ca3f8cc!2m2!1d-4.0560919!2d52.722873!3m4!1m2!1d-3.9139725!2d52.8650099!3s0x486571b7f34c7303:0x731026fef8dc122!3m4!1m2!1d-3.6594793!2d52.9486764!3s0x4865403562f8ab2f:0x3f11a8bfeff83af4!3m4!1m2!1d-3.8056105!2d53.0934602!3s0x486516ca0424d895:0xf166b8f283dcfa2e!3m4!1m2!1d-3.8035999!2d53.1329005!3s0x48651739eaff8a3f:0xd4f68d7760095848!3m4!1m2!1d-3.8260964!2d53.1186938!3s0x486510d0c6b0c869:0x9defe3d2db5c90e0!3m4!1m2!1d-3.8656906!2d53.1005395!3s0x4865110868d22763:0xf040c7355f688ce7!3m4!1m2!1d-4.1927853!2d53.1333074!3s0x4865a632a8dda2b9:0xfe81ad50ed9e153f!1m0!3e0

Look on Street View, especially around Snowdon route and the route between Betws-Y-Coed and Llanrwst. Infact, look it entirely it's a fantastic day's drive. Avoid Anglesey it's open, flat and barren not worth the petrol.

I've lived in Llanrwst for 20 years and I've explored every inch of this place.
Click to expand...

Thanks! I've added this to my Switzerland-Scotland tour.
 
Spoilt for choice really in wales for good riding roads, but as mentioned already, if you ride hard the roads can become lethal very quickly.

I live in South Wales and there's loads of amazing roads on the doorstep, depending on you time scale and seeing as you heading to Chepstow first, my advice would be to head west into the Brecon Beacons, incredible roads/scenery and very popular with riders on the weekend, distances between petrol stations aren't far either with helps.

There's a spot halfway through the Beacons with a Burger van that everyone stops at for a bit of grub and a brew, chat etc, from there you can head north towards Snowdonia, the roads again are just awesome.

I'll be out sunday in Brecon, if you around we could met up for a little ride.
 
You Could try the Storey arms in brecon for your B&B needs, should have spaces, it's a nice places with it's front door right on the main road through the Beacons :)
 
don't think ive been to south wales,always tends to be north wales

there's horseshoe pass aswell with the café on top

and portmeirion where they filmed the prisoner,plus loads of castles to visit if that's your thing
 
wazza300 said:
don't think ive been to south wales,always tends to be north wales

there's horseshoe pass aswell with the café on top

and portmeirion where they filmed the prisoner,plus loads of castles to visit if that's your thing
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Ah Wazza you should come down, North Wales gets a lot of attention (and rightly so) but down south the roads are just as good in my book, heading through the Brecon Beacons after coming off the A470 in Merthyr is a truly epic ride.

I normally head towards the burger van i mentioned and get some food and a brew, then off over the mountain into Sennybridge where the roads just get better and better.
 
When I get a chance, and it's a nice day, I have a ride around South Wales planned. This is the current variant but I keep checking roads and modifying it. It is another 230 miles on top to get there and get home.

https://goo.gl/maps/QScZw
 
I now live in the biking mecca that is Switzerland, but I still find the Gower and Brecon Beacons special places to ride.
 
If you wanted a short 55-60 miler from Betswy... try this one, it's one I do as part of a bigger ride...

Nice small route


Go north out of Betswy to the Capel Curig turning... then enjoy.
 
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