E
exhornet900
Guest
Lovely journey completed last weekend from South Wales with an overnight stop in Bangor-on-Dee.
A superb route with an assortment of bikes coming along. I was on my BMW Rockster, ugly as f*ck (both me and the Rock) and gulping oil like mad; blue Blackbird...didn't miss a beat, a new GS1200, Bandit 650 and a Triumph Adventurer.....whose exhaust almost fell off on the way up.
We met up at the lay-by adjacent to Chepstow race course for breakfast in a bun. Set off taking the B4293 to Monmouth, onto B4233 to Abervanney for a pee stop at the bus station. The roads up to yet are small, in places single track but in good condition. (If anyone who is not local fancies this route, the Abergavenny bus staion is a very popular weekend bike stop).
From Abergavenny we took the B4521 'Scary Skenfrith' road till it meets the A466. Although a B road, the 4251 has two lanes and is in very good condition. Very twisty and perfect for testing your 'limit point analysis skills'. Head north for about 5 miles then left onto B4348 to Hay-on-Wye. Parked for free in the town's large car park and there are loadsa cafes here..some pricey some not so bad.
From Hay-on-Wye. we took the B4350 for a couple of miles till we could pick up the A438 through Glasbury and Three Cocks. Turn right then onto A470 north for Builth Wells.
After Llyswen travel for about 4 miles then turn right and cross the small wooden suspension bridge for a surreal setting over the river Wye. Once across the bridge, turn left, straight section of country lane for 1/2 mile then join the B4594 to Painscastle.
Stay on B4594, a twisty country lane with good tarmac but in places a bit too tight to wind it on, till you reach the A44.
A44 turn left for Rhayader and blast it on(...watching out for speed cameras etc).
In Rhayader, turn right at the clock in the centre of the road, onto the A470 north. But then, after 150 metres turn right onto B4518 through St.Harmon to Llanidloes. We then took the A470 to Newtown.
A bit of a snag with the Triumph's exhaust held us up here for some time and instead of more twisties we took the A483 north to Oswestry then Wrexham.....bit too much traffic on the roads to enjoy this last bit but a better route would have been the B4389 off the A483, to A458, left then right onto B4395 then B4396 then follow signs to Oswestry and Wrexham.
A few drinks and meal and we were in bed for 1030pm!
Next day saw some faster and even more exciting roads for the return.
We rode to Llangollen then to Bala. In Bala pick up the A4212 to Trawsfynydd. What a road! Just watch out as it is quite heavily policed at weekends.
A470 south until Llanbrynmair which is about 30 miles south. Again though, watch out for police between Trawsfynydd and Dolgellau.
In Llanbrynmair, turn right onto B4518 through Llan, Staylittle and onto Llanidloes. This road is superb and the views around Llyn Clywedog are tremendous.
In Lanidloes take A470 back to Newtown.
From Newtown the A483 is a fantastic twisty fast road for about 25 to 30 miles, all the way to Builth Wells.
We then took the A483 to Llandovery for another popular bike meet, the West End cafe.
A4069 takes you over Brynammen Pass and eventually down to the M4 and home...wherever that may be.
The roads through Wales are superb. I tend to try to get off the A roads as they can be a bit busy and you end up waiting for your mates when they've been stuck behind slower vehicles. The B roads and quieter A roads are usually in good nick but having said that, try and ride them in the dry because, being quiet, mud and sh*te tends not to get swept away by car tyres.
Cor, been typing for ages. Hope someone decides to give the route a go!!!!
A superb route with an assortment of bikes coming along. I was on my BMW Rockster, ugly as f*ck (both me and the Rock) and gulping oil like mad; blue Blackbird...didn't miss a beat, a new GS1200, Bandit 650 and a Triumph Adventurer.....whose exhaust almost fell off on the way up.
We met up at the lay-by adjacent to Chepstow race course for breakfast in a bun. Set off taking the B4293 to Monmouth, onto B4233 to Abervanney for a pee stop at the bus station. The roads up to yet are small, in places single track but in good condition. (If anyone who is not local fancies this route, the Abergavenny bus staion is a very popular weekend bike stop).
From Abergavenny we took the B4521 'Scary Skenfrith' road till it meets the A466. Although a B road, the 4251 has two lanes and is in very good condition. Very twisty and perfect for testing your 'limit point analysis skills'. Head north for about 5 miles then left onto B4348 to Hay-on-Wye. Parked for free in the town's large car park and there are loadsa cafes here..some pricey some not so bad.
From Hay-on-Wye. we took the B4350 for a couple of miles till we could pick up the A438 through Glasbury and Three Cocks. Turn right then onto A470 north for Builth Wells.
After Llyswen travel for about 4 miles then turn right and cross the small wooden suspension bridge for a surreal setting over the river Wye. Once across the bridge, turn left, straight section of country lane for 1/2 mile then join the B4594 to Painscastle.
Stay on B4594, a twisty country lane with good tarmac but in places a bit too tight to wind it on, till you reach the A44.
A44 turn left for Rhayader and blast it on(...watching out for speed cameras etc).
In Rhayader, turn right at the clock in the centre of the road, onto the A470 north. But then, after 150 metres turn right onto B4518 through St.Harmon to Llanidloes. We then took the A470 to Newtown.
A bit of a snag with the Triumph's exhaust held us up here for some time and instead of more twisties we took the A483 north to Oswestry then Wrexham.....bit too much traffic on the roads to enjoy this last bit but a better route would have been the B4389 off the A483, to A458, left then right onto B4395 then B4396 then follow signs to Oswestry and Wrexham.
A few drinks and meal and we were in bed for 1030pm!
Next day saw some faster and even more exciting roads for the return.
We rode to Llangollen then to Bala. In Bala pick up the A4212 to Trawsfynydd. What a road! Just watch out as it is quite heavily policed at weekends.
A470 south until Llanbrynmair which is about 30 miles south. Again though, watch out for police between Trawsfynydd and Dolgellau.
In Llanbrynmair, turn right onto B4518 through Llan, Staylittle and onto Llanidloes. This road is superb and the views around Llyn Clywedog are tremendous.
In Lanidloes take A470 back to Newtown.
From Newtown the A483 is a fantastic twisty fast road for about 25 to 30 miles, all the way to Builth Wells.
We then took the A483 to Llandovery for another popular bike meet, the West End cafe.
A4069 takes you over Brynammen Pass and eventually down to the M4 and home...wherever that may be.
The roads through Wales are superb. I tend to try to get off the A roads as they can be a bit busy and you end up waiting for your mates when they've been stuck behind slower vehicles. The B roads and quieter A roads are usually in good nick but having said that, try and ride them in the dry because, being quiet, mud and sh*te tends not to get swept away by car tyres.
Cor, been typing for ages. Hope someone decides to give the route a go!!!!