Four Days in Wales
Earlier on this year I decided that it was time that I went and explored Wales. A rough plan was hatched across to South Wales, 1night in Monmouth, up across Wales to Porthmadog and then stop over in Shrewsbury on the way home. Rooms were booked using the Travelodge saver rooms £29 a night and I was ready.
When I ride I tend to like to get on with the riding and not really stop for photos but I thought I would make an effort this time – and failed miserably.
So below is a quick run down of the route and a few selected photos:-
Day1
Home – Monmouth.
Left home about 10ish and headed across towards Reading to pick up the A340, A429 and then onto the A417. Up the A417 and I decided to stop at Buscot for a bite to eat.
A cheese and ham pannini and cafetiere of coffee later I was back on the road. Onto the A361 to Burford and then picked up the A40, down onto the A436 and around the north of Gloucester and down the A48. A pause at Tesco’s in Chepstow for a loo break and Mars Bar.
I always like to park in the correct parking space for the taxation class.
Almost left the bike behind a got a lift with Noddy!
At this point the rain was chucking it down so on with the oversuit and up the A466 to the Travelodge.
Day2
Monmouth – Portmadog
Today was a combination of a previous route from Hay-on-Wye to Barmouth and some new roads.
From Monmouth it was down the A40 around Abergavenny to pick up the A465 and then up the A4077, B4558 to Brecon. From Brecon it was B4520 to Upper Chapel and then the B4519. Normally I have stayed on the B4520 but thought that the B4519 would make change. The road is roughly the same but the sheep seemed less suicidal.
I stopped on the top at a viewpoint to take a couple of pics.
It was then down the A483 to pick up the B4358 to Newbridge on Wye, up the A470 and then down a little twisted road through Llanwrthwl to Elan Village. It was the first time I’ve had to stop and open gates on the road. Just remember to unplug your Autocom before jumping off the bike and check that the sidestand is up before you try and start the bike!
A coffee and piece of fruit cake at the Elan Village visitors centre and a quick photo of an interesting sign on the loo in the gents.
Giving the details of the accidents in the County last year!
Back on the bike again and up the B4518 out of Rhayader to Llandiloes and then on the B4518 again. Just past Llyn Clywedog I picked up a “narrow mountain road” past Dylife which comes out in Machynlleth and then up the A487 to meet the A470 around Dolgellau and then down the A496 into Barmouth. Lunch was a cheese ploughman’s sandwich from Somerfields in Barmouth before following the coast road up to Maentworg.
With some time to kill before I could check in I rode up the A470 to Betws-y-coed, out on the A5 to Capel Curig and the down the A4086, A498, A4085, B4418 and the A498 to Portmadog.
The best comment was from the receptionist at the Travelodge in Porthmadog who could not recommend anywhere to eat in Porthmadog! Since I was on my own it was a trip to Tesco’s and a picnic in the room! The even had a bottle opener fixed to the side of the desk in the room.
A distinct lack of photographs from today – I did warn you.
Day3
Porthmadog - Shrewsbury
It was a quick retrace of yesterday afternoon to pick up the end of the Llanberis pass and the from there down to cross the Britannia Bridge and into Anglesey.
I had done some work at Wylfa power station earlier this year and through the road in from the A5 just needed to be ridden on the bike.
A quick balst down the A55 – my first proper dual carriage way run since Wednesday morning – and picked up the A5025. This road was as good as I remembered and was ridden a lot quicker than the works transit could manage in February! Back onto the A55 and then down into Bangor for an early lunch under the Golden Arches!
From Bangor it was down the A5 throough Bethesda – following a Police Car for a while – but he had disappeared before the rode got interesting. Trough Capel Curig and down to Betws-y-Coed along the way I picked up a fellow GS for company for while.
At Betws-y-Coed I picked up the B5106 to Llanrwst before taking the A548 heading towards Llangernyw, down the B5382 to Llansannan, then taking the A544 and A543 to Denbigh.
I had picked up part of a route from a previous ride report. I think it was one of Tarka’s which headed south from Denbigh. So I followed this one for a while heading south on the B4501 and round Llyn Brenig and then down towards Bala to meet the A4212.
I had some time to kill and the route I had was going to take me down the back east side of the lake and then down to Dinas Mawddwy but I decided to take the road up to Llyn Efyrnwy. This is a single track road, plenty of cattle grids and some great views, but not many places that I could stop without blocking the road – hence no pics! Down to the Lake and then round the south side towards the dam at the end. I stopped on the way down the lake to take some pics of the tower on the north side and also a quick pic of the dam.
From here it was a cross country run on some more great roads to Shrewsbury where the bike was safely parked below my hotel room window.
Day4
Shrewsbury – Home
An exchange of texts in the week had revealed that one of the guys I work with was planning a run to Fish Hill today. A quick check of my route confirmed that I was heading this way so a tentative arrangement was made to meet at Broadway Tower at the top of Fish Hill.
A fairly swift, and not too exciting run later I was at the bottom of Fish Hill. On the way overtook the same GSA twice – he obviously new a short cut that Mr Zumo was not aware of.
A cracking run up Fish Hill – in the dry and with not much traffic – the warning sign that the first right hander tightens is there for a good reason! I pulled into Broadway Tower car park to be meet with a load of Morris Dancers. This lot were then replaced with another lot. All I wanted was a quiet coffee and sandwich.
I think it was all something to do with http://www.valemorris.com/ .
I kicked my heels for a while waiting for my mate to turn up but had a text to say that the person he was riding with was having problems with her chain. So I cut my loses, one last loop up and down Fish Hill and then the run home. A44, A424 to Burford and then picked up my route out in reverse.
I got home mid afternoon having done 787.6miles. The bike caused me no problems at all and I just hope my new GSA behaves in the same way.
Things I have learnt:-
Travelling on your own is a pain when you just want to nip into somewhere for a leak – tank bag off, zumo off…. (I can see that some form of top box might be required!!!)
I still packed far too much stuff…
If it starts spitting with rain don’t bother changing gloves provided the skies in front are blueish as you will only have to stop 5mins later to change them back
As an aside I got a text on my phone when I arrived home from my mate which simply said “…when did u say I would crash?...” This refers to a date I indicated on the wall planner at work following the last bike he wrote off. This was last Saturday (13th). I merely replied with “…oh ****…” and awaiting further news. The ironic thing – if he has chucked it down the road – is that he has a trackday booked for Monday!
If anyone wants Garmin routes for any of the above sections give me a shout.
Earlier on this year I decided that it was time that I went and explored Wales. A rough plan was hatched across to South Wales, 1night in Monmouth, up across Wales to Porthmadog and then stop over in Shrewsbury on the way home. Rooms were booked using the Travelodge saver rooms £29 a night and I was ready.
When I ride I tend to like to get on with the riding and not really stop for photos but I thought I would make an effort this time – and failed miserably.
So below is a quick run down of the route and a few selected photos:-
Day1
Home – Monmouth.
Left home about 10ish and headed across towards Reading to pick up the A340, A429 and then onto the A417. Up the A417 and I decided to stop at Buscot for a bite to eat.
A cheese and ham pannini and cafetiere of coffee later I was back on the road. Onto the A361 to Burford and then picked up the A40, down onto the A436 and around the north of Gloucester and down the A48. A pause at Tesco’s in Chepstow for a loo break and Mars Bar.
I always like to park in the correct parking space for the taxation class.
Almost left the bike behind a got a lift with Noddy!
At this point the rain was chucking it down so on with the oversuit and up the A466 to the Travelodge.
Day2
Monmouth – Portmadog
Today was a combination of a previous route from Hay-on-Wye to Barmouth and some new roads.
From Monmouth it was down the A40 around Abergavenny to pick up the A465 and then up the A4077, B4558 to Brecon. From Brecon it was B4520 to Upper Chapel and then the B4519. Normally I have stayed on the B4520 but thought that the B4519 would make change. The road is roughly the same but the sheep seemed less suicidal.
I stopped on the top at a viewpoint to take a couple of pics.
It was then down the A483 to pick up the B4358 to Newbridge on Wye, up the A470 and then down a little twisted road through Llanwrthwl to Elan Village. It was the first time I’ve had to stop and open gates on the road. Just remember to unplug your Autocom before jumping off the bike and check that the sidestand is up before you try and start the bike!
A coffee and piece of fruit cake at the Elan Village visitors centre and a quick photo of an interesting sign on the loo in the gents.
Giving the details of the accidents in the County last year!
Back on the bike again and up the B4518 out of Rhayader to Llandiloes and then on the B4518 again. Just past Llyn Clywedog I picked up a “narrow mountain road” past Dylife which comes out in Machynlleth and then up the A487 to meet the A470 around Dolgellau and then down the A496 into Barmouth. Lunch was a cheese ploughman’s sandwich from Somerfields in Barmouth before following the coast road up to Maentworg.
With some time to kill before I could check in I rode up the A470 to Betws-y-coed, out on the A5 to Capel Curig and the down the A4086, A498, A4085, B4418 and the A498 to Portmadog.
The best comment was from the receptionist at the Travelodge in Porthmadog who could not recommend anywhere to eat in Porthmadog! Since I was on my own it was a trip to Tesco’s and a picnic in the room! The even had a bottle opener fixed to the side of the desk in the room.
A distinct lack of photographs from today – I did warn you.
Day3
Porthmadog - Shrewsbury
It was a quick retrace of yesterday afternoon to pick up the end of the Llanberis pass and the from there down to cross the Britannia Bridge and into Anglesey.
I had done some work at Wylfa power station earlier this year and through the road in from the A5 just needed to be ridden on the bike.
A quick balst down the A55 – my first proper dual carriage way run since Wednesday morning – and picked up the A5025. This road was as good as I remembered and was ridden a lot quicker than the works transit could manage in February! Back onto the A55 and then down into Bangor for an early lunch under the Golden Arches!
From Bangor it was down the A5 throough Bethesda – following a Police Car for a while – but he had disappeared before the rode got interesting. Trough Capel Curig and down to Betws-y-Coed along the way I picked up a fellow GS for company for while.
At Betws-y-Coed I picked up the B5106 to Llanrwst before taking the A548 heading towards Llangernyw, down the B5382 to Llansannan, then taking the A544 and A543 to Denbigh.
I had picked up part of a route from a previous ride report. I think it was one of Tarka’s which headed south from Denbigh. So I followed this one for a while heading south on the B4501 and round Llyn Brenig and then down towards Bala to meet the A4212.
I had some time to kill and the route I had was going to take me down the back east side of the lake and then down to Dinas Mawddwy but I decided to take the road up to Llyn Efyrnwy. This is a single track road, plenty of cattle grids and some great views, but not many places that I could stop without blocking the road – hence no pics! Down to the Lake and then round the south side towards the dam at the end. I stopped on the way down the lake to take some pics of the tower on the north side and also a quick pic of the dam.
From here it was a cross country run on some more great roads to Shrewsbury where the bike was safely parked below my hotel room window.
Day4
Shrewsbury – Home
An exchange of texts in the week had revealed that one of the guys I work with was planning a run to Fish Hill today. A quick check of my route confirmed that I was heading this way so a tentative arrangement was made to meet at Broadway Tower at the top of Fish Hill.
A fairly swift, and not too exciting run later I was at the bottom of Fish Hill. On the way overtook the same GSA twice – he obviously new a short cut that Mr Zumo was not aware of.
A cracking run up Fish Hill – in the dry and with not much traffic – the warning sign that the first right hander tightens is there for a good reason! I pulled into Broadway Tower car park to be meet with a load of Morris Dancers. This lot were then replaced with another lot. All I wanted was a quiet coffee and sandwich.
I think it was all something to do with http://www.valemorris.com/ .
I kicked my heels for a while waiting for my mate to turn up but had a text to say that the person he was riding with was having problems with her chain. So I cut my loses, one last loop up and down Fish Hill and then the run home. A44, A424 to Burford and then picked up my route out in reverse.
I got home mid afternoon having done 787.6miles. The bike caused me no problems at all and I just hope my new GSA behaves in the same way.
Things I have learnt:-
Travelling on your own is a pain when you just want to nip into somewhere for a leak – tank bag off, zumo off…. (I can see that some form of top box might be required!!!)
I still packed far too much stuff…
If it starts spitting with rain don’t bother changing gloves provided the skies in front are blueish as you will only have to stop 5mins later to change them back
As an aside I got a text on my phone when I arrived home from my mate which simply said “…when did u say I would crash?...” This refers to a date I indicated on the wall planner at work following the last bike he wrote off. This was last Saturday (13th). I merely replied with “…oh ****…” and awaiting further news. The ironic thing – if he has chucked it down the road – is that he has a trackday booked for Monday!
If anyone wants Garmin routes for any of the above sections give me a shout.
