Good riding roads in Wales

[TC3]

Can anyone suggest a route or 2 please? Looking at doing a long weekend in Wales and need some ideas on good riding roads. Have been looking on google but would prefer routes tried and tested by some of you on here
Cheers

[K]

Head on the A5 from Oswestry until you see the sea... then go round and round in circles from Fflint to Harlech and everything inbetween.

Can't go wrong really...

... just don't fall foul of the locals (or their coppers)! ;)

[PointyPete]

Planning on doing the same over May bank holiday weekend. My Dad's from Swansea and knows some good roads in the Brecon Beacons, my bro's been out for rides with him before and raves about the road over Black Mountain. I've seen it by car and it's stunning (watch for sheep though!). I'll have to have a word and get some more ideas. I would've thought as long as you stick to the mountainous areas you'll have a great time (provided the weather holds).

[squirrel_hunter]

There are some cracking roads down in South Wales, round Abbergaveny, Usk, 1000 Sheep etc.

Unfortunately I can't remember what the road numbers are, I only know how to get there on the bike. I'm sure one of the others from the MoFo's or the Taffia would be able to help. And if your down our way do let us know as we could be persuaded to venture over for a little bimble...

[Baph]

Head on the A5 from Oswestry until you see the sea... then go round and round in circles from Fflint to Harlech and everything inbetween.

Can't go wrong really...

... just don't fall foul of the locals (or their coppers)! ;)
Hey now! We're not that bad!!

I'm actually in the middle of putting together some maps of circuits in N. Wales (for my own reasons & to share with mates etc etc), but they're on the office computer. I'll link to them when I get chance :)

South Wales I have no idea about, barely been there :)

One word of warning RE: North Wales police. Keep your eye's open & look all around you. During warmer months they like to earn money by sending the helicopter out to look for speeding bikers on known bike routes. You'd normally never know the helicopter was following you until it was far too late :(

[kwak zzr]

try and add tanant valley, betsy, bala, corris and down to tregaron, brilliant roads.

[hovis]

:confused: some great rides around breacon,monmouth,usk etc, but i normally just follow the leader so not to sure on the routes yet

1000 sheep road is good............but now theres horses too:smt104

post a bit in the south west surfers

[Mogs]

If it S. Wales you want then stay in the rural areas usually north of the A465 (heads of the valleys) there are many great roads to the south, but more congested or neutered with 40 mph limits.

Here’s a list of the most popular ones.

A466 Chepstow to Monmouth

A40 Monmouth to Llandovery (via Abergavenny and Brecon) it's worth following the B roads parallel to the A40 from Monmouth to Aber as it's mostly dualled on this section. You’ll get the idea when you look at the map.

A470 south from Brecon over the Beacons, to pick up
the A4059 (1000 Sheep Rd) to Hirwaun.

A4067 Sennybridge via Cray to Ystradgynlais

and finally my favourite the A4061 Hirwaun to Bridgend.

[TC3]

Thanks a lot guys for all the info. I will look every road up and then decide what part to visit. Last year in France we did a lot of fast roads but look like my first wekend away in UK with bike is gonna be different what with all the fuzz ready and waiting!

[K]

Thanks a lot guys for all the info. I will look every road up and then decide what part to visit. Last year in France we did a lot of fast roads but look like my first wekend away in UK with bike is gonna be different what with all the fuzz ready and waiting!

To be honest though, depending on the time of year it can be wisest to ride well within the posted limits... (legal reasoning aside ;)) but with pony trekkers, hill walkers, caravans, farm vehicles and of course, sheep, round every other corner it can really put your forward observation skills through the wringer.

I sometimes think that all IAM groups should do a tour of either North Wales or Cornwall in tourist season - no better advanced training. ;)

[Baph]

To be honest though, depending on the time of year it can be wisest to ride well within the posted limits... (legal reasoning aside ;)) but with pony trekkers, hill walkers, caravans, farm vehicles and of course, sheep, round every other corner it can really put your forward observation skills through the wringer.

I sometimes think that all IAM groups should do a tour of either North Wales or Cornwall in tourist season - no better advanced training. ;)
Amen!

Was only day before yesterday I came around a bend on my way to work, opened the throttle gently & whack! Back end out type action because of a cow pat. Luckily I wasn't in a rush, and I'd seen a long line of slight brown running down the middle of the road for about the last half mile.

Didn't see the cow pat until it was too late though. If I'd of been pushing the bike, I'd of probably been off.

Most of the local drivers are OK ish (as in they are predictable), but when you get tourists around this way, that really screws things up. There's nothing worse than someone looking more at a map than the road whilst towing a caravan!

[Baph]

To get you started with some roads, here's two of my loops. Personally, I start this one most of the time from near Caernarfon (or Llanberis):


http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/5923/smallloopkd5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

As for this one, I can hop into the loop pretty much anywhere on the north side, depending on where I'm coming from. Sometimes I ride the above from Caernarfon - Bedgellert, then the below full circle, then back to Caernarfon the to complete a figure of 8:

http://img216.imageshack.us/img216/6572/bigloopvs2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Generally it all depends on my free time.

I'll dig out others when I get the chance.

[valleyboy]

Llanberis pass is very nice, going down it, look right up to your left and see the top of snowdon.. and duck while the RAF use your head as low level target practice... :o
Plenty of roads around there to get lost on... but they are all fun, just make sure you have fuel before you start!

As for South Wales.. Start off at Abergavenny, and you have a host of roads available to you... my usual route is the A40 from Abergavenny to Llandovery, then from Llandovery over to Brynaman as this takes you over the black mountains and some very good roads too! then cut back towards Senny Bridge via the other road over Black Mountains and past Dan Yr Ogof and back along the A40 to Abergavenny..

or you can go from Abergavenny and go through Tretower to Builth via Talgarth.. very twisty roads along there... go from Builth up to Rhayader.. and if you want to, go down the Ellan Valley for a look at the Resevoirs... and try not get lost on the roads around there... again, make sure you have fuel, as if you take a wrong turning you end up on the mountain road to Aberystwyth... and local shops for local people ;)

There is 1000 sheep road, but I think its over rated.... maybe thats because Im bored of it and can do it at 90mph with my eyes closed now.... :p appart from when theres sheep on it... scares the crap out of me then, and I crawl along at a modest 60ish...

[Baph]

Just found another one on this machine too (must get these files sorted properly!).

If anyone fancies this, my house is on part of this run :D

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/8872/islandrunvf4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[the white rabbit]

Up around the Elan Valley is great, very pretty. Nice quick circcuit from Rhayader around the reservoirs and back to Rhayader. You could cut across to Chepstow, work your way up via Llandovery, Rhayader, Bala, then into the north easy in a weekend and head back Sun eve. The roads are quick as you like.

[valleyboy]

Maybe you can do the Ellan Valley as quick as you like on your bike.. but my suspension didnt like those roads at high speeds at all trying to follow you around! plus you buggered off half way up the mountain on a track at one point!

though the rest of the roads are good fast ones.. just watch out for plod hiding behind the bushes! :eek:

[Viney]

Black mountains :D

[valleyboy]

Them be in my back garden ;)

[Luckypants]

N. Wales, pretty much any road. :D

[TC3]

Thanks again for all the ideas and the maps Baph :D