Wish you were here?
Monday 8th October 2018
Last night I noticed that the weather forecast for Wales on Tue/Weds 9th/10th October said DRY and SUNNY…I don’t have anything planned this week that can’t wait, its nearing the end of the riding season in the UK and soon it will be wet and cold; so why not slip in a last adventure for 2018 and go to WALES for a few days! 🙂
After a bit of hasty organisation I set off on a cold, grey Monday morning..I’d put the thermal lining in my jacket for the first time this year, glad I did! When I reached the Brecon Beacons it was raining and the tops of the hills were in the mist..I rode up through the Black Mountains and it was 10C. By 4pm I had reached Devils Bridge and a nice little tea room with homemade cake! As I was finishing my tea in started to rain heavily and the lady from the tea shop said that they were locking up the car park so I had to go 🙁
As I splashed my way along the Elan Valley mountain road towards Rhayader, my stop for the night, I thought to myself …I’ve had better rides, but I’m alive and on my bike so I’m happy and tomorrow the sun with be out 🙂
After a few beers and a good curry and lots of chat with the locals, its time for my beauty sleep.
Tuesday 9th Oct 18 Rhayader to Caernafon via the best roads in Wales
The sun is out, the sky is blue..the forecast was right! 🙂 😎 I set off to ride the A483 Crossgates to Newtown, 20 miles of the very best fast, open, sweeping road! Hardly any traffic, great start to the day.. I love Wales. I then headed north, aiming for Bala; on the way I noticed a road signposted to Lake Vyrnwy. I’d never heard of it but as I rode past I thought I should check it out, but I’d passed the turning so kept going. A few miles further on I saw a side road B4396 signposted 6 miles to Lake Vyrnwy; I’m not in a hurry, only myself to please, so let’s check it out.
The road was very narrow and twisted through fields and forest, it turned into the B4393 which finally arrived at Llanwddyn at the start of the Lake.
Check this out!.. move the image arrow forward and over the dam https://goo.gl/maps/1JZcvKdURWx
I turned left over the dam and followed signs to the visitor centre for a coffee stop. It was a beautiful sunny day, blue sky but a bit windy. Sitting outside drinking my coffee when 3 motorcycle cops turned up on their BMW R120oRTs. This place is in the middle of nowhere..obviously out on a training run, nice day for it. We exchanged nods 🙂
I set off to ride around the lake; such a beautiful place on a nice sunny day. I stopped at a parking area that was near the lakeside; I could see a stony path leading down to the lake and a picnic area…there was no one around, so I rode down to the actual lake side and parked up amongst the fir trees. Such a beautiful spot on a lovely day 🙂 Check out the pics (click to enlarge) and the videos below.
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- Lake Vyrnwy
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- GS by the lake
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- I love Wales 🙂
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- Such a great spot
https://youtu.be/jb5gQX2YUAs Down by the lake (sorry about the wind noise)
The have monsters in this lake …!!! https://youtu.be/eK_IVEyJQ4Y
I carried on riding round the lake and saw a signpost to Bala; it was a single track, white road with passing places; my GS loves these so let’s try it! WOW, I’m glad I did, but this is certainly not sports bike territory!..it turned into a great, twisty mountain pass through stunning scenery 🙂
Check this video (sorry about the wind noise again) https://youtu.be/_ukRWVco5W8
This is GS territory
I arrived at Bala and headed into Snowdonia..the roads here are great, running through stunning scenery; some are fast and flowing, others fast, twisty, undulating and bumpy over the deserted (apart from sheep) moorland..this so much fun on a motorbike 🙂 I took a detour across the A5 towards Denbigh on another of my favourite roads the B4051 which leads past Lake Brenig. They have a nice visitor centre here for a good lunch stop with views across the lake. Then a fast thrash across the moors on the A453 back towards Snowdonian..part of what the Petrolheads call the “Evo Triangle” this is well know as somewhere the supercar guys come to test their cars; often lots of police. Not today..midweek in October!! 🙂
More great roads then arrived in Carenafon right up in the North of Wales. Staying at the Black Buoy tonight, a great pub just inside the city walls. Dating back to 1522 and situated in Northgate Street which leads up to Caernarfon castle.
The Black Buoy
Four and six street
Wednesday 10th Oct 18. Back to Rhayader via more great Welsh roads
The Black Buoy was a great find, good beer, good food and a nice room; all in the centre of town and near the castle. It was a lovely sunny morning with blue sky so I went for a quick walk round the castle and quayside before breakfast.
Caernarfon Castle early on a sunny morning
The day was spent riding round Snowdonia checking out some new roads. Before heading south on the A470 & A487 down to Machynlleth. At one point I had to stop and take the lining out of my jacket; it was 22c and I was boiling! From there its a white road through great countryside and joining the B4518 to Llandiloes and then continue on the B4518 mountain road to Rhayader. This route is 30 odd miles of fantastic road through beautiful countryside on a sunny day…very few cars and no speed cameras 🙂
It was such a nice day that I decided to take the mountain road from Rayader to the Elan Valley and do a loop of the valley. The reservoirs looked spectacular in the late afternoon sun..what a great day 🙂
I noticed that the water level was very low, as you can see from the pic below; must be the effect of the hot dry summer we’ve had.
I arrived at my stop for the night in Rhayader, the Elan Hotel. The place had been very run down but had been acquired by Martin & Iris earlier in the year who have transformed the place. Very friendly, clean, good beer and food; they made me very welcome.
The forecast for the next day, Thursday, suggested a band of rain would come in around 11am and would work its way Eastwards..exactly where I was heading!
Thursday 11th Oct 18..Rhayader to Home via a spectacular mountain pass
As I set off the clouds parted and a ray of sun shone through..encouraging. Unfortunately 10 miles into the ride on the mountain road towards Devils Bridge the rain started! I was committed to my route, I don’t mind riding in the rain; just need to ride smooth on wet roads with a sprinkling of wet leave too..!
I am aiming for Ystradffin which is between Rhayader and the Brecon Beacons, its the entry point to the superb Lake Brianne area and the most picturesque and rugged scenery, narrow twisty white roads to get there; great fun on a GS 🙂
https://goo.gl/maps/rByBFvSxu1G2 Follow this road and see the views 🙂
This is well off the beaten track and I was surprised to come across a sign which advised that the route I wanted to take over the mountain was closed ahead and there was “No through access from 1st Oct to end Dec18″…Hmmmm was it really closed? I’d come this far so I’ll carry on. So headed up onto the mountain pass, great views over the lake, twisty tricky road in the wet; met a couple of 4WDs coming the other way and thought maybe the road was open. Carried on and finally came to a gate across the road as it exited the mountain and continued into the forest, this was padlocked shut and a sign saying “Danger Keep Out”. No option but to turn around and ride all the way back. At one point I could see back along the road and saw a big log transporter lorry; must have been logging in the forest and that’s why the road was closed.
So after a detour I was back on the road to home and stopped for a coffee and dry out a bit. It rained all the way home..my bike is SO dirty; but I reckon that’s a small price to pay for two fantastic, dry and sunny days riding the very best of Welsh roads..900miles ridden overall. 🙂
Cant wait for the next adventure 😎