Welsh Trip - Recommendations Please

[rossyl]

Oh and I’d avoid the Evo triangle unless you’re very well behaved

We do a lot of photography around Bala/Ffestiniog - even the road getting to Bala is breathtaking. So is the tense nervousness trying to find a petrol station after a day’s ‘exercise’.
The Elan Valley further south is beautiful, the Metropole Hotel is rather good and run by a petrolhead.
Further south there’s the Black Mountain Road and the road heading out of Ebbw Vale.

Thanks - I think I'll message you privately if you don't mind.

 

[rossyl]

Surely he isn’t considering coming this week Sion, he means later in the summer. Every bar, hotel and restaurant in the U.K. is closed.

Quite! Thanks Dicky.

The wife is half Welsh. She has family there that we've obviously not seen for ages. But we WON'T be going until hotels/pubs are open, as we'll have nowhere to stay!

Should I start the thread again?

So.... All, recommendations for roads and hotels please, if you don't mind. Thanks

 

[schell70]

B4574 from Devil's Bridge to Rhayader - fabulous road but a bit narrow in places - can also be full of bikers if you time it wrong

 

[Nayf]

Thanks - I think I'll message you privately if you don't mind.

Yeah no probs. Bear in mind that great photography roads and great driving roads aren’t necessarily the same thing

 

[Andyk]

Oh and I’d avoid the Evo triangle unless you’re very well behaved

Further south there’s the Black Mountain Road and the road heading out of Ebbw Vale.

Glad you said OUT of Ebbw Vale.....No other road to take.....Although not sure why you would ever go IN.....

 

[dickygrace]

Royston Varsey by chance?

That’s near Glossop. Hadfield.

 

[Rwc13]

Pale Hall near Bala is lovely. And the owner has a GTS!

Also Plas Tan-Yr-Altt at Porthmadog. Owner also has a Maserati.

 

[tokyomb]

If you are foodies and are open to something different, I can recommend:

https://www.ynyshir.co.uk/

Michelin starred, small plates, multi-course menu, music from an interesting collection of vinyl - one of our favourites for a special occasion. As the chef, Gareth Ward, puts it "fun dine, not fine dine". In many respects the antithesis of Tyddn Llan recommended above by @dickygrace - which is a much more traditional country house hotel.

 

[MarkMas]

If you are foodies and are open to something different, I can recommend:

https://www.ynyshir.co.uk/

"around 20 courses; allow up to four hours for the experience; £180 per person"

 

[tokyomb]

"around 20 courses; allow up to four hours for the experience; £180 per person"

"A sublime and unforgettable mix of seasonal local produce with a Japanese twist – chef Gareth Ward’s cockiness is more than justified", Grace Dent in the Guardian.

 

[RoaryRati]

Years ago we stayed in a lovely pub - The Ship Inn, Tresaith - pretty much right on the beach in a pretty bay - quite a steep, twisty and narrow road to reach it. Excellent food and drink too from what I remember.

 

[Nayf]

Glad you said OUT of Ebbw Vale.....No other road to take.....Although not sure why you would ever go IN.....

Ha, well you have to pass through it to get to the road. At least that bypass/road thing is being built, four years ago it took me six hours to get there from Peterborough. Well, two hours down the A5, the rest stuck in traffic. Ahem.

 

[Nayf]

"A sublime and unforgettable mix of seasonal local produce with a Japanese twist – chef Gareth Ward’s cockiness is more than justified", Grace Dent in the Guardian.

I'm by no means rich but I'd much rather spend £45 an hour at a restaurant like that then spend 90 minutes standing in a cold stadium watching millionaires run about. https://www.chelseafc.com/en/ticket...mission/ticket-prices0?pageTab=Premier League

Not apples and apples, but fine dining experiences can be worth it, especially four hours/20 courses. Not everything is worth it – at Sushisamba in London you're paying for the location, rather than the food - but as the occasional treat, it really is worth it.

 

[MarkMas]

We ate VERY well at this place near Welshpool a few years ago. And it is only about a mile inside Wales, so you could probably just drive up to the border and then sneak across.

https://www.checkerswales.co.uk/



EDIT: Although I see now that they are no longer a Michelin-starred restaurant but more of a B&B, lunch and cakes place.

 

[Team GCR]

Hi All

I'd like to do a little driving trip in Wales, starting on Friday night and returning to London by Sunday evening.

It'll be for just me and the wife (so don't accidentally turn up )

I'd appreciate recommendations for Roads/Routes (beyond the EVO Triangle)

I'd also appreciate a recommendations for a couple of nice hotels.

Thanks very much
R

EDIT:
We WON'T be going until hotels/pubs are open, as we'll have nowhere to stay!

Sent using Tapatalk

In mid west Wales a trip to Aberdovey on the coast is lovely, you can then follow the coastal road up to Tywyn and from there to Dolgellau. If you wanted to head back towards Machynlleth you could drive back through Snowdonia National Park if you turn at the Cross Foxes pub. Corris Craft Centre is worth a stop especially for the Dyfi Gin distillery. The mountain road from Machynlleth towards Llanidloes is lovely with some great view points and you gave the Star Inn in Dylife which is one of the highest pubs in Wales and in a Dark Skies spot.

Loads to do round here so if you do decide to include this part of Wales happy to give more ideas. I would offer you a deal at our boutique B & B but with the current Covid issue delaying things I doubt the drive up to the house will be Maserati friendly in time.

Further north there is the Llyn Peninsula, the coastal village of Aberdaron is lovely, a bit like a Cornish fishing village.

 

[tokyomb]

We ate VERY well at this place near Welshpool a few years ago. And it is only about a mile inside Wales, so you could probably just drive up to the border and then sneak across.

https://www.checkerswales.co.uk/

EDIT: Although I see now that they are no longer a Michelin-starred restaurant but more of a B&B, lunch and cakes place.

Checkers is very significantly changed from what they were. Still a nice spot to drop in for a light lunch - twice-baked cheese souffle still usually on the menu, alongside other well-made light meals. Was a great shame when they handed back their Michelin Star, but I think they found maintaining the star incompatible with both couples involved having young families. Still somewhere we eat on a reasonably regular basis - but no longer Michelin star dining.

On the English side of the border not so far distant, I would now also recommend this 2AA rosette restaurant with rooms outside Bishops Castle (which is also home to The Three Tuns Brewery, which claims to be the oldest licensed brewery in the UK - licensed since 1642)

https://www.coachhousenorbury.com/

Even though it is local we have stayed (they do tasting menus from time to time which aren't compatible with driving home) and the rooms are furnished to a good standard and very comfortable. EDIT: The Coach House has sadly now closed down as a result of Covid-19. The chef and front of house lead have moved to https://www.thecliffeatdinham.co.uk/ on the outskirts of Ludlow.

 

[Andyk]

Ha, well you have to pass through it to get to the road. At least that bypass/road thing is being built, four years ago it took me six hours to get there from Peterborough. Well, two hours down the A5, the rest stuck in traffic. Ahem.

Yep, that's the by pass road that has taken years to build and is massively over budget and still not finished...…They were better off not bothering as most never leave the valleys apart form a train to Cardiff and they don't like us strangers visiting either …….. I currently have to go there once a week with work...…..

 

[Andyk]

So you can now in Wales:

From Monday you can now travel further than 5 miles but only for compassionate reasons
From 6th July move freely in Wales
From 6th July get a hair cut (Thanks God for that)
From 13th July you can come for a holiday in Wales

No news on pubs etc.....

 

[MarkMas]

Checkers is very significantly changed from what they were. Still a nice spot to drop in for a light lunch - twice-baked cheese souffle still usually on the menu, alongside other well-made light meals. Was a great shame when they handed back their Michelin Star, but I think they found maintaining the star .....

I sometimes think one M star is the worst situation it be in. With very high expectations all round, but typically without the ability to charge enough to make it pay, or attract the right staff to be truly outstanding.

 

[gb-gta]

We ate VERY well at this place near Welshpool a few years ago. And it is only about a mile inside Wales, so you could probably just drive up to the border and then sneak across.

https://www.checkerswales.co.uk/

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EDIT: Although I see now that they are no longer a Michelin-starred restaurant but more of a B&B, lunch and cakes place.

I used to go to wales quite a bit years ago on my motorbike.
I do remember a great ride between Newtown to Llandrindod Wells. It was fast though, some great high speed bends. Probably too risky these days from a licence point of view!