REGIONAL DRIVE – WALES FRIDAY 5 – SATURDAY 6 AUGUST 2016 REGIONAL DRIVE – WALES FRIDAY 5 – SATURDAY 6 AUGUST 2016 LLANGOLLEN REGIONAL SOCIAL FRIDAY 5 AUGUST WALES REGIONAL DRIVE SATURDAY 6 AUGUST ABERGAVENNY REGIONAL SOCIAL SATURDAY 6 AUGUST After a successful and memorable first Regional Drive event to the North of England, the GRRC is now heading to Wales! Starting at Llangollen (10 miles from Wrexham), this informal drive will take in some of the main highlights of the heartland of Wales, with members being able to enjoy the infamous EVO triangle, mountains of Snowdonia, dams of the Elan Valley, and the spectacular Abergwesyn and Gospel Passes. The drive will be bookended by social evenings in Llangollen and Abergavenny. Our aim from these events is to get like-minded members together to enjoy their cars on some of the best roads and most beautiful areas of the UK. With this in mind, we have suggested a route which we believe explores some of the finest areas in Wales, but it is very much up to you how to make the most of the day. In order to help with this, we have suggested some optional de-tours. There is far too much in Wales to see it all in one day, but by using this guide below, we hope you will be able to tailor the day, in the knowledge that there is a group of like-minded GRRC members on the adventure with you. The first Regional Social will be held at the White Waters Hotel in Llangollen from 1900–2100 hours on Friday 5 August. The Regional Drive itself kicks off at 0900 hours on Saturday 5 August at the White Waters Hotel (meeting from 0830 hours). From here, the Club is heading to Ryhayader in the Elan Valley for lunch. We have mapped out a beautiful morning route which takes in the EVO Triangle and the heart of Snowdonia. This will take just under four hours, but if you would like to do a little less driving then there are plenty of alternative routes to make it to the lunchstop. During this morning route, we have suggested a coffee stop at Lake Vyrnwy Hotel & Spa. Depending on your route this is about half-way through the morning leg. Subject to the final route that you choose, we will begin to arrive at our lunch stop (Triangle Inn, Rhayader) from between 1230 hours to 1330 hours. After an informal lunch, we will aim to depart at around 1400 hours, heading towards South Wales and the Brecon Beacons. As with the morning route, there is a suggested 3 hour route which takes in some of the key highlights of the area (including the Black Mountain Pass), with optional de-tours to take in the picturesque Elan Valley, wild Abergwesyn Pass, and the highest pass in Wales, Gospel Pass. The final destination is the Kings Arms Hotel in Abergavenny, where we expect members to arrive between 1700 hours to 1830 hours. The Kings Arms Hotel will then be our base for the evening, and we would welcome both those who have joined for the days drive as well members who would prefer just to join us for an evenings social. You are most welcome to come along and join us at a Regional Social and participate in the full day of driving, or you may prefer to meet us en-route and drive part of the way either in the morning or afternoon. Whichever it is, we look forward to seeing at some point. THE ROUTE GRRC Regional Drive Wales, North to South Saturday 6 August 2016 Llangollen – Evo Triangle – Snowdonia National Park – Lake Vyrnwy – Elan Valley – Brecon Beacons – Abergevenny MORNING DRIVE Start to lunch stop: 141 miles, 3hrs 50 mins (approx.) AFTERNOON DRIVE Lunch stop to end: 102 miles, 2hrs 42 mins (approx.) THE SOCIALS Llangollen Regional Social Friday 5 August 2016 Time: from 1900 hrs in the Bar Location: White Waters Hotel Address: Berwyn Road, Llangollen, Denbigshire, North Wales, LL20 8AD Telephone: (01978) 861661 Website: http://www.whitewatershotel.co.uk/ Abergavenny Regional Social Saturday 6 August 2016 Time: from 1700hrs Location: Kings Arms Hotel Address: 29 Nevill Street, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire , NP7 5AA Telephone : 01873 855074 Website: [email protected] ACCOMMODATION It is up to you to make arrangements should you wish to arrange accommodation at the beginning or end of the trip. However, the Club have reserved 10 bedrooms at the White Waters Hotel, Llangollen at a preferential rate of £89.95 per room based on two people sharing. This rate includes a full cooked breakfast the next morning. To book a room at the Hotel please contact them directly on: 01978 861 661. These rooms will be held until the 8th July, and must be booked directly with the hotel. MORNING DRIVE Start to lunch stop: 141 miles, 3hrs 50 mins (approx.) OVERVIEW MAP Whitewaters to Lake Vyrnwy Hotel and Spa: 81 miles, 2hrs 10 mins (approx.) Lake Vyrnwy Hotel and Spa to lunch stop: 60 miles, 1hrs 42 mins (approx.) DIRECTIONS – MORNING DRIVE o From Whitewaters Country Hotel turn right, heading north-west on Berwyn Rd/A5 towards B5103 o Follow the A5 for approximately 11.5 miles before the road forks o Continue straight towards Betws-y-Coed/ A5 for approximately 7 miles o Turn right onto B4501, signposted Cerrigydrudion o In approximately 0.3 miles turn right onto B4501/B5105 o After 144ft keep left onto B450, signposted Llyn Brenig o Head north-east on B4501 for approximately 7 miles o Turn left onto A543, signed posted Pentre-foelas o Continue south on A543 for approximately 7.7 miles o When you come to a T-Junction turn right onto A5, signposted towards Betws-y-Coed o After approximately 1.4 miles turn left onto B4407, signposted Ysbyty Ifan & Ffestiniog o Head south on B4407 for 9.9 miles (note that this road is very narrow in places, but the views really open up for the second part) o Turn left onto B4391, signposted towards Bala o Head east on B4391 towards A4212 for approximately 5 miles o Come to a T-Junction and turn left onto A4212, signposted Bala o When entering Bala turn right onto A494 and then immediately left onto the B4391, signposted towards Llangynog o Head north-east on B4391 for approximately 15 miles o On entering Penybontfawr you will pass a church on your left hand side, shortly after turn right onto B4396 toward Llanwdyn and Lake Vyrnwy o When you arrive in Abertridwr, turn left on B4393 to continue onto the afternoon route, or follow signs to Lake Vrywny for a coffee stop o If travelling to the Hotel, you will stay North of Lake Vyrnwy, and the entrance is after about 1.5 miles on the right SUGGESTED COFFEE STOP - Lake Vyrnwy Hotel and Spa, SY10 0LY DIRECTIONS – MORNING DRIVE CONTINUED o If stopped at the Hotel, retrace your route back to the junction between the B4396 and the B4393 o Head on B4393, signposted towards Llanfyllin o At the end of the road, turn right on the B4395, heading south towards the A458 o Keep right towards Llanfyllin o Continue on B4395 for aproximately 3 miles o Turn right onto B4395, signposted Llangadfan o Head south-west on B4395 for approximately 6.6 miles o Continue straight through Llwydiarth crossing a small river o Come to a T-Junction and turn right onto A458 towards Dolgellau o Continue on A458 for approximately 10 miles o At the roundabout, take the 1st exit onto A470 towards Llangurig o Follow the A470 for approximately 6 miles o At the roundabout, take the 1st exit and stay on A470 towards Llangurig o Remaining on the A470 for a further 5.5 miles o When entering Llanbryn-mair turn right onto B4518 towards Lian o Follow the B4518 for approximately 15 miles o When entering Llanidloes at the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto Long Bridge St/B4518 o After half a mile turn left onto Bryn-Du Rd/B4518 towards Tylwch o After approximately 11.7 miles when entering Rhayader turn left onto North St/A470, signposted Llanfair-ym-Muallt Builth Wells o After 485ft turn right onto West St/B4518 o West street shortly becomes Bridge Street o Then after approximatley 0.4 miles take the second left where parking will be available on your left hand side. o LUNCH STOP – The Triangle Inn, LD6 5AR AFTERNOON DRIVE Lunch stop to end: 102 miles, 2hrs 42 mins (approx.) OVERVIEW MAP DIRECTIONS – AFTERNOON DRIVE After lunch there is a suggested route which is detailed below, but also three optional routes – The Elan Valley, Abergwesyn Pass and Gospel Pass. The Elan Valley route will add aproxminately 40 minutes onto your journey, with the Abergwesyn Pass route adding around 1 hour 20 minutes. The Gospel Pass departs the route shortly after Brecon and will add an additional 1 hour. Further details of these routes are found below. o When leaving the Triangle Inn turn right Head north towards B4518 o After approximately 0.2 miles turn right onto South St/A470 o Continue to follow the A470 for approximately 7.8 miles o Turn right onto B4358 signposted towards Beulah o Continue to follow the B4358 for approximately 7.9 miles o Shortly after crossing a river turn right onto A483 signposted towards Llandovery and Llanymddyfri o Continue on the A483 for approximately 15.4 miles towards Llandovery o Shortly after entering Llandovery come to a cross roads with The Lord Ryhs Chinese restaurant in front of you.