Which way?

[ThePlotter]

I am going shortly to the Gower from the Midlands and planning to go across country to Brecon but which way then?

1/Brecon-A40-Llandovery-Llandeilo-A483-Amanford-A474-M4

2/Brecon-A470-Merthyr-(A4059)-A465-M4

Which is best

 

[colin(bridgend)]

When a Plotter cannot plot I say thank God for satnav. LOL Sorry Mr. Plotter couldn't resist it. I would say your best route from Brecon would be A470 signposted Merthyr/Pontypridd/Cardiff and turn right at the reservoir (Storey Arms) for Hirwaun. On reaching Hirwaun take A465 to M4 at Neath and head on west to the Gower. Depending on the time of travel have you thought of the M50 to Ross and then down to join the M4 at Newport. Only bad spot, apart from rush hour traffic, would be the contraflow east of Cardiff for the road widening. From here it is easy going west on the M4 and passing through the Mecca of the West - BRIDGEND.

 

[ThePlotter]

Hi Col I was wanting to avoid the M50 option as it took me by gangland Bridgend so prefer the scenic route that I used to go to West Wales

 

[Oldfogey]

Personally I wouldn't fancy the Merthyr route, very tedious.

Llandeilo, Llandovery, Ammanford is OK.

Or as another alternative why not turn south at Sennybridge on the A4067 to Ystradgynlais, join the M4 at J45, then leave again at J47 for the Gower. Gives a nice run over the Brecon Beacons and goes nowhere near Merthyr.

If you haven't been to the Gower before, allow twice as long as seems reasonable to get from M4 to your site - the roads are very narrow and slow.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Oldfogey has suggested a good alternative route via Ystradgynlais, Pontardawe and joinging the M4 at J45 (Clydach). This is a very pleasant route and is probably the best from Brecon with a van in tow. Also with this route there are not excessive hills to negotiate. The roads via Llandielo and Ammanford tend to be undulating and twisting therefore not what I would call a favourable route whilst towing. I would plot your route through the Gower using a map and not satnav. as again stated by Oldfogey the roads on the Gower tend to be narrow and twisting. Alternatively ask the site for the best route off the M4.

 

[joeby]

i would come onto the 465 wich is mostly dual carriagway and very light traffic ,get onto the M4 near Neath ,and come off at junction 47 its well sign posted from there ,what ever you do keep well away from Cardiff , i work near London now and again ,and the only place i hit trouble out of the 170 mile journey is Cardiff ,plus you have police sitting on the flyovers with there speed guns ,

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

What I'm wondering Plotts is which route are you taking from home to Brecon.

Don't forget that once past Brecon, as an Englishman, you will be travelling through the Badlands :O)

 

[emmerson2]

Plotter, I don't remember stamping your permit to enter GoC! Indeed I don't even remember seeing an application for a permit, and you will not get through our stringent border controls without the signature of either myself, or my colleague from Bridgend.

However, if you do manage to sneak in, have a great time!!!

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Hey Emmo, be on your way. I've told the men at arms to leave the border crossing open until midday for you :O)

We are off on Friday ourselves, to a CL between Evesham and Stratford.

Don't forget your easy chair Emmo so you can dangle your feet in the Arrow while you read the paper ;O)

 

[ThePlotter]

Thanks folks but I think I am now even more undecided about which way to go given the choice I would rather take longer and go the scenic route.LB I am concerned about Emmo and his band of merry men (emphasis on merry)can I be sure that your men at arms can keep my passage clear!I have engineered a plot to disguise my van as a Royale sio they think I am Emmo and will allow me through,only problem is do you know where I can battered old ugly caravan panels because without them the plot will fail.

 

[Ian341]

Hi,

I would avoid the Merthyr route as this can be quite up and down.

Where on the Gower are you staying ??

Hope you have a great time !!

Ian

 

[emmerson2]

That ruse won't work Plotts, cos I shall be under the protection of LB's men at arms in his back yard, commonly known as Herefordshire, until Saturday, and I'll bribe them not to let you pass. The bribe won't cost much, as LB's staff are very poorly paid, cos he doesn't have much money left after paying extra to his maids for services rendered, and of course, his Viagra bill is huge.

 

[ThePlotter]

Emmo I am not going until June 16th so may still nedd the disguise.lol

Ian I am going to Pitton Cross CP at Rhosilli.

 

[Ian341]

Hi Plotter,

Pitton cross is a lovely site our friends are staying there at the moment and the site has undergone a lot of development work recently so it is really nice.

have a great time

Ian

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Although I have a slight hint of English running through my veins from my paternal fore fathers I like to think of myself as being a Welsh Celt. The English blood has been overpowered by Celtic blood over many years, and also the Irish whiskey has worked wanders therefore Plotter you may be able to pass Hereford and Abergavveny but you still have to negotiate through the counties of Powys and Glamorgan - in fact you will be settling in Glamorgan. The county name of Glamorgan may have disappeared as a result of English interfearence but we are still here in body and soul. Having an old Royale wont help either. All I can say is you had better either learn the Welsh language or sleep with one eye open other wise you will not know what may happen.

 

[ThePlotter]

Colin,I am not worried if I get attacked as I can free prescriptions there cant I.lol

It sounds like the site should be ok according to Ian so looking forward to it as I have never been to that area before and its a long time since I was in Wales in the South of Wales.At least I will not need to go to, oh dear, Port Talbot I understand there are some strange folk from there!

 

[welshlass]

whoa what is wrong with port talbot, we are caravanners and are certainly not strange people well it think we are not strange our friends might say different. ha ha. its ok you will not be lynched by the port talbions we are a great bunch honestly just dont stop keep on going ha ha

 

[ThePlotter]

Sian sorry just winding my mate Colin up because I seem to recall he is from Port Talbot but he hasnt risen to the bait yet.lol

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

It's in the name Plotts, Colyn ap Brydgynd so try Brydgynd :O)

If he was originally from Port Talbot they probably threw him out, they are probably too high a class person in Port Talbot for Colyn .... heh! heh!

 

[ThePlotter]

LB I am sure that whilst yes he now lives in Bridgend I am sure that in either previous posts or in emails to me he said he was invented,sorry born in Port Talbot.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

For all you doubting English folk I was born in sunny Aberavon, Pentyla to be precise, which is a suburb of Port Talbot so I can be classed as a Talbotian. Incidentally the town of Port Talbot is the only Welsh town that does not have a pub within its boundary. There are inns, wine bars, hotels, clubs, etc. but no public house. I married a girl who lived in the Garw valley in 1968 and since then lived in the Bridgend area. I still have relations in Margam and I visit the old town at least once a month.

Try the following web pages for further information on my old home town:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/sites/ilovewales/pages/porttalbot.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/sites/local_history/pages/sr_jones.shtml
http://www.aberavon.net/
Many famous people have originated from the district - Richard Burton, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Ivor Emanuel, Lord Geoffrey Howe of Aberavon and of course myself to name but a few. Incidentally Lord Howe was a close neighbour and nursed me as a baby.