Welsh Coast mini-ride

Hi everyone,

Giving the proximity to the bishops castle ride-out, and my inexperience in long-rides, lots of luggage etc. I'm going to go for a mini-ride to the welsh coast this weekend. Mainly to test my bike luggage, camping gear etc. etc. etc.

Hoping to leave Shrewsbury Saturday morning pre tin-tenter wake up time. Take the A5 up to Oswestry, onto Llangollen, through Corwen, then down the A494 past Bala Lake, past Dolgellau then into Barmouth. Camping down one night somewhere near Barmouth. Then cruise back Sunday (Route not decided yet, but if the weathers good I see myself going into Snowdonia and over the mountains before getting back on the A5).

Anyone local feeling like a little ride (or even to camp as well) more than welcome!

Congratulations, you're the first to try out the calendar


Hope you have a great mini-ride.

Damn it Westy would have loved to join you and I've been in Wales the last 2 weekends but I'm working this weekend :(

Good luck though

Fantastic roads, have a great time & ride safely.

It's where I've just done my Bikesafe course, stunning roads, (even better when you've got a traffic cop showing you the very best roads and speed traps)

Snowcat wrote:It's where I've just done my Bikesafe course

What county police did you do it with? I have been looking at this but i think the nearest is Cheshire.

North Wales Ben, run from Rhyl Fire station I think once a month. The best part is its free in Wales at the moment, totally subsidised just pay a £10 admin/booking fee.

I'd pay ten times that just for the ride out in the welsh valleys and moors, cracking day and would recommend it.

Will try to get a full report on the forum later but seriously 'BOOK IT MATE'!!

I'd pay ten times that just for the ride out in the welsh valleys and moors, cracking day and would recommend it!

So I presume you'll be booking yourself a place at BC4 this year?

Struggling to do the whole weekend Ellie but will be meeting up for the ride if I can score some brownie points with Mrs Snowcat

Just thought since I have just found my SD USB reader and can get the pictures off my camera. I would upload the single picture I took of my bike during the weekend and give a quick write up.

My bike in its "tour" configuration...

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The ride itself was very good, bit cold on the way there and had to stop halfway for some milk and to warm my fingers up! But only a light smatter of rain about 10 minutes out of Barmouth
Took route as planned on the way out, and for the 100+ times I have done it in a car, it did not dissapoint on the bike

Met a husband & wife in the pub in Barmouth that night and since I forgot to take trainers, I was in my boots & riding bottoms hence they started talking to me
Turned out they too were avid bikers of only a few years (had a 1200 Bandit) that they cruise round wales on In fairer weather

Road back was the A458 through welshpool... This one was even better than the way out (although that may have been because of the dry road!).

Overall a brilliant ride, just made me want BC to be next weekend though!

Nice write up Ben, glad you enjoyed the ride out and yeah BC gonna be good can't wait myself, and yeah you'll always find a biker friend in any corner of the country.

Nice one mate, glad its whet your appetite for more adventure