Perhaps
a day or three in Wales
would be pleasant, especially when the sky is clear and the hills and reservoirs
reflect the sun.
Try Lymington, Salisbury, Devises, Chippenham and get on the
M4 at Junction 17. Use this ghastly road until the split at J21 and use the M48
to cross the river Severn. The toll is free for bikes, and you could use the services
here for a break (you are 100 miles from Lymington).
Cross
this spectacular sight and get onto the A466 at J2, cross the A48 at the roundabout,
still on the A466 for nearly a mile, and turn left at the HONDA garage for USK,
on the interesting B4235. On entering Usk watch out for the grey safety camera
and, as the road narrows in the town, turn right for Abergavenny on the B4598.
At the roundabout complex head north on the A465 toward Hereford. Ride for
5 miles and take the run off left for Llanvihangel Crucorney (there's a mouthful!)
past the small fuel garage on your left, and then next left, under the bridge,
to Stanton, Llanthony and the very narrow slow, twisty lane through to Capel-y-ffin
to Hay Buff, 667 metres above sea level! This road should be the B4423. On a clear
day enjoy a well deserved picnic whilst admiring the Wye Valley before you. Continue
downhill to Hay on Wye, "the" town for bookworms. Now find your way
to Talgarth in a southwesterly direction and use the B4560 via Llangors Lake.
Is anyone sailing or water-skiing?
Join the A40 by turning left or east for
one mile and turn right onto B4560 over the canal and turn right onto B4558 to
Talybont on Usk, turn left over a small lifting bridge over the murky canal and
ride on for the Talybont reservoir, Pontsticill reservoir, Merthyr Tydfil mountain
railway and enjoy passing through this national park.
Find your way to the
A470 and head north for Brecon on this sweeping road, but not too fast as you
will miss the ever unfolding view. Once in Brecon find the B4520 to Lower and
Upper Chapel (I used the small road N.W. to Battle, passing the golf course and
then east and left onto B4520). At Upper Chapel I used the B4519 to Garth via
the military firing range. Don't miss this road if the weather is clear and don't
stray from the Tarmac. Lead shot is not good for you! You will find parking and
a view that will not disappoint on your right, with a helpful information point
to read. Start your descent after the cattle grid and look over your right shoulder
before the second grid as you're about to get into the trees and spot where you
have just been.
Join the A483 at Garth and head west or left for 3 miles to
Beulah and turn right or northeast onto the B4358 for an interesting spin to Newbridge
on Wye. Left onto the A470 and past the red kite bird centre on your right just
south of Rhayader (free flight feeding times - 3pm BST or 2pm GMT daily) œ2.50
adults.
At Rhayader turn left onto West Street B4518, and 100yds on I stayed
at the ELAN HOTEL, biker friendly, out of view parking,£25 B &
B p.p. Don't miss the roast dinner at about £8. Tel: 01597810109.
From
this comfortable base most of Wales is within a reasonable distance, but don't
leave Rhayader without riding round the ELAN VALLEY, village and all the dams
and reservoirs and the mountain road to Aberystwyth, and many other great sites
sourced from tourist information centres.
From
here I returned fairly quickly on the A44 via Leominster and onto Stow on the
Wold, A424 to Burford, A361 onto Swindon, with a choice of routes to Salisbury
and home.
A
Day or three
in Wales