[fozzymandeus]

Just bought q 2004/54 plate Mini Cooper S in Dark Silver after 7 years of running BMWs. Not got it yet but can't wait!! Very excited!

Based in North Wales so looking forward to some B road drives in the new car.

[..Blackadder..]

Welcome to mini2 mate you'll love it we need to see some pics of her when you collect.

[Paul]

Hello.

[AprilWhine]

Welcome!

[Fin]

Where abouts in North Wales?

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Looking forward to trying out the roads of North Wales very soon (Oswestry / Bala / Dolgellau / Blaenau Ffestiniog / Pass of Llanberis and then back along the north coast). Looks like perfect Cooper S territory

See you there

Tigger.

[nylo]

Hiya!

And great colour to have gone for - good choice Happy driving!

[Fin]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tigger, Eeyore & Roo (original)

Looking forward to trying out the roads of North Wales very soon (Oswestry / Bala / Dolgellau / Blaenau Ffestiniog / Pass of Llanberis and then back along the north coast). Looks like perfect Cooper S territory

See you there

Tigger.

Give me a shout when your there Tigger, I live in Colwyn Bay and often go driving through Snowdonia. Also, Conwy County Borough Council are making a complete hash of some work on the A55 causing delays, so I can check when your going to be here to see if an alternative route may be required for some of your coast journey

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fin (original)

Give me a shout when your there Tigger, I live in Colwyn Bay and often go driving through Snowdonia. Also, Conwy County Borough Council are making a complete hash of some work on the A55 causing delays, so I can check when your going to be here to see if an alternative route may be required for some of your coast journey

That'd be great

I should be passing through there on Thursday 14/2/08. I'll be starting at Oswestry and taking the-very-long-way-around to Kendall! We Even with a day off in York, I'm hoping we'll manage to clock about 1,500 miles in 5 days Just let me know which bit to avoid and I'll reroute further south. I could easily go from Bangor down the A5 to Betws-y-Coed to catch a bit more of Snowdonia and go cross country to meet up with the A55 at either Conway, Abergele, St Asaph or even as far east as Buckley. Knowing the area as you do, which would you recommend?

Thanks in advance,

Tigger.

[Fin]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tigger, Eeyore & Roo (original)

That'd be great

I should be passing through there on Thursday 14/2/08. I'll be starting at Oswestry and taking the-very-long-way-around to Kendall! We Even with a day off in York, I'm hoping we'll manage to clock about 1,500 miles in 5 days Just let me know which bit to avoid and I'll reroute further south. I could easily go from Bangor down the A5 to Betws-y-Coed to catch a bit more of Snowdonia and go cross country to meet up with the A55 at either Conway, Abergele, St Asaph or even as far east as Buckley. Knowing the area as you do, which would you recommend?

Thanks in advance,

Tigger.

Well, if you don't mind the long route :

While your on your way north from Dolgellau on the A470 you could turn onto the A487 to take you towards Porthmadog and just around the outside of Snowdonia National Park to Caernarfon. Then you could take the A4086 which will take you to Llanberis, along by Llanberis lake and towards the Llanberis pass. The pass is a great road, I'd definitely take a camera as the views are excellent.

When you descend on the other side you come to a T junction with a hotel (whose name escapes me) on the left. If you turn left (continuing on the A4086) in about 50m there is a layby on the right where you can park up to take in the view. There is a small lake next to it. If you face it with your back to the road you can see down the valley in the direction of Blaenu Ffestiniog. If you face the road with your back to the lake you will be looking at the Glyders (Glyder Fawr, 999m and Glyder Fach, 994m), and to the left of them behind the hotel Moel Berfedd. If it is a pleasant day, with light southerly or easterly winds you may see a couple of paragliders trying to ridge soar.

If you get back in your car and continue on the A4086 you will come to another T junction with the A5 by Capel Curig, and you can take a right towards Betws-y-Coed. From here you could head north on the A470 to the A55 at Llandudno Junction, or continue east on the A5.

The roadworks have been carried out on the A55 by Llanfairfechan, stretching on a bit to Penmaenmawr. The route I have described above will avoid them. If I was you, from the option above I would go north on the A470, through Llanrwst to Llandudno Junction. It will bring you to a small roundabout by a Shell Garage, with a bigger roundabout (Called the Black Cat roundabout) just in front which has the A55 above it. If your more a Tesco 99 kindofguy, and you need petrol (likely after your B-road blasting ) take the first exit on the Black Cat roundabout it will take you on the A55 west. Take the first exit (in about 400yds) and go around the roundabout at the top of the slip road and take the third exit. This will take you to another small roundabout. You can clearly see Tesco off to the left. On the right, there is a Pizza Hut, McDonalds and KFC. If you go straight on you can go go into Conwy to have a drive around (nice, but the cobbled streets are unforgiving with the Cooper S suspension!).

If by this point you need to make up time, you can get back onto the A55 and head east or you can go from Conwy through Deganwy and along the coast to Llandudno. You can drive through Llandudno and come to the other end of the A470 and take it back toward the A55, ending up at the otherside of the Black Cat roundabout. Also, there is a MINI garage just by that roundabout if you fancy a browse.

Let me know what times you think you'll be there and hopefully I can come join you for a drive. With it being Valentine's though, I may be in Liverpool to see my girlfriend if she's not home

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Thanks, that is absolutely brilliant. With one minor mod (I'll go to Porthmadog then up the A498 to Beddgelert, then take the A4085 down to Caernarfon). After that I'll follow the route you gave exactly; I'll print out what you've said and staple it to the map

Yep, I'll definitely be filling up on some 99 at Tescos and I dare say we'll wind up in Pizza Hut too!

If you are able to join us for some of the route then that'd be great Who knows, maybe fozzymandeus could join us in his new S as well How about it fozzymandeus?!

I'll PM my mobile contact number just incase you're around on the day.

Tigger.

[Tigger, Eeyore & Roo]

Fin,

While I've got your help, once we've left Wales and we're on our way to Cumbria, is it best to stick to the M56 and M6 to get around Liverpool, or is there anything to be gained by having a detour via the M56, through the Mersey Tunnel and then out on the A580 to meet up with the M6 again at Golborne? Or is this detour a really bad idea?

Tigger.

[fozzymandeus]

Quote: Originally Posted by Fin (original)

Where abouts in North Wales?

Mochdre, daily commute to Ruthin.

[fozzymandeus]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tigger, Eeyore & Roo (original)

Fin,

While I've got your help, once we've left Wales and we're on our way to Cumbria, is it best to stick to the M56 and M6 to get around Liverpool, or is there anything to be gained by having a detour via the M56, through the Mersey Tunnel and then out on the A580 to meet up with the M6 again at Golborne? Or is this detour a really bad idea?

Tigger.

Don't go through the Tunnel. If you want to get off the Motorway go via the Runcorn bridge and aim for the M57, although I wouldnt particularly recommend it if you're aiming for Kendal.

As regards 14/2/08... I'll be doing very little all day as I'm a Teacher and it's half term!

[Fin]

Quote: Originally Posted by Tigger, Eeyore & Roo (original)

Fin,

While I've got your help, once we've left Wales and we're on our way to Cumbria, is it best to stick to the M56 and M6 to get around Liverpool, or is there anything to be gained by having a detour via the M56, through the Mersey Tunnel and then out on the A580 to meet up with the M6 again at Golborne? Or is this detour a really bad idea?

Tigger.

I think you'd be best going M56/M6. My girlfriend drove us throught he Mersey tunnel earlier in the week. It was fine until we hit traffic the other side. We headed more towards Allerton than the A580, but with the road works going on there it may back traffic up causing delays getting to the A580. I'm thinking it will more likely be near to rush hour time by the time you're out of Wales.

I've never had any trouble with the M56/M6 route

Quote: Originally Posted by fozzymandeus (original)

Mochdre, daily commute to Ruthin.

I use to work in Mochdre. On the industrial estate near the cafe. I'll keep an eye out for you when I'm driving about.