Driving to Pembrokeshire from Lancs

[ChrisJB]

I'm after a bit of route advice. In a week I'm driving down to Pembrokeshire for a family holiday and we will be towing a folding camper. The AA Routefinder suggests taking A roads down through Wales, via Wrexham, Welshpool, Newtown, Newtown, Llandrindod Wells, Llandovery and Carmarthen. However, I'm bothered about the facilities for stopping en route, with toilet stops for the kids, easy parking with a big trailer, etc. Thus, I'm thinking of the longer alternative, sticking to motorways mostly (M6, M5, M50, A40, A465). Will this longer (in miles) route, take much longer in terms of time?
Any other suggestions/advice would be appreciated too. Thanks in advance.

Chris

[PMG]

I had a look at this yesterday Chris then forgot to make any suggestions!

The non-motorway route (I did recheck the road numbers to be sure they were the road that I know but I can't remember the numbers again tonight) but anyway the route you mention thro Wrexham as far as Newtown I do know and use to get to Gigrin Farm to watch the Red Kites. Its a good route for a car esp early morning (tho badgers, deer and rabbits can be a hazard early and late in the day!) I thought about myself towing and thought about the folk following and the number of agricultural workers, Landys and the like bombing about on their business, which means you would have to be prepared to allow folks to pass where safe, or pull over from time to time and let the queue get past, or ignore the lot and possibly get involved in an accident when some idiot in a BMW decides hes waited long enough and 'guns it' up the wrong side of the road! I don't know what its like as you get to your destination tho as I've never gone that far?

In some respects the motorway could potentially be better depending what time of day you undertake it. We always set off very early when going south - its been known at 3 and 4am and defo off by 5am to get around Spaghetti Junction Provided there are no hold ups and travel is steady and stops don't take more than 15-20 mins (you'd be surprised just how many times a loo stop gets to 40 mins!) if you're really concerned with journey length, then I would hazard a guess - and its only a guess - that even if longer it may take the same as the shorter route or it may be quicker cos you're averaging a better continuous speed. It may be safer potentially, there are less accidents on motorways than single roads I think? And the loo stops are predictable and often

Given all that if I was towing or wanted to be home at a certain time with as little fuss as possible I would stick with motorways (unless I was in Kent when I seem to remember we quickly learned to avoid whichever motorway crossed Kent to the channel tunnel!!!) but we were already there and on hol so there was no need to touch it - had we been going for the tunnel I suppose we would have put up with whatever the condtitions were.

Does the AA routemaster not give a few alternatives - like the motorways and estimate time of travel? I'm sure you can tell it to find the route that way?

Hope you enjoy and the weather smiles

Pauline

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by PMG

I had a look at this yesterday Chris then forgot to make any suggestions!

The non-motorway route (I did recheck the road numbers to be sure they were the road that I know but I can't remember the numbers again tonight) but anyway the route you mention thro Wrexham as far as Newtown I do know and use to get to Gigrin Farm to watch the Red Kites. Its a good route for a car esp early morning (tho badgers, deer and rabbits can be a hazard early and late in the day!) I thought about myself towing and thought about the folk following and the number of agricultural workers, Landys and the like bombing about on their business, which means you would have to be prepared to allow folks to pass where safe, or pull over from time to time and let the queue get past, or ignore the lot and possibly get involved in an accident when some idiot in a BMW decides hes waited long enough and 'guns it' up the wrong side of the road! I don't know what its like as you get to your destination tho as I've never gone that far?

In some respects the motorway could potentially be better depending what time of day you undertake it. We always set off very early when going south - its been known at 3 and 4am and defo off by 5am to get around Spaghetti Junction Provided there are no hold ups and travel is steady and stops don't take more than 15-20 mins (you'd be surprised just how many times a loo stop gets to 40 mins!) if you're really concerned with journey length, then I would hazard a guess - and its only a guess - that even if longer it may take the same as the shorter route or it may be quicker cos you're averaging a better continuous speed. It may be safer potentially, there are less accidents on motorways than single roads I think? And the loo stops are predictable and often

Given all that if I was towing or wanted to be home at a certain time with as little fuss as possible I would stick with motorways (unless I was in Kent when I seem to remember we quickly learned to avoid whichever motorway crossed Kent to the channel tunnel!!!) but we were already there and on hol so there was no need to touch it - had we been going for the tunnel I suppose we would have put up with whatever the condtitions were.

Does the AA routemaster not give a few alternatives - like the motorways and estimate time of travel? I'm sure you can tell it to find the route that way?

Hope you enjoy and the weather smiles

Pauline

A splendidly detailed and useful response Pauline, thank you. I'll redo the AA thing, but I think I shall take your advice and take the motorway.

Cheers, Chris

[PMG]

Originally Posted by ChrisJB

A splendidly detailed and useful response Pauline, thank you. I'll redo the AA thing, but I think I shall take your advice and take the motorway.

Cheers, Chris

That A road is a good fast route in a car. I just hope you don;t come back on after and say 'Damn you - it took 16 hours cos this went wrong and that went wrong' Only joking I'm sure it will be fine. Of course if you really wanted to test out the two options go via the motorway and come back on the ordinary A roads. Simples. Tchk

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by PMG

That A road is a good fast route in a car. I just hope you don;t come back on after and say 'Damn you - it took 16 hours cos this went wrong and that went wrong' Only joking I'm sure it will be fine. Of course if you really wanted to test out the two options go via the motorway and come back on the ordinary A roads. Simples. Tchk

Just done the AA Routefinder again and the motorway route adds about 70 miles, but only half an hour and I have the added bonus of easy parking of the folding camper at service stations (I can't reverse it to save my life!).

Chris

[Gerel]

Hi Chris, I live near Llangurig which is halfway down your route. Personally, I would take the A-roads, going Welshool. Newtown, past Llanidloes to Llangurig, Rhayader, Newbridge-on-Wye where you take a right to Beulah, Llanwrtyd Wells, Llandovery, Llandeilo, Carmarthen and then whichever area of Pembrokeshire you're heading for.

With the exception of a few twisty bits (Newbridge to Llanwrtyd springs to mind) these are all fairly good A-roads (by Welsh standards). This is the route I will be taking (with the Gypsy style caravan I've just finished building (showing off - oh yes ))



I drive this route quite frequently and definitely prefer it to M-ways, although this may depend on how used to country roads you are.

[maccyd82]

I would say check AA roadwatch just before you set off, it will tell you if there are any incidents or slow traffic on your routes, so if there has been an accident on the motorway you can go the other way.

Plus its the school holidays so there wont be much rush hour traffic so no need to leave at the crack of dawn!

Traffic News: Live from AA Roadwatch - The AA

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by Gerel

Hi Chris, I live near Llangurig which is halfway down your route. Personally, I would take the A-roads, going Welshool. Newtown, past Llanidloes to Llangurig, Rhayader, Newbridge-on-Wye where you take a right to Beulah, Llanwrtyd Wells, Llandovery, Llandeilo, Carmarthen and then whichever area of Pembrokeshire you're heading for.

With the exception of a few twisty bits (Newbridge to Llanwrtyd springs to mind) these are all fairly good A-roads (by Welsh standards). This is the route I will be taking (with the Gypsy style caravan I've just finished building (showing off - oh yes ))



I drive this route quite frequently and definitely prefer it to M-ways, although this may depend on how used to country roads you are.

And well worth showing off it is too. It looks tremendous! I would prefer this way, but the main caveat is the facilities en route (toilets, cafes, etc for the kids) and the ease of parking with a trailer when you are as useless as me at reversing it!

p.s, thanks for that Maccy D too. I'll do that.

Cheers, Chris

[The Woodman]

Chris, I've withheld until now!

Because I don't know the last bit of your trip at the Welsh end, I can't comment, your offered route down through Wales on the A roads runs through some superb countryside, some of which I've lived and worked in.

Depending on where you live in Lancs, my choice would be to travel the first part of the journey on the M6 and M56 leaving it at Chester and travelling the newish link to the A5 at Gobowen and onward to Oswestry (Sorry Pauline). Of course you'll have to do what's best for your passengers.

The journey would attract me as much as the holiday! Fabulous countryside once again.

There seems to be to be a disproportionate number of speed cameras on the Welsh side of Offa's Dyke and the attraction of a higher than normal night run in traffic-less conditions is a thing of the past.

Have a good holiday whichever route you take.