The Ultimate Welsh Road Trip 2022

Last month, we wrote about the Scottish Highlands and the materials you’d need for such a trip. In this month’s edition of John Craddock magazine, we’ll be following on from that article. This time, however,  we’ll be heading south and talking about another great destination for any gear head: Wales.

While not as large as the Scottish Highlands, the valleys of Wales offer a fantastic opportunity for exploration and a great time in their own right. At the same time, Wales has some fantastic beaches and some of the most beautiful greenery anywhere in the UK. And for the off roaders out there, Wales is definitely not short of some great off-roading sites. So, with enough adieu, let’s start the road trip.

Starting Point: Cardiff

Starting in the Welsh capital city of Cardiff, you’ll be able to experience everything the city has to offer before starting your trip proper. Spend some time at the bay, take in the nightlife and fantastic restaurant scene before starting your journey.

Before you leave, however, you might want to do a little off-roading. Based only a few miles away from Cardiff is Taff’s Well, a well-known off-roading centre. While not cheap, Taff’s Well features multiple off-roading challenges and a course that is sure to get your blood pumping.

Unfortunately, Taff’s Well does require that you use their vehicle and not their own on their course – so you’ll have to park the Land Rover up. However, if you’re planning on continuing on the road trip afterwards, keeping your car clean might be a good idea. Plus, if you can tax someone else’s air suspension and test their terrain response and not your own then all the better.

Ultimately, the choice is yours. If you do decide to visit Taff’s Well, it’s £121 for a half-day activity.

Leaving Cardiff

Once you’ve made your decision and are leaving Cardiff, head north up the A470 towards Llandrillo. This is an excellent route for nature lovers as you’ll pass some stunning landmarks, like the Pen y Fan and the Elan Valley, as well as beautiful water sources such as the Lyn Clywedog, the Claerwen, and Caban Coch. Seeing these breathtaking sights is reason enough to take this trip; however, this is only the start of the trip!

After a busy morning taking in the scenery, you’ll no doubt start to feel hungry. Even if you don’t, however, you should take in a quick stop soon because you’re about to come within walking distance of the Tyddyn Llan – an establishment which Wales Online called ‘the best restaurant in Wales.’

Continuing onwards: Liandrillo

From there, the next part of your small grand tour will take you from the small village Lliandrilo to Llandudno on the Welsh coast. This is a gentle, picturesque trip, and you’ll find yourself going through a number of similarly descrip villages, such as Betwys Y Coed – where you’ll be able to get something to eat.

At the same time, though, you shouldn’t be ignoring the natural wonders around you. For example, the Swallow Falls is a beautiful waterfall that you can only reach by foot. Likewise, this area also contains Conwy Castle – one of the most majestic castles in Wales and a sure hit for history buffs out there.

Llandudno is the next stop on this road trip. The small Welsh town features the famous pier and promenade, and is a great place to stop off for a while. Not only can you find some delicious food within the town, but you can also find some great spots to rest for a night before continuing onwards.

Snowdonia

If we could describe this trip so far in one word it would be serene. Sure, there were some beautiful  sights, and it would be wrong for us to say that the trip wasn’t worth it just for these. However, what’s coming up next is something different. Something awe inspiring.

Snowdonia, home of Mount Snowdon, is one of the most majestic places in all of the United Kingdom. In old Welsh, it’s called Eryri – the home of the eagles. And rightly so, because Snowdonia features some truly incredible peaks.

Furthermore, for over five years Snowdonia has allowed visitors to go off-road in the park, allowing them to explore the region themselves. This offers Land Rover owners such as ourselves an excellent opportunity to visit one of the most majestic sights in the United Kingdom and see it our way. What could be better than that?

Aberdaron

While spending a good amount of time off roading through some of the best landscape in the UK sounds like a dream come true, it’ll be time to move on eventually. For our money, the next place to go would be Aberdaron – a very small village on the very western tip of Wales. Aberdaron has a single road in and out of the village and not much more than that; however, it’s beach is something truly to behold – especially after the majesty of Snowdonia.

If you’re hungry, you can visit one of the local restaurants. Aberdaron is home to some of the finest seafood in the United Kingdom, with crab and lobster being a particular local delicacy.

Leaving Aberdaron, you’ll be taking the road along Cardigan Bay to the small, sleepy town of Aberaeron. This is the final part of your journey; however, we’re very confident you’ll agree that we’ve saved the best for last.

The Aberdaron to Aberaeron is a beautiful road – one that allows you to see both sides of this wonderful part of the world. Out of one window you have the lush greenery of the Welsh countryside. In the other window, you have the gorgeous view of the Irish sea that is sure to inspire you.

When you’re done looking around the town and bay, you should visit the Harbourmaster Hotel for a good night’s rest. The Harbourmaster is famous for its high-quality rooms and superb food, and well-known for the lively atmosphere in its bar – meaning that you’re going to have a whale of a time.

Return Trip – Make It Your Own

Once you’re done with Aberaeron, it’s time to head back to Cardiff. This is a 160 kilometre trip, which should take you about three hours travelling as the crow flies. However, you may not want to travel like a crow. In fact, we encourage you to find your own route.

Being able to find your own way and having adventures is a big part of the appeal of owning a Land Rover, after all.

So we encourage our readers to drive off the well-worn road, go into the wild and see what’s there. Furthermore, we encourage you to write to us and tell us about the incredible trails you find, the hidden gems just off the beaten path, and the fantastic memories you make on your ultimate Welsh road trip.

Contact John Craddock

For any help putting your dream road trip together, contact John Craddock today. Alternatively, browse our catalogue today.

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