we set off mid morning friday for a long weekend in wales.

just wanted to get there so M1, M6 and M54 it was.

across to llanidloes and then the A44.

we stopped for a coffee and came across these

red kites

then on to the BnB close to devils bridge.

saturday and we took a scenic drive up the coast roads to snowdon.

you lucky welsh buggers, the roads and views are terrific!

the weather was dry! so we took the mountain railway to the top.

the road to llanberis is at the bottom of the valley

looks like this when you're on it

nearly there but going into the clouds

didn't expect to find a yeti at the top!

back down the hill and heading for the BnB and dinner but not before a bit of easy offroading to glaslyn lake (thanx graham, we found it) the mountain road from mach to dylife is a good one!

once we got to the top, harry coped really well and gave a very comfortable ride over the slate and gravel road to the lake, through some big puddles.

i should have a pic of the puddles but the wife refused to get out in the lashing rain to take them!

sunday was spent travelling home, trying to avoid the nutters intent on killing us!!

1 the car in front tried to overtake a horsebox round a blind right hand bend causing the oncoming car, the horsebox and me to emergency stop in avoidance.

2 following a caravan and a few other cars, approaching the brow of a hill, the white van man 3 cars behind me decides to overtake all of us and he's going for it regardless!!

he crests the hill, blind, on the wrong side of the road on the wrong side of solid white lines!!

all of us are now braking and waiting for the bang!

he got away with it as nothing was coming but he didn't know that.

3 on the A40 dual carriageway doing 70 and approaching a sliproad on the left. VW passat overtakes us then decides, at the last moment, that he wants the sliproad. more emergency stopping as he wanders across then back to lane 2. we nearly come to a complete stop, side by side, before he gives up and drives on. i will give this one some credit though. once it had all calmed down he did apologise with a sheepish wave.

anyway, we did make it home in one piece having done about 700 miles in 3 days.

managed to get 590 miles out of a tankfull and average consumption, according to maxidot, was 54.8mpg. not bad for a real mix of roads.

only onw slight worry. harry seems to have developed a rumble/vibration through the gearlever when slowing in 4th (see seperate thread)

all in all, a bloody good weekend

Great pics, great story, great car!!

Near Rhayader there is Gigrin farm where they rear Red Kites, and feeding time is mid-afternoon. You can get some terrific shots of them en masse. Your pics of the birds are excellent.

Great pics, great story, great car!!

Near Rhayader there is Gigrin farm where they rear Red Kites, and feeding time is mid-afternoon. You can get some terrific shots of them en masse. Your pics of the birds are excellent.

Thanx,

They were taken at Nant yr Arian Centre on the A44 near Aberystwyth.

I've been to gigrin farm before and we drove past today, but we didn't have time to stop there this trip

Thought I recognised some of the views; there last summer with the old Pat Monster. Took the Train up and walked back down, doesn't half take it out on the knees mind :S

Glad you had a good break and got through what sounds like a roller-coaster of a journey home.

Oh that vibration thing, mines done something similar but just the once so far, descending the steep Garrowby Hill, very odd :wonder:

A while back we had a Golf 4motion and that had a very bad vibration in 6th, sometimes see the gear stick impersonate an overloaded washing machine Changed the prop shaft 3 times but never did fully cure it. Something miss-aligned or out of balance somewhere. Problem is a lot of dealers these days don't have the experienced staff to properly fault find.

Regards,

TP

Wow! I love your photos, looks like you had a very nice time.

The track down to Glaslyn is good, isn't it?

Glad you enjoyed your visit. Now people can see why we LOVE living here.

The track down to Glaslyn is good, isn't it?

Glad you enjoyed your visit. Now people can see why we LOVE living here.

i would love living there too. if it stopped raining!

just kidding. i love it up there.

the weather was a bit on and off but that didn't put a dampener on the trip.

it seemed to clear up just at the right moments.

next time i'm coming on the bike to ride some of the roads we found.

they were really good fun in the yeti and they'll be even better on the bike.

we couldn't go right down to the lake as the gate was shut but enjoyed ploughing through the huge puddle just before it!

we passed the sweet lamb rally stages on the friday.

are they open just for ralllies or can you just turn up and drive them?

now that would be a fun weekend for a group of yetis.

You aren't allowed to drive down to the lake, as it is actually a SSSI. Something about some special plant and a rare fish (??)

Sweet Lamb can be booked if you have a suitable car, but is VERY expensive as you also have to have first aid, etc. It is used a lot by works and professional teams for testing, plus rallies throughout the year. I am often either there or in Hafren, so get to drive it! Also useful that the owner's wife is a customer in the shop!!

Good job I didn't try to open the gate then. Don't want to get into trouble do I?

Lucky chap

Nice pictures and write-up

Splendid pics!

Added to my list of places to visit when Yorkie is ready to hit the road.

Bet its good when there`s a bit of snow but would get grief from Wonderwoman if I suggested a sledging trip!

Splendid pics!

Added to my list of places to visit when Yorkie is ready to hit the road.

Bet its good when there`s a bit of snow but would get grief from Wonderwoman if I suggested a sledging trip!

Let me know when and I'll show you the way.

Last winter the road over the mountain was closed for over 4 weeks. They didn't even bother bringing the snow blower up to clear it! I drove over to Machy a couple of days after it was opened and it was "interesting!!"

You aren't allowed to drive down to the lake, as it is actually a SSSI. Something about some special plant and a rare fish (??)

I run to Lake Glaslyn every Sunday with my dog; I have even run round it, and swum in it!- (I don't recommend the running round it bit, it gets very muddy!). Sometimes the gate is left open and people do drive down to the lake and camp...

CFB - you must have driven past my house in Dylife - the one with the big wind turbine. If you had stopped, I could have shown you my winter wheels and tyres! - That's all I have so far!

Graham was right when he said the mountain road was closed for a month. We used to venture out occasionally, down hill, then on return have a fast a run at the hill as I dared, then when stuck walk the rest of the way home to collect the tractor (compact) and tow car & wife the last few hundred yards!

This is my main reason for buying a SM - with winter wheels & tyres of course.

Thanks, I liked the pictures.

tristar,

I can't remember seeing a wind turbine in the village, but then I was "enjoying" the road and not really paying attention to much else.

no good asking the wife if she saw it... she's got the memory of that special fish in glaslyn lake

Tristar,

got you!!

Next time I'm up there I'll give you a toot.

You must be mad swimming in Glaslyn, it's blomming freezing!!!!!!!!!! Wonder how warm Bugeilyn gets?