Planning a driving trip in England this May. The longest drive is from the Cotswolds to Conway with 7 or 8 possible routes. Can anyone suggest a scenic route that doesn't require an entire day!
Posted by
white plains, ny, usa
4140 posts
Evidently , there are a number of routes , but the real question here is - do you only want to get there , or do you want to meander along the way ? Breaking the drive over two , or even three days , would give you the opportunity to enjoy a number of delicious stops along the way . Here is one possibility - Head from the Cotswolds north west towards Shropshire , stop for a while in Ludlow . From there , up along Wenlock Edge toward the delightful village of Church Stretton . Continue along the A5 via Llangollen , north on the A 470 toward Conwy and Llandudno . I'll leave the stopping places and final routing to you, but ask if you have detailed questions . I particularly liked Ludlow and St Laurence Church , in great part due to the work and memory of AE Housman and his poem cycle " A Shropshire Lad " . Llandudno was a charmer for us ! have a moment here - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Shropshire_Lad And my favorite of the poems -http://www.bartleby.com/123/2.html
Posted by
3122 posts
Gosh, if you are a Vaughan Williams fan you must go by Wenlock Edge!
Posted by
white plains, ny, usa
4140 posts
And George Butterworth .
Posted by
NSW Australia
703 posts
if you are anywhere near welshpool stop in at Powis castle, we enjoyed it very much.
Posted by
2403 posts
You don’t say where your starting point in the Cotswolds. As has already been said, there are plenty of places of interest between the Cotswolds & Conwy and to see them would really require a 2 day trip.
I will now suggest a route that takes in some interesting places:>
Leave Chipping Campden & join A44 going towards Evesham - which you loop around on the by-pass. Then B4084 towards Pershore
& pass south of Worcester to rejoin A44 going towards Bromyard. (It is very bendy). As you approach Bromyard, look out for signs directing you R to LOWER BROCKHAMPTON HALL. It is a bit of a drive but at the bottom of the hill you will find the Hall. (Everything you expected Ye Olde England to be).http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/brockhampton-estate/
Return to A44 & continue W to join A49 heading N. Do not take Ludlow by-pass but drive into this small town and take a look around.
http://www.ludlow.org.uk
Now back onto A49 going N (towards Shrewsbury). About 10 minutes up the road is this:> http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/stokesay-castle/
If you are running late - stay on A49 heading for Shrewsbury & then A5 going NW into Wales via Llangollen & continue on A5 via Bettws-Y-Coed & then A470 to Conwy. (However, it is faster to avoid Llangollen - stay on A483 towards Chester and then A55 to Conwy. (This will be all dual highways but will miss the scenic areas).
Another alternative, if you have time, is to fork left just N of Craven Arms & follow A489 to Church Stoke & then A490 towards Welshpool in order to visit Powis Castle. http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/powis-castle/
On leaving Powis Castle - take A483 towards Oswestry / Chirk for A5 into Wales via Llangollen (as before or use the expressway route).
Once in Conwy, be sure to see Bodnant Gardens. (It is at its best in May - don't miss the Laburnum tunnel - which too the left of the entrance & will be in full bloom in May). http://www.bodnantgarden.co.uk
Have you given yourselves enough time to 'do' north Wales? In addition to Bodnant, I would prioritise to Betws-Y-Coed & then A5 to Capel Curig > A4086 > via Beddgelert & A4085 via Garreg to PORTMEIRION.http://www.portmeirion-village.com
Alternatively, if the weather is clear, you may wish to prioritise going to Llanberis and up Snowdon via the mountain railway. You can then add Caernarvon Castle to the trip before returning to Conway.
http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/caernarfon-castle/?lang=en
http://www.greatorme.org.uk
https://www.snowdonrailway.co.uk
Posted by
OP
3 posts
Thank you ,all, and especially James: your thoroughness and thoughtful advise surpassed my expectations! I will take at least two days to make this journey.
Posted by
2403 posts
Many thanks for the kind comment. Some people don’t even bother to come back and knowledge the they have returned.
You may also be interested in seeing this wonder of the Victorian age - which is just off the A483 E of Llangollen.
You can walk across it for free - as I did 2 years ago.
http://www.visitwales.com/things-to-do/attractions/castles-heritage/world-heritage-sites/pontcysyllte-aqueduct