We have toured quite a bit in north Wales so know that area well but we are less sure about other areas of Wales. We have been looking at a site near Brecon and are wondering about the A483 and what it is like for towing. We will be going there from another site but on the way home to Liverpool, the route that Google maps is suggesting is from Brecon, up the A483 via Welshpool to Oswestry and then on to Liverpool. From Oswestry onwards we are fine and know the road well but we are not familiar with the bit from Brecon to Oswestry. On the map it looks quite twisty, does anyone know this route well and can comment on what it is like to tow on if you are not keen on towing to begin with! Is there a better route?
Done the A483 many, many times and it`s my route of choice. Yes, it`s twisty in places but nothing too taxing but it`s also a stunning drive over much of the route.
I`ve read a lot of comments in the past from saying it `isn`t suitable for caravans` (funny how 44-tonne artics don`t seem to have an issue) to someone several years ago saying it was so steep it `boiled the transmission fluid in his Shogun`. Towing a tonne and a half with a Volvo V60 it is a doddle so I beg to differ.
Biggest problem we had last time was following (along with 20+ other cars and trucks) an utter (insert your own expletive) in a motorhome doing between 18 and 35 mph (in the national speed limit stretches) for over 20 miles and blindly refused to pull over to let anyone past!
If going north from Brecon towards Oswestry the best route is the A470 north through Buith Wells, Rhayader (which is a bit narrow for about 100yds), passed Llanidloes and after the level crossing near Caersws joining the A483 then around Newtown and Welshpool.
This route has better roads and is much flatter than taking the direct route from Llandrindod Wells to Newtown and uses much less fuel although it is a couple of miles further.
Quote: Originally posted by LlaniDavis on 17/2/2023
I live in this area so know the roads well.
If going north from Brecon towards Oswestry the best route is the A470 north through Buith Wells, Rhayader (which is a bit narrow for about 100yds), passed Llanidloes and after the level crossing near Caersws joining the A483 then around Newtown and Welshpool.
This route has better roads and is much flatter than taking the direct route from Llandrindod Wells to Newtown and uses much less fuel although it is a couple of miles further.
That's the route we used a couple of years ago (on your recommendation I believe, LlaniDavis) and it was absolutely fine - and the narrow bit at Rhayader was nowhere near as bad as it seemed on Google maps!
Thank you for the responses everyone. If we used the route suggested by LlaniDavis is there anywhere to stop for a toilet break with the caravan in tow. As we would be on our way back to our storage yard with no disposal point, we can’t use the caravan toilet but would need toilets en route.
Quote: Originally posted by Pixie_Hez on 18/2/2023
Thank you for the responses everyone. If we used the route suggested by LlaniDavis is there anywhere to stop for a toilet break with the caravan in tow. As we would be on our way back to our storage yard with no disposal point, we can’t use the caravan toilet but would need toilets en route.
We have to do the same when we return to the caravan storage from a long journey but I always use the caravan toilet anyway. It's much more convenient that way but as long as you have blue chemicals in the waste tank it won't hurt to leave it in till the next time out in the caravan as the chemicals are already inside. It's a completely sealed tank in transit which is no different to a permanently fixed septic tank in the ground.
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Topic: Wales Route Advice
via mobile 18/2/2023 at 7:47am
