There's a small chance I might be able to get a week off work the last week in August, and was considering heading to Tenby for the week (25th-1st).
I spent many a happy holiday in Pembrokeshire as a child with my family in our various touring caravans (CI Sprite, ABI Maruader, ABI Target 570CT).
Anyway, as I've not been back since I was a kid (late 80s?), I thought I would go back, see how its changed, re-live my happy memories...
I will be driving from LEEDS and wondered if any fellow caravanners can recommend the best route?
I'd be doing it all in one day, a Saturday, so A roads would be ok (in fact I prefer them to motorways) but I don't want to rely on google maps or sat nav that might take me on some horrendous steep / narrow roads?
Sadly my dad passed away 2 years ago, so he's no longer here to ask his valuable advice as to the route to take (its kind of in his memory that I want to go back there) so I'm asking on here for your valued knowledge.
Somehow across towards Birmingham and the M5 and M6.
South on the M5 to the M50.
South on the M50 then A40,A449 to the M4 at Newport.
M4 westward to it's end.
A48 to Carmarthen.
A40 to St Clears.
A477 then A478 to Tenby.
A40 west of the A449, through Abergavenny is narrow and winding, and often slow with tractors.
A489 west of Abergavenny is hilly and often crowded with lorries.
You could head through the Brecon Beacons and take the view but as the others say, the M4 is a better route. I might consider getting onto the A465 which is slightly shorter but given the distance you are travelling I'd go for the M4
We go to Freshawater East a lot which is only about 8 miles from Tenby. Going from Halifax we go M62, M6, M56, A483, then A40 to Carmarthen.
This route is 80 miles shorter than using the motorways, and much of the motorway route in South Wales is among the most boring and tedious in the UK.
We have tried all manner of routes (including via Aberystwyth and down the coast) but settled on the one I have listed above. It is also the quickest.
There have been questions asked about these routes in the past, and many silly comments posted about the A483 route (one guy reckoned that his Isuzu trooper boiled its gearbox oil as it couldn`t cope with the hills), or its too twisty for caravans (even though its a trunk route used by 44 tonne artics - which speaks volumes for the driving abilities of these tuggers).
Yes, there are a few hills and it can be a bit twisty in places, but even the worst combination of the two never needs a drop below 3rd gear even fully laden and with the van on the back. You are also rewarded with some absolutely stunning scenery which is worth the journey in itself.
You`ll be OK with that David, may have to work the gearbox on a couple of hills, but a lot of the road is through the vallys as well, which is flat and well surfaced.
As you get further south, there are some good sized lay-byes away from the road which do decent grub at very reasonable prices as they cater for truckers and tourists.
If you are going to use the A483 route, a little tip from someone who lives here:
In Newtown, do not take the A483 at the traffic lights by Lidl, but carry straight on, then keep straight on at the level crossing towards Llanidloes. Follow the A470 all the way, passing Llanidloes, Llangurig, and through Rhayader, until you rejoin the A483 on the outskirts of Builth.
Quote: Originally posted by LlaniDavis on 14/8/2012
If you are going to use the A483 route, a little tip from someone who lives here:
In Newtown, do not take the A483 at the traffic lights by Lidl, but carry straight on, then keep straight on at the level crossing towards Llanidloes. Follow the A470 all the way, passing Llanidloes, Llangurig, and through Rhayader, until you rejoin the A483 on the outskirts of Builth.
This is a much betterm wider and faster route.
This is the very reason I asked! Valuable local info!
If you want to do it in a day, I would stick to the motorways. The A roads down through Mid Wales, although very scenic, are quite difficult to maintain momentum on when towing a caravan.
Quote: Originally posted by LlaniDavis on 14/8/2012
If you are going to use the A483 route, a little tip from someone who lives here:
In Newtown, do not take the A483 at the traffic lights by Lidl, but carry straight on, then keep straight on at the level crossing towards Llanidloes. Follow the A470 all the way, passing Llanidloes, Llangurig, and through Rhayader, until you rejoin the A483 on the outskirts of Builth.
This is a much betterm wider and faster route.
Tried this route on the way home 10 days ago, definitely took longer and not half as nice (IMO), and I know every twist and turning the A470. Anyway, each to his own. This is probably the reason we make such good time and don't get delayed on the A483! Long may it continue!
It may be longer, Angus, but it's funny how very few locals bother to use the A483 when going between Newtown and Llan'dod or Builth, and statistically the 483 has more accidents than the 470 route.
But as you say, each to their own.
Just got back yesterday from our week away in Tenby.
Ended up going Sunday to Sunday and took a combination of Angus1215 & LlaniDavis' advice and took the following route:
M621 from Leeds to M62, then across M62 to M60 NW of Manchester, M62 again down to M6, then M6 South to M56 towards Chester. Then A483 south from Chester all the way to Newtown, where we left the A483 to take the A470, then rejoined the A483 in Buith Wells, and carried on down to the A40 in Landovery, and followed the A40 to Carmarthen, St Clears and on to Tenby.
On the way down, incl some traffic jams on the motorway it took us near enough 7 hours, inc 3 loo stops.
On the way back it took us 6hrs 15 mins, again with two loo stops.
Considering the mileage (ended up being 260 ish rather than google's quoted 250 not sure how) I don't think 6hrs is bad.
My intention was to avoid motorways (I HATE towing on motorways) then we did OK.
Its a blimmin long way though and after the fourth hour it really begins to drag.
The little CR-V did OK though, and I think averaged about 22-23 mpg. Which for a 2.0 Petrol with a 1000kg caravan wasn't bad going. The route did need a fair bit of downshifting (but then the CR-V does anyway, it dies on any sort of hill and needs 4th and sometimes 3rd!)
Anyway, it was a successful trip, the towing went very well and did loads to help my confidence in the outfit.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Best Roads for Tenby from Leeds (caravan)
