We intend to travel to Conwy in Snowdonia from Hampshire in August. I want to take the caravan but my husband thinks we will be silly to tow through Wales and wants to take a tent? What's people's advice please? It may save a potential divorce!!
Depends whereabouts in Hampshire you are. If heading either East or West you are likely to end up on M6 at some point, I would head for Stoke on Trent A500, A51 join A55 at Chester. We usually head this way.
Not many caravan friendly stops on A55 and the worst bit is the hill by Rhualt which needs care and consideration. Few new layby's gone in recently.
The A5 is view friendly but a winding road and will take a while, plus for Conwy, the A470 by Llanwrst is a bit tight for bis outfits if you meet a tractor or anything big in town.
Personally, can't see any issues with towing a caravan to Conwy, points made by George-Mildred aside, and they are the sort of thing you encounter at many a destination. Never towed a van there, and we don't know your specific destination, nor start point, so can't comment beyond general principles. As to 'driving through Wales', unless you deliberately make life difficult for yourselves by taking a route from south Wales through the entire country, then you are only driving about 50 miles over the border in the very north of the country along a first class duel carriageway 'A' road!
The overall distance and towing time is one I do regularly from London to the Lake District so not one I see a problem with, you have a choice of major roads/motorways from Hampshire to the north of England to pick up the last leg on the A55, also known as the North Wales Expressway! Your journey should be around an hour longer towing than in a solo car, which over that distance and time (4.5-5 hours solo) is not such a great hardship IMHO.
Driving anywhere, let alone towing a caravan in August is likely to be busy on the roads, in a way, the speed restrictions of towing a caravan can make the journey less stressful, as your progress expectations are much lower than in a solo car, and even on congested roads, your average speed isn't likely to be much less that it would be on an open road, so far less risk of the ETA slipping further and further behind and causing you grief, you've already got a later ETA in mind because of towing restrictions. Well, that's the way my mind works anyway. Making realistic plans and easily achievable ETA's, with suitable 'comfort' breaks planned into journey is what makes towing a fairly relaxed affair for me, you can make it much, much harder than it needs be if you set unrealistic goals and don't plan your journey well.
Hi i would go for ease with a van (depends where in hampshire you are)
eg
A34 to oxford area ?? M40, M42, M6toll (easier) M6, M54 (shrewsbury) A5, A483 (north), then you have tow choices:-
1> At A5 for llangollen to betws y Coed, then A470 to llandudno / conwy. Plenty of vans on this route last weekend.
2> A483 to chester, A55 round chester(clockwise) then A55 North wales Express way, to llandudno / conwy.
llangollen A5 route is slow and winding, with issues at LLanwrst (A470) but do-able
Via Chester and A55 dual carriageway all the way to Conwy , but can be slow due to traffic etc. again do-able
there are the odd stop on the A55 route, depends on your abilities with the van.
I would head north via chester etc, etc .
Living in North Wales can assure you its fine towing. There are hundreds of caravan parks and caravans a plenty. If you are going to Conwy its dual carriageway on the A55 and from Chester to Conwy in less than an hour.
Alternatively use A5 but although that's fine think you might find A55 less stressful as A5 is single carriageway
M6 -M56 -A55 - (several Services from M56 to Conwy)
Quote: Originally posted by Mrs. Bonce on 06/6/2023
A5 is twisty and hilly, A55 is much better. We have used both many times. There is absolutely nothing to worry about.
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Topic: Towing to snowdonia national park
via mobile 05/6/2023 at 10:31am
