The theme of this tour is driving, on unspoilt country roads up through Wales from the Brecon Beacons to Snowdonia. Subsidiary themes are the architecture of Sir Clough Williams Ellis and the paintings of Rex Whistler. We will stay two nights in each of two of the loveliest country houses in Wales and have a day to make side visits from each. The tour starts on Sunday 9th October and as most people are expected to be coming into Wales over the Severn Bridge, the route will start there and will travel the 55 miles through Usk & Abergavenny up the Clydach Gorge into the Brecon Beacons and then over the hills to Llangoed Hall where those who come from the Midlands can join for dinner. Llangoed Hall was restored by Sir Clough William – Ellis in the early 20th century and now houses the extensive art collection of Sir Bernard and Laura Ashley.
On Monday the 10th we will drive 60 or 82 mile loop tours from Builth Wells round the Elan Valley Lakes and into the hills of the Mynydd Eppynt before lunch near Brecon. The afternoon will be free for exploration of Hay on Wye or the Gospel Pass, the highest in Wales (1807 feet), six miles to the south.
Tuesday the 11th is the main drive of 130 miles North to Snowdonia and Bodysgallen near Llandudno. The route goes through Staylittle to Dinas Mawddy, then over Bwlch y Groes (Pass of the Cross) (1784 feet) to Lake Bala. This road was known by test drivers in the 20’s and 30’s as Helllfire Pass but it is now fully paved. There is then the option of visiting Port Meirion (Clough Williams – Ellis), before heading up the A470 to Bodysgallen near Llandudno.
On Wednesday 12th we will cross the Conwy suspension bridge and avoid the A55 by going south to Capel Curig. We will then head up through the Pass of Nant Ffrancon and cross the Menai Straits to Plas Newydd, where Rex Whistler painted his romantic mural over two years when he fell in love with the daughter of the house. We go back over the other Menai Straits Bridge and drive up to Llanberis to visit Dinorwic, the Electric Mountain pumped storage power station. In 1974 it was the largest civil engineering project in Europe with six 300MW vertical pump/turbines in a man-made cavern 170 feet high and 590 feet long. Entrance is by bus. Later we drive back to Bodysgallen via Blaenau Festiniog and the Victorian slate quarries and Betwys Coed through truly dramatic terrain.
The main tour ends on Wednesday 12th night with Dinner at Bodysgallen. For the route home it is suggested that people follow the A5 towards Shrewsbury and visit Erddigg and Chirk both National Trust, on the way. It is 60 miles from Bodysgallen to Erddigg.
For those who wish to have an extra night, with an 80 mile start on the Thursday 13th, and have the whole day to drive south, rooms have been reserved with the hotel Albright Hussey just north of Shrewsbury. Dinner, bed and breakfast there will be an extra £200.
