North Wales 31st December

mmm-five · Dec 31, 2008

Got fed up with the cold, damp & miserable weather, so decided to have a little drive even if it meant going slow behind a caravan.

Didn't have a plan of where I was going, or what route I was going to do, so just took a map & my sat nav and headed for Lake Bala.

3.5 hours later and I'm back home after covering about the 200 miles below (although thinking about it later, I didn't get to Denbigh as another road caught my eye and I went straight from Mold to Ruthin)

Once I was over 400ft the fog cleared and my efforts to get out of town were rewarded with some beautiful roads and scenery.

Unfortunately some of the 'nice looking' roads ended up a bit tight:

The highlight must have been the deserted Horseshoe Pass between Ruthin & Llangollen (C & D on route map above) which was twisty, dry, fast & beautiful - and the Z handled it perfectly.

Ben. · Dec 31, 2008

Fantastic!
Looking forward to my next trip already

mmm-five · Dec 31, 2008

The route map is VERY rough - and was made on Google Maps when I got back and tried to remember the main towns I'd driven through/past.

Other than heading to Bala, I didn't have a firm idea of where I was heading, and almost carried on all the way over to Blaenau Ffestiniog to do a loop through Bedgelert, Cape Curig & Betws-y-Coed.

If I'd have left earlier I probably would have found myself stuck in the middle of Snowdonia without any petrol, but I only used 2/3rds of a tank, which isn't bad considering the only time I got above 4th was on the dual carriageways and motorways.

Didn't get above -2ºC all day though - maybe I should leave the alchohol out tonight and do a longer trip tomorrow, with a bit more planning this time :wink:

My next route is currently looking to be 180 miles point to point, but then there's the 30 miles each end to get home.

Tom · Dec 31, 2008

Wow! Nice trip and photos.
That's what BMW means with 'the ultimate driving machine'

Road Trip · Dec 31, 2008

Nice pics 8) .

Great to see people getting out and about

gannet · Jan 1, 2009

Awesome scenery - If only I had that on my doorstep - or near enough!

Thanks for sharing

paddy wright · Jan 2, 2009

nice pics-thanks

Wondermike · Jan 2, 2009

Awesome pics, looks like some great roads there. Always good when you post the route you took too, I like that - makes it easier for us less inspired to think about doing the same

mmm-five · Jan 2, 2009

Well, it took me 5 hours, and involved driving home in the dark, but that meant I got to photograph the sunset near Bala

Route was as previously posted except for a detour over the B5105 between Ruthin & Cerrigydrudion - it was a bit rough, so will stick to the A494 & A5 next time :thumbsdown:

I think I also took a wrong turn just after Ffestiniog as the sat nav kept telling me to do a U-turn even though I'm sure the road signs were pointing me in another direction :headbang:

And the Horseshoe Pass is not as much fun in the pitch black

Wondermike · Jan 2, 2009

Wow fab pics agin, nice to see the ///M in its natural habitat 8)

ElegantSpoon · Jan 2, 2009

Great pics! Wish I had a M

mmm-five · Jan 2, 2009

ElegantSpoon said:
Great pics! Wish I had a M

No need for an ///M - I didn't get above 130mph anyway, and even a 2.2 will do that!

ElegantSpoon · Jan 2, 2009

Haha good point! I do spend my time in traffic anyways

I live in the centre, drive across to the other side then back and so on!

The Ms just look like such a beast! :evil:

Wondermike · Jan 2, 2009

mmm-five said:
...I didn't get above 130mph anyway...

ElegantSpoon said:
...The Ms just look like such a beast! :evil:

You could do the front bumper conversion which would look great, it's such a good update.

gannet · Jan 2, 2009

Wow again

MonsterZ4 · Jan 8, 2009

There really are some brilliant roads up there. I went up on Sunday 4th for a few hours and had a blast. This is probably the best time of the year for it too, as the Police aren't out in as much force and the roads are nice and quite. The Ponderosa Cafe is a nice place to stop at the top of the Horseshoe pass, to have a brew and chat to the staff there. There are always motorbikes or sometimes nice cars parked outside as it is a pretty famous place locally. I go there alot in the summer on the motorbike.

Here are some pictures i took that day, nothing artistic though, as it was too cold!

MonsterZ4 · Jan 8, 2009

Does anyone fancy a Z4-forum meet up in North Wales for a bit of a run out and a brew somewhere???

If anyone is interested, i will post a thread in the 'General' section.........

gannet · Jan 8, 2009

MonsterZ4 - love your photos. Your car almost blends in with the colour of the grass...

Gids · Jan 9, 2009

Looks like you had a blast, wish I had roads like that on my doorstep.

North Wales 31st December

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