excursions: Wales| March 2011

crew:   Dick, Julian, Andre, Jamie, Emma and Wynona

vehicle(s):  1993 Discovery 200TDI

                    1994 Discovery 300TDI

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Wales – March 2011

                  Ever since purchasing his new Land Rover Discovery some months ago Andre had been pestering me to take him on a green lane trip to Wales. I'd also been promising my mate Julian to take him on a trip and I kept finding good reasons to put if off. So I decided to bite the bullet and organise another excursion to the wilds of North Wales. I sent out an invitation to a number of people and settled on a couple of days that everybody could make. A swift negotiation with the

 Abbey Grange hotel and accommodation was arranged for 6 people for 23rd March 2011. Julian traveled up from Kent on the train the day before and stayed overnight at my place to save time in the morning. Whilst Julian encamped to the pub I loaded up the Discovery with the recovery gear and dug out all the necessary OS Landranger maps and camera gear to save time in the morning.

Wednesday 23rd March 2011

It was an early start and Julian and I set out from home around 6 o'clock to rendezvous with Andre and the others just after 7. We set off from North London around 7:30 a.m. and made our way to Shrewsbury. We stopped here for a breakfast at Morrisons, a good bacon and egg breakfast sets you up for the day. After breakfast we got the Landranger maps out of the Disco' and planned the day's off roading. After a quick shop to get for some sandwiches etc. for lunch and Julian's essential crate of lager we set off and made our way directly to the first green lane of the day, rather than checking in to the hotel first.

                  We arrived at our first lane early afternoon just north of Llangedwyn at OS ref: SJ181252 it was a single track metalled road that changes to dirt track as it climbs steeply up through a wood. We set off down the lane with me in the lead and Andre behind. Once in to the woods we climb up the steep and narrow track, there were various forks up the track and I knew we needed to take a sharp left one about halfway up. We started up a left fork but before long it became apparent the we have taken a wrong turn so we stopped for a quick photo shoot when the track levels out. After a hairy three point turn we retraced our path back to the main track and continued climb and a little higher up we found the correct turning. It was a very tight turn and even steeper climb up through the trees before it exits the the woods onto a green lane via a wooden 5 bar gate. We emerged from the lane onto the road at OS ref: SJ187255 opposite the entrance to another lane which runs down the right hand side of a house. When we came here in March 2009 this particular lane was too deeply rutted for my Discovery and we got stuck about half way so I decided to by-pass this lane today and turned left and made our way via tarmac to Priddbwll OS ref: SJ192264. Here we turned left and headed north down a narrow tarmac road. After passing over a small stream the road bore left and just before a clearing as the road swung right we found the entrance to the next lane lane at OS ref: SJ193270. It was about 10 years since I had driven this lane and it was very overgrown. I had to walk it for about 400 yards before I judged that its possible to get through.We started up the track and progress was slow and we had frequent stops to clear the way ahead, both cars took a battering. After about a quarter of a mile up the track Andre and the others noticed the back left tyre is badly deflated on my Discovery so we pumped it up with a foot pump. It was obvious at once that the tyre has a serious puncture and we could hear the air hissing out. As there was no place to change the wheel I made a quick dash up the lane to exit onto the B4580 at OS ref: SJ189275, where I waited for Andre to catch up. He fairly soon appeared minus the girls, it seems that they got too scared and decided to walk and sure enough a few minutes later they could be seen trudging up the lane in their wellies.

     After a group photo shot at the top of the lane we made our west on the B4580 until we found a suitable place to change the wheel. While Wynona and Emma wandered off to look at the lambs in the surrounding fields. Andre, Jamie and I set about changing the wheel while Julian, our navigator, attended to the ever important task of consuming more lager. To make room for all the recovery gear I had left my trolley jack behind so the wheel was changed using the Discovery's own bottle jack which was a feat in itself!  It was surprising how many large trucks frequented such a small road which added excitement to normally mundane task of changing a wheel. Once the tyre was fitted and we had eaten our lunch, we decided to head for a particular lane that had provided entertainment on several previous occasions. Andre's team were now in the lead and had taken over the task of navigation, to give a Julian a much needed rest and the freedom consume even more alcohol. We proceeded along the B4580 to OS ref: SJ164266 where we turned left and continued up this road until we found entrance to next lane on our left on a sweeping right hand bend at SJ157275.

     This lane was a dirt track that descended gently to a small stream before ascending up the other side on steeper gradient. All the problems encountered on previous occasions had occurred on this uphill stretch. The last time I had attempted this lane (unsuccessfully) was in February 2002 but in the intervening years the lane's character had completely changed. In 2002 it was a pot holed quagmire but now all the surface has been stripped off down to the bedrock by the weather and it is a deeply rutted bare rock lane. Although both the Discovery's got thrown about the ascent was relatively straight forward. We exited onto a small tarmac road and turned left just north of Liety at OS ref: SJ145279 and proceeded down this road to the cross roads at OS ref: SJ140271 where we turned right. The next lane is shown as "other rights of way" on the map but I had driven it before without incident. It starts at a place named Bryn Coch at OS ref: SJ134275 and is entered via farm gate. The lane runs around the base of the mountain Mynydd Mawr and although not challenging for 4x4 is very picturesque with lots of fine views over the surrounding countryside. We stopped about half way along for a photo shoot and some sight seeing. The lane is about 2 miles long and exits onto a a tarmac road at OS ref: SJ128302 where we turned right. About half a mile down this road we turned right at the T junction at OS ref: SJ124306 and proceeded on tarmac up over a fairly high mountain road to the crossroads at Llidiart-cae-hir OS ref: SJ146309. This is where we started our next lane Cefn Hir-fynydd. This lane runs for several miles along an open mountain ridge with panoramic views of the surrounding countryside. To give Jamie a chance to drive I concentrated on taking some pictures and video footage. There were plenty of bumpy tracks and muddy water holes and Jamie and Andre both enjoyed splashing through the mud baths. There was plenty of evidence that previous travellers had come to grief as from time to time various bits of car lay abandoned. We eventually reached the cross roads at OS ref:SJ174324 where we turned left down the track crossing over the road at OS ref: SJ172326 and continuing on to the crossroads at OS ref: SJ176336 just outside Tregeiriog. We crossed over and continued on the green lane through the stud farm Tynewydd. The track passes to the left of the buildings and continues on through a gate. Julian got out to open the gate and barking dogs descended upon us. Julian's relaxed alcoholic state seemed to make him completely unaware of need for urgency and he leisurely opened the gate and closed it behind him after Andre's Discovery had passed through. The track climbs steadily in a sweeping left curve to the top of the hill where we exited the farm via another gate at OS ref: SJ189335. From here the lane descends down a steep track to the bottom of the hill before joining the main road B4500 at OS ref: SJ186343. Here we turned left and made our way towards Glyn Ceiriog at OS ref: SJ378202 we turned off into the village heading North up steep hill passed a small church at the top. We continued up this road heading north until we reached the cross roads at Finger farm OS ref: SJ205394. We continue straight over and eventually descending down a very rocky track that brings us directly into LLangollen. Its a short run from here to the Abbey Grange Hotel on the A452. We arrive thoroughly exhausted at about 6:30 p.m. now all we have to do is unpack and settle down for quiet evening in the bar of the hotel. The food and drink is excellent and everyone has a great time. The perfect end to a great day green laning.

Thursday 24th March 2011

After a good nights sleep I awoke to a bright clear day, perfect weather for a spot of laning. The breakfast as always was superb with cereal, toast and full cooked welsh breakfast. As soon as we'd packed and checked out we sat down in the restaurant to plan the days event. It was a compromise of site seeing and laning. Julian wanted to see a waterfall and I'd promised Wynona we would go to lake Vyrnwy. We planned to back track to the last lane of the day from yesterday as a warm up before starting the main event. Before setting out we pumped up the tyre again as it was looking a bit flat. This gave time for Julian to sample the delights of a couple of lagers. We set off for the first lane but Julian was slightly distracted due to his low alcohol intake and his need to find a newsagent. We completely missed the entrance to the lane and ended up going up the road that starts at OS ref: SJ220412. this brought us out on the B4500 just east of Glyn Ceiriog. We turned left quickly made our way into Glyn Ceiriog and picked up the start of a lane that climbed steeply out of the village at OS ref:SJ202382. The lane got steeper as we progressed, then changed into a bare rock surface deeply rutted and extremely bumpy. The Discoverey's were tightly confined between to sheer rock walls sometimes with only inches to spare. The cars were thrown from side to side as they crawled up some very extreme terrain. The lane was about a mile and a half long and we exited the lane at OS ref: SJ188383. We turned left down a tarmac road and made our way to Tyn-y-celyn. where we picked upthe next lane at OS ref: SJ170370. This lane is a hard rock track that is entered through a 5 bar gate. It was a steep climb up the side of a pretty stream that cascaded down to our right. About half way upthe climb we stopped for brief photo shoot and to admire the view. Upon reaching the crest the track continued on over vast expanse of open moorland. Wynona likened it to the Australian outback, (not that I would know). We stopped several times for photo shoots, sight seeing and to shoot some video footage. The lane is about 4 miles long and after about 3miles we noticed the rear tyre on my Disco' was again going flat. As we attempted to pump up the tyre the foot pump broke. So the last mile or so was completed without further ado. We exited the lane onto the good old B4500 at Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog at OS ref:SJ156330. There was nowhere immediately obvious to change the wheel so we made our way hastily to the start of Crfn Hir-fynydd at OS ref: SJ147310 where I knew there was room to do it. I now had to fit Andre's spare to my Discovery and to save time we used his trolley jack. Julian, as always, assisted with helpful advice whilst consuming the even more alcohol. After reloading all the gear into the back of the Dicoveries we set off for the waterfall at Pistyll Rhaeadr. Pistyll Rhaeadr is the highest waterfall in Wales and is an impressive site. We spent about half an hour taking pictures and video, whilst Jamie demonstrated the art of how to fall in the water! By now the time was about 2:45 p.m. so we set off for lake Vyrnwy, the last destination of the day. We made a brief stop in Llanhaeadr-ym-Mochnant at the Spar grocer to pick some lunch then it was on to Penygarnedd by road. At Penygarnedd we turned right off the B4391 at OS ref: SJ10523 and continued down this road for about three quarters of a mile before forking off right again at OS ref: SJ098233. This lane took us through a mixture of evergreen forest and open tracks, it felt very remote and isolated. We eventually exited the lane onto the B4396 at OS ref: SJ045201 and made our way down to the dam on lake Vyrnwy at OS ref: SJ020194. We drove across the dam and parked by the public toilets. Once here we spent about half an hour for a video and photo shoot. On leaving here we drove clockwise round the shores of the lake stopping once more for a photo shoot. Lake Vrynwy is a great location and some of the BBC nature watch programmes come from this area. On completion of our lap of honour we set out for the long haul back to North London. At Shrewsbury we stopped for toilets, fuel etc. then we split up leaving Andre to put his Discovery through car wash, while Julian an I pressed on. I had to get Julian back to Sittingbourne that night and pick up some parts for my bus that I had purchased on Ebay. To save time we swapped cars in North London and I took Julian home in a borrowed Jaguar. I did not get to bed until nearly midnight that night  but I had a great time and the weather was brilliant for both days. Its the second time I've stayed at the Abbey Grange hotel and it also was brilliant. Not only was it cheaper to eat our evening meal at the hotel than at the Indian restaurant in Llangollen but the food was excellent, I would recommend it to anyone.

   Just a foot note to say I'm writing this 2 months after the trip and Andre is still polishing the scratches out of his Discovery with T-cut, mine still has all its battle scars!

Until next time                                     

Author Dick

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