From the 9th to 12th August 2013 we were on our motorcycle tour of South Wales.  Including us, we had a total of 20 motorbikes and 27 people in the group – not only a great variety of bikes to admire but a fab crowd too, mix that with the weather and roads and it all made for a perfect few days.

On the Friday, we all met up at Whitchurch, Shropshire before getting snarled up somewhat in road works on the way to Oswestry – although the new tarmac surface being laid will make this an even better stretch for motorcycling on 🙂  We headed into Mid Wales and for some there was the chance of a  cream tea at the Red Kite Kiosk by Llyn Clywedog with the stunning views of the reservoir itself close by.  From there we headed down the A470 where we encountered very little traffic on flowing stretches of road before cutting across country into South Wales and our destination for the following 3 nights at Carmarthen.

Saturday’s ride-out took us north towards Y Talbot at Tregaron who were our hosts for coffee and homemade cookies (highly recommended to set any motorcyclist up for the next stretch of riding!!!).  We continued onto Aberaeron for lunch a 40 mile ride with 90% of it being on twisty A and B roads with virtually no traffic (the coast road got a bit busy but only to be expected at this time of year!).  The conditions were near perfect as we approached Aberaeron with the sea like a millpond, hardly a cloud in the sky and temps in the mid 20’s, certainly gave us a good excuse for an icecream on the sea front 🙂

Our next stop was to the smallest city in Britain – that of St. David’s.  We were able to park at Oriel Y Parc , well worth a visit and yet another cream tea was to be had!!  We spent quite a bit of time here giving people a chance to visit the shops and cafes and also more importantly the cathedral which is set in a lovely location.  From here it was a short ride back to the hotel.

For Sunday’s ride-out we firstly went to the Museum of Speed at Pendine Sands, a fascinating little museum which is now home to “Babs” – the car which was used in a land speed attempt in 1927 and remained buried in the sand for over 40 years before being restored over 15 years from 1969.  Across the sea we could spy our next destination of Worms Head on the Gower Peninsula from Pendine Sands, but it was a 60 mile route with a great mix of roads to get there from motorway to tiny country roads on the Gower and some even resembling roller coasters as we rode up hill and down valley.

The sun certainly had its hat on when we arrived at Rhosilli Bay where we spent the next couple of hours taking in the scenery – set us all up well for the next part of our ride over The Black Mountain.  Going on the number of bikes coming towards us, it was clear from the off that this is a motorcyclists road and it did not disappoint!  Maybe a bit “nadgery” to get there through some of the small welsh villages, but as soon as you come across the open moorland you can just see this ribbon of tarmac winding it’s way over the mountain – grippy surface, great views and some cracking twists and turns to test the bikes on…..  We had a group photo at the top kindly taken for us by Nik who rode up to us on his 125 Varadero on his way to camp for the evening in the Elan Valley – we hope he had as good a weekend riding through Wales as we did.

Monday we had some of the best motorcycling roads Wales has to offer to keep us entertained!  We rode the A40 to Llandovery and Sennybridge and despite it being the summer and a Monday, we hardly saw another vehicle?!  We continued over the Brecon Beacons with only a few sheep to pass along the way, then up the A470 to Builth Wells onto lunch at Crossgates.  Our ride then took us towards the Shropshire Hills and our departure point at Oswestry.  180 miles of perfect riding roads, a great way to end a fab tour.

Thanks go to all who joined us and we look forward to riding with you all again.