Wales has more good road per mile than anywhere else in Britain, and almost nobody on it. Mountain roads, monumental dams, remote valleys, high passes and dramatic lakes lie within a few hours of London, with no ferry to catch and no paperwork beyond your own. The club's Dragon Run strings the best of them together in four days, from the border to the coast and back again.
Why April
The Dragon Run is driven in April, before the summer traffic, when the valleys are green and the roads are empty. Do not be put off by the month's name for showers. In our experience, when the weather breaks the roads empty and Wales is at its most beautiful, and there may even be snow on the high tops. It is green because it rains, so bring the car you would happily drive in it, and a coat you can walk in.
Day one: over the Severn to the Black Mountain
The party gathers at Newport, just over the Severn, about two and a half hours from London and under two from Birmingham. From there the road heads west for the Black Mountain. The A4069 from Llangadog is the finest stretch of tarmac in the south of Wales: open, fast and empty, with the whole of the Tywi valley falling away below it. It is the right way to begin, and the first night is near Llanwrtyd Wells, in the quiet middle of the country.
Day two: dams, moors and mountain roads
The second day climbs to the Elan Valley above Rhayader. The reservoir roads run between the great stone dams, with the water on one side and open moor on the other, and almost nobody on them. Above the reservoirs the moor opens out, and the mountain roads carry the party north to Bala for the night.
Day three: Llanberis, Ogwen and Eryri
This is the heart of the mountains, and it is taken early. The A4086 runs up from Capel Curig and over Pen-y-Pass beneath Snowdon, the mountain road of north Wales, best driven in the morning before anyone else is on it. Then the A5 from Capel Curig past Llyn Ogwen, under the face of Tryfan, and down through Nant Ffrancon, the valley the glaciers cut. The day ends on the Conwy coast at Deganwy.
Day four: the Berwyns to the Wye
The last day turns south. The high road over the Berwyn mountains is the last of the big country, and Lake Vyrnwy lies among them, its stone tower standing in the water by the wooded shore. From there the run comes down to the Wye and follows the river road to Llyswen, where the Dragon Run ends. Home to London or the Midlands is an easy evening's drive, and anyone who would rather stay another night can book a hotel nearby at their leisure.
Driving the Welsh roads well
- Some of the best roads in Wales are single track with passing places. The party keeps a gap, and the roadbook marks the stretches to take gently.
- Pumps are far between in the mountains. Fill up at Newport, and the roadbook says where the next one is.
- Camera and police warnings are lawful in the United Kingdom, so the club's app shows both on every day of the run.
- Lunch on a driving day is your own, and the roadbook marks a good place to stop.
- Members drive and insure their own cars, so confirm with your insurer in writing that an organised tour is covered, and carry breakdown cover valid on the route.
The pace is the road's own. Briskly where the road invites it, gently where it does not, and always within the law. These roads pass through farms and villages that have to live with them after the cars have gone, and the club drives as a guest wherever it goes.
What the club takes care of
The route is driven in full, in season, before a member sees it, and the printed roadbook works in a valley with no signal, with each day's route on your phone in the members' area as well. Every hotel is slept in by us before a member stays and every dinner is eaten first. The cars are parked securely every night. The club team is on the road with you throughout, and if a car cannot go on, you and your passenger carry on with the party while it is dealt with. A partner who would rather read than drive has a country hotel to read in, and a table at dinner.
The Dragon Run is close enough to drive from home and far enough to feel like a journey. The tour page sets out each day, and places are released to members first. Membership begins with an application, read personally by the team. If you would like to drive Wales from the border to the coast in the company of people who love the same roads, we would be delighted to hear from you.