Page 1 of 1

Monkey goes to Wales.

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2026 8:44 am
by Dodgy69
Weather is good and the opportunity is here. 3 days playing on some of Wales finest. I'll be heading towards Newtown and west towards Machynlleth and down to Llanidloes, on the wiggly roads, staying in Rhayader.

Day 2 is Ellan Valley and Devil's Bridge then down to Tregaron. East bound and down the side of Llyn Brianne reservoir and Llandovery, staying a few miles south.

Day 3 is Brecon bound. Black mountains and up the Sarn Helen roman road towards Sennybridge, Beulah, Newbridge on Wye and home bound.

Not sure how the monkey will cope, better than me probably and hopefully get some nice sunny pic's. 👍

Re: Monkey goes to Wales.

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2026 10:16 am
by Skub
Have a good trip munkyman. 8-)

Re: Monkey goes to Wales.

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2026 2:13 pm
by Taff
Lovely, and I'm envious.

I spent a long day last year doing minor roads fod - Monmouth- Abergavenny- Brecon- sennybridge - tregarron, Cwm ystwyth to Elan valley and then back to Chepstow on faster roads.

Re: Monkey goes to Wales.

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2026 3:50 pm
by Dodgy69
I'm a bit early which only means one thing normally, but me being sensible and everything I'm having a Riverside walk first. Rooms nice enough, monkey round the back.

Had a fantastic ride today pretty much all little roads. The quiet side of Clywedog reservoir turning at Staylittle was stunning, watching the boat men fly fish. Lemon moranque in Llanidloes then cross the main road and down into Rhayader for the night.

Off for a beer once I've finished pissing about with this, sat on a Riverside bench, nice though. Quite a few bikes about, don't nobody work these days. 🤷‍♂️

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Think that clock represents the middle of Wales. 👍

Re: Monkey goes to Wales.

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2026 4:03 pm
by KungFooBob
I got AI to remove your filter...

Re: Monkey goes to Wales.

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2026 4:06 pm
by Skub
KungFooBob wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2026 4:03 pm I got AI to remove your filter...
:lol:

Re: Monkey goes to Wales.

Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2026 4:44 pm
by Dodgy69
🤣

Re: Monkey goes to Wales.

Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2026 5:05 pm
by Dodgy69
Another brilliant day in the saddle. Started with a hearty breakfast then on to Elan valley and the mountain road to Devils Bridge. Down to Tregaron for the Abergwesyn pass but turning south for Brianne reservoir.

Wow, what a fantastic road running next to the dam. Never done this road before , fantastic views and had a stop n chat at the dam carpark.

On to Llandovery for a cuppa and a pic of the metal warrior man or summot like. Staying in Llangadog tonight just south of Llandovery. Hotel has a bar but no food. The other pub the same so not sure about food tonight, but I have beer in hand and life's all about getting your priorities in order, so all good there.

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Superb day had, chatted to some fine folk, also enjoying the sunshine and scenery. 🙂👍

Re: Monkey goes to Wales.

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2026 5:33 pm
by Dodgy69
Back home and what feels like quite a long day. It was Brecon day today so from Llangadog it was over the black mountains first thing and very scenic it was. Followed by a visit to a monkey sanctuary that i saw by chance, not much happening but got a photo next to a van . 🐵
Then on to Glynneath where I picked up the Sarn Helen mountain road where I found that rock, saw it when planning route. Proper wilderness up there, through Devils elbow and up to Sennybridge. Across to Llywel and up through the military roads to Tirabad, then Beulah, Crossgates and homebound.

Almost 350 miles of stunning Welsh scenery, fantastic roads and full days of sunshine. The monkey has been perfect for this trip, though my bag was a bit big and drooped covering rear indicators, need a 20L i reckon. A very enjoyable 3 days had. 🌞👍

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Image

Re: Monkey goes to Wales.

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2026 5:35 pm
by weeksy
You're a loony 👍🥳

Re: Monkey goes to Wales.

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2026 6:03 pm
by Count Steer
weeksy wrote: Fri Mar 20, 2026 5:35 pm You're a loony 👍🥳
But a rather magnificent loony - in the classic English eccentric traveller/explorer style. :lol:

There's a book in this - 'Travels with My Monkey'. 🐒

Worked for Robert Louis Stevenson - in the Cevennes - with a donkey 🫏 :thumbup:

Re: Monkey goes to Wales.

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2026 6:21 pm
by Taff
That rock :lol:

It's named Mean Llia - rock Llia (Llia is the name of the river beyond it).
My mates live in Ystrafellte and the name of our group chat is Maen Llia, we drive that road last Sunday on our way home just because it's stunning.

A bit of trivia for you - Ystrafellte was one of the last places in Wales to get mains electric in 1960 😳

Re: Monkey goes to Wales.

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2026 6:25 pm
by Dodgy69
I did read it and walked over to it. Think folk settled there 4000 years ago or there about. Lovely bit of world that. 👍

Re: Monkey goes to Wales.

Posted: Sat Mar 21, 2026 2:04 pm
by Dodgy69
Is that military road bit where the Welsh TT was going to be. ??

Re: Monkey goes to Wales.

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2026 8:44 am
by Tricky
Great little adventure , love it! 😎

Re: Monkey goes to Wales.

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2026 10:45 am
by Skub
Great pics man and looks like you were blessed with decent weather too. We could almost forget it's still March. 8-)

Re: Monkey goes to Wales.

Posted: Mon Mar 23, 2026 4:32 pm
by Dodgy69
The joys of retirement, booked last minute when the weathers good. 👍