Post Glasto Road Trip / Recommendations

[Calvin Klein]

Hey people,

So, I'm flying across the ocean from way down under (Buenos Aires) once again to attend Glastonbury. I've been to both 2013 and 2014 before.

We're thinking to taking a little road trip around Wales/Somerset during the following 9 or 10 days. 

My main concern is this. We got coach tickets from London (I didn't want to take the risk of trying only on the Sunday resale and we really hand't made any plans yet). So now I'm kind of having some logistic issues. 

Most ideal option would be to take the coach from London to Glasto, but not come back on it. I guess, there could be a way to get to Bristol, maybe, and rent a car over there? Now, if that was possible, we'd have to carry all our luggage with us (probably 2 bags + rucksack/tent/camping stuff). I doubt the coach people would have any problem with it. Can you leave those kind of bags in the lock ups? 
It seems like too much trouble at the moment. But any advice on this will be much appreciated. Worst case scenario, we'll go back to London and leave from there again

Besides that, any recommendations on places to visit/see in Wales and/or Somerset? Or B&Bs to stay in!

Thanks 

[clarkete]

3 hours ago, Calvin Klein said:

Hey people,

So, I'm flying across the ocean from way down under (Buenos Aires) once again to attend Glastonbury. I've been to both 2013 and 2014 before.

We're thinking to taking a little road trip around Wales/Somerset during the following 9 or 10 days. 

My main concern is this. We got coach tickets from London (I didn't want to take the risk of trying only on the Sunday resale and we really hand't made any plans yet). So now I'm kind of having some logistic issues. 

Most ideal option would be to take the coach from London to Glasto, but not come back on it. I guess, there could be a way to get to Bristol, maybe, and rent a car over there? Now, if that was possible, we'd have to carry all our luggage with us (probably 2 bags + rucksack/tent/camping stuff). I doubt the coach people would have any problem with it. Can you leave those kind of bags in the lock ups? 
It seems like too much trouble at the moment. But any advice on this will be much appreciated. Worst case scenario, we'll go back to London and leave from there again

Besides that, any recommendations on places to visit/see in Wales and/or Somerset? Or B&Bs to stay in!

Thanks 

You can certainly get either a bus or a coach back to Bristol (indeed I have a couple of years ago got the coach from the O2 in London then went back to Brizzle afterwards). 

From what people have shown about the size of the lock ups, they will be happy to take an amount of stuff from you no problem.

Edited April 22, 2016 by clarkete

[Calvin Klein]

Thanks!

Did you get to Bristol through National Express coach?

[clarkete]

22 hours ago, Calvin Klein said:

Thanks!

Did you get to Bristol through National Express coach?

To be honest I can't remember whether it was a bus or a coach!  I think probably the latter and am sure it didn't need to be booked, we just went to the coach park and got on the next one.

[Dillyblue]

If you do get to Bristol, visit Bath. Not far from Bristol and a beautiful city.

Of course too, the famous Stonehenge which now has a good car park and visitor centre although that is more en route back to London.

 

 

[Calvin Klein]

Thanks!

i HAVE been to Bath and Stonehenge  actually. In 2011. we took a road trip around the UK but missed Wales because a chilean volcano eruption delayed our flight for 2 days!

 

[grumpyhack]

There's a lot to do in Wales, particularly if you are into history - both old castles and also industrial revolution mining heritage.  You've also got some of the most breathtaking scenery in Britain.  What sort of things are you interested in seeing/doing Calvin?  Give me some ideas and I'll come up with some suggestions.

[warriormonk]

On 22/04/2016 at 3:57 PM, Calvin Klein said:

We're thinking to taking a little road trip around Wales/Somerset during the following 9 or 10 days. 

Most ideal option would be to take the coach from London to Glasto, but not come back on it. I guess, there could be a way to get to Bristol, maybe, and rent a car over there?

 

10 minutes ago, grumpyhack said:

There's a lot to do in Wales, particularly if you are into history - both old castles and also industrial revolution mining heritage.  You've also got some of the most breathtaking scenery in Britain.  What sort of things are you interested in seeing/doing Calvin?  Give me some ideas and I'll come up with some suggestions.

If you are hiring a car (as I assume by 'road trip') after Glasto and you have 9 or 10 days then you can see so much of the UK and can roam much wider than Somerset and Wales should you wish...and get back for the flight   As @grumpyhack says there is so much to see and do in Wales.  Personally, I would get to Snowdonia in Wales and camp at somewhere like Rynys Farm at Betws-y-Coed and use that as a base.  But the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales and Lake District are not too far away, also.  I'm sure people here have many suggestions and local knowledge.  Perhaps we can help you come up with an itinerary.    

[Calvin Klein]

Mostly interested in scenery and visiting nice little towns/villages. Maybe places to stay in snowdonia.

Books/music obviously.

Oh, food/drinking!

We always like to stop by the pub in the evening.

 

Thanks!!

[grumpyhack]

No need to go as far as North Wales, plenty to do in South and Mid Wales.  I'll plot some possible routes.

[Calvin Klein]

1 hour ago, warriormonk said:

 

If you are hiring a car (as I assume by 'road trip') after Glasto and you have 9 or 10 days then you can see so much of the UK and can roam much wider than Somerset and Wales should you wish...and get back for the flight   As @grumpyhack says there is so much to see and do in Wales.  Personally, I would get to Snowdonia in Wales and camp at somewhere like Rynys Farm at Betws-y-Coed and use that as a base.  But the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales and Lake District are not too far away, also.  I'm sure people here have many suggestions and local knowledge.  Perhaps we can help you come up with an itinerary.    

Thanks. Actually that's a good suggestion. I was thinking of Wales, mostly, because I couldn't go when we did the first road trip. But I'll consider those places...And yes, I'm hiring a car.

In 2011, we did Bath, Liverpool, Manchester, Inverness, Edinburgh, York. This time I'm thinking of a more outdoors/non city vacation.

Thanks again to all Getting excited already...

[russycarps]

You have to climb Snowdon. I can recommend the crib goch route to the summit

 

[clarkete]

If the weather is nice and you're in the vicinity., Three Cliffs Bay is much nicer than all of the beaches in Somerset - having lived in Somerset and been disappointed by many of them at some point.

[H.M.V]

Visiting Portmerion is a must. Magical there and there's a campsite in Porthmadog right by the beach. Think it's Blackrock Sands. Also a steam train there that goes through the quarries. 

[___S_o_m_a__]

15 hours ago, Calvin Klein said:

Mostly interested in scenery and visiting nice little towns/villages. Maybe places to stay in snowdonia.

Books/music obviously.

Oh, food/drinking!

We always like to stop by the pub in the evening.

 

Thanks!!

If Hay on Wye is on your list know this - lots and lots of bookshops and they're all overpriced.

If you get to Hereford make sure you check out The Beefy Boys for the best beef burgers in the world.

 

[grumpyhack]

One of the finest drives in Britain......

Cross the Severn Bridge into Wales using the OLD Severn Bridge (Now the M48) and head past Chepstow up the beautiful Wye Valley (A466) to Tintern. A quick visit to the lovely ruined Tintern Abbey (plenty of tea shops to choose from) and then follow the valley on up towards Monmouth

Just before Monmouth turn left onto the A40, signposted Abergavenny. On the outskirts of Abergavenny town take the A465 towards Hereford.  You are looking out for Llanvihangel Crucorny (about five miles) where you turn left onto a narrow, often single track road signposted Llanthony (possibly also Llanthony Priory).

You are now on a stunning road.  You follow the valley and then slowly it starts to climb until you crest the top of the Black Mountains at Hay Bluff and the glory of mid Wales opens out before you.  You'll find a small car park to admire the view and often you can watch people hang gliding from the top of Hay Bluff.

Follow the road on down and it runs into Hay on Wye.  A lovely little town that's the second hand bookshop capital of the UK.  Plenty of places to eat but hunt out The Granary in Broad Street (HR3 5DB).  It's a mix of lovely home-cooked wholefood and veggie stuff.

I finish my day out by driving on towards Brecon on the A438 leading to the A40 and then A470.  Turn left and follow the A470 up over the Brecon Beacons, down past the reservoirs and Merthyr Tydfil and on towards Cardiff.

 

[Calvin Klein]

Thanks so much everyone  And specially grumpy. I'l definitely try to do that. 

Keep em coming if you have any more...

[grumpyhack]

Hi Calvin,

One band to look out for at Glastonbury is Show of Hands / Steve Knightly. One of the finest folk/roots acts in the UK and a really nice guy.

Steve championed many people, including P J Harvey, who he mentored and taught to play the guitar.  He also picked up on Richard Shindell, a New Yorker singer-songwriter, who now lives in Buenos Aires and has helped promote him in the UK.

http://www.richardshindell.com/

 

Tell Steve you're from BA (especially if you know Shindell) and you'll have a mate.

Edited April 24, 2016 by grumpyhack

[Calvin Klein]

Hey,

Just thought I'd bump this up to give a huge thank you to Grumpyhack and everybody else who suggested things to do. 

Not gonna say much about Glasto as I'm sure my experience was similar to most here (struggled with mud/thought i'd never do it again/still loved it/now I want to go back again).

After the festival, we spent 4 days in London, picked up a car, went to Lulworth Cove, Glastonbury, Cardiff, Dolgellau and Oxford.

Had a fantastic time everywhere, specially at Glastonbury, where we somehow didn't expect much and ended up loving it the most. Both days we were there the weather was absolutely perfect! On the first day, I hit my head against the bus stop which is located at the Abbey coach park. Difficult to explain but if you see some blood stains right next to the bench behind the bus stop, they are mine. It was such a nice day, that I just decided to put some disinfectant I got at the Tesco farmacy (Boots had just closed) and kept moving towards the Tor. Could not waste such a  I was fine in the end, though I was maybe a little dizzy Took some nice pictures which are show on the link below. Visited the usual stuff: Abbey, Chalice Well, etc. Such nice places. And on top of that, we stayed at a house through AirBnb which was the best. A guy called David at Underwood Rd. Highly recommended. Two of the best days in recent memory.

For Wales:
We did the drive suggested by Grumpy (although we kind of split it in two parts because we took too long on the first day). We absolutely loved it. Exactly as described. That narrow road took a little bit longer than I expected but I was fine. Car rental gave us a Skoda Fabia (had never even heard about this car before). It was fine, but it struggled a little bit when going up a hill. Still managed to get through the whole thing with no problems at all.
Wales was fantastic as well. We had bad weather were we needed good weather the most, though, in Snowdonia. Rain, fog, everything. Still had a great time but I wish I could go back again to see it properly. We stayed at this awesome Bnb in Llanfachreth. 
We also went to a little pub in Dolgellau to watch the Wales - Portugal match. We were rooting for Wales of course. Felt a bit strange though, as it looked like they hadn't seen foreigners in a while in there. I guess it's not that common, at least not from this part of the world :).

I uploaded some pictures if you'd like to see.

Thanks again, everyone! Hope we can get back to Glastonbury for a 4th time.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/skynova/albums/72157671488260956/page1

Hope that works

 

[Calvin Klein]

A few pics. There's more in the link above.

[Calvin Klein]

Cove/Glastonbury/Wales