Skip to content
Trophy Welsh Weekender
Itinerary

Day one · Saturday 12 September

Llangollen to Aberystwyth

The long day, and the one that takes in the mountains. Out of Llangollen over the Horseshoe Pass, across the Denbigh moors and through Eryri to Penmaenpool for lunch, then down the Cambrian coast and over the Dylife mountain road to Aberystwyth.

Distance
224miles
Driving
5h 31m
Stages
6

The 2026 Weekender has been and gone

It ran on Saturday 12 – Sunday 13 September 2026 and is now over. Everything below stays online as a record of the weekend — the start points, the routes, the stops and the timings are all still here. The satnav files are the one thing that has gone.

About the route files

Start point

The hotel has kindly agreed to let the group use their car park again this year, blocking off one side of the rear car park for us. It gives everyone a safe place to arrive and get ready before setting off for the day, and there are toilets to freshen up in before we go.

The Wild Pheasant Hotel & Spa

Berwyn St, Llangollen, LL20 8AD

Arrive
08:30
Depart
09:00
Open in maps(opens in a new tab)
The entrance off the A5, and the part of the rear car park set aside for us.

Good to know

  • Arrive with a full tank. There is no planned fuel stop until near the end of the day — filling a large group of cars part-way through only ends in chaos and a fragmented group.
  • Drive slowly past the front of the hotel and round to the rear car park, then park sensibly along the tree line that runs parallel to the main road.
  • The hotel will have its own guests in, so keep noise and disruption to a minimum. They have also expressed an interest in taking a few pictures for their social media, so best behaviour please.
  • In return for the car park the hotel asked that we consider a donation to the Welsh Air Ambulance, a charity they support. Donations are sorted out after the event rather than with cash on the day.

Getting away

Leaving means turning right out of the car park and crossing the carriageway, so the first mile is worth knowing in advance. Do not rush if you lose sight of the car ahead — there is plenty of road to catch up on once we are clear of Llangollen.

The first mile out of Llangollen, with the four turns below marked A to D.

  1. Turn right out of the hotel car park onto the A5, towards Llangollen town centre. You will pass an Aldi store.

  2. After Aldi, take the next left onto Market Street and follow the one-way system.

  3. Turn left onto Castle Street and cross the bridge.

  4. Turn left onto the A539 and keep going.

Good to know

  • Watch your speed through the town — mobile cameras are often in operation.
  • We follow the A539 for several miles, so a partially fragmented group at this point is nothing to worry about.

Morning route

The longest leg of the weekend. Expect a mix of fast open moorland and tight, technical passes, with the run through Eryri in the middle of it.

  • Day 1 — Part 1

    Llangollen to Penmaenpool

    Distance
    126.61mi
    Driving
    3h 7m

    Along the way

    • Horseshoe Pass (A542)
    • Nant y Garth Pass (A525)
    • Ruthin and the B5105 towards Cerrigydrudion
    • Alwen reservoir (B4501)
    • Denbigh moors (A543)
    • Betws-y-Coed and Capel Curig (A5)
    • Llanberis Pass (A4086)
    • Beddgelert (A4085)
    • Blaenau Ffestiniog and the B4391
    • A4212 and the A470 through Coed y Brenin

    Route files

    No longer available — the 2026 Weekender has finished.

    About the route files

Lunch stop

A first for the Weekender: the George III, sat on the edge of the Mawddach estuary at Penmaenpool. If time and the weather are kind there should be a chance for some photographs while we are there — it is a striking spot and it would be a shame to waste it.

George III

Penmaenpool, Dolgellau, LL40 1YD

Arrive
13:30
Depart
14:30
Open in maps(opens in a new tab)

Good to know

  • Timings for the lunch stop are approximate and depend on how the morning has gone.

Afternoon route

South along the Mawddach and out onto the Cambrian coast, then inland over the passes to Machynlleth and up onto the mountain road at Dylife before the run across to Aberystwyth.

  • Day 1 — Part 2

    Penmaenpool to Aberystwyth

    Distance
    98.00mi
    Driving
    2h 24m

    Along the way

    • A493 along the Mawddach estuary
    • The coast road through Fairbourne and Llwyngwril
    • B4405 up the Dysynni to Tal-y-llyn
    • A487 over Bwlch Llyn Bach to Cross Foxes
    • A470 over Bwlch Oerddrws to Dinas Mawddwy
    • Machynlleth
    • The mountain road to the Dylife viewpoint
    • B4518 to Llanidloes
    • A44 over the Cambrian mountains

    Route files

    No longer available — the 2026 Weekender has finished.

    About the route files

Evening

Day one ends here, arriving around 17:30. As in previous years the group gets together for an evening meal and drinks, and many will have accommodation booked at the same place. It is one of the social highlights of the whole weekend, so do come along even if you are staying elsewhere.

The Starling Cloud

Boulevard St Brieuc, Aberystwyth, SY23 3TL

Arrive
17:30
Open in maps(opens in a new tab)

Good to know

  • If you want to fill up during the evening, the nearby Morrisons petrol station has super unleaded — worth doing, ready for the morning.

Day two

Sunday

Aberystwyth to Bronllys

Mid Wales, and the most remote miles of the weekend. Up over Devil’s Bridge and through the Elan Valley to the Claerwen dam, then across Mynydd Epynt to Brecon and lunch at Bronllys. The format changes after that: no fixed afternoon route this year.

View Sunday