Getting to the cottage
Getting to the cottage from London
Stage 1: London to Birmingham and beyond.
Summary: M25 to M40. North on M40 to M42 south of Birmingham. West on M42 to M5. North on M5 to M6. North west on M6 to exit 10a, where west on M54.
Comments: Easier than M6 through Birmingham. The alternative is the excellent Birmingham bypass, but its western link with M54 is a little tricky.
Stage 2: Birmingham to near Betwys y Coed.
Summary: M54 becoming A5 all
the way . Left onto A470 just before Betwys y Coed.
Comments: Dramatic landscape change at Llangollen, and a pleasant run
thereafter. Beyond Pentrefoelas beware sharp bends on the descent towards
Betwys y Coed. The left turn onto A470 is a hairpin, signposted ‘Dolgellau’.
Stage 3: Final approach: A470 to Dolwyddelan and the cottage.
Comments: After five minutes on a brand new road through the Lledr pass, enter Dolwyddelan and take the first turn left (village centre). After 200 yards cross a river bridge, then avoiding the left hand turn down to the station, cross immediately a second bridge and at once turn left and park where you can. Fifty yards up the narrow road before you, find our whitewashed terrace cottage on the right, no. 20-21 High Street. You can then bring your car up to the door and park temporarily to unload.
If you run out of road up a mountainside, you have gone too far.
Refreshment: Half a mile or so beyond the last of the six successive roundabouts of the Shrewsbury bypass on A5, look out for a picnic site notice on the left, at Mountford (no houses). A pleasant, quite large off road parking area beside the Severn, with trees and a sandwich stall.
Journey time: four to five hours, depending on traffic and temperament.