Jump to content

An XS-ive weekend in Wales AKA show us your own favourite driving road pics....


KitKat

Recommended Posts

Thought it would be good to not only share mine, but also invite other forumites to share any of their car-on-their-favourite-road pictures...
 
Having family in Mid-Wales has both its advantages and disadvantages. True enough, I find summoning enthusiasm for my leaving my native land of Somerset cider, cheese and sun for the drizzly expanses of Cawl, cattlegrids and errant sheep twice a year sometimes rather difficult to find. Ordinarily, when visiting duties come around, I try to soften the blow and combine the journey with scouring the route for some form of "collection-only" trinket I never previously knew I needed. But thanks to said relatives remote rural location, eBay and Gumtree searches consistently fall short of providing any tools, retro road cycling paraphernalia, Myford lathe parts or additional chod within any sensible locality.
      There are advantages too though, among these being (besides stunning views and walks and cycle routes...) Wales's wealth of phenomenal driving roads. Said Welsh B-road nirvana has been wasted on my previous visits in mundane Micras and Focuses, so this time I was determined to take the 205, and sample these before the weather got any sourer and I SORN'ed her for the winter.
      With a recent Saab purchase and my ongoing Ford Falcon restoration sapping my money and time like offspring, I've again been pondering whether its time I finally sold the Pug in the not too distant. Ordinarily such wicked thoughts are stubbed out with a TU warble and twin-choke kick, seeing my camera and eBay listing draft duly discarded. But the time will eventually come, and sell or otherwise, I still had itches to scratch by the name of the A4069/ Black Mountain Pass, and the Elan valley, both routes I've read are worth the drive alone. So I booked Friday off work and set off, rain and traffic as expected.....
 DSCN3584.thumb.JPG.887e74c27b9327741599515b72bef2ec.JPG
 
.........what wasn't expected, however, was the pleasant discovery I no longer had to pay for the Severn Bridge privilege, so this funded a celebratory pasty and ales purchase
 
DSCN3583.thumb.JPG.fa9ebf73de731bb6203b41578cafebc8.JPG
 
Now let me say, I am definitely not a fast driver, always preferring the "leave-a-bit-earlier-and-plod-on" approach to my motoring journeys. Which is another reason I love cars like 205s; you get the sensation of speed at such low actual MPH. You don't need to break the speed limit to enjoy them!!
 
DSCN3585.thumb.JPG.8584e1488ff643e66643e1fc339881e4.JPG
 
There's always painfully cliched hyperbole in magazine road tests when describing trips similar to this . They usually include phrases like "sweeping corners" and "rolling hills". So I'll dispense with these and just leave you these few pics, and my confident assurance that driving an 80's French hatchback on these roads is fucking fantastic.
 
DSCN3595.thumb.JPG.85a25585f80c3fd200c57b2e0346d69e.JPG
DSCN3597.thumb.JPG.519613ad0cca4c64e775e84a2ea77deb.JPG
DSCN3601.thumb.JPG.5c4edef7e213d1891644a7baa3d3e507.JPG
DSCN3607.thumb.JPG.2f1f3a9fffae541de448f1c933276e28.JPG
 
Another advantage to Wales: stunning scenery
 
DSCN3599.thumb.JPG.84af55144134d73cf39a984da2d16b6a.JPG
DSCN3593.thumb.JPG.d340bfb9d558e9188b5573b6357d86a4.JPG
DSCN3603.thumb.JPG.81ef39574db532844103fbd52de8c118.JPG
DSCN3600.thumb.JPG.5c567fe2bddf5acad3a07eeddb566580.JPG
DSCN3605.thumb.JPG.4abf7b40f420dc9c9195c5ca294239c2.JPG
DSCN3604.thumb.JPG.178f048e1b54e5496f2f9dbc1be3f654.JPG
 

DSCN3592.JPG

 

Those were mine, lets see yours!!

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, sickboy said:

Which is another reason I love cars like 205s; you get the sensation of speed at such low actual MPH. You don't need to break the speed limit to enjoy them!!

I couldn't agree more. We both know how much fun this thing is on any road with it's neck breaking power and porcelain tyres.

IMG_20190729_064603.thumb.jpg.d07b1515d038ad546cf276a799281134.jpg

 

I quite recently discovered The Long Causeway, between Mereclough and Hebden Bridge, which is a lovely stretch of road for both hoonery and scenery.

IMG_20190824_191630.thumb.jpg.0a65be847adde0da07048b403a0fdf98.jpg

 

Another favourite bit of driving for me is the run down the Galloway Peninsula to the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse. It's fun even in a big Swedish paddle steamer.

IMG_20190817_105823.thumb.jpg.6fdbb5254d65c97a4fc3d2b39cbfd109.jpg

 

Also, I've said it before but don't ever sell your XS. Unless it's to me for my entire budget of 12 pence and an assortment of pocket fluff obvs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Bucketeer said:

I couldn't agree more. We both know how much fun this thing is with it's neck breaking power and porcelain tyres.

IMG_20190729_064603.thumb.jpg.d07b1515d038ad546cf276a799281134.jpg

 

I quite recently discovered The Long Causeway, between Mereclough and Hebden Bridge, which is a lovely stretch of road for both hoonery and scenery.

IMG_20190824_191630.thumb.jpg.0a65be847adde0da07048b403a0fdf98.jpg

 

Another favourite bit of driving for me is the run down the Galloway Peninsula to the Mull of Galloway Lighthouse. It's fun even in a big Swedish paddle steamer.

IMG_20190817_105823.thumb.jpg.6fdbb5254d65c97a4fc3d2b39cbfd109.jpg

 

Also, I've said it before but don't ever sell your XS. Unless it's to me for my entire budget of 12 pence and an assortment of pocket fluff obvs.

Hey Alex. That AX pic made my day!! Good to hear from you. I agree, I found the Forte equally as appropriate a tool for the job.

Was/is the Volvo yours, or just another item for express Bucketeer delivery? T5?

P.S check your PMs ?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...