We have a plan to get to Llangollen (pronounced Lang – gofgch- ern) , or close to that. Before we leave our great B&B, we pause to take photos over the river and to leave some of Tim’s ashes in the river which will end up on Colwyn Bay and then the Atlantic Ocean.

The plan is as per a blog The Navigator read https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-mydreamdrive/my-dream-drive-betws-y-coed-to-llangollen/28637, travelling from where we are to Llangollen but taking a longer than the standard track. It proves to be a great option.

The route according to the blog is: Head south out of Betws-y-Coed and pick up the A5 heading east towards Llangollen – although this is ultimately the journey’s end, it’s not just a straight drag along a busy A-road. Dive off north on to the A543 at the village of Pentrefoelas and scud on to Denbigh.

From there, come back south on the A525 to Ruthin and thread your way through the little town, staying on that road until you reach the top of the Nant-y-Garth pass, where you’ll then be looking for signs for the A542 – also known as the Horseshoe pass. Lunch at The Ponderosa Cafe on Horseshoe Pass. The final leg is an up-and-over to Llangollen.

We’re sad to leave the pretty valley of Betws-y-Coed, the Snowdonia National Park is stunningly beautiful and we’ll see a little more of it today.

First stop is a surprise, Colwyn Falls, a 20 minute walk around a huge waterfall, The Navigator struggles with the pace and we nearly have to call for a defibrillator, she’s so puffed she can hardly talk, bloody terrible it is!

The road is fantastic, the country opens up and from wilderness it becomes more stone fences, hedgerows and sheep as we climb higher.

Motor bikes are everywhere, it’s one of the best motor bike riding roads I’ve seen. Peter English and crew, check it out for future travel options. We find the Ponderosa Cafe at the top of Horseshoe Pass, it’s packed with all sorts of bikes, roaring howling sports bikes, growling BMW boxer engines and Triumph Street Triple’s distinctive growl. The odd Porsche and German sports car enters the car park with a few hotted up popping farting rally type cars.

Lunch at The Ponderosa Cafe is good, we don’t spot Hoss or Little Joe but I did see a bloke who looked like Adam get out of a BMW M3.

The run down to Llangollwn from Horseshoe Pass is great. We decide to pass through Llangollen and go to Wrexham to visit the home of the Red Devils – Wrexham AFC, one of the oldest professional soccer club in the Uk, at the request of Paul Nd Liz’s son. The clubs fortunes have ebbed and flowed and ebbed and it was recently bought by 2 actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. There is a recently released mini series on the checkered history ( check it out on Google) of the club called Welcome to Wrexham. Their shop is shut so we’ll drop in to check out merchandise tomorrow when we go to Chester for a short visit in the morning.

It’s a short drive back to Llangollen where we find our accomodation, park the car, walk up the street then head to the Bridge End Hotel for an ale or two. The pub is busy motor bikes parked up on the footpath, beemers and Triumph’s, men and chick’s in leather drinking beer and spritzers, a lot of them taking in Welsh, its not all bad i have to say. Up in the north a lot of people have Welsh as their first language, it sounds like nothing else.

Dinner is just over the bridge at an eatery on the river.

We retire to our funky stone terrace apartment, small but kitted out in modern decor.

Ciao for today – Pauolo