On the run from Caernarfon to Stratford you will encounter three totally different landscapes.
First the Llanberis Pass, some of the most beautiful, the most dramatic scenery in all of Britain.
Then as you cross back into England you’ll catch echoes of the first days of the Industrial Revolution, perhaps explore some great English fortifications before ending your journey in Stratford-upon-Avon, home of England’s greatest playwright, William Shakespeare whose plays, 500 years later, still fill houses and thrill audiences around the world.
Attractions along the way
For full details of these attractions go to the Wales region page.
Snowdon Railway. Take a train to the rooftop of Wales, Mt Snowdon
National Slate Museum travel into the past of an industry and a way of life that has chiselled itself into the very being of this country.
Electric Mountain. The site of Dinorwig Power Station, but in comman parlance “Electric Mountain”.
Llanberis Lake Railway runs along the northerly shore of Llyn Padarn.
Pen-y-Gwwryd Hotel where Ed Hillary (later Sir Edmund Hillary) and the Sherpa Tenzing Norgay trained before their successful assault on Mt Everest
Attractions along the way
For full details of these attractions go to the Wales region page.
Snowdon Railway. Take a train to the rooftop of Wales, Mt Snowdon
National Slate Museum travel into the past of an industry and a way of life that has chiselled itself into the very being of this country.
Electric Mountain. The site of Dinorwig Power Station, but in comman parlance “Electric Mountain”.
Llanberis Lake Railway runs along the northerly shore of Llyn Padarn.
Pen-y-Gwwryd Hotel where Ed Hillary (later Sir Edmund Hillary) and the Sherpa Tenzing Norgay trained before their successful assault on Mt Everest
Swallow Falls
Ty Hyll -The Ugly House. Visit this historical building, learning about its legends and how it was built.
Swallow Falls This waterfall on the Afon Llugwy has featured on film, postcard and canvas.
Trefriw Woolen Mills manufacture Welsh tapestry bedspreads, tweeds and travelling rugs from the raw wool.
Go Below Underground Adventures runs guided adventure trips into the spectacular underground world of an abandoned slate mine.
Gwyndwyr Forest Park. Waymarked walking trails allow visitors to explore this landscape of lakes, forests and mountains and to learn about its mining history.
Fairy Glen and Conway Falls. A circular, half-day riverside walk about 4.4km (roughly 2.7 miles) long.
Plas Newydd From 1791 to 1831 this was the home of a couple of upper class Anglo-Irish women who preferred to dress as men.
Llangollen Bridge was built in the 16th century replacing an earlier structure built by the local bishop, John Trevor.
Llangollen Railway a heritage railway located beside the historic Dee Bridge and journeys 10 miles through the picturesque Dee Valley to the town of Corwen.
Castell Dinas Bran A place of myths and legends involving King Arthur, the Holy Grail and even the brother-in-law of Joseph of Arimathea.
River rafting and tubing. The River Dee provides some excellent white water adventures. .
Take a leisurely cruise on a horse-drawn canal boat that starts from Llangolen Wharf.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, the largest in Britain, was built by Thomas Telford between 1795 and 1805.
Chirk Castle
Chirk Castle (pictured) is a 700 year old marcher fortress, which commands fine views over the surrounding countryside.
Shrewsbury
Talk a walk around the town, wandering through the narrow passages, called shuts, the run off the main streets.
The Quarry a 29-acre parkland that has won a swag of major international garden awards.
Shrewsbury Castle. houses collections of the Shropshire Regimental Museum Trust.
Hawkestone Park Follies is a woodland fantasy with cliffs, crags, caves, deep woods and a series of monuments built over 200 years ago.
Stratford-upon-Avon
Shakespeare’s Birthplace The half-timbered house where William Shakespeare was born in 1564 is Stratford’s most cherished historic place. It is the most frequently visited of all the tourist places. Descendants of the dramatist lived there until the nineteenth century, and it has been a place of pilgrimage for over 250 years. It’s also the place where the bard spent the first five years of married life with Anne Hathaway.
New Place/Nash’s House New Place, Shakespeare’s home from 1597 until his death in 1616, was pulled down in the eighteenth century but its foundations and grounds can be seen, including a beautiful Elizabethan-style knott garden.
Hall’s Croft A Jacobean doctor’s house where Shakespeare’s daughter, Susanna, lived.
Anne Hathaway’s Cottage Undoubtedly the most romantic of Shakespeare’s Houses.
Mary Arden’s House Home of Shakespeare’s grandparents and childhood home of Shakespeare’s mother, Mary Arden.
The Royal Shakespearean Company You simply can’t come to Stratford-upon-Avon and not go the an RSC performance.
Ironbridge Gorge
This is the cradle of the Industrial Revolution that started in Britain in the 18th century.
Once described as “the most extraordinary district in the world”, the Ironbridge Gorge is still a remarkable, and beautiful, place to visit today.
Sutton Park, a 2,400 acre National Nature Reserve, is one of the largest urban parks in Europe.
Side trips to
Warwick Castle Dating back to 914, Warwick Castle has stood as an impressive mediaeval fortress on the banks of the river Avon for the last 1100 years.
Kenilworth From medieval fortress to Elizabethan palace, Kenilworth Castle has been at the centre of England’s affairs for much of its 900 year history.
Coventry
Coventry Cathedral has had three cathedrals in the past 1000 years: the 12th century Priory Church of St Mary, the medieval Parish Church Cathedral of St Michael and the modern Coventry Cathedral.
Rugby
Discover the roots of rugby football by visiting The Close at Rugby School
Navigation Notes
In Caernarfon find your way to the large r/bout under the A487.
If you are parked in either of the Greengate Car parks head back towards the castle. Keep it on your right until you see The Castle Gift Shop on your left. Turn hard left. there on to St Heliers Rd, s/p “A487”
If you parked in the State Quay car park (the Castle Carpark) exit on to St Heliers Rd.
Follow St Helliers Rd to the first r/bout. (53.1317,-4.2702) and take the 1st exit on to the A487 s/p “Bangor A487”.
Expert navigator checkpoint. You’ll very shortly pass Tesco on your left.
0.4 mi At the traffic lights Take the slip road s/p “Beddgelert A4085” on to the large r/bout.
The A487 passes over that r/bout, so if you have come from some other direction this is where you pick up the track.
0.1 mi 53.1400, -4.2705 Take the exit from the r/bout s/p “Llanberis A4086”
0.2 mi 53.1413, -4.2670 At the next r/bout take the 2nd exit on to Llanberis Rd s/p “Llanberis A4086”.
6.9 mi 53.1205, -4.1253 Llanberis.
You’ll now drive through the Llanberis Pass with Snowdon on your right and Glyder Fawr mountain on your left . . . magnificent, spectacular, awe-inspiring – take your pick of superlatives. Its rocky cliffs are a climbers paradise.
6.5 mi 53.0821, -4.0021 Pen-y-Grwyd Hotel at the junction with the A498.
Side Trip for a great view of Mt Snowdon
If you drive down the A498 about a mile you’ll get a full-on view of Mount Snowdon at 1085m and Glyder Fawr at 999m.
Continuing on the A4086 . . .
4.2 mi 53.1050, -3.9124 In Capel Curig turn r. on to the A5 s/p “Betwys-y-coed A5”.
From here to the Ugly House you’ll be accompanied by the Afon Llugwy river sparkling and bubbling in the trees below the road.
Ty Hyll, the Ugly House
2.6 mi 53.1004, -3.8593 Ty Hyll, the Ugly House (pictured) – which is a cruel misnomer for this delightfully quaint cottage..
0.6 mi 53.1021, -3.8470 Swallow Falls. You can’t miss them . . . all those dratted buses full of tourists. To go down to the falls costs £1.50 and only takes coins.
2.2 mi 53.0913, -3.8013 Betwys-y-coed. Beautifully located at the confluence of three rivers – the Llugwy, Lledr and the Conwy which means there are a a number of particulaly lovel sights and lots of walks.
Just through Betwys you turn r. to remain on the A5, s/p Llangollen
31.9 mi 52.9689 / -3.1705 Llangollen.
3.8 mi 52.9635, -3.0859 In the village of Canal Side, take a hard left turn on to Gate Rd to visit the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct s/p “Pontcysyllte 3/4 / Trevor 1” and a brown and white sign to the aqueduct. The turn is just past the Aqueduct Inn.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
Getting a good photo of the aqueduct isn’t easy. This one (pictured) seems to have been taken from the air. On the way down the hill you’ll see a red gate signposted Gate 26. (Where are the other 25?). From there not a bad shot. A bit further on, just before you cross over a narrow stone bridge, there is a gateway on to a private road. If you nose in there you can get quite a reasonable shot of the structure.
Drive up the hill into the village and turn r. on to New Rd. There’s short term parking just around the corner. From there, wander back to where the narrow boats are moored and take a stroll around the area.
Warning: Don’t take the path from the carpark signposted “Aqueduct Viewpoint” unless you want quite a long walk for no particularly good reason. You can reach the same vantage point a lot easier from the mooring area.
1.3 mi 52.9505, -3.0601 Take the A5 from Langollen and at this r/bout take the 2nd exit s/p “Chirk / Y Waun / B5070”.
1.3 mi 52.9325, -3.0569 Chirk. To find Chirk Castle (GPS 52.9348, -3.0903) is easy – just follow the brown and white signs.
Continuing on from Chirk, follow the B5070 . . .
1.4 mi 52.9192, -3.0427 At Gledrid Roundabout take the 3rd exit to merge on to the A5 s/p “Oswestry / Shrewsbury / A5”
Silverback gorilla
7.9 mi 52.8399, -2.9963 The British Ironwork Centre and Forge Falconry. Bit of an odd mix of attractions, but it seems to work. The ironworks is a family business spanning generations that manufactures and sells all manner of metalwork. Plus they have created a collection of animal sculptures, like the silver backed gorilla (pictured).
The falconry centre gives you a chance to get up close and personal with these magnificent, and deadly, creatures.
If you wish to visit Shrewsbury (not a bad idea)
At 20.5 mi 52.7165, -2.8188 at the r/bout take the 1st exit on to Welshpool Rd, the A458 s/p “Shrewsbury (West and Centre) A458” which will take you into the centre of the town.
Otherwise, giving Shrewsbury a miss . . .
Remain on the A5 through to the south east edge of Shrewsbury.
24.5 mi 52.6920, -2.7095 At the r/bout take the 4th exit on to Emstrey Bank s/p “Ironbridge B4380”.
2.6 mi 52.6803, -2.6578 Turn r. to remain on the B4380.
6.8 mi 52.6374, -2.5262 Just through the village of Buildwas, turn r. on to Much Wenlock Rd, the A4169
Almost immediately after that r. turn, turn l. on to Buildwas Rd s/p “Ironbridge / Coalbridgedale / Ironbridge Gorge”.
As you pass along this stretch of road you’ll see a thermal power station very prominent on the right. Ironbridge may have been the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, but in many ways this power station is a monument to modern industry. As we go forward into a climatically uncertain future, however, is it also a living relic of an age that is passing?
Follow Buildwas Rd into Ironbridge.
For details of attractions in the area go to the Ironbidge website.
1.6 mi 52.6296, -2.4923 Ironbridge Tourist Information Centre. At the centre you can get information on the various attractions in the region.
From Telford take the M6 through to Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, Warwick Castle, Kenilworth and Royal Leamington Spa.. Side trip to Coventry.
Ironbridge to Stratford On Avon directly.
This is the quick way if you just want to get there without let or hindrance.
Distance 71.3km, drive time without stops about 1hr 20min.
At Ironbridge Make you way to the B4373, Madeley Rd.
1.6 mi 52.6352, -2.4638 At Lees Farm Roundabout take the 2nd exit on to Parkway, the B4373 s/posted Telford Town Centre.
Expert navigator checkpoint. You should shortly pass a BP service station on the left.
1.0 mi mi At Woodside Roundabout take the 2nd exit on to Castlefields Way, the B4373 s/posted Telford Town Centre and Motorway (M54).
0.5 mi At Castlefields Roundabout take the 4th exit on to Queensway, the A4169 s/posted “Bridgnorth / Telford Town Centre / A4149 (A442)”.
2.7 mi 52.6663, -2.4260 Take the left hand exit lane from the motorway s/posted “A464 (M54) / Stafford Park”
Expert navigator checkpoint. As you exit you’ll beneath a red and white overbridge.
0.2 mi At Randlay Roundabout take the 4th exit on to the A464 s/posted “(M54) / Shifnal A464” and on a brown sign “Stafford Park”.
0.6 mi Go straight through Naird R/bout to remain on the A464.
Expert navigator checkpoint. Naird Roundabout has a large obelisk in the middle.
0.8 mi 52.6800, -2.4057 At the Interchange take the 3rd exit on to the M54 s/posted Wolverhampton / Birmingham M54 (M6).
16.4 mi 52.6292, -2.0478 Merge on to the M6.
8.1 mi 52.5524,-1.9369 To visit Sutton Park leave the M6 at Junction 7 then follow navigation notes below..
To take the side trip(s) to Sutton Park, Coventry, Kenilworth and/or Warwick Castle see sidebar. Instructions will start at this point.
9.7 mi 52.5103, -1.7472 Take the left hand lanes on to the M42 exit. Follow signs to “M42 (S) / The South West / Birmingham (S)”
Expert navigator advice. Get into the right hand lane.
0.8 mi Take the right hand fork s/posted “M42 (S) / The South West / London (S & W) / Birmingham (S)”
12.7 mi 52.3528, -1.8086 At Junction 3A get into the left hand lane and exit on to the M40 s/posted “M40 / London / Warwick / Stratford”.
10.5 mi 52.2625, -1.6193 At Junction 15 get into the left hand lane and exit on to the A46 s/posted “M40 / London / Warwick / Stratford”.
0.2 mi Stay in the right hand lane and after the traffic lights follow the “Strat” signs marked on the road surface to exit on to Stratford Rd, the A46.
0.5 mi Take the 1st exit to remain on Stratford Rd, the A46.
1.8 mi 52.2425, -1.6511 Take the 1st exit s/posted “Local Traffic / A439” on to the A439.
4.9 mi 52.1953, -1.7019 The A439 turns left into Bridgeway.
Follow the A3400 signs around to the left.
52.1931, -1.7017 Look for the large Bridgeway Carpark on the right.
STRATFORD UPON AVON
Via Sutton Park, Coventry, Kenilworth, Rugby, and Warwick
For Sutton Park
Sutton Park is an historic landscape that covers an area of over 2,000acres and attracts over two million visits every year.
In 1997, English Nature designated Sutton Park a National Nature Reserve and it is also a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
This landscape is a mosaic of open heathland, woodlands, wetlands, marshes and seven lakes each with their own rich variety of plants and wildlife, some rarely seen in the region. It is an important site for wildlife and conservation, containing fine examples of natural countryside that have survived for hundreds of years. These habitats are part of a working grazed landscape where cattle and wild ponies can be seen grazing during the year. More . . .
0.0 mi 52.5524, -1.9369 Leave the M6 at Junction 7 s/posted “A34 / Birmingham (N)”
0.2 mi At the r/bout take the 2nd exit on to Birmingham Rd, the A34, s/posted “Birmingham”.
0.3 mi Merge on to Birmingham Rd.
0.4 mi At the traffic lights at a major crossroad, turn l. on to Queslett Rd, s/posted “Sutton Coldfield / Aldridge”.
Go underneath the M6 overbridge and through three roundabouts to remain on Queslett Rd.
3.0 mi 52.5691, -1.8798 At the 4th r/bout take the 2nd exit on to Thornhill Rd s/posted “Lichfield (A5127)”
Along Thornhill Rd, Sutton Park will on your right.
1.8 mi 52.5841, -1.8730 Turn right into the entrance to Sutton Park.
To get back to the M6, go back down Thornhill Rd, the road you came in on, and turn r. at the r/bout Then just follow the signs that say “M6 South”
For Coventry
52.485, -1.7252 At Junction 3 on the M6 take the left hand lane to exit on to the A444 s/posted “Bedworth / Coventry North / Nuneaton” and “Ricoh Centre”
Follow signs that say Coventry A444 (S) or City Centre. That will take you along the A444 and A428 on to the Ring Road.
You’ll eventually go past the Transport Museum on the right and underneath the Britannia Hotel. The Cathedral parking area is a short distance along on the left hand side.
Rugby
Discover the roots of rugby football by visiting The Close at Rugby School, before walking to the statue of William Webb Ellis – the perfect backdrop for photographs. Across the road you’ll find the Webb Ellis Rugby Football Museum, which houses unique memorabilia and artefacts tracing the history of the the game and its players.
Myth has it that in November 1823 William Webb Ellis while playing football – i.e. soccer – “with fine disregard for the rules” picked up the ball and ran with it. Problem is that running with the ball as a sport had been around for centuries if not millennia.
At the time there were no rules for either Rugby Union or what is now called Association Football (or just football).
What is certainly true is that the first rules for rugby were laid down in 1845 by a group of boys at Rugby School, the first written rules for any type of football game. Soccer rules weren’t codified until 1873.
You can explore Rugby’s rich history further by following the town’s Pathway of Fame, a collection of 50 bronze plaques set into the pavement celebrating iconic figures from the world of rugby.
Navigation notes from Coventry to Rugby
0.0 mi 52.4048, -1.5019 Follow the A4053, the Ring Road, to Junction 4. Go str. ahd. at the lights on to the A4114 following road-top signs “M40 /A46”.
1.7 mi 52.3822, -1.4964 Take the exit s/p “London / N’Hampton / (M1, M45) / Birmingham / Coventry (W)”
At the r/bout take the 1st exit on to the A45 following road-top signs to “Rugby / Leic’r” 7.6 mi 52.3451, -1.3412 Exit on to the A4071 following sign to “Rugby A4071”
3.4 mi 52.3750, -1.2839 Leave the A4071 and turn r. on to Lawford Rd, the A428.
1 .0 mi 52.3708, -1.2632 Follow the A428 to Rugby School in the centre of the town.
Coventry to Kenilworth
Make you way to the Ring Road that circles the city cente.
If you are leaving from the sports carpark go back out the way you came in.
Going around the Ring Road You will see signs on the road surface that say A429 and KWTH.
Follow them, but keep in the left hand lane ready to take the KWTH exit on to the A429.
If you miss the turn-out just go on around the ring road. It’s not very long, and have another go at it.
Travel south on the A4053 to the junction with the A429. Follow the signs to “Kenilworth A429” on to Warwick Rd. Mileages start at that point.
0.0 mi 52.4025, -1.515 Leave the Ring Road and take Warwick Rd, the A429.
Follow signs to Kenilworth on the long straight Warwick and Kenilworth Rds, the A429.
You will enter the town on New St.
From there just follow signs to the castle.
5.2 mi 52.3488, -1.5909 Entrance to Castle and gardens. As you come up to the castle, turn left for the castle carpark. That’s also the road to take to Warwick.
Kenilworth Direct
If you elect to give Coventry a miss and go straight to Kenilworth from the motorway follow these navigation notes from the M6.
0.0 mi 52.4839, -1.7239 At Junction 4 Take the left hand lane exit s/posted “A446 Coventry (S & W) / Birmingham (E)”
0.8 mi At the r/bout take the 3rd exit on to Stonebridge Rd, the A446 s/posted Warwick / Coventry A446.
1.6 mi Merge on to Chester Rd.;
0.8 mi At the r/bout take the 2nd exit on the Kenilworth Rd, s/posted “Balsall Common / Kenilworth /Meriden”. At the actual exit the s/posts are “”Leamington A452 / Warwick (A4277)
If you are interested in motorcycles you might want to visit the National Motorcycle Museum, – signposted from this point.
Go straight through four roundabouts to remain on Kenilworth Rd, the A452.
9.1 mi 52.3488, -1.5909 Follow the A452 in town. The castle and gardens will be directly ahead of you. Circle around to the left to the entrance.
Kenilworth To Warwick
0.0 mi 52.3488, -1.5909 From Kenilworth, follow signs to the A46.
The just follow signs to Warwick.
As you come into town, on Coventry Rd, follow signs to the Station and Town Centre. You’ll pass the station on your right hand side.
5.4 mi 52.2837, -1.5805 You will come to a sloping T i/s controlled by traffic lights. The Castle Limes Hotel will be on your left. Turn right and a short distance later, bear l. into St Nicholas Church St.
Expert Navigator Checkpoint: Unlike many streets in Britain it is clearly s/posted on your r.
0.2 mi At the top of St Nicholas Church St, turn r. following a brown and white sign to “Town Centre A425” and the castle icon.
You will se the castle gates over to your r.
That will take you on to on to Castle Hill. The Stables Car Park and castle entrance are about 100m along on the left.
A WARNING. Parking at the castle entrance is quite expensive – £10. There is a car park on High St that’s a bit cheaper at £6.
If you continue up Castle Hill and turn l. at the top on to Jury St, there is cheaper parking along there.
Warwick to Stratford
0.0 mi 52.2814, -1.5856 From Warwick Castle, if you parked in the Stables Carpark, take Castle Lane to West St, the A439.
Expert navigator checkpoint. As you drive along Castle Lane you should have the castle walls on your left.
0.3 mi 52.2798,-1.5904 Turn left on to West St, the A439. Follow West St on to Stratford Rd also the A439.
If you parked along Jury St or High St, just continue along that road to West St
1.9 mi 52.2591,-1.6147 At the r/bout take the 3rd exit s/posted “Stratford A46”. After the traffic lights follow the “Strat” signs marked on the road surface to exit on to Stratford Rd, the A46.
0.5 mi Take the 1st exit to remain on Stratford Rd, the A46.
1.5 mi 52.2423,-1.6512 Take the 1st exit s/posted “Local Traffic / A439” on to the A439.
4.9 mi 52.1953, -1.7019 The A439 turns left into Bridgeway.
You’ll come into town on the A3400. follow it around to the left past the Bridgeway Carpark – you could park there, but if you keep turning right you go past the Visitor Centre. Move over to the left lane and follow the “Central Parking” signs to a couple of centrally located parking areas.
STRATFORD UPON AVON