You've all been so great about answering my questions about North Wales ... I'll try one more.

We'll be driving from the Gloucester area. It seems to be at least a three-and-a-half hour drive to North Wales. We're wondering if there is an area where we should plan to stay a night or two en route.

It's not that we couldn't drive 3-1/2 hours, but are thinking there might be an additional area that we should see.

Well, it rarely gets into the "Greatest Hits" tours.

But Shropshire's fab.

Well, you could head west through the Black Mountains and central Wales and then up into North Wales, or drive up the coast maybe.
On the west coast south of Aberystwyth is the delightful village of Llangranog.

The Wynnstay hotel in Machynlleth serves local food, of a high quality, and Machynlleth is quite a nice town on the southern edge of Snowdonia, near Cader Idris. From there you can head up via harlech and it's castle, to wherever you are staying in the North. if you have the time due also visit the Lleyn peninsula.

Or head up through Ludlow and Shrewsbury and across that way.

mmmm - southerntravels' only post.

has all the signs of an advert.

songdoc - I can't help with the Welsh side. but Shropshire, Ludlow, the Long Mind [pronounced as in sing, as opposed to find] are all lovely, as Flanner says.

"southerntravels' only post."...

...is about a fake marina near Swindon. And if the poster thinks that's anywhere near the way from Gloucester to North Wales, his sense of direction is as deformed as his taste in houses.

Though calling a place just down the road from the Honda factory a "stunning location" does display - well, imagination I suppose.

You have to try really hard to find countryside drab enough round here for planners to approve construction of such horrible houses. The Cotswold Water Park (think a council estate in the middle of marshland, next to Britain's naffest town) found the only suffiently ugly countryside in a 100 mile radius.

I was also going to suggest Shropshire.

I live a few miles south of Gloucester, but used to live 5 miles east of Ludlow.

Gloucester to Ludlow is barely more than an hour and a half's drive. I can give you the most scenic route details if you like.

So you could stop in Ludlow for a look round and lunch, then head north towards Shrewsbury (30-40 minutes) for an overnight stay.

When I lived near Ludlow I often used to go and visit a friend in Chester, which I suppose is about an hour on from Shrewsbury.

I see ElendilPickle posted on your other thread - do read her trip report because went from North Wales to Gloucester via Ludlow and Abergavenny (?I think?)- and when she stayed just south of Gloucester at Stonehouse we met for a pub supper - and a mini Fodors GTG!

OK ... I've copied all pertinent info into one document file and am looking at maps; my Fodor's book; trip reports; and listings of cottages. It's still almost overwhelming -- but that's better than it was ;-)

There are so many aspects of this trip. Transportation and lodging for: N. Ireland; Ireland; Gloucester (where I will visit a pen pal to whom I've been writing for fifteen years -- but we've never met); Wales; and Liverpool. (FYI, we'll be gone for five weeks -- and I'll be working in Belfast and Liverpool.)

Your help is very much appreciated.

>>I see ElendilPickle posted on your other thread - do read her trip report because went from North Wales to Gloucester via Ludlow and Abergavenny (?I think?)<<

Yes, more or less - we sent south from Snowdonia National Park along the coast to Barmouth. This route passes Harlech Castle, but we didn't have time to stop there. Then east through Shrewsbury and Ludlow. We had a lovely anniversary dinner at the Bell Inn in Skenfrith, just across the border in Wales, then to Stonehouse for a couple of nights.

This was our longest driving day; we stopped in Shrewsbury and Ludlow on the way, and getting a little lost in Hereford didn't help matters. So if you wanted a stop, the bits of Shropshire we saw were very nice.

Lee Ann

Lee Ann --

Your report was wonderful. We're definitely going to be bringing our GPS!

I'm thinking an overnight -- or maybe even two nights in Shropshire to see Shrewsbury & Ludlow might be a good plan.

From there, we'd head to the area near Harlech Castle where a friend's sister lives. She's offered to show us around.

Many thanks to all who've responded for such excellent suggestions. It's starting to take shape ;-)

Thank you! I've enjoyed your reports as well.

If (when, Lord willing) we go to England again, I'll use the AA travel planner again, but I'll make sure it doesn't route us through cities where we don't plan to spend time.

Lee Ann

Such a rude and unwelcoming post from flanneruk, who should remember that opinion is just that - don't dress up yours as the definining 'fact' to over-ride all others. Rude. simply rude.

southerntravels66: In case you didn't notice -- the Fodors editors nuked your post. That wasn't flanner. It was the editors who found your post inappropriate and likely an advert.

I would recommend Ludlow. I spent a day and a night there. Visited the castle and wandered the side streets. Had lunch at the Three Feathers, an old pub, white with black timbers. It was quite a while ago and the lunch was a real splurge for me, but might be more reasonable now.

While I was at the castle, there was a group of schoolkids on a field trip. They were a mixed group in the 11-12 age bracket. Their teacher was telling them about a wife of one of the owners who five hundred years (or more) ago got thrown off the walls for betraying her husband. A few of the boys started eying some girls and elbowing each other. The teacher looked at them and remarked, "We are NOT going to recreate the event today." End of foolishness.

Shrewsbury (home of Brother Caedfael of PBS series) is also an interesting stop for the night.

Between Ludlow and Shrewsbury near Craven Arms is a fortified manor house, Stokesay Castle, supposedly the oldest manor house of its kind. I loved my visit here. At the time it was off the beaten track and I was there with only a school group, kept well in line by their teacher, who was telling fascinating stories about the place. Once they passed onto the gift shop, I was alone. The gardens were also lovely.

Spent several days in Chester exploring the city and countryside about there.

Any or all of these cities I would highly recommend.

i'd back shrewsbury and esp ludlow and chester; chester has loads to see and do...but you could do it easily from liverpool. one thing you should note about ludlow - not only is it v pretty, it's also built up a reputation as a foodie's paradise. think i'm right in saying that there are a couple of michelin starred restaurants around there but standards anyway are very high. it's true shropshire is largely off the tourist map but a very lovely county nonetheless

These are great suggestions. FYI, once I arrive in Liverpool I'll be working -- so no sightseeing from there, except for the Beatles tour when I first arrive.

I'm not a "foodie" but Shropshire seems like the perfect one or two night stop en route to N. Wales.

Thanks so much!