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A weekend · Wales

A weekend driving in Wales

Short, intense mountain roads with almost no dual carriageway to get in the way.

One night away, one great road as the centrepiece and no more than four hours of driving on either day. Anything more and the weekend stops being a break.

Days

2 days, 1 nights

Rough distance

323.1 mi

Daily average

161.6 mi

Best months

April to October

Checked by the Drivers Atlas desk

Scored and written by the Drivers Atlas editorial desk, drawing on driven routes across the UK and Europe, mapping data and member road reports. Daily distances are set for enjoyable driving rather than maximum ground covered. How we score roads.

Last reviewed 26 March 2026

Day by day

How the trip breaks up

Day 1

Black Mountain Pass

  • Black Mountain Pass · 11.8 mi · 9.4 / 10. A ribbon of hairpins climbing a bare Welsh moorland made famous by Top Gear.

About 161.6 mi and 4 hr 3 min behind the wheel including transit.

Day 2

Llanberis Pass

  • Llanberis Pass · 9.9 mi · 9.3 / 10. A dramatic pass beneath Snowdon's crags linking two of Wales's most storied villages.

About 161.6 mi and 3 hr 59 min behind the wheel including transit.

Practical

Where to start and what it costs

Base yourself

Betws y Coed or Brecon

Nights to book

1 night. On anything longer than five days, book two nights in the best base rather than moving hotel every evening.

Fuel and tolls

Budget for roughly 323.1 miles of driving plus any vignettes or tunnel fees for the countries you cross.

Other lengths

More time, or less, in Wales