2015 SPRING RALLY SCENIC DRIVES
Cheshire & North Wales offer many superb driving roads and the chosen 3 Scenic Drives include some of the MX-5 Owner Club Cheshire & North Wales Area’s favourite places.
Oulton Park to Mercure Abbots Well Hotel in Chester
Distance: 12.7 miles. Driving time: 25 min
Why not enjoy this alternative safe and beautiful route from Oulton Park Race Circuit to the Mercure Chester Abbots Well Hotel in Chester driving through some of scenic Cheshire .
http://www.mercurechester.co.uk/
North Wales Scenic Drive
Distance: 79 miles to 209 miles. Driving time: 2.5 hours to 6.5 hours + stops
Starting and finishing at the Mercure Chester Abbots Well Hotel in Chester heading west into North Wales. The North Wales Scenic Drive can be combined different ways to your liking depending on available time, energy and the weather. You can choose the different sections as you make your way through this Scenic Drive adventure.
Route A (36.3 miles):
From Hotel through Cheshire lanes and villages, Llangollen and up through the unforgettable Horseshoe Pass with the first stop at the popular Ponderosa Café at the top.
http://www.new.llangollen.org.uk/
http://www.ponderosacafe.co.uk/
After a break it will be time to make a choice between the next routes B1 or B2.
Route B1 (42.8 miles):
From Pendarosa café heading back to Mercure Chester Abbots Well Hotel in Chester with an optional stop at Alyn Waters Country Park. This is the shortest North Wales route.
http://www.wrexham.gov.uk/english/leisure_tourism/AlynWatersCountryPark.htm
Route B2 (45.1 miles):
From Pendarosa Café to Riverside Chocolate House going over Moel Famau and including the famous Evo triangle, which several car magazines consider as the ultimate roads in UK. Not to be missed J
http://www.visitclwydianrange.co.uk/menu/about-the-area/item/moel-famau/
http://www.greatestdrivingroads.com/great_roads/The_Evo_Triangle.html
http://www.riversidechocolatehouse.com/
Next section is a choice between routes C1 or C2.
Route C1 (8.5 miles):
From Riverside Chocolate house a short beautiful drive through Nebo to Llanwrst.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanrwst http://www.tuhwntirbont.co.uk/
Route C2 (32.2 miles):
A longer route from Riverside Chocolate House to Llanwrst. This drive provides stunning views of mountains and passes through Ffestiniog with an optional stop at the Llechwedd Slate Caverns Slate visitor centre and café.
http://www.blaenauffestiniog.org/home.php http://www.llechwedd-slate-caverns.co.uk/
Next section is a choice of routes D1 or D2.
Route D1 (7.7 miles):
This is a twisty short drive from Llanwrst to Holland Arms Pub on B5113.
http://www.thehollandarms.co.uk/
Route D2 (37.7 miles):
From Llanwrst up to Llandudno passing Conwy Castle and with an optional stop top of the Great Orme, followed by a unique drive around the Great Orme on Marine Drive. Then along the coastal route to Rhos on Sea before heading inland finishing at Holland Arms Pub on B5113.
http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/daysout/conwycastle/?lang=en
http://www.greatorme.org.uk/marinedrive.html
http://www.walesdirectory.co.uk/Towns_in_Wales/Rhos_on_Sea_Town.htm
Route E (57.6 miles):
This is the last section going back to the Mercure Chester Abbots Well Hotel in Chester via Denbigh and making the most of more fantastic B-roads.
http://www.visitdenbigh.co.uk/
In summary:
| Route | Miles | Driving Time (min) | Post code (end of Route) | Route description |
| Route A | 36.3 | 70 | LL20 8DR | Mercure Hotel, Llangollen, Horse shoe pass, Ponderosa cafe. |
| Route B1 | 42.8 | 75 | CH3 5QL | Ponderosa cafe back to Mercure Hotel |
| Route B2 | 45.1 | 75 | LL24 0LE | Ponderosa cafe, Moel Famau, B5105 and Evo triangle. |
| Route C1 | 8.5 | 15 | LL26 0PL | To Llanwrst through Nebo |
| Route C2 | 32.2 | 55 | LL26 0PL | To Llanwrst through Ysbyty Ifan, Ffestiniog Slate Mines, Bets-y-coed. |
| Route D1 | 7.7 | 20 | LL22 8BG | To Holland Arms pub at B5113 using twisty roads. |
| Route D2 | 37.7 | 85 | LL22 8BG | To Conwy, Great Orme, Rhos on Sea and to Holland Arms at B5113. |
| Route E | 57.6 | 95 | CH3 5QL | From Pub to Llangernyw, Evo again, Denbigh and back to Mercure Hotel |
| Routes can be combined in 5 different ways: | Total Driving Time | |||
| A+B1 | 79.1 | 145 | 2h 25min | Horse Shoe Pass (shortest) |
| A+B2+C1+D1+E | 155.2 | 275 | 4h 35min | Horse Shoe Pass + Evo |
| A+B2+C2+D1+E | 178.9 | 315 | 5h 15min | Horse Shoe Pass + Evo + Mountains |
| A+B2+C1+D2+E | 185.2 | 340 | 5h 40min | Horse Shoe Pass + Evo + Great Orme/Coast |
| A+B2+C2+D2+E | 208.9 | 380 | 6h 20min | Horse Shoe Pass + Evo + Mountains + Great Orme/Coast |
This North Wales Scenic Drive will not disappoint no matter which way you combine it and will stay in your memory for a long time.
You already have a great sports car – these are great roads to match.
Cheshire Scenic Drive
Distance: 81.4 miles Driving time: 3 hours + stops
Starting from Mercure Chester Abbots Well Hotel in Chester, heading east on typical good Cheshire lanes towards Helsby, Frodsham, optional stop at Arley Hall and with a stop at High Leigh Garden Centre.
Next optional stop is Tatton Park, then through Knutsford on to another optional stop at Jodrell Bank.
Anderton Boatlift in Northwich is the next attraction, then Delamere Forrest before heading back to Mercure Chester Abbots Well Hotel.
This is a nice Scenic Drive around Cheshire passing some very special local sightseeing points.
http://www.arleyhallandgardens.com/
http://www.klondyke.co.uk/high-legh-garden-centre-knutsford
http://www.tattonpark.org.uk/home.aspx
https://canalrivertrust.org.uk/Anderton-boat-lift
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/delamere
Spring Rally Day :
At the Rally there will be a manned stand with further information about the proposed Scenic Drives, various sightseeing points and how to use the Tulip Maps.
There is no run leader and firm starting time for the Scenic Drives, so start when you are ready. You will most likely meet some fellow MX-5 drivers on your drives on Sunday 19th April.
Please see further details on the Tulip Maps that can be downloaded and printed from here
We hope you will enjoy the Scenic Drives in the Cheshire and North Wales area.
Thanks go to Lars Favrholdt and Ray Ronnpage for coordinating the Rally drives.
Download Links*
Spring Rally Drives Overview and links
Oulton Park to the Abbots Well Hotel
Welsh Tour
Map overviews for Wales routes.