Driving Day

Leg Two

Topped up with our caffeine fix, or water for the sensible ones, and a change of cars, Leg Two takes us past the Brecon Mountain Railway where, if you are lucky, you will spot one of the steam trains chugging up the hill - these now carry passengers insted of coal, before we travel through the village of Pontsticill and a very narrow bridge!

We are now well into the Brecon Beacons and the Brecon Beacons National Park. The road we are taking is very popular on weekends throughout the summer with cars, motorcycles, cycles and walkers. Hopefully, today’s trip will not be too busy. However, please keep an eye out for other road users.

We are now heading north again as our road, through Llyngeren Forest and alongside Pontsticill reservoir, where you can still see the steam train, or at least the track, on the other side, twists and turns before bursting out of Taf Fechan Forest - look to your left for a close up of the Brecon Beacons.

A 90 degree turn to the east and a steep road down through Talybont Forest brings us to the Talybont Reservoir and dam. Here there is a brief stop and another photo opportunity presents itself with a magnificent backdrop.

We continue our descent to Talybont on Usk crossing the Brecon and Monmouth Canal via a lift bridge just before the T junction where we take a right and head south east.

The canal is fairly busy and you may well be held up by the raising of the lift bridge – a sight well worth seeing.

We now Follow the course of the canal for the next four miles, swapping sides and levels, as well as passing a tunnel on the canal - which presents a strange sight because as you approach it in your car on the road you can, briefly, see right through the tunnel, to arrive at  Llangynidr and our lunch halt which is the Coach & Horses pub and restaurant - a stunning spot situated next to the canal with a lovely beer garden.

Leg Three

After a well-deserved lunch we change to our third car of the day.

We leave the lunch stop and head North West following the canal nearly all the way to Brecon. Just after the last lock gate, to your left, we turn onto the A40 and head West skirting the town of Brecon, which you can just see, to your right with the Beacons to your left.

After negotiating two roundabouts we stay on the A40 heading in the direction of Llandovery . The fast flowing road twists and turns as it follows the river Usk until we reach the village of Sennybridge. A large  MOD base lies to the right as you drive through the village, nestled at the foot of the mountain where the Epynt Military range is located. 

We press on West for another three miles to the village of Trecastle. As the main road now starts to head on a route North West we take a left just in front of the purple Trecastle Hotel to continue our journey South West and start to head back to base.

We now drive through hedged country roads before climbing up through a small forest, which passes Usk Reservoir, before crossing along unfenced roads past an old Roman Camp. We actually drive on part of the old Roman Road.

The view to our left is The Black Mountain which we will be crossing shortly, to our right is a breath taking view across to Llandovery and Llanwrda.

A short sharp descent and a 90 degree left turn over the river brings us to a T junction on the A4069 Llanwrda to Brynamman mountain road. Turning left and now heading south it is just a short ascent to a viewing stop, coffee or tea and the last swap of cars for the day.

Leg Four

The route South over The Black Mountain is impassable should it be snowing or below 3 degrees due to ice and you can probably see why!

We descend into the old coal mining village of Brynamman and then onto Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen or G C G as the locals refer to it. As with the start of the day this area, the mountains and alongside the side of the road, was until twenty years ago all black. Grass and trees just didn’t grow due to the coal soot that was everywhere. We head South through Cwmgors before turning right at the next crossroads into what is now the entry to the local civic community recycling site but what used to be the mouth of a massive coal works. Although there is no evidence of the coal mine any more. 

A short uphill section with a hairpin takes you up Bryn Mawr turning right at the crossroad to drive up St Iltyd’s Walk. The single track road twists and turns up and down hill until we arrive at a T junction where we take a left around what was once Penlle Castle – although unless you stop and poke through the grass you may miss it as there is not much left!

A Roman Road crosses the top of Mynydd-y-Betws or Betws Mountain, straight for two miles but watch the hidden dip and the risk of jumping and landing hard on the suspension or sump guard!

We soon drop down off the mountain and find ourselves back in civilisation and in no time the M4.

A link section back on the M4 through Port Talbot once again past junction 40 completes your days driving and circular route around the Brecon Beacons.

Back at Kenfig you will have a short de-brief before heading home. 

See available dates

Gift Day Tour

For those of you that wish to spend longer driving the car and stay overnight we have the Gift Day Tour. Typical format would be:

Day 1

• 10.45 - 11.00 Arrive at Kenfig for coffee & complete paperwork 
• 11.00 -11.15 short briefing & introduction to the cars 
• 11.15 - 1.00 morning driving leg to lunch stop allowing for a coffee stop and swap of cars en route
• 1.00 - 2.00  lunch stop and a chance for a chat with your fellow drivers
• 2.00 -  4.45 afternoon driving leg with a stop to change cars and photo opportunity 
• arrive at overnight stop at Country Estate in Wales with the option of:
• Dinner with the Estate owner in his dinning room or
• Dinner at their country  pub a short walk across the estate.

Day 2

• 10.00 - 12.30 morning driving leg from overnight stay to lunch venue with stop for change of cars
• 12.30 - 1.00 light lunch
• 1.00 - 2.45 afternoon driving leg heading back to Kenfig
• 2.45 - 3.00 arrive at Kenfig debrief and goodbyes 
• 3.00 depart for home 

Price includes; 2 guests in one car, car hire, fuel, lunch each day plus coffee/tea where applicable, overnight accomodation plus dinner & breakfast (does not include drinks)  for two sharing a double or twin room (single rooms available at a supplement).  Fully comprehensive insurance has been arranged at £60 for the two days as long as the driver meets our insurance criteria. Click here for more information. Additional driver costs £30 for the two days.

For more information please contact Mark on 01656 740275 or e mail by clicking here

You have a question? Please don’t hesitate to contact us and ask. However, we have answered the most asked questions below:

Questions & Answers

Q: Who can come on the Gift Day?

A: Anyone! If guests wish to drive they must meet our insurance criteria, if they can’t drive they can be driven around the route by a friend or relative. Alternatively we can drive them around the route

Q: Will we be on our own or in a large group of strangers?

A: The maximum number of cars in each group is 4. Guest can organise their own group or we will put a group together. It does not matter if you know each other or not because by lunch time everyone will be enthusiastically swapping stories of their morning drive!

Q: Can I choose an actual car to drive?

A: We currently have 18 cars on our Arrive & Drive fleet. These cars are hired out on our events, corporate days as well as the Gift Days. They also have periods when they are off the road for routine maintenance. They are in demand so it is difficult to confirm actual cars in advance.  Cars are rented out by  groups (click here to see groups)  To ensure that you get the most experience and thrill from the day we try to put one car from each group, A to D, into each group of four that guests will use on the gift day.

Q: What about Insurance, do we arrange our own or can you do it for us?

A: We have in place a fully comprehensive hire policy that covers guests on the Gift Day to drive our cars. The cost is £40 a day for driver one and £20 per day for an additional driver provided the insurance criteria is met. There is a £250 excess on any claim which the guest will be responsible for. For the Gift Day Tour (overnight package) Insuarance is £60 for the two days as long as the driver meets our insurance criteria. Additional driver costs £30 for the two days.We are sorry but guests cannot use their own insurance.

Q: How do we find our way around the route?

A: Each group has a Tour Guide and a maximum of four cars. To ensure maximum enjoyment the Tour guide will lead the convoy throughout the day. This ensures that no one gets lost; the ‘navigator’ does not miss the stunning scenery because they have their head in a map and that everyone arrives at the car change point on time.  The tour guide will ensure that there will be plenty of opportunity, during the day, to enjoy driving the cars.     

Q: South Wales is a long way from me do you run the Gift Day anywhere else?

A: We are based in Kenfig, near Margam Park located between Cardiff and Swansea just next to the M4. By operating out of our base we are able to keep costs as low as possible and create an opportunity that allows as many people as possible to try not one, but four classic cars in a day. In addition within ten minutes of leaving our base you are driving some fantastic roads with magnificant views. 

If you were to hire a car for an event or a day drive it will cost you between £240 & £480 and that's just for one car.

We are looking at running the Gift Day from other locations across the UK but the cost of transporting the cars to and from these venues will lead to a higher per day cost. 

Q: Where do I leave my car whilst on the Gift Day?

A: We have ample parking at our start base. 

Have another question? contact us here

Book your day now