05-07-2025
Incredible A road runs entire length of Wales — but no one knows its start point
Incredible A road runs entire length of Wales — but no one knows its start point
It's the only A road in the UK which runs the entire length of a country, starting at one seafront location in the south and ending at another in the north.
This stunning A road runs the entire length of Wales — but no one knows where it starts
(Image: jax10289 via Getty Images )
It's the only A road in the UK that spans the entire length of a country. It begins at a seaside location in the south and teminates at another in the north 186 miles later.
En route it passes over and beside vast mountains, huge lakes and imposing castles, and cuts through two national parks. But its starting point remains a mystery to many, including those who live on it and the thousands who walk along and beside it on sunny summer days in one of Wales' busiest tourist spots.
For many, the mere mention of the A470 conjures up miserable images of bumper-to-bumper traffic during peak commuting hours into or out of northern Cardiff from the south Wales valleys. But this "urban motorway" section is merely a small part of the road.
Heading north from there, the road winds through iconic towns such as Pontypridd and Merthyr, which were instrumental in Britain's industrial revolution when Welsh coal and iron were of global importance. Just beyond Merthyr, the road enters the Bannau Brycheiniog and skirts past Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in south Wales.
An aerial view of the A470 as it passes through the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park
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The views from your car at this juncture are breathtakingly beautiful, with heart-stopping drops from the road down a mountainside on one side and a wall of mountain on the other.
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North of the charming market town of Brecon, where you could stop to enjoy a couple of hours on a narrowboat on the Brecon and Monmouthshire Canal, the road takes you through the stunning rural mid Wales and the breathtaking Elan Valley. This little-known beauty spot rivals the Lake District with its picturesque scenery and lakes.
The low afternoon sun captures the mist in the Elan Valley
(Image: Getty Images )
If hunger strikes, just north of Brecon, you'll find the Felin Fach Griffin, a cosy spot serving some of the finest food in Wales by roaring log fires, with comfortable rooms for an overnight stay.
The Felin Fach Griffin in its beautiful Brecon Beacons location is one of the best places to eat in Wales
(Image: Felin Fach Griffin )
As you continue northwards, expect to encounter slow-moving farming vehicles as you are now in the heart of Welsh farming country. The Royal Welsh Show, a major event in the farming calendar, takes place over one week every summer near the town of Builth Wells.
Further north, the route takes you through the Coed y Brenin forest, which translates to Forest of Kings in Welsh, and the Eryri (formerly known as Snowdonia) national park. You'll pass not too far from Yr Wyddfa (or Snowdon), the highest mountain in all of Wales and England.
The A470 also traverses through the historic slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, which was once a hub for slate exportation much like Pontypridd and Merthyr were for coal and iron. The picturesque village of Betws-y-Coed, with its Alpine-like surroundings of waterfalls, woodlands and mountains, is another highlight along this route.
Betws-y-Coed is a small village in the heart of the Eryri national park
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The Swallow Falls waterfall, located just outside the town, is a must-visit spot. The charming village of Beddgelert, known for its quaint stone cottages, pubs and one of Wales' most tragic tales, is also nearby.
As you continue northwards, the road takes you close to Conwy, home to one of Wales' most magnificent castles, part of King Edward I's Ring of Steel. Overlooking the Conwy estuary, the castle remains a formidable structure even today.
The A470 runs the entire length of Wales, from shore to shore
(Image: Getty Images )
The views from your car on parts of the A470 are breathtakingly beautiful
(Image: Getty Images )
Conwy itself is a delightful town, offering plenty of options for dining, drinking and overnight stays, as discovered by this writer. The A470 concludes at the renowned seafront promenade of Llandudno, a favourite staycation and day trip destination for Brits since the Victorian era.
Where does the A470 start/end in the south?
The Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff Bay, where the A470 starts
(Image: Rob Browne )
The A470 actually starts at Mermaid Quay in Cardiff Bay, just outside the Wales Millennium Centre. It runs up Lloyd George Avenue before it heads up Cardiff's North Road and turns into what everyone in south Wales thinks of as the A470, the dual carriageway running from Cardiff through the valleys.
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The original road was constructed in 1922, stretching from Cardiff Docks to Brecon. The modern route is the result of a campaign in the 1970s by the Western Mail newspaper for a single route to link north and south Wales. At 186 miles long, it holds the title of Wales' longest road. It ends in Conwy.
When is the ideal time to drive the A470?
Put simply, when you have time on your hands. Driving it from end to end is a glorious road trip and there are so many places to stop and enjoy good food, lovely walks and incredible views. But if you're in a hurry, you don't want to be caught in a Cardiff traffic jam or behind a tractor in mid Wales.
Where to eat on the A470
There are lots of options here either directly on the road or within a short detour off it. You could head into the towns of Conwy or Brecon for lunch or dinner, and one of the nicest places to eat in all of Wales, the Felin Fach Griffin, is at the side of the road. There's also Rhayader, the under-rated market town that's got big Sunday lunches.
