This A-road stretches the length of the UK but its exact starting point is a mystery
- UK Hidden Gems
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
This is the only A road in the UK that runs from one end of a country to the other, starting at the seaside in the south and ending at another coast in the north.
It’s the only road of its kind in the UK, going from the very bottom to the very top of one whole country. It begins at a coastal town in the south and finishes at another in the north. At both ends, the road comes as close to the sea as it possibly can.
Along the way, this amazing road travels past huge mountains, beautiful lakes and old castles. It even goes through two national parks. But many people don’t actually know where the road begins, including some who live right beside it or walk along it every day in the summer.
For lots of people, hearing “A470” makes them think of traffic jams around Cardiff during the morning or evening rush hours. That busy section is just a small bit of the road, which has so much more to offer.
If you head north, the A470 takes you through historic Welsh towns like Pontypridd and Merthyr.
These places were very important during the industrial revolution, when coal and iron from Wales were known around the world. After Merthyr, the road enters the Brecon Beacons, now officially called Bannau Brycheiniog, and passes close to Pen y Fan, the tallest mountain in south Wales.
This stretch of road has some of the most amazing views. On one side, there are steep drops down the mountain, and on the other side, there are high rocky hills and thick grass.
As you travel north of the market town of Brecon, where you can hop on a narrowboat along the Brecon and Monmouthshire Canal, the road winds through peaceful countryside in mid Wales. It also passes through the beautiful Elan Valley, a hidden gem full of lakes and scenery that’s just as lovely as the Lake District.
If you get hungry, there’s a place just north of Brecon called the Felin Fach Griffin. It’s a cosy inn with a fireplace, tasty meals, and comfy rooms if you want to spend the night.
As you go further north, don’t be surprised if you get stuck behind a tractor or two. You’re now deep in farming country. One of the biggest farming events in Wales, the Royal Welsh Show, happens here every summer near the town of Builth Wells.
Later on, the road takes you through Coed y Brenin, which means Forest of Kings, and into Eryri National Park, which used to be called Snowdonia. You’ll pass not far from Yr Wyddfa, the tallest mountain in both Wales and England.
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As with anywhere outdoors, kindly keep these areas pristine and wild by taking all trash with you. The amount of complaints we have seen since the pandemic is crazy. It's really not that hard to take your rubbish with you!
Litter tends to spread, so if you see any and are able to pick it up and dispose of it outside the hidden gem, it will help keep the area tidy.
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