As we are based in Cardiff, the A4069 Black Mountain Pass is right on our doorstep and its a road that we visit quite often. Whether we take an Audi R8 or a classic Mercedes 300CE, we’ve driven a wide range of cars on the A4069.
If you are a fan of Top Gear, you’ll notice that they drive on the Black Mountain Pass quite a lot whilst test driving cars. Our favourite video of Top Gear on the A4069 is when Jeremy Clarkson takes the CLK Black Series on the road.
Chris Harris also takes a lot of cars to the Black Mountain Pass (for Top Gear and his personal cars) and one of his most popular videos on the A4069 is the tour of the Ferrari GTC4Lusso.
Therefore, as you can probably tell already, it’s a very popular road for driving enthusiasts to enjoy.
A4069 Black Mountain Pass Map
With regards to the route to take to the Black Mountain Pass, it’s completely up to you. As we drive from Cardiff, we usually drive through the Brecon Beacons and then drive upon the A4069 multiple times before heading back. However, instead of driving back through the Brecon Beacons, we opt for the M4 route home for a leisurely cruise back to Cardiff.
Below is a map of the Black Mountain Pass road that we drive on:
Driving Conditions & Road Surfaces
Although during the summer months is the best time to drive upon the Black Mountain Pass, we tend to drive there all year round. This is mainly due to the fact that the surface of the road is in great order (when compared to other mountains roads) and that there is clear visibility for miles ahead. Unless you have snow chains, we would avoid driving upon the road in icy or snowy conditions due to the hills and sweeping corners.
What To Look Out For?
1. Sheep In The Road
Whilst driving to and on the A4069, you may come across a lot of sheep that like to cross the road. Although harmless, they are an obstruction and you’ll need to pay attention to any that are near the road. If they are in the road, a slight rev of your engine or turning the volume of your car’s radio up should be more than enough to move them on.
2. Acceleration Leaving The Hairpins
Due to the sweeping hairpins that are present on the Black Mountain road, you’ll want to try and avoid a heavy right foot as you accelerate away. Depending upon the car, even a slight bit of throttle will cause the backend to swing out.
Although it doesn’t happen much, we have driven past our fair share of cars that have crashed on the road. For example, this Ford Fiesta in the photo below must have been going too fast and misjudged the corner. Therefore, whilst driving on the road, keep in mind that there are no crash barriers to stop your car rolling down the hills.
3. Busy Weekends
Due to the popularity of the road, it can become particularly busy on the weekends. Therefore, if you want to enjoy the road to its full potential, aim to drive there during the week or early in the morning on the weekend.
4. Police/Mobile Cameras
Again, due to the popularity and the fact that many fast cars visit the road, you will more than likely see a few police cars and mobile speed cameras. However, from our experience, the mobile cameras aren’t on the actual road itself but mainly around the area. This is due to the fact that visibility is so good and you’ll be able to see the camera from miles away on the road. However, we recommend that you stick to the speed limit of 40MPH on the Black Mountain Pass.
Conclusion
The Black Mountain Pass is a great bit of road and if you are a driving enthusiast, it won’t disappoint. Regardless of the car you drive, it’s a great bit of fun and also a great day out too (depending upon where you are coming from).
If you need further information with regards to the A4069 Black Mountain Pass, feel free to get in touch and we will try to provide our assistance where possible.
