Getting to Rhayader from Brentwood, back in the 1980s was reasonably easy compared to Beddgelert. The biggest obstacle I had was getting through London.

If you knew London, which I did to a point, then getting through it was reasonably easy to negotiate. This was because my first job involved traveling around London. Also; as I was departing Brentwood at about 3am on a Saturday morning, the roads and even London were very quiet.

I journeyed along the M4 and over the Severn Bridge into South Wales and then turned off at junction 26 which was the turn off for Newport. I turned north onto the A4051. This would eventually take me to Abergavenny. I would then take the A40 to the Tretower turn off and then turn onto the A479 to Bronllys.

I then turned right at the Bronllys T junction and then first left, which was still the A479. This would eventually take me to the Mid Wales market town of Builth Wells.

I would then join the A470, and this would take me to the town of Rhayader.

Even though Rhayader had a lot more going for it, Beddgelert was still a special place to me. Yes; Rhayader had many different shops, and a petrol station, Beddgelert didn’t. I’d also managed to rent an old caravan about 8 miles from Rhayader, so at least I had somewhere to sleep.