The UK’s best drives that lead to the UK’s best restaurant

The UK’s Best Restaurant

‘Ingredient led, flavour driven, fat fuelled, protein obsessed’ – this is Ynyshir, the multi-award-winning restaurant that has acclaimed chef Gareth Ward in the driving seat. Not only has it been crowned National Restaurant of the Year for the last two years running, from 2018-2022 Ynyshir was deemed the Best Restaurant in Wales. But never mind the awards, from the tagline alone, it sounds like just the kind of restaurant that’s going to be worth the four and a half hour journey from Windrush’s Car Storage facility in London…

The Race For a Table

Located in Machynlleth, just south of the Snowdonia National Park, this two-Michelin starred restaurant has achieved cult status faster than a lamborghini off the block. All of which is not bad for a small country house hotel tucked away on the western edge of Mid Wales. Yet, to quote the National Restaurant Awards, “To dine at Ynyshir is to have more than a meal, it is an experience unlike any other on these shores.” Which all sounds great, but be prepared to join the race to get a table!

Passion-Fuelled Food to Savour

So what is it that diners can expect for upwards of £350 a head? A multi-course tasting menu of uncompromisingly edgy, Asian-influenced food, an in-house DJ that keeps things lively, with a glitter ball put into action as the night unfolds, that’s what! As the National Restaurant Awards website puts it: “Anywhere else this might not work, but at Ynyshir and under the spell of Ward’s supreme cooking, it’s something to savour.”

Luckily, the restaurant also has a handful of rooms where you can savour the experience all night, before making your way back to Windrush’s classic car storage facility on one of Wales’ spectacular mountain roads. These are drives that are to be equally savoured…

The Best Driving Roads in Mid Wales

Mid Wales is home to some of the UK’s most stunning drives, including one road described by the AA as ‘one of the best scenic drives in the world’. From mountains to coastlines, rugged countryside to remote villages, the drives of Mid Wales are all set against panoramic and breathtaking backdrops. They are fantastic for motorists who love driving and exploring places off the beaten track. Here are four of the best roads around Ynyshir:

Circular Machynlleth Path via Tal-y-llyn

Coast, countryside, lakes and mountains, this 35-mile scenic drive has it all. Head north on the A487 from Machynlleth via Corris towards Dolgellau before turning off on the B4405 to Tywyn. This takes you to the picturesque Talyllyn Lake, a 220-acre ribbon lake situated north-east of Tywyn and north of Machynlleth at the foot of Cadair Idris in Southern Snowdonia. Part of the Coastal Way, the route also takes you to the seaside resort of Tywyn, where you can swap your classic car for a different form of transport – Talyllyn Railway, the world’s first preserved railway. From Tywyn continue south through Aberdyfi on the A493 back to Machynlleth. Follow the link for a map and further details.

Historic Trail from Llanidloes to Machynlleth

Explore the 20-mile mountain road from Llanidloes to Machynlleth, via Clywedog Reservoir. Enjoy wonderful views and take in the former lead mining community of Dylife and the Dylife Gorge and Wynford Vaughan-Thomas viewing point. From Llanidloes, head north west, taking the B4518 mountain road and following this route across the Cambrian Mountain uplands all the way to Machynlleth. Follow the link for a map and further details.

Bwlch y Groes Mountain Pass

Bwlch y Groes (Pass of the Cross) is one of the highest public road mountain passes in Wales. It was used between and after the wars by the Austin Motor Company and the Standard Triumph Motor Company to test prototype cars and their performance during hillclimbing. The British Motorcycle industry, which was world beating before the wars, also used the pass for testing. This 17-mile breathtaking route offers stunning views across the Dyfi valley and Cadair Idris and links Dinas Mawddwy and Llanuwchllyn in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park and Lake Vyrnwy. Follow the link for a map and further details.

Southern Snowdonia Coastal Route

Could there be a better place to begin your Welsh classic car road trip than the exquisite Italianate village of Portmeirion, a magical place designed by Clough Williams-Ellis in 1925? This 58-mile stretch of the Wales Coastal Way is for any driver who enjoys sea views, coastal towns, villages and stunning beaches. Taking you from Portmeirion to Machynlleth, the ancient capital of Wales in the heart of the UNESCO Dyfi Biosphere, the route follows the Cardigan Bay coastline, threading between blue seas on one side and big mountains on the other. Follow the link for a map and further details.

Images for The Best Driving Roads in Mid Wales supplied courtesy of MWT Cymru | Visit Mid Wales

Classic Car Storage that’s on the pulse at all times

At Windrush Car Storage, we know how important it is that your car is ready for action at all times. So, even though we can’t predict when the sun will next shine, we can predict that your motor will be fully prepped and serviced, ready for its next adventure. Contact the Windrush team to enquire about our classic car storage in London and the Cotswolds. We’re ready to assist you on info@windrushcarstorage.co.uk.