Brechfa

Length: 23.12 km

How to get there?

Brechfa Junction from A485

Entrance to spectator parking area

The stage has two car parks, but there are only directions for Car Park A here.

The stage is located off the A485 North of Carmarthen. As you approach Carmarthen, take the A485 North towards Lampeter. Take a note of your mileage here, as you will need it later on - the entrance to the stage road is 5.2 miles from here.

At the next roundabout, continue on the A485, heading North. Just before a village called Rhydargaeau you will pass a Murco petrol station. Carry on for 5.2 miles from the first roundabout until you reach a junction signposted Llanllawddog and Brechfa (pictured on the left). You will notice a bus stop on the right just before the junction. Turn right here.

After a further 0.7 miles, take the left-hand fork, and then take another left after a further 0.2 miles onto gravel.

You will now see the entrance to the spectator parking area, and this is where the marshalls will be. The picture on the left shows the entrance to the forest area.

Stage Maps

Thanks to Multimap.com, you can now view Stage Maps here.

Click here for the SS2 access to Car Park A (1:25000).
Click here for the SS2 access to Car Park A (1:50000).
Click here for the SS2 start area (1:25000).
Click here for the SS2 start area (1:50000).
Click here for the SS2 finish area (1:25000).
Click here for the SS2 finish area (1:50000).

This is a great stage if you want to get away from the crowds and the more rowdy stages.

The popular walk to the stage is good underfoot, but is quite a long way, especially if you arrive late, and is a gradual uphill gradient.

There is an alternative walk to the stage, as is described later in this page, but only attempt this if you have very good footwear and don't mind a bit of climbing ! Remember also that you may be walking to the stage in the dark or at least semi-light. This route from the car parking areas will be very difficult if you attempt it in anything other than good daylight.

In 2001, Carlos Sainz and Luis Moya had a bad crash on this stage, and it was cancelled after the first few drivers went through. Spectators were hurt in the incident, so be prepared on this stage for extra security, extra marshalling and extra safety measures which may mean extra queuing before and after the stage.

If you want to spectate at Brechfa you will need to purchase either the World Rally Pass or either of the 3 Event Passes. There will be no tickets for sale on the day at this stage.

For full ticket details, including advice, you will be able to find out all the information you need in the Tickets section.

Parking Information

Parking areas at Brechfa

Parking near the short-cut

The parking area at Car Park A is very good. There is plenty of space either side of the road to park, and the road surface is good. Even though a lot of rain falls in this area, the parking area never seems to get flooded like it does in other parking areas on other stages.

The gravel is quite smooth, so any type of car will be able to park here.

The first two pictures on the left show examples of the type of surfaces you can expect to park on. The first picture is quite near the start of the parking area, and you will therefore only park here if you arrive late.

The second picture is approximately 0.5 miles further along, and as you can see the road has already started to widen out, allowing more room for larger vehicles to park. This picture gives you a good idea of the gradient which you need to walk up to get to the stage.

The third picture is actually further away from the stage than the second picture if you walk to the stage the conventional way, but is very near a short-cut, which is described in the next section.

How far to the stage?

The short-cut to the stage

Make sure you wear good foot-wear !

View upwards towards the conventional route

A sharp climb towards the stage

Very steep climb through the trees

The stage at last !

From the gate at the start of the parking area, the stage is approximately 2 miles away if you follow the road, so the earlier you arrive, the less you will have to walk.

As mentioned previously, the surface is good underfoot but quite a steady climb all the way, so good walking boots are recommended here.

If you are feeling adventurous and fancy a less conventional walk to the stage, the pictures here should give you an idea of what to expect.

As you walk towards the stage on the road, as you turn to the left you will notice a wide path leading to the right (which is usually very muddy). If you reach the sharp right-hander with a large pool of water on the left you have gone too far. The first picture on the left shows this area.

As you walk further you will come across various muddy areas, as the second picture on the left shows. Carry on until you reach a clearing (after 0.2 miles) and you will be able to see the conventional route which most of the spectators will be taking. The third picture on the left shows this view. This gives you some idea of the kind of surface you will soon be climbing.

Continue onwards and you will soon approach a hill which is quite treacherous underfoot. The fourth picture on the left shows the climb you will need to negotiate to get you up to the level of the stage. By now you have not actually walked very far from the parking areas (approximately 0.4 miles) but it seems a long way because of the conditions underfoot.

At the top of the hill you will enter a wooded area again, and again the conditions underfoot are wet and uneven. After a short walk you will be able to see the stage above you to the right through the trees. There is no official route up to the stage from here, so the best option is to find a section of the trees where you can hang on to tree stumps as you climb up. It is very steep here, and will be wet and muddy, so take care. The fifth picture on the left shows you what to expect.

The final picture shows you what to expect when you arrive at the stage. This is a very fast section, as the cars will approach this from right to left. By now you have walked less than one mile from the parking area, but it will feel like more if you are unfit or do not have decent footwear.

The best corners in this area are if you walk to the left. After a short 5-minute walk you will come to a series of bends, and these will be relatively quiet with spectators so you should enjoy a good view.

The catering van is located near the entrance to the stage itself and is another one where you will probably have easy access because of the lower spectator numbers than some of the more popular stages.

If you get to the stage via the short-cut through the trees, there will be no catering or any other facilities unless you walk further towards the more popular spectator spots - approximately 1 to 1.5 miles further along from the first set of bends.

On the way to Brechfa from Llandeilo you will pass a Little Chef and a Total petrol station, which is relatively cheap. The Little Chef can be used to have a quick freshen up if you ask nicely.

There are not many petrol stations along the A40 after this, so if you are running short, best to fill up here.

Once you get nearer to Carmarthen you will get a whole host of facilities, as you would expect from a major town. As you head North on the A485 there is a Murco petrol station just before the village of Rhydargaeau but this is privately owned and therefore quite expensive.

Best spots for spectators

A view of the stage on the other side of the valley

The first bends you arrive at if you take the short-cut

Brechfa has a few spectating options if you are prepared to walk a bit further than normal. From the end of the car parking area where you meet the stage, there is a fast approach to a staggered junction, which is quite popular. Alternatively if you walk further along you can spectate on a raised bank at a hairpin followed by a long straight.

The first picture on the left gives you an idea of the terrain you will experience in the forests near Brechfa. The road you can see is part of the stage. The cars will appear from the right, as this is quite near the start. The actual stage is just over half a mile walk from here.

However, if you have taken the short-cut and approached the stage through the trees, there are some fast corners which you will find quite easily. These are good for photographic opportunities, but you will not see the competitors for very long unless you keep walking further. The second picture on the left shows one of these such corners.

If you enjoy watching fast straight sections, the area immediately when you get to the stage from the short-cut will be perfect for you.