This week’s adventure took us on a drive from Llynclys Farm, through the Elan Valley, to the Red Kite Café, enjoying a relaxed adventure that combined great roads, stunning countryside views, and good company. The trip wouldn’t have been complete without the Ford Fiesta Mk1 XR2 and Ford Escort XR3i, this fiery pair set the perfect backdrop for the Red Kite Café.
The Red Kite Café Drive-Out Adventure was all about nipping into the Elan Valley, experiencing the fun corners and spectacular views the valley has to offer, before stopping off at the Red Kite Café for a bite to eat. The plan was simple enough: meet early, grab a coffee, and head out from the Red Kite Café Bar and Grill for a day’s run through the heart of Wales.
This wasn’t just another Sunday outing; it was a proper CFS road trip, complete with a fleet of cars that would make any petrolhead grin. Among the lineup, there was no missing the pair of red classics, the Ford Fiesta Mk1 XR2 and the Ford Escort XR3i, perfectly suited to the Red Kite name and setting.
These two stood out like icons from another era, their punchy styling and unmistakable color popping against the green Welsh countryside. Alongside them, a Subaru Impreza Wagon and Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 brought some rally-bred spirit to the convoy, fitting, considering the route would later brush close to the roads used in Rali Ceredigion.
The Porsche Boxster, BMW Z4, and Jaguar F-Type added a dose of modern performance and sleek lines, while the Fiat 500 and Abarth 500 brought compact Italian charm into the mix. The Peugeot 205 GTI, Mazda MX-5, Mini Cooper, and a clean BMW 318i Touring M-Sport (E34) rounded out the group, a truly international collection of driver’s cars.
The weather, as always in Wales, had other ideas. The morning started with that familiar misty drizzle, and while it never quite poured, it certainly made the tarmac interesting. As per usual, the road trip began with a meeting at Llynclys Farm. This is common practice as we do a head count before setting off.
Still, spirits were high, and as the convoy climbed toward Elan Valley, the landscape opened up into sweeping views and twisting roads that make this route such a favorite. For anyone who loves driving, Elan never disappoints: those ribbons of road, framed by reservoirs and rolling hills, are about as close to perfection as it gets.
After the run, everyone regrouped back at the Red Kite Café Bar and Grill, the perfect pit stop to warm up, grab a bite, and share stories from the day. The café has become something of a hub for local and visiting car enthusiasts. For those who haven’t yet, the Red Kite Café Bar and Grill is well worth a visit, not just for the food and the views, but for the atmosphere. And if you want to relive some of the action, check out the Rali Ceredigion photos now up on the café’s Facebook page.
As the day drew to a close and the convoy rolled home, there was that familiar post-drive buzz, the mix of satisfaction, laughter, and a touch of tiredness that marks a proper road trip done right. The Red Kite Café Drive-Out had everything a car day should: great roads, great people, and the kind of memories that stick long after the engines go quiet.