Four weeks ago I visited the Brecon Beacons on a wet Saturday afternoon and the trip left me feeling exhilarated. However, I failed to explore enough of the roads – I only drove on the A470 and the surrounding unclassifieds. Nevertheless, with March moving into April, and the weather becoming ever more mild, my friend and I thought it appropriate to carve the 17th March into our diaries as the official launch of the 2007 driving season with a comprehensive blast through, over and around the igneous mountains of the Brecon Beacons.

Besides our passion for performance cars and the thrill of the open road, we were particularly inspired by a recent road test of the Suzuki Swift Sport performed by Tiff Needle on Fifth Gear. We tasked ourselves to find the same roads that he had driven.

Deciding to begin with the roads that radiate from Abergavenny, we headed North West and in next to no time we found ourselves lost on a very narrow and very muddy unclassified road which we quickly decided was going to ruin our day had we remained. At one point we were thundering along at 10 mph; avoiding fallen branches and jutting rocks. Clearly, this was not the road Tiff had entertained us on.

Once we had abandoned the back roads, we ventured onto the main A-road heading towards Brecon. Before I go on, I have a confession: we were not technically heading towards Brecon. On closer inspection of the road map we discovered that we were in fact heading towards Builth Wells; a town in entirely the wrong direction. Eventually we were heading in the right direction and soon found ourselves in a small town called Abercraf that marked the beginning of a trilogy of roads that I will never forget.

The initial A-road was populated with sweeping corners and long straights that allowed us to push the limits of the car’s speed. Part two of the trilogy took us across the mountains past Usk reservoir along a road that pushed you to drive hard, but failed to tell you that if you go too fast you are probably going to be caught out by an adverse camber that is likely to plough you into the surrounding grassland. Fortunately neither my friend nor I took on the road’s challenge and held back - but not by much.

Normally I avoid alliteration, but the final part of the trilogy was by far the most exciting, exhilarating and electrifying road I have driven. Moreover, it was the road featured in Tiff Needle’s review.

Where to start? Surface quality was better than most roads in and around the town where I live. Not only was it smooth, it had two lanes, meaning I was unconcerned about oncoming traffic. As we drew closer to the road’s highest point our progress was aided by how far you could see into the distance making it possible to plan two corners in advance. Even now, days after the experience, I still get all foamy thinking about it.

But by far the best aspect of the road was a tight hairpin that became a focal point. What with filming and photography, this corner alone consumed an hour of the day.

Despite that, towards the end of the day I felt that there was something more significant about our excursion to the Brecon Beacons than merely finding ‘that hairpin’ and driving on ‘that road’. I came away feeling humbled. I had taken on the Brecon Beacons and I did not do my car justice. I let the Clio 182 down due to my inexperience; I was hesitant; not fully committed. I didn’t feel wholly connected to my car as I am not yet aware of its limits and capabilities.

The Lake District sets the scene for the next stage of the 2007 driving season and in spite of my self-effacing experience in the Brecon Beacons I am determined to improve as a driver.