Where to go in Wales

[RJT_Berlin]

Hi

planning on going to Wales in September. Will unfortunately be in the car and not on the bike :-(

Any advice where to go, what is worth seeing and nice places to stay. I will be driving there from Cambridge - want to stay maybe 4 or 5 nights

Any advice appreciated for a round trip - nice scenary, beaches, towns to visit

THANKS

 

[PW Cymru]

Most of the coastline from Swansea round to Rhyl.

Snowdonia National park or if you like a mild trek Brecon Beacons National park.

Cities probably Cardiff.

Difficult to recommend a round trip in a car in the summer as the roads on popular routes are often busy with caravans and tourists.

Possibly Mumbles-Tenby-St Davids-Newquay-Aberayron or something similar.

Hope it's sunny for you

 

[Shep]

Start in the south then go north, its good to leave the best till last,

For me it would be a day and first night in the south west, second day drive up to take in some of the dams, over night mid wales, next day or two in or around Snowdonia, up and down the big hill by train + plenty of touristy things to do in amongst some great scenery.

So much to do and some great views almost everywhere you could really just bimble about for weeks in wales and still be discovering nice parts.

You will wish you'd bought the Bike


Bits i like (loads of guys on here know it much better than me)

West coast
Lleyn penninsular (Abersoch, Porthmadog)
Port Meirion at low tide in nice weather
The road between LLanfyllin and Trawnsfynedd
The big aquaduct nr Llangollen
Smowdonia
The dams and reseviors
Some of the small south west villages

 

[wessie]

Cross into Wales at Monmouth and head along the Wye Valley to Chepstow. Nice castle to see in Chepstow. In fact, many nice castles indexed here http://www.castlewales.com/ - maybe head across to Raglan then onto Brecon.

From there head to the coast via the Elan Valley dams. Stop near Aberaeron

From there, in your time frame you need to decide whether to go south into Pembrokeshire or head north to see more big castles and Snowdonia.

Come back next year to see the parts of Wales you missed this time.

 

[Bucephalus]

North Wales.

Simple town visits like Llandudno and Conway are nice for a family but the parking in the summer can be a pain.
The entrance to the town of Conwy over the bridge with the castle to your left and the estuary and harbour to your right will not disappoint and the sunset is spectacular!
Llandudno has a unique tramway, and you can take a cable car to the top of the Great Orme, and the ride over the toll road on the Orme on a fine day is like the Amalfi coast road but sadly much shorter.
Llangollen is worth a visit if your in the area, having the famous viaduct and Steam railway running into the town. Also a small motorcycle museum; the Horse Shoe pass as you ride out of the town up to the famous Ponderosa bikers cafe if the family will wear it, emphasise the view when you get to the top.
If you want to ride the train to the top of Snowdon which is lovely on a nice day, book your tickets online a month in advance, seriously, you will not get them on the day.
Unfortunately I will be in the Pyrenees most of September so won't be available to show you the sights personally, Oh finally avoid Rhyl.

 

[S660Z]

Visit Big Pit mining museum in Blaenavon.

 

[Gipsy]

National Museum of Wales at St. Fagans just outside Cardiff. Relocated historic buildings from all over Wales. Great for a wander around on a fine day. Also don't forget all museums in Wales have free entry, even for foreigners.

PS The free entry refers to nationally owned museums, not private ones.

 

[pj8332]

gowerton, mumbles, oystermouth

rhossilli bay

pj

 

[Taff]

My suggestions are - in no particular order:

• Cardiff
• Rhosili Beach
• Laugharne - see Dylan Thomas' boathouse and grave
• St David's
• Aberaeron if you just like quiet but charming coastal towns or
• nearby New Quay if you want a good but far busier beach
• Cader Idris and the nearby lake and pub
• Snowdon or
• Bedd Gelert - a small village but swamped with tourists going to see the dogs grave.
• Almost anywhere in North Wales is pretty; grab a map, pick a few lakes and you can't go wrong. The north Walians have a reputation for being a bit surly (probably exaggerated) but a few Welsh phrases shows them you've tried to make a bit of an effort.

 

[RJT_Berlin]

Thanks to all for the tips - looking forward to it already

In September (late) will I need to pre-book B&Bs or can I just rock up and get something?

 

[bladerunner]

Late September you'll be fine

What is your budget? there are some great pub DB&B's around Brecon way

 

[RJT_Berlin]

Late September you'll be fine

What is your budget? there are some great pub DB&B's around Brecon way

havent considered a budget yet, tbh, have no idea what the going rate is in Wales - what can I expect to pay - 2 adults, double room?

Any B&B suggestions (links etc) always welcome

 

[wessie]

havent considered a budget yet, tbh, have no idea what the going rate is in Wales - what can I expect to pay - 2 adults, double room?

Any B&B suggestions (links etc) always welcome

You can pay £15 a night for B&B in a bunkhouse or hundreds in a gastropub.

If you want the latter then http://www.skenfrith.co.uk/guestrooms_and_tariffs.html is a good one. Lovely location in the Monnow Valley with a castle in the village.

At the other end of the scale is one of the better Wetherspoons pubs with a hotel alongside http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/hotels/the-kings-head in Monmouth. Lovely town in the Wye Valley with a castle, Nelson Museum and quirky Norman bridge.

http://brecon-beacons-accommodation.co.uk/ is in the Brecon Beacons and has bunks or trad rooms - steaks here are popular with the local UKGSer crowd.

 

[Racoon]

Best Beaches in the south,
Three cliffs in the gower,great for climbing.
Bosheton, pembrokeshire,very pretty lilly ponds.
Whitesands st.davids, surfing.
newport, pembs, fireworks if your lucky.
Aberdovey or Barmouth.
cadre idris.
Coed y brenin, great mountain biking.
Llyn y fan fach near Myddfai, Near Llandovery.
Carreg cennen castle,Trap,carms.
And of course Kingdom of Rust,Trecastle Antiques Centre, powys,LD3 8UN
Best shop in Wales.

 

[Wreford Miles]

...spend 5 days visiting the social clubs and night clubs in Port Talbot.

You'll return home thankful that life's path has taken you to Cambridgeshire

 

[wessie]

I just checked and found that it is http://www.abergavennyfoodfestival.com/ on 21-22 Sept 2013.

You may find accommodation difficult to find in SE & Mid Wales that weekend. Stick to West or North Wales if that is the weekend you are travelling

 

[stolzy]

Having lived in Cardiff for 4 years, I was always fond of the M4, eastbound.

 

[wessie]

Having lived in Cardiff for 4 years, I was always fond of the M4, eastbound.

I bet you used to have the time of your life in Caldicot...

 

[stolzy]

I bet you used to have the time of your life in Caldicot...

Never heard of it - is it in Cardiff? Splott and Roath were my stamping grounds.

 

[wessie]

Never heard of it - is it in Cardiff? Splott and Roath were my stamping grounds.

I lived in Roath for a while, 2002-5. Just around the corner from the Tavistock pub.