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A Local’s 7 Day Itinerary for Wales
👉 Jump to: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Map | How to Get Around | Itinerary Planning Tips | FAQ | Get Printable Version
Do you want to explore Wales, but don’t know where to start? As a Welsh local, I’ve had a lot of fun designing an itinerary for you that gives you a real flavour of Wales in just a week.
This 7-day Wales itinerary is action-packed and will take you to a variety of landscapes, destinations and to some of the best things to do in Wales. I’ll even give you tips for the best road trip routes, and guidance on how to follow this itinerary with public transport.
You can always amend this schedule to suit your travel plans and take a slower pace. So, pack your bags and let’s go!
👉 Pro Tip: This itinerary is based on having a car, so make sure you rent a car in advance. Check out Kayak for handy price comparisons and opt to collect in Cardiff or Bristol and drop off in Manchester, depending on your onward plans.
🖨️ Get a printable version of this itinerary
7 Day Wales Itinerary
Day 1 – Explore the Welsh Capital, Cardiff
🛎️ Where to Stay: The Parkgate Hotel (£££, central, luxury with great views), Hotel Indigo (££, central, family-friendly), The Lincoln House Hotel (££, independent neighbourhood hotel)
📍 Google Maps | 👉 Top Things to Do In Cardiff | 🛎️ Where to Stay in Cardiff
Start your Wales trip in the Welsh capital of Cardiff by wandering through Royal Arcade and browsing gorgeous independent shops like Driftwood Designs, and having a coffee at Uncommon Ground Coffee Roastery.
After your caffeine rush, wander through the city centre to Cardiff Castle. Look around the beautifully decorated Victorian rooms and be sure not to miss the great view from the Norman Keep.
Then, wander into Bute Park and to the Secret Garden Cafe along the pretty flower beds. If the walk doesn’t appeal, a closer lunch option is Brodies Coffee on the Wall. When you’re ready, take a River Boat Tour from Bute Park to Cardiff Bay. Enjoy the view of the Millennium Stadium and the wetlands en route.
In Cardiff Bay, make sure you see the Millennium Centre, Pierhead and Senedd (which typically close at 4pm), and the Norwegian Church. Head to the Voco St David’s Hotel to enjoy a drink or snack, and the view of the Bay.
Once you’ve enjoyed the sea air at the Bay, head back to Cardiff city centre by taking the short train ride from Cardiff Bay station to Cardiff Queen Street station. Try some traditional Welsh food in Daffodil, one of the best restaurants in Cardiff.
Afterwards, head for an evening tipple in town – there are lots of great places to choose from! I recommend starting at Nighthawks, a cute wine bar opposite the castle.
- 🛎️ Where to Stay: The Parkgate Hotel (£££, central, luxury with great views), Hotel Indigo (££, central, family-friendly), The Lincoln House Hotel (££, independent neighbourhood hotel)
- 🍽️ Where to Eat: Daffodil (££), The Potted Pig (£££)
- 🍺 Where to Drink: Nighthawks (£), Tiny Rebel (£)
- 🚌 Transportation Tip: Exploring Cardiff on public transport is easy. This itinerary for the day relies on walking, local buses, and boat tours anyway!
Day 2 – Cardiff to The Gower Peninsula and Swansea
🛎️ Where to Stay: Morgans Hotel (££, central luxury in a period property), The Georgian Swansea (££, 5-star experience in gorgeous rooms), Cwtsh hostel (£, central and affordable)
📍 Google Maps | 👉 Cities in Wales
It’s a new morning in Cardiff, and time to explore a different part of town and the trendy Pontcanna neighbourhood. There are lots of lovely shops and cafes to mooch around. I recommend Milkwood or Canna Deli for your morning cafe stop.
Then, jump in your car and drive for roughly one hour to Caswell Bay Beach on the stunning Gower Peninsula. Spend a few hours on Caswell Bay Beach. You can chill on the beach, hit the waves, or walk on the coastal path towards Langland Bay. Enjoy some lunch in the surfside cafe at Caswell Bay.
In the mid-afternoon, drive from Caswell Bay to Wales’ second biggest city, Swansea. Look around the National Waterfront Museum and Maritime Quarter. Nearby, you’ll also find the Dylan Thomas Centre, dedicated to one of Wales’ greatest poets.
Once you’ve got a flavour of Swansea’s cultural landmarks, walk down and along the Promenade to The Secret Beach Bar and Kitchen for dinner. You’ll get great food and a lush view as the sun sets.
In the evening, head back to Wind Street (nicknamed Wine Street) in Swansea city centre to experience some nightlife. No Sign Wine Bar is an iconic pub to start at, then see where the night takes you!
- 🛎️ Where to Stay: Morgans Hotel (££, central luxury in a period property), The Georgian Swansea (££, 5-star experience in gorgeous rooms), Cwtsh hostel (£, central and affordable)
- 🍽️ Where to Eat: The Secret Beach Bar and Kitchen (££), Pant-y-Gwydr (£££)
- 🍺 Where to Drink: No Sign Wine Bar (£), Sessions by Mumbles Brewery (£)
- 🚌 Transportation Tip: If you aren’t driving, take a train from Cardiff to Swansea. For a beach trip, take a bus from Swansea towards Mumbles or Newton.
Day 3 – Blaenavon and Brecon
🛎️ Where to Stay: The Grange Guest House (££, friendly 4-star bed and breakfast), Ty Helyg Guest House (££, central rooms, period property), The Beacons Guest House (££, well-located guest house)
📍 Google Maps | 👉 Places to Visit in Wales
Start the day by browsing the many stalls at Swansea Indoor Market, a staple of the city, and getting some goodies.
Then, drive an hour to Big Pit National Coal Museum in Blaenavon Industrial Landscape, a World Heritage Site. The former coal mine is the best place to discover and celebrate the coal mining history and heritage of South Wales. I recommend going on the underground tour and checking out the great exhibitions above ground too!
Head to The Heritage Tea Rooms at Blaenavon Heritage Centre for lunch, and to learn more about the surrounding area.
In the afternoon, drive for 45 minutes from Blaenavon to Brecon. If you are comfortable driving on small roads, you could take the scenic and more rural route via Llangynidr. Alternatively, take the A40 for a less windy (and also picturesque) route.
Brecon is a lovely town in Bannau Brycheiniog National Park and often a central point for exploring the area. There are plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventures in and around Brecon, including hiking, horse riding or canoeing on the canal. Hikes and larger trips or excursions will require additional planning and time.
You can also enjoy a stroll along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal, mooch around the shops and have an ice cream from Llanfaes Dairy parlour.
In the evening, have dinner at Himalayan Herbs Brecon and then try some local beers at the Brecon Tap.
- 🛎️ Where to Stay: The Grange Guest House (££, friendly 4-star bed and breakfast), Ty Helyg Guest House (££, central rooms, period property), The Beacons Guest House (££, well-located guest house)
- 🍽️ Where to Eat: Himalayan Herbs Brecon (££), The Tai’r Bull Inn (££)
- 🍺 Where to Drink: Brecon Tap (£), Hop In Beer and Gin (£)
- 🚌 Transportation Tip: It’s not impossible to get to Big Pit by bus, but it isn’t straightforward. Instead, I suggest taking the T6 Bus from Swansea directly to Brecon and consider stopping off at The National Showcaves Centre for Wales (Dan-yr-Ogof) en route.
Day 4 – Aberystwyth and Devil’s Bridge
🛎️ Where to Stay: The Glengower (££, beachfront hotel with sea view rooms), Townhouse No.1 (££, central 5-star hotel), Richmond Hotel (££, friendly beachfront hotel)
📍 Google Maps | 👉 Towns in Wales
Hit the road bright and early and drive to the Honey Cafe, just outside of Brecon, for a coffee with a view. Continue your onward journey to Aberystwyth, ensuring you leave by mid morning. The drive along the A470 to Aberystwyth should take less than two hours. There’s an exciting afternoon excursion waiting for you in Aberystwyth!
Arrive in Aberystwyth and once settled, have lunch in Y Gornel, a cute cafe with great reviews. Get ready for a 2pm departure from the Vale of Rheidol Railway Station to Devil’s Bridge. Aboard this steam train, take in the beautiful scenery as you wind your way to Devil’s Bridge.
The train trip gives you enough time to marvel at the Three Bridges (and read the tales that surround them), and go for a walk. You can opt for a short walk to the bridges and the punchbowl, or a long walk to the waterfalls and nature trail. Just make sure you’re back at the station on time to board the train for the scenic return journey.
Once back in Aberystwyth, go for an evening stroll on the promenade and stop by the Royal Pier for some food and drinks.
- 🛎️ Where to Stay: The Glengower (££, beachfront hotel with sea view rooms), Townhouse No.1 (££, central 5-star hotel), Richmond Hotel (££, friendly beachfront hotel)
- 🍽️ Where to Eat: Mama Fay’s (££), Little Italy (££)
- 🍺 Where to Drink: Inn on The Pier (£), Y Bañera (££)
- 🚌 Transportation Tip: For those without a car, travel by bus from Brecon to Aberystwyth, changing at Llandrindod Wells. It’s a long but very scenic ride! Double check the up-to-date bus timetable and leave some buffer time between arriving and the train trip.
Day 5 – Dolgellau and Portmeirion
🛎️ Where to Stay: Portmeirion Village & Castell Deudraeth (£££, luxury unique stay), Tudor Lodge (££, highly-rated bed and breakfast), The Golden Fleece Inn (££, 4-star countryside inn)
Get ready to wave goodbye to Aberystwyth! Your next destination is Dolgellau, a small town on the Southern edges of Eryri, Wales’ largest National Park. Note, if you have more time you could also stop off in Machynlleth, an interesting town which is also en route!
The scenic drive from Aberystwyth to Dolgellau on the A487 will take around one hour. In Dolgellau, wander round the shops and stop for a coffee in the charming cafe, Y Sospan.
Then, drive onwards on the A470 to Portmeirion. Spend the afternoon discovering the magical Italianate village of Portmeirion and surrounding countryside. Make sure you pick up a map at the start of your visit and explore the woods down to the estuary. Stop for lunch in one of the eateries, such as The Town Hall.
In the evening, you’ll have exclusive access to the village as a guest at Portmeirion Village & Castell Deudraeth. Have dinner at Castell Deudraeth and make the most of being in this unique place.
Alternatively, stay and dine in or near Porthmadog, a cute town just 10 minutes away with some more affordable options.
- 🛎️ Where to Stay: Portmeirion Village & Castell Deudraeth (£££, luxury unique stay), Tudor Lodge (££, highly-rated bed and breakfast), The Golden Fleece Inn (££, 4-star countryside inn)
- 🍽️ Where to Eat: Castell Deudraeth Brasserie (£££), Yr Hen Fecws (££)
- 🍺 Where to Drink: Hotel Portmeirion (££), The Australia (£)
- 🚌 Transportation Tip: To follow the day’s itinerary without a car, take the T2 bus from Aberystwyth to Minffordd Railway Station or Porthmadog. Admire Machynlleth and Dolgellau from the bus! Then, take a taxi or walk to Portmeirion.
Day 6 – Llanberis and Caernarfon
🛎️ Where to Stay: Plas Dinas Country House (£££, countryside luxury), Llety Arall (££, central, community-run), Tŷ Glyndŵr Bunkhouse (£, affordable and central)
📍 Google Maps | 👉 Best Castles in Wales
Set off early in the morning from Portmeirion to Llanberis via the A487. It should take under an hour. Be sure to park in a designated parking space near the village and visit a local cafe. Llanberis is at the foot of Yr Wyddfa, Wales’s highest mountain, and offers many activities.
You can take the Snowdon Mountain Railway (which requires advanced booking) to the summit of Yr Wyddfa, or hike your way up from Llanberis. A less demanding hike is around Dolbadarn Castle and the neighbouringlakes of Llyn Padarn and Llyn Peris. Choose the activity that is appropriate for your hiking experience level and the weather conditions!
In the late afternoon or early evening, drive 20 minutes to Caernarfon. Enjoy dinner and a drink at The Black Boy Inn, one of the oldest inns in North Wales. Before going to bed, walk to look at Caernarfon Castle lit up at night.
- 🛎️ Where to Stay: Plas Dinas Country House (£££, countryside luxury), Llety Arall (££, central, community-run), Tŷ Glyndŵr Bunkhouse (£, affordable and central)
- 🍽️ Where to Eat: The Black Boy Inn (££), Osteria (££)
- 🍺 Where to Drink: The Black Boy Inn (£), Y Castell (£)
- 🚌 Transportation Tip: For those without a rental car, take the bus from Porthmadog to Caernarfon. You can reach Llanberis from Caernarfon by bus or taxi.
Day 7 – Zip World Penrhyn Quarry and Conwy
🛎️ Where to Stay: Y Capel Guest House (£££, central, luxury), The Castle Hotel (££, central, luxury), Gwynfryn (££, central, luxury)
Are you ready for the fun-filled finale to your Welsh holiday?
In the morning, have breakfast or a coffee in Caffi Maes on Castle Square in Caernarfon. Visit Caernarfon Castle, one of the four castles that makes up a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It really is an incredible sight! Don’t forget to cross Pont yr Aber for a cracking view of the castle.
In the early afternoon, drive to Zip World Penrhyn Quarry Adventure Park near Bethesda. Finish your holiday in Wales on a high by venturing on Velocity, the world’s fastest zip line. Alternatively, stay on (and below) ground level on the slate quarry tour, or one of their many other activities. Blondin Restaurant on-site offers good options for lunch!
After your adrenaline rush, drive a short distance on to Conwy. Go for an evening stroll in the town and check out Conwy Castle and the town walls, which form part of the UNESCO site. When you’re ready for dinner, head to The Erskine Arms.
Then relax in your beautiful hotel room and dream of your next trip to Wales!
- 🛎️ Where to Stay: Y Capel Guest House (£££, central, luxury), The Castle Hotel (££, central, luxury), Gwynfryn (££, central, luxury)
- 🍽️ Where to Eat: The Erskine Arms (££), Lava (steak on the stone) (££)
- 🍺 Where to Drink: Mulberry (££), Liverpool Arms (£)
- 🚌 Transportation Tip: For today’s journey without a car, take a bus from Caernarfon to Bangor. Then, a taxi from Bangor to Zip World Penrhyn Quarry. Take a taxi back to Bangor and a train to Conwy.
Map of this Itinerary
Here is a Google Map with all the stops, attractions, and hotels mentioned in this post.
How to Get Around in Wales
Wales has some decent public transport connections between major towns and cities. There are multiple train and bus routes across the country. However, many small and rural destinations can be difficult to reach on public transport or require a slower pace of travel. Always check (and double check!) live public transport service updates online.
Travelling by car is a good option for more flexibility and to visit harder-to-reach destinations. Stick to main roads and avoid single-track lanes if you are not confident driving on rural roads. Make sure you always park in designated parking spaces.
For car rentals, look at Kayak for handy price comparisons and the option to pick up and drop off in different locations.
Adventurous travellers can get around Wales on foot or bike! There are loads of great trails, such as The Wales Coast Path and TrawsEryri Cycle route.
Itinerary Planning Tips
Tip #1 – Tweak My Itinerary As Needed
My 7-day itinerary can easily be amended to suit your Welsh holiday wishes! You may want to consider staying in one place for more than one night and having a slower pace of travel. Maybe you want to squeeze in more hikes or more train rides. Make this itinerary your own!
Tip #2 – Arrive a Day Before
Wales only has one small international airport in Cardiff, but it is well connected by train and bus to major cities in England. Tourists from other countries are likely to need to travel to Wales from airports in London, Manchester, Liverpool, or Bristol. Factor this into your itinerary and try to be in Wales a day ahead, ready to kickstart your travels.
Tip #3 – Book Activities in Advance
Many of the activities in this Wales itinerary are popular and need to be booked in advance. It is advisable to book Zip World adventures and steam railway journeys (especially the Snowdon mountain railway!) well in advance. Typically, you don’t need to book castle visits in advance, but you may as well book if you know you’re planning to go.
Tip #4 – Keep the Weather in Mind
Wales’ weather is unpredictable and can be wet and windy. Make plans that can be adapted depending on the weather, such as by having different options in mind. Some activities are weather-dependent and you should avoid hiking up mountains in bad weather. However, don’t let wet weather dampen your day. Many activities can still be done in a bit of rain!
Tip #5 – Plan in Some Buffer Time
Always plan in some extra time in case of unforeseen delays. Wales’ public transport connections are sometimes delayed. And roads may suddenly have roadworks or traffic jams. Make sure you keep this in mind when planning, and don’t squeeze too much in back-to-back.
Tip #6 – Consider Your Routes in Advance
There are lots of single-track roads in Wales, which can be difficult to navigate if you are not confident with rural driving. Stick to main roads (‘A’ roads or motorways) if the idea of coming face-to-face with a sheep in a narrow country lane fills you with dread. Otherwise, consider opting for a more rural, scenic route.
Either way, familiarise yourself with your route in advance and don’t just rely on phone signal, or you’re likely to get lost!
You’ll need to plan routes carefully if travelling on public transport, too!
Tip #7 – Visit Local Businesses
Wales boasts a lot of thriving independent businesses. There are independent businesses ranging from restaurants to distilleries, shops to art galleries. For a more unique and wholesome experience, opt to visit independent businesses instead of chains. This will give you a more local experience and is a great way to support locals too!
FAQs
How many days is enough for Wales?
7 to 10 days is enough for Wales. 7 to 10 days give you enough time to explore a few different destinations across Wales and have a varied and enjoyable trip. You can easily adapt and extend my itinerary for your holiday.
How can I spend 10 days in Wales?
You can spend 10 days in Wales by extending the above 7-day itinerary. You should stay for one extra day in Cardiff, one extra day in Aberystwyth and one extra day in Conwy. This would allow for a slightly slower pace of travel and you could explore more of the Welsh Capital, mid-Wales and North Wales.
Where should I go for 2 days in Wales?
You should go to Cardiff, Brecon or Conwy for 2 days in Wales. There are many great things to do in Cardiff and you could go on a day trip to a nearby destination. Brecon is a great base for exploring Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. Conwy is a beautiful town near Eryri National Park.
For more options, see my complete guide to where to stay in Wales.
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🖨️ Get a printable version of this itinerary
Wales is a small country with loads of destinations and unique things to do. My pre-planned itinerary includes a variety of places to visit and things to do, without being too rushed. Check out my article on the best time to visit Wales next to help you decide when to visit!
I luv all your suggestions and will send our route.
Is there anything working farm that we could visit to see animals? As u can tell I luv animals. Thx
I got the Castle Pass. Thx
Great, pleased to hear that! I would recommend visiting The National Showcaves of Wales during your stay in Bannau Brycheiniog as there are animals you can visit (as well as the caves). The National Showcaves of Wales has a Shire Horse Centre and Mr. Morgan’s Victorian Farm, with many animals you can meet.
As I mentioned, Carreg Cennen Castle is surrounded by a working farm and you can sometimes see animals there but they can’t guarantee this as it depends on the season and work etc. Just to note, Carreg Cennen isn’t part of Cadw and has separate entry tickets – but all the other castles I recommended in the itinerary will be covered with your pass. And Carreg Cennen is still worth the visit!
Thank you Ruthie
No problem, hope you have a great trip! I’d love to hear where you end up going and whether you followed any of my recommendations 🙂
Looking for your response so I can book these days. Thx
Hi Ruthie,
We want to spend a nite in or around Dolgellau then two nites in Brecon Beacons not sure where and then a nite in Mumbles that we really enjoyed before.
How would you organize the two nites and days in BB ie what to see and where to start. Our last time in Wales was 1997 and we climbed Penny Pfan.
Thx for your input as always
Hello,
That sounds like a great plan. These two accommodation options on the Mumbles look amazing:
View at 142, The Mumbles or Oyster House, The Mumbles
As for the stay in Brecon Beacons (now known by its Welsh name Bannau Brycheiniog), I recommend you stay in, and focus your visit around the West of the National Park. This is partly because it fits with your drive from Dolgellau/to Mumbles, and you have been to Pen-y-Fan and the central area before so is somewhere new (but if you wanted to go back again, it isn’t far away). I would suggest staying in/near Llandovery or Llandeilo, both are scenic towns on the edges of the Brecon Beacons with short drives to sites I recommend.
Since you asked about farm stays, Oakies Farm Stays could be an amazing option for you. It is a gorgeous rural stay with great facilities and countryside views, and is near Llandovery.
The Cawdor is my top recommendation if you’d prefer to stay in Llandeilo.
On the first day from Dolgellau, you could stop in Machynlleth and/or Aberystwyth en route down (some of my favourite towns in Wales). Then I would suggest visiting Carreg Cennen Castle, as it combines your love of countryside, castles and animals (it is on a working farm). There is a lovely little tea room there too!
Near to Carreg Cennen, you could visit the National Showcaves of Wales, which are pretty spectacular. Of course, there are plenty of hikes, hills and lakes around the area to explore too!
On Day 2, you could focus your day on Waterfall country. There are loads of amazing waterfalls to explore on walks of varying time and levels of difficulty. Near Ystradfellte is one of the main starting points of the waterfall trails, which is only a short journey from Llandovery or Llandeilo and is en route to Mumbles. If you like whiskey, I can also recommend a tour/stop-off at the nearby Penderyn Distillery.
Hope that helps!
Hi I am looking forward to hearing back from Ruthie so i can plan my trip. Please advise. Thank you
Hi Ruthie,
Thx for the info. It is helpful. We spent two weeks in Wales in 1997 and luvd it. As I believe I said we luvd the open castles and outdoor beauty. Animals, castles and scenery are what we like. Not really shoppers or interested in furnished castles.
Here is what we are thinking:
Leave Chester go to Wrexham and Llangollen.(should we go to the canals) and stay nite# 1 in Denbigh. Then go to Conway Castle, which we have seen, and stay nite#2 in Caernafon. Nite#3Dolgellau. Nite#4  in Brecon ( same place or two spots?)
Nite #6Mumbles see Gower Peninsula. Nite #7 Caerphilly and Nite #8 Chepstow and see Tintern again which we luvd.
What do u think of this?Anything to change or fill in?
Other questions:
Llanidloes worth visiting? Hafren Forest
Devils Bridge and train worth doing?
Should we get the castle pass and how do we do that?
I would really like to spend a nite at a working farm where I could see animals if possible.
Really like some input from someone in the know.
Thanks so much for your help. I will look at places to stay once we have a route
Hi Jo, Glad it was helpful and I’m pleased to hear you enjoyed your trip here so much you’re returning! Your route and itinerary sound great and will definitely fulfil your love of countryside, castles and animals. Here are my thoughts on your itinerary and questions:
Day 1 – Wrexham and Llangollen
This is a good route and the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canals are very impressive and one of my suggested top things to do in Wales. I am not really familiar with Denbigh, but the castle is worth a visit. There are probably some very nice rural places to stay in that area.
Day 2 – Conwy and Caernarfon are definitely worth a visit and already on my suggested itinerary.
Day 3 – Dolgellau is a really scenic town! The drive down from Caernarfon on the A487 / A470 is beautiful. You could even stop off at Criccieth Castle and/or Harlech castle en route.
Day 4 and 5 – I’d recommend staying in Brecon both nights as it is a very good location for visiting the area, and it gives you different options for places to visit. It also is nice for the pace of the trip to spend 2 nights in the middle of the week at the same place. Cantref Adventure Farm Park is a popular family day out and offers tours of the farm and animal experiences.
Day 6 – The Gower Peninsula is definitely worth a visit. Rhossili Bay and Three Cliffs Bay are particularly scenic and a bit more rugged than Mumbles beach itself.
Day 7 – Caerphilly castle is very impressive – they recently reopened it following extensive renovations. There is also a nice food market opposite. The town itself isn’t that big and my recommendation would be to stay in The Gwaelod y Garth Inn. It’s only a short drive from Caerphilly but has nice countryside views and is nestled on a hill leading to a hike up The Garth, which provides great views across Cardiff, the coast and hills.
Day 8 – Chepstow and Tintern sounds great. They are wonderful places to visit.
In answer to your questions – I am not that familiar with Llanidloes and Hafren forest, but they are scenic and practically en route, so would make a convenient stop off. Alternatively, you could consider stopping at Rhyader on your drive to Brecon on day 4 and exploring the Elan Valley and The Red Kite feeding Centre, as that could be a special wildlife experience for you.
I think Devils Bridge is a great place to visit, but it is quite out of your way. If you’re after a fun steam train ride, you could consider the The Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways route from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog instead (as that fits better with your itinerary). That is almost a full days activity. Or if you fancied the waterfalls at Devils Bridge, swap that with a trip to Waterfall Country – which is en route on Day 5 from Brecon to the Gower. There are many hiking routes there to see different waterfalls.
As you are visiting multiple castles, I would recommend becoming a Cadw member. The membership comes with lots of benefits and supports the upkeep of the historic monuments. I believe you can sign up online or when you visit the first castle.
Here is a list of ideas for working farm holidays, however you could look for some options that fit your itinerary once you’ve decided on the route.
I hope that helps, and I am happy to suggest some places to stay on your trip too. Whilst I endeavour to respond promptly, please be patient whilst I think through my best recommendations 🙂 Diolch! Ruthie
I am coming to Wales May 8 from the Chester Zoo in the UK. I have 7 nites for wales and touring in my rental car. Luv the country side and open air castles. I will need to be in Teddington UK on Sat May 16. Can you suggest a route? Much appreciation. Jo
Hi Jo, That sounds like a fun trip!
You could roughly follow my 7-day itinerary in this article but do it the other way round. From Chester, you can access North Wales and visit Conwy and Caernarfon (Day 1 and Day 2). You could then work your way down to Portmeirion (Day 3), and onwards to Brecon (Day 4). I suggest you skip Aberystwyth and swap in a day in Chepstow at the end.
For Day 5, you could check out Carreg Cennen Castle on your way towards Swansea, instead of heading to Big Pit as suggested in the article. If you’re not such a fan of cities, you could swap out a night in Swansea for a night in a more rural, countryside location such as Pontyclerc farmhouse Bed and Breakfast.
Then, onwards to Cardiff to explore the capital (Day 6)! Instead of the day in Aberystwyth, I would suggest you stay a night in Chepstow (Day 7) en route to Teddington so you can enjoy Chepstow Castle and the surrounding Wye Valley. The Three Tuns is a lovely hotel which overlooks the castle.
My itinerary lends itself to a North – South route, which suits your start and end destinations. It also breaks up the long drive so you can stop off at beautiful countryside and scenery, and a fair few castles! If you have any specific places you’d like to visit, or budget/accommodation requests, let me know and I’ll be happy to help further refine your route.
Thanks,
Ruthie