Planning a tour of Wales? Want to know the very best locations to go to on a Wales street journey? Here are 4 unmissable Welsh street journey itineraries, plus a map that will help you plan your journey.
Don’t overlook to seize your free downloadable Wales street journey information that will help you plan your journey.
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Why I DIDN’T need to plan a Wales Road Trip!
Personally, I blame Rugby.
The intense rivalry between England and Wales (that rivalry extends to just about all sports activities, in case you had been questioning!) was one thing I grew up watching- and it simply… kinda… caught. I’ll be honest- it made me just a little sceptical about visiting the nation, not to mention planning a Wales street journey.
But I did and we went and…. it was fabulous.
The climate was nice (all the time helps) and the surroundings was breathtaking. Wales have created 3 nationwide driving routes referred to as the Wales Way and they’re all fabulous. But what shocked me essentially the most was how pleasant and welcoming the folks had been to us.
It was our very first street journey with our motorhome and we stayed at a few the finest motorhome websites in Wales. It was improbable. We’ve now been a number of instances and might’t wait to return once more. It’s one in every of our absolute favorite locations to street journey within the UK.
Indeed, I’ve been again a number of instances on my own- I spent a few of February 2023 exploring the Gower peninsula and had a good time.
We’ve put collectively a few of the finest locations to go to in Wales, for each itinerary. If you’ve solely acquired 2 or 3 days, or a protracted weekend, stick to at least one space. If you’ve got every week or longer to discover, you can simply do a number of locations on this itinerary or discover one in every of them in additional depth. However you propose your street journey, you’ll have a wonderful time.
When is the very best time to street journey round Wales?
One of the explanations we love Wales a lot is all of the outside actions it gives. For that purpose, we advocate visiting Wales anytime between Easter and mid-October, to actually reap the benefits of the highlights.
Having mentioned that, Wales will not be like Cornwall, and most locations don’t shut for the winter, so you can exit of season and benefit from the lack of vacationers. It’s solely as much as you!
Wales Road Trip Map- plan of our Welsh itinerary
This is all the map of our itinerary. Doing it ALL in every week could be a wrestle, though you possibly can if you happen to drive loads and don’t cease usually throughout the day.
We advocate at the very least 10-14 days to do all the route. If you’ve got a shorter time, simply decide a component of it and are available again for the remainder later!!
I discover it so irritating when folks rattle off the very best locations to go… and you haven’t any concept the place any of them are! I hope this Wales street journey map helps you get extra acquainted with the locations we share
Brecon Beacons – Perfect South Wales Road Trip
Suggested by Pauline | BeeLoved City
The Brecon Beacons are good for street trippers on the lookout for an journey. It’s some of the stunning locations within the UK and but so underrated. You will discover stunning wild tenting spots the place you possibly can take pleasure in these wide-open areas, stunning landscapes and a sky filled with stars!
The Brecon Beacons is one in every of three nationwide parks in Wales. They all provide breath-taking landscapes and superb mountain climbing alternatives for nature lovers.
Brecon Beacon street trip- driving the very best street in Wales
The highest driving street in Wales known as the Gospel Pass- snaking over the Black Mountains from Abergavenny to Hay-on-wye on the east of the Beacons
How to get to the Gospel Pass
From Abergavenny, flip off the A465 at Llanvihangel Crucorney and comply with indicators for the ruins of Llanthony Priory. From Hay-on-Wye, the Gospel cross is sign-posted.
CAUTION- The Pass is 22 miles of usually single monitor, very steep (1/4) and isn’t cleared in winter. Motorhomes may discover it robust and snow chains are important in winter.
Driving the Top Gear Road
You also can drive the A4069, to the west of the Brecon Beacons- the street made well-known by Jeremy Clarkson and Top Gear (no, that is NOT the identical street because the Gospel Pass!) The street runs from Brynamman to Llangadog (I swear I’m not making these names up!) This is one other unbelievable road- and most of it’s 2-way you’ll be happy to know. We did it on a motorbike- it was spectacular.
What else is there to do on a Brecon Beacons street journey?
- Hiking. Lots and plenty and plenty of mountain climbing
- Pen-Y-Fan- the very best peak in South Wales (on the street from Merthyr Tydfil to Brecon) Try a Beacons Horseshoe ridge stroll which can take you as much as the summit of Pen-Y-Fan. From there you should have a 360-degree view on the Cwm Llwch valley. This 3 to 4 hours stroll is the proper method to expertise the true great thing about the Beacons.
- Waterfalls! There are some unbelievable waterfalls all around the Beacons. One of the preferred waterfalls is Sgwd Gwladys.
- Kayaking, rafting and bouldering are additionally standard
- Show Caves- go to a few of the largest showcases within the UK
- Visit superb castles resembling Carreg Cennen or Brecon Castle. There are so many legends surrounding the Brecon Beacons and guided excursions are an effective way to find superb Welsh legends and tales.
- Visit cute city like Brecon, Crickhowell or Hye-on-Wye.
Gower Peninsula – Wales Road Trip concept
Recommended by Clemens | Travellers Archive
The Gower peninsula is an ideal cease on a Wales Road Trip. It’s a small peninsula on the southern Welsh coast, simply west of Swansea. Did you understand, it was the first area in Great Britain to be acknowledged as an “Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty”.
Why ought to I embody Gower in a Welsh Road Trip itinerary?
“The Gower”, because the peninsula can also be referred to as, is an ideal place for outside/ nature lovers and is tremendous standard with:
- hikers
- chicken watchers
- solar worshippers
- surfers
- watersports lovers
- campers and motorhomers
It’s a brief drive from the primary motorway all the way down to Gower Island, the place you’ll discover an idyllic scene of small retailers, quaint homes and conventional pubs. Above all, it’s topped with the relaxed vibe of a browsing village – the ocean is close to and so is the contemporary air. It’s the proper place to loosen up.
Ok, so it’s pretty- however what’s there to DO?
You can simply spend a complete week on the Gower Peninsula.
- Start at Worm’s Head, a weird tidal island on the southwest tip of the peninsula in Rhossili Bay. This is likely one of the Gower’s most well-known attractions- though it’s not solely clear why!
- Definitely put in a cease at Rhossili, the place you possibly can lease a surfboard at PJ’s Surfshop and likewise take pleasure in scrumptious fish and chips on the ‘The King’s Head’ pub.
- Gower additionally has a number of good seashores the place you possibly can spend relaxed days within the solar. Our favourites are Caswell and Landland, the place you’ll find all the pieces you want for a day on the seaside: ice cream, parking and retailers.
- Also, don’t overlook to go on a correct coastal hike. The best of all of them is definitely the hike between the 2 aforementioned seashores.
- The Mumbles is the place we spent our very first evening ‘off-grid’ in our motorhome. DEFINITELY price a go to.
Pembrokeshire Road Trip
Recommended by Suzanne | Meandering Wild
The Pembrokeshire Coast is situated within the far south-west of Wales. It is definitely accessible as you can begin the journey from the top of the M4 at Swansea. The street follows the coast with quite a few little seashores, stunning castles and small cities. The additional west the smaller the roads turn out to be and extra rugged the panorama.
Highlights of Pembrokeshire- what to incorporate in your Wales street journey?
- Tenby
- Caldey Island
- Pembroke and Pembroke Castle
- Manobier Castle
- Skomer Island (puffins!)
- St David’s- the smallest metropolis within the UK
Pembrokeshire street journey itinerary
Tenby is likely one of the small seaside cities in Pembrokeshire and has stunning golden seashores. In the summer season months you possibly can take a brief boat experience to the monastic island of Caldey Island. This is the proper escape and you may stroll to the lighthouse in addition to strive the chocolate made by the monks.
A brief distance from Tenby is Pembroke. This is likely one of the bigger cities and has a spectacular citadel that sits overlooking the river that flows by way of the city. Pembroke Castle is spectacular, however much more spectacular is the close by Manobier Castle that appears over a small bay good for browsing.
If seeing puffins is in your bucket checklist then go to Skomer Island. In the summer season months this small island is dwelling to hundreds of puffins and it’s virtually assured to see them. The boat journey runs in good climate and can’t be booked prematurely. You might want to arrive in St Martins Haven very early to get a ticket for the boat.
The last place to go to in Pembrokeshire is St David’s. This is the smallest metropolis within the UK and has a wonderful cathedral and small winding streets- in addition to among the finest pasty retailers we’ve ever discovered!
How lengthy must you plan for a Pembrokeshire street journey?
A street journey round Pembrokeshire wants at the very least three days to actually discover, however the longer you possibly can spend there the extra you possibly can see. In the summer season months it’s busy however the climate is better- particularly for the seashores. In the winter it’s wild and desolate however points of interest are empty.
Wales Road Trip- driving the coast from south Wales to North
As with wherever, there are many routes to drive from South to North. However, on this occasion we extremely advocate the coastal route across the west coast of Wales.
Head up from Anglesey, you possibly can benefit from the magnificent views of
- Cardigan Bay- well-known for frequent sightings of bottlenose dolphins
- Fishguard- a fairly harbour and village
- Strumble Head lighthouse
- Aberystwyth- an historic market city and residential of the National Library of Wales
- Snowdonia National Park- this requires at the very least 3 days to do it justice, but when nothing else remember to go to Mt Snowdon- Wales’ highest peak
- Whilst in Snowdonia, remember to go to Swallow Falls- the one highest steady waterfall in Wales
Isle of Anglesey, North Wales Road Trip
Recommended by Sophia | The Wanderful Me
Featuring unbelievable hikes, beautiful inexperienced rolling hills, infinite seaside coastlines, cool castles, stunning seashores and cute little Welsh villages (crammed with scrumptious meals!), it is best to undoubtedly embody Anglesey in your Wales street journey itinerary.
Best Things to do in Anglesey
Anglesey is recurrently talked about as one of many finest locations to go to in Wales. Here are a few of the highlights you possibly can embody in your Wales street journey itinerary:
- Coastal hikes — there are SO many to select from and all will ship unbelievable views over the ocean.
- Parys Mountain — an deserted copper mine that now seems to be just like the floor of Mars.
- Beaumaris Castle — constructed throughout the late thirteenth century and thought of to be essentially the most technically good citadel (its symmetry is extremely correct)
- Visit a lighthouse — dotted all throughout the shoreline of Anglesey, you’ll discover a lot of stunning lighthouses. You may even keep in a single!
How lengthy ought to an Anglesey street journey take?
Since Anglesey is fairly small, a street journey shouldn’t take too lengthy! It may simply be finished in 1-2 days (particularly if you happen to’re not a giant mountain climbing fan). Of course, you can decelerate and take a couple of days to see all this island has to supply.
Does it value cash to get to Anglesey if it’s an island?
No- there’s a suspension bridge (the Menai bridge – though typically referred to as the Telford Bridge by locals), and it’s free to cross. Cars and motorhomes can get throughout no downside.
When is the very best time to plan a street journey to Anglesey?
Wondering what time of the 12 months is finest for a go to? Though summers are blissful on Anglesey, it’s unbelievable packed at the moment with UK vacationers and households. Thus, I like to recommend both doing an Anglesey street journey within the fall or spring, when it’s not too chilly or overrun with guests!
Want extra locations to go to in Europe in Autumn? Here are a few of the finest!
On your manner again from Anglesey, there are many unbelievable locations to go to:
- Caernarfon Castle (proper up close to Anglesey)
- Llangollen Canal – we employed a narrowboat from right here for a couple of days to go over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
- Dinas Bran Castle (close to Llangollen)
- Chester- one in every of my favorite cities; proper on the border between England and Wales- we visited as a part of our epic England Road journey
- Chirk Castle- a National Trust property nicely price a go to
- Conwy- we stayed right here for a number of nights on a yacht MANY years in the past and it was stunning.
Useful issues to know in your Wales Road Trip planning
Do they actually converse Welsh?
Yep. All indicators will likely be in Welsh, then English. The Welsh are a small nation however fiercely happy with their heritage and language. However, almost each individual in Wales speaks at the very least some English, and positively everybody who offers with vacationers.
Do they take £/ GBP?
Yes, Wales does NOT have its personal forex. They use pound sterling, similar to the remainder of the UK.
Do they drive on the left or the correct?
In the UK, they drive on the left in all places.
Is it straightforward to seek out tenting spots for motorhomes/ campervans?
Yes- if you happen to don’t go in excessive summer season. We went within the Easter holidays a couple of years in the past and had no issues discovering a campsite, however I’ve heard in the summertime they get VERY booked- particularly close to the ocean.
Is wild tenting authorized in Wales?
It’s tolerated, as a lot as wild tenting is wherever within the UK. Stay away from the primary vacationer areas and you have to be simply positive. Having mentioned that, we had been in Wales when all of it went just a little wrong- watch the video beneath:
If you desire a free wild tenting guidelines, seize it right here.
I hope this submit has helped you discover unbelievable locations to go to and luxuriate in. Been already? Where’s your favorite Wales Road journey? Let us know!
