Touring South Wales - Suggestions
Discussion
Just having a think about holidays next year and my wife and I have a week/10 days to plan as a 60th/retirement holiday.
We did 4 days last year around North Wales in a campervan (partly to visit possible places to live in a few years) and loved it apart from the lack of space.
South Wales has been mentioned and a motorhome this time with decent inside space.
We have been to the Gower and Brecon Beacons and loved then both so these are definite stops.
Never been to Pembrokeshire but it looks lovely so that's in as well.
We would maybe hire from Cardiff area (we live in Lincolnshire) to minimise mileage in the motorhome.
Any suggestions for other destinations and also specific places in Pembrokeshire.
Thanks
We did 4 days last year around North Wales in a campervan (partly to visit possible places to live in a few years) and loved it apart from the lack of space.
South Wales has been mentioned and a motorhome this time with decent inside space.
We have been to the Gower and Brecon Beacons and loved then both so these are definite stops.
Never been to Pembrokeshire but it looks lovely so that's in as well.
We would maybe hire from Cardiff area (we live in Lincolnshire) to minimise mileage in the motorhome.
Any suggestions for other destinations and also specific places in Pembrokeshire.
Thanks
In terms of Pembrokeshire and SW wales, I'll offer the following, sort of working clockwise:
-Narbeth- for foodies. Not amazing, but worth a stop.
-Tenby and Saundersfoot- both nice, Tenby more touristy. nice town and beaches
-Manobier castle and beach- lovely
-Stackpole and barafundle beach- stunning
-Bosherston lilly ponds and walk to broad haven beach- just doesnt get any better!
-Freshwater west and Angle, ok
-Dale- lovely spot
-Broad Haven/Little Haven- cant remember, but supposed to be nice i think?
-Solva- very popular. Cornwall vibes. Second home haven.
-New Quay- very nice, dolphins galore.
-Narbeth- for foodies. Not amazing, but worth a stop.
-Tenby and Saundersfoot- both nice, Tenby more touristy. nice town and beaches
-Manobier castle and beach- lovely
-Stackpole and barafundle beach- stunning
-Bosherston lilly ponds and walk to broad haven beach- just doesnt get any better!
-Freshwater west and Angle, ok
-Dale- lovely spot
-Broad Haven/Little Haven- cant remember, but supposed to be nice i think?
-Solva- very popular. Cornwall vibes. Second home haven.
-New Quay- very nice, dolphins galore.
We went coasteering with this lot - soooooo much fun: https://adventurebeyond.co.uk/activities-list/coas...
Depending on timing you could try and get tickets for Skomer in Pembrokeshire to see the puffins. Highly recommended but very weather dependent and you need to book tickets far in advance. Tickets for this year are fully booked for the next two months for example. I went last year and thought it was a really good day out and I am not at all into bird watching!
Skomer is right next to Marloes Sands which is a great beach to walk around and there's a campsite right next to it if you needed to use that.
Skomer is right next to Marloes Sands which is a great beach to walk around and there's a campsite right next to it if you needed to use that.
Edited by Matt.. on Wednesday 8th May 16:54
Coastal path is stunning from St Davids to Trefin / Abercastle. For food and drink, try the sloop at Porthgain, the Shed at Porthgain and the Ship in Trefin for good value local grub. More up market would be Blas restaurant in Twr y felin hotel and The Really Wild Emporium both in St Davids. Open mic night in the Ship is good fun.
Some are duplicates of earlier suggestions, and these were aimed at someone who wanted dog-friendly ideas of places to visit/walks in Pembrokeshire, but my two pence worth:
The Gwaun Valley – Allt Pontfaen walk (SA65 9SF) A lovely woodland walk beside a river. You can either ‘go there and back’ or climb up the hillside and do a circular walk.
The Gwaun Valley – Sychpant walk (SA65 9UA). More of a steep climb involved in this one, but great views and tends to be quieter. Picnic site at the bottom.
Bosherston Lily Ponds (SA71 5DW). Wonderful place, but can get busy. Car park is free for members of the National Trust, otherwise you have to pay. You can walk from the car park either side of the Lily Ponds (you do have to cross the water via stone walkways which are okay as long as your dog doesn’t pull!) Either side takes you down to Broadhaven South beach, then you can return the same way, or on the opposite side.
Stackpole Estate (SA71 5DQ). Part of the estate containing the Lily Ponds. This is an alternative route to the Lily Ponds, starting at a smaller car park which tends not to be so popular (and is free, unlike the main Bosherston one). We always go here if we’re going to Bosherston. You can also access Barafundle Bay from here.
Llys y Fran Reservoir (SA63 4RR) – You can do ‘there and back again’ walk or full circular walk (approx 8 miles).
Scolton Manor (SA62 5QL). This is a nice country park, where you can do marked trails and see various sculptures. There is also a huge grassed area in front of the manor house, which you can also visit (not sure that you can take dogs inside). Parking is quite expensive, but is for the whole day.
Blackpool Mill (SA67 8BL) – walk from mill to Slebech Park Hotel and Slebech Old Church. A ‘there and back again’ walk but really nice, fairly gentle and flat. Can be muddy in parts. We usually stop at the church to eat packed lunch before returning.
Lamphey Bishops Palace (SA71 5NT) Not as popular as St David’s Bishops Palace, but quieter. Dog friendly, lots of ruins to explore.
Dinas Head (SA42 0SE) Think this is about 3 miles circular (coastal) walk.
Abereiddy to Porthgain on coast path (SA62 6DT) Park at Abereiddy beach, then walk around to the Blue Lagoon. Walk continues to Porthgain along the coast, with old quarry workings/buildings to look at. Good fish & chips at Porthgain before the return!
Carew Castle and Tidal Mill (SA70 8SL) 1 mile circular walk around castle and mill. Castle is dog friendly.
Barafundle Bay (SA71 5LS) Half mile walk from nearest car park to beach (quite a lot of steps down to beach – and back up!) or you can access via the dunes from Stackpole.
I would also recommend venturing into mid Wales (we love Abergwesyn, Llyn Brianne, the Elan valley).
ETA - also Aberaeron and Aberystwyth.
Enjoy - we love living here.
The Gwaun Valley – Allt Pontfaen walk (SA65 9SF) A lovely woodland walk beside a river. You can either ‘go there and back’ or climb up the hillside and do a circular walk.
The Gwaun Valley – Sychpant walk (SA65 9UA). More of a steep climb involved in this one, but great views and tends to be quieter. Picnic site at the bottom.
Bosherston Lily Ponds (SA71 5DW). Wonderful place, but can get busy. Car park is free for members of the National Trust, otherwise you have to pay. You can walk from the car park either side of the Lily Ponds (you do have to cross the water via stone walkways which are okay as long as your dog doesn’t pull!) Either side takes you down to Broadhaven South beach, then you can return the same way, or on the opposite side.
Stackpole Estate (SA71 5DQ). Part of the estate containing the Lily Ponds. This is an alternative route to the Lily Ponds, starting at a smaller car park which tends not to be so popular (and is free, unlike the main Bosherston one). We always go here if we’re going to Bosherston. You can also access Barafundle Bay from here.
Llys y Fran Reservoir (SA63 4RR) – You can do ‘there and back again’ walk or full circular walk (approx 8 miles).
Scolton Manor (SA62 5QL). This is a nice country park, where you can do marked trails and see various sculptures. There is also a huge grassed area in front of the manor house, which you can also visit (not sure that you can take dogs inside). Parking is quite expensive, but is for the whole day.
Blackpool Mill (SA67 8BL) – walk from mill to Slebech Park Hotel and Slebech Old Church. A ‘there and back again’ walk but really nice, fairly gentle and flat. Can be muddy in parts. We usually stop at the church to eat packed lunch before returning.
Lamphey Bishops Palace (SA71 5NT) Not as popular as St David’s Bishops Palace, but quieter. Dog friendly, lots of ruins to explore.
Dinas Head (SA42 0SE) Think this is about 3 miles circular (coastal) walk.
Abereiddy to Porthgain on coast path (SA62 6DT) Park at Abereiddy beach, then walk around to the Blue Lagoon. Walk continues to Porthgain along the coast, with old quarry workings/buildings to look at. Good fish & chips at Porthgain before the return!
Carew Castle and Tidal Mill (SA70 8SL) 1 mile circular walk around castle and mill. Castle is dog friendly.
Barafundle Bay (SA71 5LS) Half mile walk from nearest car park to beach (quite a lot of steps down to beach – and back up!) or you can access via the dunes from Stackpole.
I would also recommend venturing into mid Wales (we love Abergwesyn, Llyn Brianne, the Elan valley).
ETA - also Aberaeron and Aberystwyth.
Enjoy - we love living here.
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