After I crossed the border from England in my Little Economy class car rental, I set out to explore Wales for the first time. I simply approached the toll plaza, paid £6 to the cash collector and was suddenly in Wales, so I didn’t realize it was that easy. Cold, rainy, misty Wales. As someone from a typical cold climate (Australia, Tasmania), I am not a person who complains about the weather. On top of that, it can really be added to the character of the place. Wales may have been wet and miserable on my arrival, but this completely allowed myself a tourist attraction (have tried an umbrella before!?). Overall, it was an adventure.
It was just under a week on the Welsh land, so I was out to explore Wales especially the south. If I had it, as long as I had it, I quickly fell in love with people, unleashed my lifestyle, and of course, those quaint small towns and villages appeared regularly on daily adventures.
So if you’re heading south in Wales, I’ve been covered by you…
A guide to visiting southern Wales
This guide covers my 5-day itinerary south of Wales. There’s so much to see and do in such a small number of times, so I regret that my itinerary doesn’t include big cities like Cardiff and Swansea. Instead, this itinerary focuses on small towns, charming seaside villages, and of course castles!
First day: Wy Valley, Tintan Abbey, Raglan Castle, Abargavenie
You will notice the difference almost immediately when you cross from the UK to Wales. Suddenly, in your vision there is a large, wide valley (if of course not cloudy with rain or mist, of course!), there are all manners of gorgeous mountains and rich greenery in all forms: grass, trees, hedges. Of course, this requires proper irrigation, so expect some showers during your visit.
Take your time to get everything in when driving Wy Valley. Includes the best points of interest to stop Tintern Monastery, Raglan Castleand a small town Avalgaveny. Stop by CWTCH Cafe on Cross Street to ask for a delicious coffee + cake combo for under £5.
One Night: Ferrin Fach
I stayed tonight Ferrin Compartment Griffin Innit was just 25 minutes from Hey On Wy (the first stop tomorrow morning), so it was a strategically great stopover. The hotel is small and attractive, but you cannot connect here as there is no Wi-Fi or TV in the room unless requested by housekeeping. Of course, for some people, this is a chance to switch off! Bring a good book. Also, don’t venture beyond the hotel for dinner tonight.
Day 2: Hay-on-Wye, Llandeilo, Laugharne
Starting the second day Heion wyI hope to wander around this small town packed in at least a few hours. It is famous for being a “town of books.” There are more bookstores than relying on fingers and toes, so that’s right.
There is another small town at the next stop Llandeilo. There are plenty of great shops in this town if you want to buy tweed, household items and sweet treats from the popular “Heaven” sweet shops. After that, make sure you pass through town. This will allow you to see signs of (brown tourists) in the nearby castle. It’s definitely worth a visit while looking out at the valleys that are being cleaned.
The next destination is LOLAnother small town with a wonderful castle to visit. You should be able to find the park for free further down the street (100m past the castle). From there, follow the path to Pendin and head towards Amuros. You can stay in Amuros or last 5-10 minutes to the gorgeous seaside village of Sandersfoot (see below).
Overnight: Sandersfoot
I checked in tonight in a luxurious way St. Brides Spa Hotel With Sanders Foot. This hotel is, of course, famous for its heat spa and wide views of the town. This would be a great evening to dine as town has a great little restaurant just 5 minutes from the hotel. For casual ones, grab some takeaway fish + chips and head to the sea.
Day 3: BeachCoasteering, St David’s Cathedral
You are on the shores of Wales so you may make the most of it too. On the third day there is a lot to explore, especially through small coastal towns and seaside villages. If you stay overnight at Saundersfoot, you will see that the much larger town in Tenby is heading in the same direction, just 5-10 minutes down the road. The colorful homes and gorgeous promenade make this a town worth a stop in. From there, head to Broad Haven South Beach if you want to go outside and go for a walk across the coast and on a lovely observation deck. Make sure to bring your parking money! Also worth visiting Freshwater West Beach (pictured above), especially if you’re a Harry Potter fun like me! This is the beach where Dobby was buried in Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows. From there, there is a considerable drive through Pembroke to St. David. If it’s enough game to give you a try, there are a few companies offering tours from here that depart every day around lunchtime. For something more modest, visit St. David’s Cathedral. A must-see!
One Night: Rock Castle
Tonight I stayed at the castle overnight – Fancy! The exterior reminds us of time, but the interior has been completely renovated and is very modern. There are no restaurants on site, so head out for local fish and chips in one of the nearby villages.
Day 4: Small Towns: Newport, Cardigan, Newquay, Abelaron
At this point in the journey, so much driving is driven under the belt, you need to relax for the last day or two on your Welsh itinerary, incorporate it into the seaside, and much less on the itinerary. Instead of planning to see the majors on this day, I decided to stop by small towns and try something a little in each town. Newport is a beautiful seaside village, but the cardigans are the size of the town and there was a small sweets shop where I could spend days! The new Quay was absolutely gorgeous. If you’re visiting during the summer time, try frozen yogurt! Abelaron has another great ice cream shop specializing in honey ice cream, with frozen yogurt.
One night: Abelaron
Tonight I stayed at Abellaron at Herblemaster Abellaron, located by the sea. Enjoy the sunset.
Day 5: Elan Valley & Birmingham (Fly Out)
Today I had a late afternoon flight from Birmingham, so it’s a great way to spend my last day rather than adventures along the way! Today’s stop was with Devil’s Bridge, Elan Valley and we finished our day at Powis Castle and Garden before driving to Birmingham Airport for our departure to Scotland!
Thank you for visiting Wales and Rarebit (accommodation) in Wales for hosting my stay in Wales. Can’t wait to return to explore Wales more!