Introduction to Road Tripping in Wales
Croeso i Gymru! Welcome to Wales!
This Wales road trip itinerary takes you through magnificent landscapes, picturesque villages and historic landmarks. Discover the spirit of the Welsh, climb to the summit of Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon) and marvel at Conwy Castle.
We have very strong roots in Wales – my husband is Welsh born and bred. Being brought up in North Wales, his first language is Welsh. My grandparents were based in Wales during World War 2, and my family had a bungalow on the coast for many generations.
Our Wales road trip itinerary guides you along our favourite drive through Cymru. The A470 takes you from the South to the North and we stop to show you our best places to visit. It can also be done in reverse.
Please Note: My directions in this blog are simplified and you will need to use a satnav or Google maps for specific directions.
Contents
- Introduction to Road Tripping in Wales
- Day 1 Visiting the Capital
- Wales Road Trip (A470)
- Day 2 Exploring the Beautiful Welsh Coastline
- Day 3 Adventurous Wales
- Day 4 Delving into Welsh History
- How long should you stay in Wales?
- Useful Links
Some of my content may contain affiliate links for companies I use and love and recommend to awesome readers like yourself. If you take action, (i.e. subscribe, make a purchase) after clicking one of these links, I’ll earn a small amount of pocket money (at no extra cost to you), so I can buy a coffee while creating more helpful content like this.
Day 1 Visiting the Capital
From England you will take the M4 or M48 to the River Severn. After crossing over the Severn Bridge, our first stop is the Welsh capital, Cardiff.
Cardiff
The people of Cardiff are an amazing population and some of the friendliest people I have ever met. If you happen to be here during one of the rugby games, you will witness the incredible atmosphere and comradeship.
You will find there is plenty to see and do in the capital. Visit Cardiff Castle and its many museums. Take a boat trip across Cardiff Bay. Watch a match or concert at the arenas. Enjoy great restaurants, a food tour, or farmers market. Peruse the many shops including the Victorian Arcades.
Cardiff Bay
Formally the main port for shipping coal, Cardiff Bay has been regenerated into a fabulous harbour water front. There are restaurants, boat trips, a National History Museum (St Fagans), cinema and swimming pool.
To see more Cardiff experiences take a look at the Get Your Guide link below:
Search ‘Get Your Guide’ for experiences in Cardiff
Where to stay in Cardiff
Leonardo hotel – situated in the heart of Cardiff. Leonardo Hotel is a 4 star, Victorian character hotel with a great location, restaurant, bar and parking available. From £116 per night.
Check availability at Leonardo Hotel, Cardiff
Voco St David’s Cardiff IHG Hotel – overlooking Cardiff Bay. This 5 star hotel has beautiful architecture and facilities, including an award winning spa. From £199 per night.
Check availability at St David’s IHG Hotel
Wales Road Trip (A470)
After fun in the capital, now it is time to discover Wales’s captivating landscapes. Drive south-west on Newport Road A4161 towards Fitzalan. After half a mile turn right onto the North Road A470. Stay on the A470 until you reach Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons). (1 hr 30 mins)
Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) – Photo stop
As you drive along the winding road, you will see a car park on your right, usually with an ice cream van. Stop here for a photo stop before carrying on your journey along the A470. Drive for 1 hr 30 mins until you get to Rhaeadr.
Rhaeadr Village
Approaching lunch time it’s time for a pit stop. Rhaeadr is a pretty village and about half way to your next destination so a good place to stop for a bite to eat at one of the cafes in town.
After your pit stop, carry on your journey along the A470 for 1 hr 30 mins, until you get to A496, which you will follow to Barmouth.
Day 2 Exploring the Beautiful Welsh Coastline
To continue your Wales road trip, take the A496 and follow the signs to Barmouth. The drive along this beautiful estuary is mesmerizing. Take it slow along the winding road and hairpin turns. Admire the purple rhododendrons growing wild amongst the slate mountains.
Barmouth
This picturesque town has traditional Welsh dwellings and shops with slate roofs and Victorian architecture. The golden sand beach looks out towards Cardigan Bay. It hosts traditional seaside stalls and leads to a pretty harbour with fishing boats. Here you can take a ferry ride across the estuary to its neighbour Fairbourne.
Fairbourne
From Barmouth harbour, catch the ferry across to Fairbourne. Walk along the unspoilt beach. Watch the amazing sunset and see if you can spot a porpoise. Fairbourne is also home to a miniature steam railway and museum.
More time?
Walk up to the Blue Lake and go souvenir shopping in the traditional village of Dolgellau.
Where to stay in Barmouth
There are 2 main choices in Barmouth – The Royal and Bryn Mynach Guest House. Both have excellent reviews and have central locations and parking.
See availability at The Royal – from £90 per night
See availability at Bryn Mynach – from £86 per night
Restaurant Recommendation
Barmouth has a good selection of restaurants. We recommend Bistro Bermo, offering locally sourced produce with a Spanish twist.
Day 3 Adventurous Wales
Wale’s mountains and forests are breathtakingly beautiful. Over the last 10 years, a great deal of exciting activities have been developed in Wales to entice the adventurous. Here you will find bucket list activities such as zip lining, biking and mountain climbing through the fantastic scenery.
From Barmouth you have 2 choices for your Day 3 Adventure. The first is a forest trail followed by a zip lining experience. The second is to climb the tallest mountain in Wales.
Coed y Brenin Forest
From Barmouth, take the A496 until you reach the A470. You will get to Coed y Brenin within 30 mins.
On your way to Snowdonia, go on a trail through the evergreen forest at Coed y Brenin. There is a fantastic visitor centre where you can hire a bike, visit the café and use the bathroom facilities. There are wonderful walking trails too.
See opening times and more info about Coed y Brenin
After your trail in Coed y Brenin, go back to the A470. Eventually you will turn off onto the B4409. Carry on until you reach Zip World Penryn Quarry (1hr 10 mins).
Zip World
Dare yourself to ride the world’s fastest zip line though the Penryn Quarry. Truly an exhilarating experience, you feel like you are flying, over spectacular views of Eryri (Snowdonia).
Alternatively, if you would like to climb a mountain, skip Coed-y-Brenin and Zip World and head straight to Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon). Depending which path you prefer to take, it will take you approximately 1 hr 20 mins from Barmouth to your preferred path. At this point you will be leaving the A470 and need your navigation gadget.
Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon)
The National Park area of Eryri (Snowdonia) has stunning scenery and is home to the highest peak in Wales, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). Yr Wyddfa’s peak is 1085m (3560 ft).
There are several paths leading to the summit, varying in difficulty. Climbing to the summit is no easy feat and you must be physically fit to reach the top.
Be Prepared
Weather conditions at the top of Yr Wyddfa can quickly turn. Ensure you are wearing suitable hiking boots, waterproof clothing and warm layers. Take water and sustenance. Make sure you stick to the designated paths and don’t take any risks.
Café and Mountain Railway
At the top of the mountain, there is a café, where you can enjoy a drink and a snack while admiring the panoramic views.
From Llanberis Station, you can take the train to the café for a 30 minute stopover. It is essential to buy tickets in advance.
Buy tickets for Snowdon Railway
Visit Snowdonia visitor website
Where to stay in Eryri (Snowdonia)
I would suggest staying in the pretty village of Betws-y-Coed or the historic town of Conwy. These towns are only 15 miles apart, enabling you to partake in these adventures and visit the historic sites.
Glyntwrog House – situated in Betws-y-Coed, overlooking the Waterloo bridge. We stayed in this beautiful 4 star B&B a few years ago. It has a fantastic score of 9.8 on Booking.com. The accommodation is immaculate and they serve an amazing breakfast. From £113 per night.
See availability at Glyntwrog House
The Castle Hotel , Conwy – situated 300 metres from Conwy Castle. This 300 year old coaching inn has elegant bedrooms and a restaurant on site. From £109 per night.
See availability at The Castle Hotel
Day 4 Delving into Welsh History
The last leg of our Wales road trip takes you on the road to historic discovery. You will be rejoining the A470, until you reach the B5279 and onto B5106, then follow the signs to Conwy.
Conwy
The historic town of Conwy is a World Heritage site. It is known for its 13th century castle and walls and its pretty harbour. It is also a foodie’s paradise, with a great selection of independent restaurants.
We recommend Johnny Dough’s for the most delicious wood fired pizza you will ever have. After your pizza, visit Vinomondo for a glass of wine in their cosy wine garden.
https://www.walesbestguides.com/tours/256/As well as the castle, harbour and restaurants, you can visit the smallest house in Great Britain, which was lived in by a tall man who was 6ft 3. Or why not take a ghost tour of Conwy with a costumed guide? See Best Guides.
Conwy Castle
Built by King Edward I between 1283 – 1287, this Medieval castle is incredibly well preserved. Walk around the castle walls and explore the castle grounds and moat.
More Time?
Visit Caernarfon Castle and the Sea side town of Llandudno.
Sadly, this is where our Wales road trip comes to an end. To get back to England and the M6, head towards the A55 for 42 miles. Continue to the M56 where you can join the M6 after 20 miles (1hr 45 mins).
How long should you stay in Wales?
I hope this road trip itinerary has given you some ideas and inspiration to explore Wales. This road trip can easily be done in 4/5 days giving you a fantastic taster of Wales. If you have longer, there is so much more to see – 2 weeks would be ideal. Wales has many beautiful beaches, mountains and towns and thousands of people return again and again.
Other places I would suggest seeing in the south are Big Pit Coal Mine in Pontypool and Caerleon Roman fortess in Newport. One of the jewels of the West coast is beautiful Pembrokeshire. In the North, visit the town of Portmeirion and the Island of Anglesea, which was once home to HRH Prince William. Or maybe go on a castle tour and see many more amazing castles including Gwrych Castle, where ‘I’m a Celebrity… Get me Out of Here’ was filmed.
Wales is a truly beautiful country where you can easily feel at one with nature. I find its remote landscape magical and I hope you fall in love with it too.
Have you been to Wales? Which is your favourite place that you would recommend?
Coming Soon!! – Guide to Pembrokeshire
Leave a Reply