Recommendations for South Wales and surrounding areas

[IamPickleRick]

We are going to Barry in July next year for a wedding and I've managed to book a caravan for the weekend so that it becomes more of a holiday for the kids. Afterwards we'd like to meander back to London via other areas as DH is a teacher and we have no rush. We really loved north wales and Snowdonia a few years back but the car journey is about 4hrs so we are happy to try out the South Wales areas. Are the Cotswolds worth it with three small children (1yo, 2yo and 7yo)? Bath maybe? I don't really know the areas at all.

We are happy to camp, caravan or Airbnb it if anyone has any recommendations for areas.

[DragonMamma]

You absolutely need to go the other way and head towards Pembrokeshire for a stay. It's breathtakingly beautiful and loads to do for the kids. It's about an hour and a bit from Barry but it's a fairly straight run down the motorway.

[KeiraTwiceKnightley]

Gower peninsula, just past Swansea. Stunning.

[IamPickleRick]

Ok, wow! Thanks! Both look absolutely gorgeous and we might be able to get a stop in at both!

Is Tenby worth it or is it a bit similar to Barry ie arcades etc

[reup]

The gower and Pembrokeshire are both stunning. Other places I have enjoyed visiting in South Wales are
Big pit
museum.wales/bigpit/
St fagans
museum.wales/stfagans/
This hands on science place in Cardiff
www.techniquest.org/

[reup]

And my son loved this whe he wa s going through his 5 year old dinosaur phase
www.showcaves.co.uk/dinosaurs.html

[TittyGolightly]

Neither Bath nor the Cotswolds are in Wales.

[TittyGolightly]

Tenby is nothing like Barry. Tenby is awesome, Barry Island (where the arcades are) is really quite trashy.

[Littlepond]

Cardiff Bay is one of my favourite places ever. There's Techniquest science place, can get a boat round the bay, walk over to Penarth (I love Penarth), eat in an American Diner that an episode of Doctor Who was filmed in... ooh and the doctor who experience is amazing if you like that kind of thing!! Lots of lovely walks, lots to do, nice restaurants etc. Lovely Cardiff Bay :)

[IamPickleRick]

I know they aren't in wales titty but they are on the way back to London.

I've never been to Barry before actually, I am basing my entire opinion on Gavin and Stacey

[IamPickleRick]

It's very possible we could do Pembrokeshire and stop in Bath as well.

[chocolateisnecessary]

Tenby - check out a village there called Manorbier for the castle/beach; the Gower. Barry is v close to Cardiff. The Bay is amazing (walk down to the barrage for a play park), Bute Park, Cardiff Castle, Duffryn House and Gardens, Castell Coch and the woods there. Have a google! Also look at the blog Cardiff Mummy Says for places local to Cardiff/Barry.

[meltingmarshmallows]

I live here and can confirm what everyone else is saying, Pembrokeshire would be lovely and the Gower is stunning.

Local to Barry check out Nash Point and Southerndown. Both nice beaches on the South Glamorgan coast.

Barry is a bit grim I'm afraid, a million nicer beaches nearby so I'd continue along the coast after the wedding

[chocolateisnecessary]

Oh - if you're going to Pembs, get the boat from Tenby to Caldey Island for the day. Look at Bluestone for somewhere to stay maybe?

[DragonMamma]

I second what everybody has said about Tenby - it's completely different to Barry, which is pretty naff. I also second Caldey Island!

My kids have season tickets for Dinasour Land and love it there. They also love Freshwater East/West beaches.

[BackforGood]

Definitely head West, as you have travelled that far:

Beaches. Rhossili Bay is one of the best beaches. Gower Coast is beautiful
Pembrokeshire would be where I would holiday if I were told I could only ever go to one part of the Country again.
Cardiff is a lovely City - small and walkable, but with a castle and you can go out to Cardiff Bay. Swansea less so, but has beaches.

On way back, Bath is beautiful, but probably more for adults than little ones.

[Magicme1]

Rhosilli beach Is stunning! a bit of a walk down but well worth it, anywhere around the Gower peninsula, also love the Brecon Beacons.

[IamPickleRick]

Thanks all! I have booked 4 days near Rhosilli on the end of the Barry weekend!

I considered another night on the way home in Bath or Oxford but cottages and apartments are proving to be a bit expensive so I may leave that and just drive through on the way back. We can always stop for lunch/dinner somewhere nice.

I feel quite good about this now!

[TittyGolightly]

There's a fabulous pub just off the M4 on the Bath turnoff. I'll get the name for you.

[gassylady]

Anna's Welsh zoo in St Florence also really good to visit well kept animals and great play areas

[Dowser]

Oh look, barry is what it is ...kids will love the beach and they've made the prom quite nice.
Porthkerry is a lovely country park in barry with a nice walk to the sea
You can go to sully island and walk across when the tides out
St fagans Welsh museum is free and a stones throw away and a must do
Ogmore by the sea...also lovely
Penarth and take a boat trip
Castell coch
The mining museum at Pontypridd
Cardiff museum...all free
Drive iver to the mumbles for the day.
Park the kids somewhere and have a fab day's shopping in Cardiff city centre
Cardiff castle...not free
Bute park and roadhouse park ...all very good.

[Dowser]

Roath park not roadhouse 😤