More questions about Wales!

[IHeartKingThistle]

Me again - we've got a campervan bookedfor a week in August and we're trying to pack in as much of Wales as possible!

I had loads of amazing ideas from you on my previous thread but now I have some specific questions!

Here they are:

1. Can you recommend me a campsite on the West Coast near Aberystwyth or north of there?

1. We want to do a wildlife spotting boat trip - you can do them from St David's, near Aberteifi or Barmouth. Which would be best do you think? Might also do the Tenby one.

1. We want to go to a castle or two and our route will take us near these ones - which would you go to and which should we swerve? Pembroke, Harlech, Caernarfon, probably won't go as far as Conwy, Carreg Cennen (ruins I think).

Thanks! I trust you guys more than google reviews! DC are 12 and 9.

[IHeartKingThistle]

Oh and would you bother with Portmeiron?

[IHeartKingThistle]

Oh, sorry! Also need a campsite in Snowdonia area!

[Doilooklikeatourist]

Firstly I’d say you’re trying to pack too much in ( Aberystwyth, Tenby , Barmouth , portmeirion etc is too much , because of the distance and there’s not that many dual carriageways so roads can be slow )

Can’t help with the campsites
Carreg Cennen is the castle closest to me , it is in ruins , but there’s lots to see and it has an underground cave , Llandeilo also has Dinefwr house , which is national trust , and worth a visit

We went to Newquay today , there’s wildlife boat trips from there too , plus it’s near Aberaeron and not too far from Aberystwyth

[donajimena]

If you get the chance go to Caldey off Tenby. Cardigan Island has a good campsite and its great for nature walks. You can walk along the coast to see the seals.

[BikeRunSki]

I remember your previous thread.Wakes is big, and the toads are small. Font couldn’t on motorway type speeds/distances when yiu are route planning. I live Carreg Cenen castle. It is ruined, but still lots to explore. I. Kid like Carnafon Castle, but it's quite different.

[MillieMoodle]

The seal safari in Tenby is good, we saw load of seals when we did it. Pembroke castle is good, lots going on, especially in the summer. Portmerion is great for long walks with lots to look for along the way, although I haven't been for 10+ years, I loved going as a child.

Agree with a PP - if you're planning to do Barmouth to Tenby and all the bits in between you'll spend a lot of time on the road in a week - mountain roads are not like motorways or dual carriageways!

[Brownbootscoldheart]

Look for wyeside camping in Rhayader. Rhayader isn’t far from Aberystwyth and the road out to aber is stunning. The elan valley with the huge reservoirs are close by. Rhayader is a gorgeous town with loads of pubs. Make sure to see the red kites being fed too.

[sproutsandparsnips]

I second Caldey island.
Pembroke castle is one of my favourites and Dinefwr is worth a visit - the views from the castle are great.

[Historydweeb]

Definitely do snowdonia over and above all else. Aberystwyth I wouldn't personally bother with, I'd prefer Tenby. Loads (and loads and loads ) of castles and beaches down south as the whole of the Pembrokeshire coast is a national park. Don't overestimate how long it takes to travel north to South, the roads are beautiful but windy/hilly

[LadyGAgain]

Hey! Can I jump on. We just booked to stay in Llangrannog. Did we do the right thing? Anywhere we should visit that's close by? Summer booking!

[IHeartKingThistle]

Oh no I was worried we're packing in too much! Ballpark plan is 2 nights Pembrokeshire, 1 night halfway up, 2 nights Snowdonia, 1 night halfway back down, 1 night Brecon Beacons, back to Swansea. Is that mental? We all quite like driving!

Fab ideas, thank you, will check them all out!

[BackforGood]

Another who thinks you are trying to do FAR too much in one week. There are so many wonderful things to do and see in Wales, i'd really recommend doing Pembrokeshire and maybe up the coast a little as one holiday, and doing North Wales as another.
Where are you travelling from to get there in the first place?

[IHeartKingThistle]

Starting and finishing at PILs in Swansea so don't need to do that area at all.

Hmm, do I need a rethink? If Snowdonia wasn't such a must-do we'd not go as far north.

We did a similar holiday in Scotland a couple of years ago but we had 9 days then. Did a huge amount of driving, saw loads and loved it. Was hoping this would be like that!

[Bearberry]

That’s a lot to cram in, seems more like two holidays rather then one! Pembrokeshire is beautiful and there’s lots to do and see, could easily spend a week there exploring. Pembroke Castle is a great castle and there are literally tons of castles in Pembrokeshire to explore. Manobier castle is another good one, and Manobier is 5 min drive from Tenby. Caldy Island is a good shout. There’s lots of nice places to eat and drink in Tenby too, although it does get very busy during holiday times.

[IHeartKingThistle]

Thanks so much. Going to check the driving times for each stop, see what time we'll actually have each day to see stuff! If it's nothing will have a rethink! We really are so happy driving round though - happy with one activity per day, a wander, some nice food and a drive somewhere else, then let kids play on campsite. I had thought it would be a shortish drive per day but now going to check that!

[BikeRunSki]

If you don’t need to “do” the Swansea area, then miss out Carreg Cenen castle. It’s spectacular, but less than an hour from Swansea.

[IHeartKingThistle]

Sorry didn't mean to sound dismissive of the Swansea area! We'll be coming back in that direction! Just meant we've been to Swansea and the Gower etc. lots!

[jellyshoeswithdiamonds]

I would do either North/Mid Wales or West/South not a mixture.

You aren't factoring in the roads and others using them.

We drove to North Wales from South Wales last summer for a 3 day trip, we overtook loads of times due to people just happy to mindlessly trundle along, at that speed everywhere takes ages to get to.

[IHeartKingThistle]

But, but... it's essentially 2 nights in Pembrokeshire + 2 nights in Snowdonia with 1 night to break the journey between each way. We did exactly the same thing in Scotland and had a ball (we had 2 extra days there but that included getting there and back from Surrey!). Maybe I'm being deluded!

I am looking at scaling it back though. Actually having some issues finding campsites that are happy to take motorhomes for single nights.

[BackforGood]

Obviously, if your dc don't mind spending a lot of time on the road, then go for it
I think what most posters are saying is that there are so many lovely places to visit, and things to do, in Wales, that you could easily spend a week in Snowdonia, and also spend a week in Pembrokeshire - maybe moving North a bit.

[Saucery]

Parking is an absolute nightmare in Harlech and I wouldn’t fancy the road in and out in a camper van either. The castle is ok, views from the top the best bit, but nothing much there apart from a walk round the edges and an overpriced cafe.

[IHeartKingThistle]

Yes, there's loads to do, I wish we had 2 weeks! We're all happy to keep moving tbh, works for us.

Thanks @Saucery, will probably cross Harlech off the list then. I only really wanted to go as I'm in a brass band and we play Men of Harlech all the time!

[Funf]

I also agree about top or bottom, all of Wales is too much in one week as you will be driving past loads of good stuff.
If you are near Caernarfon then you have to do Conwy as its a complete medieval town with castle etc, then Llandudno is a short 10 minutes drive away but then Betws y coed is only 20 mins away, see how it goes? I would do another trip up north the following week or another holiday.
This new unfinished website looks like it will have some good places and routes for North Wales.
//www.donthibernate.co.uk

We use this campsite
www.ukcampsite.co.uk/sites/reviews.asp?revid=2604
Its small mainly caravans for the season but has a few spare pitches, they will do one night no problem, really nice people nothing on the site only a excellent toilet block and its behind a well stocked garage with a good shop, the main thing is the hustle and bustle of Towyn or countryside is 5 minutes drive depending which way you drive out of the gate, its silent at night with a nice view, A55 main road is about 10 mins drive away.
We spend a good few days each month in North Wales as its lovely and there is some magical places with either nothing to do or plenty