How busy is Wales in June half term?

[Remaker]

DH and I are spending a few weeks in the UK next year with another couple who are close friends. We live in Australia and due to family celebrations and a sporting event we have tickets to, it wasn’t possible to avoid all UK and Australian school holidays. So we will be travelling up the Welsh coast during half term in June.

We have accommodation arranged for the weekends however my friend is keen on keeping the itinerary flexible during weekdays and just arriving somewhere, liking it and staying the night in a pub. I was already dubious about the idea and then a friend who is letting us stay in their beach house on one of the weekends warned me the local restaurants would be booked out 2 months in advance!

Is it madness to consider this? Will everything need to be booked in advance?

I think it depends where you are going. I live in West Wales and would be fairly confident of getting a reservation at any local restaurant at most times of the year.

Perhaps places like Tenby down South may be booked up - I'm not sure. Cardiff, I don't think you'd have problems.

North Wales is a whole different kettle of fish IME. Despite tourism being a major industry, I've found it really badly prepared whenever I've been.

Whereabouts, OP?

That’s the problem with the ‘fluid’ itinerary haha. But we’ll be in Brecon one weekend and Abersoch the next weekend. Thinking we will go via the coast but that’s not essential. Happy to receive suggestions!

I wouldn’t expect to be able to rock up and find somewhere to stay anytime during England/Wales half term. So many more people staying in the UK for holidays now, especially since the weather is usually glorious that week.

Abersoch is a really popular holiday destination - have you got that booked?

Black mountains / Brecon area wasn’t heaving in August - at least as campers we found somewhere reasonable and quiet

wales is quite big and some places will be very busy - the coast especially I would think

For me part of the enjoyment of a trip is the planning so I would do this beforehand - even if its wasn't half term.

Not all pubs have accommodation, in fact its more common that they don't, and those that will will probably already be booked.

Its the same with everywhere; places worth staying will be booked in advance and you'll end up with what people wouldn't necessarily want or choose - accommodation and location.

As for eating out - i can imagine the odd place being booked out for months in advance but these are rare.

I grew up in Pembrokeshire by the coast and now visit for holidays. I'd say you have no chance of accommodation by the coast that way. Restaurants depends a bit depends on exactly where.

Yes the whole of Wales will be busy. If it gets too full they may even close the gates.

The english are coming! Raise the drawbridge over the Severn crossing!

tbh some of the people who made big 'wales is closed' signs during covid probably would if they could.

Wales is 12.5 times larger than London - so it's an impossible question to answer with any degree of accuracy @Remaker!

Brecon to Abersoch is one hell of a drive.

Yes Abersoch is booked

4 hours according to Google? Regardless we are spending 4-5 days getting there.

Abersoch in May / June half term will be busy. Half of Cheshire have holiday homes and caravans there. It's not INSANELY busy on the beaches, but restaurants etc will be busy and yes, I would avoid.
When in June? Manchester and Cheshire are last week of May. Stockport actually gets two weeks in May and so a lot of people go abroad in that second week (solid June) because it's cheaper. Have a look at the Council websites for precise details.
It's mainly Abersoch / Anglesey which gets busy TBH.

I have travelled in Wales and just found somewhere to stay multiple times. However, I'm talking 25 plus years ago. I wouldn't do it now.

What do you mean by travelling up the coast? The Cambrian Coast is much better travelled by train - the views are amazing.

Posted before I'd finished!
Aberystwyth, Machynlleth, Aberdyfi, Mawddach estuary, Dolgellau. Harlech, Criccieth are all lovely placed to visit en route. The distances aren't that great, so I'd just book places to stay. You won't be too far away if you're travelling each day.

That will be a beautiful drive, very scenic, lots of opportunities for fabulous overnight stays. Enjoy!!

I'm in Machynlleth, so roughly half way along your route. You'd have practically no chance of finding somewhere, unless you book in advance. School holidays are always busy here.