6 recommended days out in South Wales

The south of Wales is a beautiful slice of the country with mountain ranges, thick green forest and sandy beaches to explore. As a relatively large area of countryside, we’ve picked out 6 recommended days out in South Wales to help you find the best attractions.

Caerphilly Castle

Caerphilly is an outstanding area of beauty surrounded by mountains with the magnificent Caerphilly Castle as its centre piece. The fortification is a stunning feat of medieval engineering and has one of the most elaborate water defences in Britain. The castle is huge, in fact only Windsor castle is bigger. The southeast tower has sunken, but this has just given the castle another claim to fame as the tower leans at a greater angle than the Tower of Pisa. The town of Caerphilly is a foodie’s paradise and at the end of July the town celebrates its world famous annual cheese festival.

Brecon Beacons National Park

The national park is home to South Wales’ tallest mountain Pen y Fan which peaks at 886 metres. Brecon Beacons is best known for the great hiking trails, climbing spots and collection of adventure sports opportunities. Other interesting locations include the National Showcaves Centre with life-sized dinosaurs, Iron Age village and illuminated caves. On the parks outskirts is the Big Pit, a National Coal Museum dedicated to enlightening visitors about the area’s mining history.

Barry Island

The main focal point of Barry Island is Whitmore Bay, which has all the usual seaside attractions including a sandy beach, promenade, gift shops, ice cream kiosks, cafes, bars and two nearby parks. There is also Pleasure Park which has over 50 rides and is open every day during the summer. A quieter alternative is Barry Island Railway Heritage Centre, which specialises in restored locomotives and steam age memorabilia. Best yet, Gavin and Stacey fans can tour TV locations in the same bus driven by Dave’s Coaches on the show!

Tintern Abbey

Nestled near the English border looming over the banks of the River Wye, Tintern Abbey has been the inspiration of poems by William Wordsworth, Lord Tennyson and Allen Ginsburg, as well as several Turner paintings. In addition to being a hauntingly beautiful example of a Cistercian chapel, Tintern Abbey is believed to be haunted. According to folklore, a knight in chainmail named Strongbow is supposed to have appeared out of thin air to throw drunken revellers out of the grounds. Another legend states that the Devil used to preach from a rocky outcrop overlooking the Abbey to trick the monks into abandoning Christianity. The spot is now called the Devil’s Pulpit and the trail up to it offers the best views over the valley and Abbey.

Swansea

There is plenty to see and do this waterfront city. The National Waterfront Museum covers a 300 year period of Welsh industrial history and is packed full of awesome technology and interactive displays that mirror the innovation of the city. The displays look at both the machine side of the industrial revolution as well as the impact it had on people, communities and daily life. After half a day inside, head to the Gower Peninsula for some fresh sea air. The peninsula is an outstanding natural area of beauty and there are numerous beaches and walks to check out.

Cardiff

There is so much to do in the Welsh capital that it’s hard to narrow it down to just one day trip. If you are a museum fan, you won’t be disappointed by the National Museum Cardiff. With a great collection of art, archaeology, natural history and geology exhibits, there is something to fascinate everyone. Sports fans will also feel right at home in Cardiff! The Millenium Stadium has hosted quality international sporting events since 1999, welcoming approximately 1.3 million spectators each year. Sporting the first fully-retractable roof, the venue is a landmark achievement in modern British engineering. Book a tour (£9.50 for adults, £6 for kids, £28 for a family ticket) to check out the locker rooms and players tunnel. Adrenaline junkies should go to Cardiff International White Water which offers white water and flat water fun, surfing and gorge walking at Olympic stand facilities!

All of these attractions are conveniently located close to a number of camp and caravan sites and are easily accessible via car or public transport. There is fun to be had by everyone at these attractions, so be sure to check out our recommendations for a perfect for a great day out in South Wales.