A 7 to 10 Day Wales Road Trip Itinerary (Tested and Updated for 2026)

I was born in Wales and spent a lot of my childhood there, so I’m not exactly impartial when I say it’s one of the best road trip destinations in the UK. But having driven this exact route over seven days (and variations of it on other trips), I can tell you that a Wales road trip is up there with any driving holiday in Britain.

Wales is a spectacular country with a lot to offer, and its relatively small size means that you can see a lot in a week. In this guide I’m going to share our tested Wales road trip itinerary for 7 to 10 days.

This itinerary includes a little bit of everything Wales has to offer: coastlines, mountain hikes, beaches, castles, museums, Welsh cultural attractions, and more. It’s designed to give you a taste of the best of Wales, from tiny rural villages to the capital city of Cardiff.

If you want more help with the logistics of planning your trip, we also have a detailed Wales planning guide which covers everything from when to visit to what to pack.

Personally, I think Wales has scenery to rival other popular road trips in the UK, like Scotland’s North Coast 500, but I’ll let you decide that for yourself as you read the guide.

By the end of this post, you’ll be ready to set off on your very own Welsh road trip! Let’s start by answering some questions you might have.

How Long to Road Trip in Wales?

Wales is not a huge country, but there is a huge amount to see. We would say that the minimum amount of time for a road trip covering a part of the country would be three to five days. If you don’t have a lot of time we’d suggest focusing either on North Wales or South Wales.

If you want to see more of what is on offer and explore the country from top to bottom, then we’d recommend at least 7 to 10 days.

The itinerary in this guide is for a 7 to 10 day road trip, but of course you can adjust it based on your interests and time. If you have more time, there is always more to see and we’d recommend spending longer in each area of interest.

 

How to Include Wales as Part of a Longer UK Trip?

Many people visit Wales as part of a longer tour of Great Britain that may also include England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and/or Ireland. It’s easy to include Wales as part of a larger trip.

Again, we’d recommend at least 3 days if you want to visit Wales, and if you only have 3 to 5 days we’d stick to focusing on either North Wales or South Wales.

But ideally you’ll have at least 5 to 7 days to devote to Wales if you want to see the highlights covered in this itinerary.

If you are following our 2 week UK itinerary, you can add time in Wales. Around day 3 or 4 of that itinerary, I’d start this Wales itinerary and follow Days 1 through 8 and then head north to Chester and then up towards Manchester.

See our detailed UK itinerary guide for more information on that.

If you are also wanting to visit other parts of the UK or Ireland as part of a tour, you might consider joining up tours such as with local tour company Rabbie’s, where you can take a series of tours exploring different parts of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland.

 

What’s the Best Way to Get Around in Wales?

There are a few different options for getting around in Wales, including local buses and a regional train network. However, as the title of this post suggests, my recommended way to travel around Wales is by car.

There are a great many sights and attractions in Wales that can really only be visited in a vehicle as there’s no public transport to reach them. Think remote castles, far-flung stretches of coastline, and so on.

The road trip we’ve put together is based on you having a car. If you don’t have your own car, we’d highly recommend picking up a car rental, or consider joining a tour.

One thing to be aware of if you’re coming from England: Wales introduced a default 20mph speed limit on residential streets and built-up areas with street lighting in September 2023. This is lower than England’s 30mph default, so keep an eye out. You’ll see “20” signs as you enter these zones, and the word “Araf” (Welsh for “slow”) painted on many roads. Outside of built-up areas, national speed limits apply as normal.

As it’s more cost effective to pick up and drop off a car in the same spot, we’ve chosen Cardiff as the best location to start and end this trip. Cardiff can be easily reached by rail and coach from locations around the UK.

On a recent trip to Wales we rented a car from Enterprise as they had a location near Cardiff’s main train station, which made pick up and drop off easy. However, we’d generally first recommend using a price comparison service like Discover Cars, which compares prices across a number of providers, to see if there’s a better option for your trip.

If you would prefer not to drive, then we would instead suggest looking into taking a tour of Wales. These can be done as private tours or you can join a group tour.

 

Tours of Wales

If you like the idea of visiting Wales but would rather not drive, then your best option is to take a tour. Whilst there is some public transportation, many of the sights and attractions are a little off the beaten track and aren’t well served by public transport.

There are some excellent tours we can recommend. Whilst none of them will exactly mirror our suggested Wales road trip itinerary, a lot of them do include at least some of the main attractions we cover.

You can join a guided tour or if you have a bigger budget or a large group, you might also consider a private tour. The longer Wales tours generally depart from London, Bristol, or Cardiff.

Some we suggest are as follows:

• This 5 day road trip with Rabbies would be our first pick of available tours. We’ve taken a great many tours with Rabbie’s and we love their knowledgeable driver guides and small group sizes. This tour departs from London and covers a lot of the same ground as our route, from Eryri (Snowdonia) down to south west Wales.
• This 8 day tour from Cardiff follows a similar route to our suggested Wales itinerary, and includes time in Cardiff, the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) mountains, Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, Conwy Castle, St. Davids, Tenby, and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.
• This 3 day tour with Rabbies departs from Bristol and focuses on the highlights of south Wales, including Carreg Cennen Castle, Hay on Wye, St. Davids, Tenby and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. If you have more time, you can also do their North Wales tour.
• This 3 day tour with Rabbies departs from Manchester and covers the highlights of North Wales. It includes Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, Conwy Castle, Harlech Castle, the Slate Museum, and Portmeirion.

There are of course more tours to choose from in Wales. See this selection from a range of operators on TourRadar which will let you sort and filter by duration, places visited and price.

 

 

10 Day Wales Road Trip Itinerary

Ok, let’s get on with this road trip around Wales! The reason we say this road trip is 7 to 10 days is because I have added a couple of days in Cardiff at the beginning.

The Welsh capital city has a lot to offer, from excellent museums to castle ruins and sporting attractions.

There’s enough here to fill at least two days. However, if you have less time or would rather just hit the road and not focus on city attractions, you may prefer to skip straight to the road trip section of this itinerary. It’s up to you!

Jess and I did this exact road trip, with two full days in Cardiff and then the rest on the road around Wales. We started and ended in Cardiff. It was a brilliant trip, and one we are delighted to be able to share with you.

Parts of this road trip follow the Wales Way driving tour routes, which are promoted by the Visit Wales tourism board to highlight some of the best scenery and attractions Wales has to offer.

The Wales Way is a family of three named routes covering around 440 miles of Welsh roads. The Cambrian Way runs north to south along the mountainous spine of the country (185 miles). The Coastal Way follows the Cardigan Bay coast from St. David’s up to the Llyn Peninsula (180 miles). And The North Wales Way runs 75 miles along the northern coast through castle country.

You’ll be driving sections of all three using our itinerary, but we’ve adjusted the route to include many of our own favourite sights and attractions that aren’t on the official routes. If you’ve seen people searching for a “Wales 500” or “Wales 300” route, they’re likely referring to these Wales Way routes or combinations of them. There isn’t a single numbered circuit route in Wales like Scotland’s North Coast 500, but the Wales Way routes serve a similar purpose.

Note that this itinerary covers a lot of ground and each day has a number of suggested attractions. Depending on your interests you will want to adjust it to suit what you really want to see and do rather than trying to do absolutely everything.

If you want a slower paced trip, we’d suggest seeing less each day and spending at least 2 nights at each location. You could easily do this full itinerary in 2 weeks and have more time to relax and see things more slowly.

 

Day 1 – Cardiff

Your first day has you starting in Cardiff, the Welsh capital since 1955. Cardiff is easy to get to from locations around the UK and abroad, with rail, road, and air links that will let you get here in the way that best suits your trip.

We’d suggest that for your time in Cardiff you get around either on foot or by public transport. The majority of attractions in the city centre are easy to walk to, or to visit by bus. I’d advise against driving around the city centre as you’ll have to deal with navigation and finding parking.

On your first day in the city, our recommended first stop would be the Museum of Cardiff.

This excellent free museum tells the story of the city over the centuries, from the Neolithic period to the present day. It’s an excellent way to orient yourself to the city and get up to speed with its history. It is one of our favourite museums in Cardiff.

Next, we’d recommend popping across the road to the Cardiff Market. This is a 2 storey Victorian shopping mall, opened in 1891, where you’ll find a variety of shops selling all manner of goods.

There are also food stalls here if you are hungry.

From Cardiff Market, continue north to Cardiff Castle, your next stop for the day.

On this road trip, you are going to see quite a few castles. Wales has a landscape that lends itself to building castles, and a history of princes and wars that required these defensive structures. In fact there are over 400 castles in the country! So you do need to be selective in which castles you choose to visit.

However, we’d argue that you’re not going to see anything quite like Cardiff Castle anywhere else on your Welsh road trip.

Cardiff Castle takes you on a journey of castle building through the ages. There has been some sort of fortified construction here since the Romans built a fort here in the 3rd century. In fact, part of the old Roman wall can still be seen.

However, the large stone keep atop the hill that will catch your eye as you walk in dates from the 12th century.

Around the rest of castle grounds you’ll find a range of buildings from various periods in history, including a 19th century gothic revivalist addition that includes a massive clock tower and gorgeous interiors.

There is a lot to see and do at Cardiff Castle, including various tours and exhibits that range from world war two air raid shelters to a regimental museum. We’d recommend planning on spending at least two or three hours here as there is lots to see.

You can walk through the grounds of Cardiff Castle for free, but to go inside, walk the walls, or visit the exhibits you will need to pay for a ticket. The ticket price is well worth it in our opinion.

Depending on how your day is going you may still have time for another sight. If so, we’d suggest walking over to the National Museum Cardiff. This large free museum (donations welcome) has exhibits of art, natural history and geology, and is a good way to finish off your first day in Wales.

 

 

Day 2 – Cardiff

If you’d prefer to head out of town today you can of course do that, and spend more time on the road. However, assuming you would like to do some more sightseeing in Cardiff we’re going to recommend you head to the Cardiff Bay area of town.

Cardiff is located on the Bristol Channel, although you won’t have seen the water yet as the city centre area is about a mile away. However, you can easily reach this area in a 20 minute walk or a short bus ride.

The Baycar bus (service 6) runs from central Cardiff to the Cardiff Bay area four or five times an hour and the journey is just a few minutes. Alternatively, you might prefer to take the Cardiff hop on hop off bus which will also bring you here as part of its sightseeing route around Cardiff.

At Cardiff Bay there is plenty to see. First, you will likely see the large Wales Millennium Centre. This national arts centre is a venue for the performing arts and is the place to come to see live performances of everything from music to dance. There are also shops, bars, and cafes on site, and it’s worth popping inside to see if there are any temporary exhibits going on when you visit.

From here you can walk across to the Roald Dahl plaza. Named for the famous children’s books author who was born in Cardiff (books include Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and Matilda), this sunken plaza often plays host to various fairs, festivals, and live music performances.

You’ll now be near the waterline. If you head east, you’ll first pass the Pierhead building, a huge red brick building with a clock tower which is hard to miss. This is home to a museum where you can learn about the history of Wales.

Next door to the Pierhead building is the Senedd building, home of the Welsh parliament. This is a striking modern building which you can visit if you are interested in learning about the process of democracy in Wales. There are also often exhibitions of Welsh art and crafts inside, so it’s well worth taking a stop here.

From the Senedd, you can continue along the coastal path to the east on the Cardiff Bay trail walk. There are various highlights along the route, including the Norwegian Church Arts Centre which offers a cafe, lovely views of the Bay, and an art gallery.

It’s up to you if you want to continue at this point. The trail continues for miles along the bay and if it’s a nice day it’s a lovely walk all the way to the Cardiff Bay Barrage. It was the construction of the barrage in the 1990s which created this lovely harbour area.

From here, rather than walk all the way back, you can instead hop on a boat that will take you back to the Quay area. You’ll definitely want to check the operating timetables in advance, which you can do here. You can book tickets online in advance here.

Of course, instead of (or as well as!) walking all the way to the barrage you can explore the area around the Senedd, known as Mermaid’s Quay. Here you’re going to find all manner of shops and restaurants, as well as a boat quay where you can take boat tours of Cardiff Bay.

There are also a couple of other attractions in the area. First is the rather eclectic Ianto’s Shrine. If you are not familiar with the TV show “Torchwood”, which was set in Cardiff, then this will likely be somewhat confusing. The shrine is to Ianto, a character who dies in the show.

It’s actually one of the largest and most well-maintained shrines to a fictional character anywhere in the world, so worth a few moments of your time!

The other attraction in the area is Techniquest, which is a family-friendly science museum. If you are visiting Wales with kids, then this paid attraction will definitely keep them entertained for some time as there are over 100 hands-on exhibits to see, touch, and explore.

That feels like enough for your second day in Cardiff, although there is still plenty to see including more museums and plenty of shops. Cardiff is also home to the Principality Stadium which plays host to major sporting and music events throughout the year.

There are also lots of other venues around the city for live music and entertainment if that is something you are interested in. On a recent visit to Cardiff we enjoyed watching a live performance at Porter’s Cardiff for example.

And of course there are a lot of pubs, clubs, and other nightlife hangouts in Cardiff.

If you’re into historic pubs, some of the oldest in Cardiff are The Rummer Tavern, Cardiff Cottage, The Goat Major, and The Great Western. So you will have no shortage of places to go for a drink or a bite to eat!

Speaking of food, if you want to try some traditional Welsh dishes such as Lamb Cawl or Welsh rarebit, The Welsh House in Cardiff is a favourite of ours. They usually have a number of traditional dishes on the menu, and the prices are also reasonable.

 

Day 3 – Cardiff to Tenby

It’s time to hit the road! If you are picking up a rental car, you’ll want to book this for earlier in the morning as you’re going to have a busy day today.

Your first stop for the day is just outside of Cardiff, the St. Fagan’s National Museum of History. It’s about 20 minutes’ drive from central Cardiff.

This is a brilliant free outdoor museum which features over forty original buildings spread out across 100 acres of parkland. These buildings span a wide time period, and will give you a real insight into how Welsh people have lived, worked, learned, and played over the years.

There are farmhouses, schoolhouses, pubs, and union buildings, the majority of which you can go inside and explore. It’s also a living museum, with live workshops and demonstrations of traditional skills and crafts like ironmongery and farming.

It’s a big site with a lot to see, so we’d recommend planning on spending at least 90 minutes to two hours here. There’s also a cafe on-site which serves good food as well as coffee and other hot drinks. There’s a large car park on site with a modest fee for parking.

From Cardiff you are going to continue to head west to your next stop, Castell Carreg Cennen.

The fastest option to get here will normally be to follow the M4 around Swansea, which is what we would recommend you do. If you’d like to take the scenic route through Swansea, you could detour to the Gower Peninsula, which was the first area in the UK to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Rhossili Bay in particular is regularly voted one of the best beaches in Wales. It does add time to your day though, so bear that in mind.

Castell Carreg Cennen, or Carreg Cennen Castle, is a dramatically positioned crumbling castle which dates from the early 14th century. There’s a bit of an uphill walk to get to the castle, but we’d say the views of the surrounding landscape and the castle itself are well worth the effort.

Quite a bit of the castle survives, including many of the towers, walls and keep. There are information panels on site and there’s an excellent cafe at the bottom of the hill where you park as well. We’d estimate you’ll need around an hour on site.

The Castle does have an entry fee. It is managed by Cadw, a branch of the Welsh Government responsible for preservation of historic sites in Wales.

You’re going to be visiting a lot of Cadw-managed sites on this trip, and they offer two options for saving money on entry.

The first is the Cadw Explorer Pass. This gives you access for 3 or 7 days to all Cadw sites in Wales. There’s a version for two adults that offers particularly good savings.

The second option is the Cadw annual membership, which also gives you free entry to all Cadw locations but costs more due to its longer duration. If you are a student, senior or family, or plan on sightseeing in Wales over a longer period, you might find the annual membership works better for you.

We always get a Cadw pass when we go sightseeing in Wales and we think it pays for itself quickly if you visit the majority of castles and historic sites on this itinerary. We’ll flag which sights are included throughout the rest of this guide.

From Castell Carreg Cennen it’s a 20 minute drive to the next stop for the day, the National Trust Dinefwr site. This is actually two sights, the 17th century Newton House and the 12th century Dinefwr Castle, found around a mile apart.

If the weather is good, we can highly recommend taking some time to explore the grounds here and to walk up to Dinefwr Castle. There are some really lovely walking trails around the grounds, which wend their way through beautiful mature woodlands.

You can also visit Newton House itself of course, which has a separate entry fee (free for National Trust members). There is paid parking on site (also free to National Trust members).

It’s around an hour’s drive to the last stop of the day, the cute seaside town of Tenby. If you want something extra to see on the way, and you really love castles, feel free to detour to Laugharne Castle (included on the Cadw Explorer Pass), although we feel you may have seen enough castles for the day and be ready to relax by this point.

Tenby is a popular and picturesque seaside town with colourful houses forming a line above the large beach and curved harbour. There are lots of places to eat, shop, and stay. If you are not too tired, we’d recommend a stroll to the headland to see the ruins of Tenby Castle and a walk on the beach.

Of course, you can also do these things on the morning of your fourth day as well. And that’s the end of your first day on the road!

 

Day 4 – Tenby to St. David’s

Today you’re going to be exploring the far southwestern corner of Wales, home to the smallest city in the UK and a spectacular coastal National Park.

Let’s get going.

From Tenby, take a 15 minute drive west to Carew Castle & Tidal Mill. As the name suggests, here you’re going to find two attractions in one place.

The first is Carew Castle, a castle which dates from the Norman conquest of Britain in the 11th century. Over the years it has had many updates and improvements, with the final addition being an Elizabethan manor house in the 16th century! That makes this quite the unique location to visit in Wales.

The second attraction on the site is the Carew Tidal Mill, which is the only restored tidal mill in Wales. This dates from the 19th century, and when in operation it used the power of the tide to power the mill wheel. It’s no longer operating but it is open for tours.

As you can see there is plenty to see and do here, so I’d suggest allocating at least 90 minutes to 2 hours for your visit. There is free parking on site and a fee for admission. It’s not part of Cadw or any other membership program that we are aware of.

From Carew Castle you have a few options, all of which involve visiting the Pembrokeshire National Park. This National Park stretches all around the Pembrokeshire coast and offers dramatic clifftop walking, splendid sea vistas, and wildlife spotting opportunities.

One good walk opportunity, around a 25 minute drive from Carew Castle, is the Stack Rock walk (car park here on Google Maps). The car park (free) is just a couple of hundred metres from the cliff top walk, and there are great views of some rock stacks as well as a rock arch here.

This is also a good place to see seals and seal pups in the breeding season (usually August through January).

If you’d like to take a hike here, there’s a lovely walk along the coast to St. Govan’s Chapel. It’s a 6.3 mile walk, and you can see directions here.

Another option if you’d prefer to spend more time on the beach would be to drive further west to Freshwater West beach. This is a popular surfing spot where you’ll find a long stretch of golden sand backed by dunes.

It’s also a Harry Potter filming location – fans of the movies will definitely want to visit the site of Dobby’s Grave. There is a mound of rocks here which fans have written tributes on, which makes for a nice picture. There’s a small car park here as well as parking along the road.

There are of course many other walks that you could do today as you head towards St. David’s, and you can see a full selection here.

My personal favourite, and the one I would recommend, is the Marloes Peninsula walk. This is about an hour’s drive from the Stack Rocks car park, or 25 minutes from Carew Castle, depending on what you choose to visit today.

The Marloes Peninsula walk is a 4.4 mile (7.1km) loop walk which loops around the gorgeous Marloes peninsula. The walk is largely flat with just a few gradients to tackle. There’s a car park at Marloes Sands (paid).

This walk was my favourite of all the walks we did in this area because it offered such spectacular views, as well as some excellent wildlife spotting opportunities. We saw countless seals and seal pups as well as a great many sea birds.

There were also gorgeous coastal views and even an iron age hill fort. It took us around 3 hours in total with lots of photo stops and was well worth the effort.

From Marloes, another hour’s drive will bring you to the tiny city of St. David’s where you’ll spend the night. Definitely spend some time exploring the town, either this evening or on the morning of Day 5.

You’ll find a lovely old cathedral, as well as various galleries and shops. The city is tiny, and it doesn’t take long to walk around and explore.

If you still want to explore, then we’d suggest walking the 20 minutes or so out of town to St. Non’s Chapel and Well, reputed to be the birthplace of Wales’s patron saint, Saint David, for whom the city is named.

Another nearby attraction is the beach at Whitesands, which makes for a good place to watch the sunset.

For food, there are plenty of good dining options in town, from restaurants to pubs. We’ve had a great pub meal at The Bishops, but the Farmer’s Arms is also a popular option for pub food.

We’d recommend asking your local accommodation provider for tips as they’ll know the best local options open during your visit.

 

 

Day 5 – St. David’s to Aberystwyth

Today you’re going to drive up the sweeping curve of Wales’s west coast. There’s plenty to see along the way, including ancient burial chambers, iron age villages, ruined castles, a wildlife centre, beautiful beaches, and more.

We’d suggest picking some sights that sound the most interesting to you from our suggestions as there is definitely more to see than you can do in a day! Or consider doing this over 2 days if you want to do and see everything. If you opt to do that, we’d suggest overnighting around Cardigan.

After finishing up any sightseeing or souvenir shopping in St. David’s, follow the A487 for about 45 minutes, just past Fishguard. The first stop for the day is the Pentre Ifan burial chamber.

This 5,000 year old tomb has a 16.5ft capstone carefully balanced atop three uprights. It’s a couple of minutes walk from the free parking place on the road and entry is free. Just be aware that the parking spot is quite small and the road here is quite narrow.

From Pentre Ifan, return to the main road. If you are interested in learning about life in the Iron Age, then definitely consider a visit to Castell Henllys Iron Age Village.

This attraction features a series of Iron Age roundhouses, constructed where they originally stood 2,000 years ago. On site you will find a number of costumed interpreters who will share details of how people lived here during the Iron Age.

Now, continue on towards Cardigan. There are a few sights you might consider stopping at, depending on your interests.

Nature lovers will likely want to visit the Welsh Wildlife Centre, where there’s an interpretive centre, various trails, and bird watching hides. It’s free to visit but there’s a small fee for parking. A good location for birdwatching on the Teifi Marshes.

A five minute drive from the Welsh Wildlife Centre is Castell Cilgerran. This Norman age castle originally dates from 1108, although the structure today largely dates from the 13th century. It occupies a commanding location above the gorge of the River Teifi and is well worth a visit.

Free for Cadw and National Trust pass holders, small fee otherwise. There’s no parking on site, follow signs to the car park. We parked in Cilgerran Lower car park from where there’s a lovely walk along the river and up the hill to the castle.

We’d also recommend stopping in Cardigan itself. The community-run Cardigan Castle here is well worth a visit for a small fee.

You can actually stay overnight here, which we have done, and it has a good cafe on site as well. If you have more time, or simply want to adjust your schedule, it makes for a good overnight stay option.

From Cardigan, continue along the A487. If you would like to take a stroll today, we’d suggest heading up to Mwnt. There’s a small car park at Mwnt head beach (fee) and you can visit pretty Holy Cross Church. There’s also a short trail up the hill here which offers nice views of the coast.

Other nice spots along the coast to stop as you continue north include Penbryn Beach and the pretty seaside fishing village of New Quay.

New Quay is a good location for taking seal-watching boat trips, as well as to pick up a hot plate of fish and chips.

Just beyond New Quay you will find the National Trust property of Llanerchaeron. This is a lovely Georgian villa which also offers walking trails, a walled garden, and a farmyard home to various Welsh breeds of farm animals. There’s a fee to visit, and it’s free for National Trust members.

Finally, continue on up the coast to Aberystwyth, where you will spend the night. This is a mid-size coastal town which is known for its university. There are also a number of excellent attractions in the town itself which you can either visit today or on the morning of Day 6, depending on how your time is going.

We’d definitely recommend visiting the Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum. This is located in a preserved Edwardian era theatre, which makes for quite a unique museum location!

The museum has displays on all sorts of things, covering local life, art, geography, and culture across the ages. It’s also free (donations recommended).

We can also recommend the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway at the north end of the promenade. This steep funicular railway has been ferrying people up and down to the clifftop viewpoint since 1896.

There’s a fee to use it, we’d suggest taking the railway up and then walking down for lovely views of the bay and town below.

A stroll around the very ruined Aberystwyth Castle in the middle of town is also well worth a few minutes of your time. It’s free to visit.

 

Day 6 – Aberystwyth to Porthmadog

Today you’re going to continue travelling up the Welsh coastline, and you’re going to have options for things to do which will depend on whether you want to do a mountain hike or not. Or if you’d prefer wildlife watching and coastal towns instead.

You can start the day by finishing any exploration that you didn’t get round to in Aberystwyth. On your way out of town we can highly recommend dropping in at the National Library of Wales.

This huge building has some excellent exhibits including an interactive archive of TV and audio footage, displays of rare books, and more. Free to visit with parking on site.

Now, you need to decide between coastal exploration and wildlife viewing, or a hike up a mountain.

If you want to hike up a mountain today, our recommendation is to drive an hour or so north to the Dol Idris car park next to Minffordd. From here there is a spectacular walk up Cadair Idris.

This is one of my favourite hikes in Wales, with views from the top across the whole of the Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, including the coastline, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) itself, the Mawddach Valley and more.

I would say that this is a fairly demanding hike, especially if tackled from the Minffordd side as I recommend. However, it is really worth it if you have the time and physical capacity to do so.

It’s possible to do this largely as a loop walk, ascending up one side of the lake and then back down the other. The trails are well marked but we would recommend bringing a map and dressing appropriately for mountain hiking conditions. You’ll also want to be aware of the weather and forecast as you’ll want to skip this in bad weather conditions.

You can see an overview of the Minffordd trail here. It is about 9km (5.59 miles) long. Expect the total hike to take 4 to 6 hours, depending on your fitness level and how often you stop.

Of course there are loads of other hikes in this area that you could do instead. If you are looking for a much easier and shorter hike here, consider the Dol Idris path which is an all-abilities path that is about a 1.25 km (0.77 miles) long and is paved so that it can be accessed by wheelchair users and those with pushchairs.

If you would rather not tackle a big hike today (there will be more opportunities later on in the itinerary!), then there are a lot of options to consider as you head up to Porthmadog.

We’d suggest picking those options which appeal most to you as you won’t be able to fit everything in.

First, head up the coast to the coastal town of Borth, where there’s a long promenade you can walk along. If you are lucky, you might be in town on one of the days the Borth Station Museum is open.

This is a lovely tiny museum dedicated to the history of the railway, recreating the station as it was in the early 1900s. It’s free to visit.

From Borth, drive a couple of miles further up the B4353 along the coast, and take the turning for Ynyslas Visitor Centre, which is part of the Dyfi National Nature Reserve.

Here there are some lovely walks through the dunes, which are some of the largest in the area.

There’s also a nice visitor centre here where you can learn about what you are likely to see, as well as a shop and cafe selling snacks and drinks. Expect to spend around an hour here if you do the circular dune walk.

From Ynyslas head back to the A487 and continue north. We’d suggest a quick stop at the Dyfi Furnace (here on Google Maps), an old charcoal fired blast furnace which dates from 1755.

It’s free to visit and there are a number of information panels to explain what you are seeing. It’s only a ten minute stop but well worth it. There’s also a nice waterfall here.

The keen birdwatchers amongst you will also want to make a stop at nearby RSPB Ynys-hir. This reserve has a wide range of habitats, from woodland to saltmarsh to grassland.

That means there’s a hugely diverse range of wildlife that calls the reserve home. There’s a small fee to visit, with entry free for RSPB members.

Another wildlife centre you may consider visiting is Cors Dyfi, just a little further along the road. This is a nature reserve and wildlife centre which is also home to the Dyfi Osprey Project. There’s a small fee to visit.

Continuing up the A487 you will come to the town of Machynlleth. There are a number of cafes and restaurants here as well as a pretty town clock and town centre. There’s also a free museum of modern art here.

North of Machynlleth are two popular attractions. The first is the Centre for Alternative Technology, where you can learn all about alternative energy options, sustainability, and more.

Another popular option, especially with families, is King Arthur’s Labyrinth. Found in a former slate mine, this is a guided story telling tour which takes you through the tale of King Arthur. It’s a lot of fun but be sure to dress warmly as the mine is a chilly place! There’s also a really nice art and craft centre on site here, as well as a cafe with good local foods.

Continuing on to Porthmadog you will pass through the town of Dolgellau, where we recommend driving the coastal route down the Mawddach estuary to the seaside town of Barmouth.

This has a lovely sandy beach and is a great spot to stop for an ice cream or fish and chips.

Continue up the coast and you’ll come to the town of Harlech. This is home to the impressive Castell Harlech, a mighty 13th century fortress built by Edward I during his invasion of Wales.

This castle, along with Beaumaris, Conwy and Caernarfon castles, is rated by UNESCO to be one of the finest examples of late 13th century military architecture in Europe. So we can highly recommend a visit to this, or one (or all!) of the other three. There’s a fee to visit, and it’s included on the Cadw Explorer Pass.

From Harlech it’s a short drive to your destination for the night, the town of Porthmadog.

 

Day 7 – Porthmadog to Caernarfon

My main recommendation today is to take one of the scenic narrow gauge rail journeys that depart from Porthmadog. These offer spectacular views of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, and you can just relax and let the scenery roll on by.

There are two railway routes to choose from, both of which operate from Porthmadog. There’s the Ffestiniog Railway, a 13.5 mile long route which runs from Porthmadog to the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. This is the oldest surviving railway company in the world.

Then there’s the Welsh Highland Railway. This is actually operated by the Ffestiniog Railway Company, so the experience is very similar. The main difference is the route.

This 25 mile stretch of track goes from Porthmadog all the way to Caernarfon, and you can also do a trip to and from the pretty village of Beddgelert on this train.

There’s no “best” option, both trains offer great views and sightseeing opportunities. We enjoyed taking the half-day trip on the Welsh Highland Railway to Beddgelert and back again, however the trip to Blaenau Ffestiniog is also well worth it.

Whichever journey you choose, we recommend booking in advance on the official website here, as the route is very popular and can sell out.

Another popular attraction near Porthmadog that you may consider is Portmeirion Village. This is a purpose-built tourist village, constructed between 1925 and 1975 to emulate a Mediterranean seaside town, and particularly the town of Portofino in Italy.

It is an unusual attraction, as you wander past colourful houses with ornate designs. If not for the Welsh mountains in the background and the higher probability of rain, you might even think you have left Wales entirely.

Whilst this is a popular attraction, I will admit that Jess and I didn’t entirely fall for it. It was a fairly pricey place to visit, and other than looking at the buildings, enjoying the views, and dropping into the shops, there wasn’t a huge amount to do.

Of course, everyone will have a different experience, so it’s up to you. Now there are about 20 miles of paths you can walk which are nice, but some of these were closed when we visited and it rained much of our visit. So I think the weather really put a damper on our visit.

I think the experience at Portmeirion Village is best on a nice sunny day and if you spend the night. There are several types of accommodation here and nearby if you decide to stay the night.

Depending on what you have chosen to do today, you may or may not have more time to spare. If you are looking for more to do, then I’d suggest taking a road trip around the Llyn Peninsula.

This offers gorgeous coastline views, cute seaside villages, and more castles to explore. For instance, you can go get ice cream at Cadwaladers in Criccieth, visit Castell Cricieth (included on the Cadw Explorer Pass), and do some coastal walks at Aberdaron. There’s also a lovely free art gallery with cafe in Llanbedrog.

Finally, head to Caernarfon where you will overnight. The main attraction here is Castell Caernarfon, which you should definitely visit if you have time and still have an appetite for Welsh castles!

This is a quite spectacular late 13th century castle and one of the finest examples of medieval military architecture in Europe. Free to Cadw Explorer Pass holders and annual members, otherwise there’s an entry fee.

Depending on your schedule you may have to do this on the following day.

 

 

Day 8 – Caernarfon to Conwy

For your eighth day you again have lots of options, as the northern part of Wales has a huge amount to offer.

One very popular option is of course to tackle the highest mountain in Wales, Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon). You have a couple of options for going to the summit.

First, and most obviously perhaps, you can walk. There are no less than six routes to choose from, and you can see them all outlined here. The Llanberis path tends to be the most popular as it’s regarded as the easiest, although this is still a strenuous hike.

My personal favourite routes are the quieter Snowdon Ranger or Rhyd Ddu paths. I’ve done these paths and only passed a few other walkers, even when the summit is busy.

Whichever route you choose, you will want to allow between 5 to 8 hours for the hike, depending on the route and your fitness level. So you’ll want to basically plan your full day around your hike as you won’t have too much time to fit much else in and will likely be exhausted after.

Note that the car parks in the area are all pay and display, and some require advance bookings. Be sure to check ahead.

So do be sure to plan ahead if you are considering a hike up Yr Wyddfa as you’ll need to pack accordingly for a mountain hike, know which route you want to do, and plan ahead for parking. You also want to start early to ensure you get a parking spot and are back before sundown.

Finally, be sure to check the local weather forecast from the Met Office before your hike as weather conditions can make these paths very dangerous. You’ll want to avoid this hike in bad weather.

The other way to get to the top of Yr Wyddfa is to take the train. Yes, there’s a train that will take you to the top of the mountain.

The Snowdon Mountain Railway has been whisking people to the summit since 1896, and it’s a wonderful way to reach the top, with epic views all the way up.

This is a paid service, and you can choose to go one way or return. If you want to do this we strongly recommend booking tickets in advance as it’s a very popular service. You can do that on the Snowdon Mountain Railway website.

For this one you can park either at the Snowdon Mountain Railway station on Victoria Terrace (postcode LL55 4TU). If this is full, there are a number of car parks a short walk away in Llanberis.

Compared to a hike which typically takes between 6 and 8 hours, a round trip train ride is around 2.5 hours, which includes 30 minutes at the top. So that’s a good option if you want to fit more in today.

Speaking of which, there is plenty more to see and do in the area, whether or not you choose to ascend Yr Wyddfa.

If you’re looking for something more adrenaline-fuelled, the Eryri area is also home to Zip World, which operates several adventure attractions including the fastest zip line in the world, an underground trampoline park in a former slate cavern, and an underground adventure course. These are popular with families and thrill-seekers alike.

In Llanberis we can also highly recommend visiting the excellent and free National Slate Museum. This tells the story of slate mining in Wales, which has shaped the landscape and the lifestyle of the people here for hundreds of years.

Found in a former slate quarry, you’ll find exhibits covering all aspects of slate mining as well as live demonstrations of various slate mining processes.

We can also highly recommend heading across the bridge over the Menai Straits to the island of Anglesey. There are two popular attractions here that we recommend. The first is the village of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, which is home to the longest railway station sign in the world.

The sign, which reads Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, means “The Church of St Mary in a hollow of white hazel, near to a rapid whirlpool, and to St Tysilio’s Church near to a red cave”.

The sign name was entirely invented to attract tourists in the 1860s, and has been a popular visitor attraction ever since. So clearly that was a successful plan!

It’s free to visit, and there’s an excellent and huge souvenir store here where you can buy all manner of things.

The other attraction we recommend visiting on Anglesey is the spectacular 13th century Beaumaris Castle.

This wonderfully symmetrical castle is surrounded on most sides by a water filled moat. Interestingly, the castle was never actually completed, but there is still plenty to see and do. Free for Cadw Explorer Pass holders and annual members, otherwise there’s a fee.

Finally, if you would like to do a walk but would prefer something a little shorter and flatter than the Yr Wyddfa ascent, then we would recommend the hike to Aber Falls. This is approximately a four mile round trip hike on fairly level terrain that takes most people 90 minutes to 2 hours.

Your reward for the effort is a 120 foot high waterfall. There’s paid parking at the walk start point.

Another good waterfall which is just off the road and requires only a very brief walk is Swallow Falls, as seen in the photo below. So it’s up to you what you choose to do.

You’re going to finish your day with an overnight in the seaside town of Conwy. This is also home to a castle worth visiting, although we’d suggest shortlisting a few castles from this itinerary so you don’t get castled out!

Castell Conwy is free for Cadw Explorer Pass holders and annual members, with a fee for visiting otherwise. It’s right in the middle of Conwy and there’s no on-site parking, but you can easily walk here from most of the town car parks.

This is another of Edward I’s constructions, dating from the 13th century. If you visit, we highly recommend climbing to the top of the tower staircases for the best views.

Finally, overnight in Conwy. Again, you might need to move some sightseeing to Day 9 depending on your schedule.

 

Day 9 – Conwy to Hay-on-Wye

Today it’s time to start heading back down south to complete our loop of Wales, heading back to Cardiff via Hay-on-Wye.

Before you set off, make sure you visit any attractions you haven’t yet seen in Conwy and surrounds. National Trust members will likely want to check out Penrhyn Castle and Garden for example.

You have two route options today. Both have you spend the night in Hay-on-Wye, and both are good. I’d check out the highlights along each to see which sounds better to you.

Option 1: The Northern Coastline

This is the quicker option (about 3 hours driving without stops). Head east along the north coast, stopping at Castell Rhuddlan, another of Edward I’s castles dating from 1277.

From there it’s a short drive to Rhaeadr Dyserth Waterfall, where a minute’s walk from the car park will reward you with a pretty view of a lovely little waterfall.

Another worthwhile stop along the northern coastline is St Winefride’s Well & Shrine, a pilgrimage site that has been welcoming visitors for over 1,300 years. It’s also unique in that it’s the only pilgrimage site in the UK that continued operating through the Reformation.

The well itself is found at the location where St. Winefride was said to have been decapitated and then brought back to life. There is a pool here which is open at specific times of the day for people to bathe in. There’s a small museum on site as well. A small fee applies for visiting.

The last attraction on this route before you turn south is the ruinous Flint Castle, the closest castle to the English border and the first to be built during Edward I’s campaign. Free to visit.

From Flint, head south through Wrexham, Oswestry and Newtown to Hay-on-Wye. Note that parts of this route briefly cross into England.

Option 2: The Inland Route

This takes about 3.5 hours driving without stops and keeps you entirely in Wales. Head south from Conwy to Dolgellau, then out to Minllyn on the A470.

At Minllyn, take a break at Meirion Mill, a wool crafting mill where you can browse all manner of original products that would make for an excellent souvenir or gift. There’s free parking and a cafe on site.

We’d also recommend taking a one-minute walk to the entrance of the car park where you can see the remains of the beautiful old stone bridge, Pont Minllyn.

Continue south towards Llanidloes. A brief detour will take you to the Bryn Tail Leadworks (here on Google Maps). Here you can see the remains of this former lead mining community. There are also walking trails in the area. Free parking and just a couple of minutes’ walk from the car park to the site. Free to visit.

Another good stop is the Elan Valley. This seventy square mile area covers a range of hills, valleys and man-made reservoirs which form five lakes. These lakes provide drinking water for the city of Birmingham.

There’s a visitor centre where you can learn about the area. The most popular activity is cycling around the reservoirs on the Elan Valley Trail. Bikes are available for hire at the visitor centre. You can also walk or drive to a number of viewpoints. The visitor centre is free but there’s a charge for parking.

Both routes end in Hay-on-Wye, a beautiful town right on the border of England and Wales. The town is famous for its bookshops.

There are over twenty bookshops covering pretty much every genre and style of literature, and both new and used books are available.

We highly recommend taking some time to wander the town and visit some of these bookshops before finding a nice spot for dinner and turning in for the night.

 

 

Day 10 – Hay-on-Wye to Cardiff

We have reached the final day of your Welsh road trip! Today you’re heading back to Cardiff where you can drop off your rental car (if needed) and then travel onwards.

How your day today looks will of course depend on your schedule. If you have an early train or flight, then you will want to head straight back to Cardiff, which is around a 90 minute drive away.

However, if you have time to spare then there are some good options for stops along the way.

First, head directly south along tiny country lanes from Hay on Wye to Llanthony Priory. This spectacular Grade I listed 900 year old ruin was once one of the greatest medieval buildings in Wales, and it flourished until Henry VIII put an end to the monasteries. Today the site is free to visit.

Your route south from Llanthony takes you through the eastern edge of the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, and if you have time it’s well worth a stop here. This is Wales’s second national park, covering 520 square miles of mountains, moorland and waterfalls. The scenery along the A470 through the park is gorgeous, and if you want to stretch your legs you could take the well-signposted walk to the summit of Pen y Fan, the highest peak in southern Britain at 886 metres. It’s a challenging but rewarding hike with superb views from the top. Even if you don’t fancy the hike, pulling over at one of the lay-bys along the road for the views is worth a few minutes.

Continuing on to Cardiff, you may opt to visit the former coal mining village of Aberfan. This was the site of the tragic Aberfan disaster in 1966, when a spoil tip collapsed into the village, killing 116 children and 28 adults. There is a moving memorial you can visit if you wish to pay your respects.

Finally, if you would like to see another castle, we can highly recommend dropping by Caerphilly Castle as you return to Cardiff. This 13th century medieval fortress was the largest in Wales, and in fact is the second largest in the UK, second only to Windsor Castle.

Covering 30 acres, the site features huge defensive walls, towers, gatehouses and a range of water defences. It is a site to behold, and an excellent way to finish off your Welsh road trip. There’s a fee to visit, and it’s free for Cadw Explorer Pass holders and annual members.

Now, on to Cardiff where this road trip wraps up! If you have more time in Cardiff, you can go and visit any of the attractions you didn’t have time to visit at the beginning of your trip.

 

Map of Wales Road Trip Itinerary

Here’s a map of the route to help you visualise where you’ll be going. You can see a full version of this map on Google Maps here, which includes all the highlights as well as accommodation listings.

 

Wales Road Trip Itinerary Overview

Here’s an overview of the itinerary for reference.

• Day 1: Cardiff
• Day 2: Cardiff
• Day 3: Cardiff to Tenby
• Day 4: Tenby to St. David’s
• Day 5: St. David’s to Aberystwyth
• Day 6: Aberystwyth to Porthmadog
• Day 7: Porthmadog to Caernarfon
• Day 8: Caernarfon to Conwy
• Day 9: Conwy to Hay-on-Wye
• Day 10: Hay on Wye to Cardiff

 

Frequently Asked Questions About a Wales Road Trip

How long does it take to drive around Wales?

You can drive from Cardiff in the south to Conwy in the north in about 4 hours on the main roads, but that’s just covering distance, not sightseeing. To actually see and experience the country on a road trip, we’d recommend at least 7 days. We drove our full loop in 7 days (plus 2 days in Cardiff) and it covered around 600 miles of driving in total. If you have less time, focus on either North Wales or South Wales rather than trying to do both.

Is Wales worth visiting for a week?

A week gives you enough time to see a good cross-section of what Wales has to offer, from the castles and coastline of the south to the mountains of Eryri (Snowdonia) in the north. We did this exact itinerary in a week and came away feeling like we’d had a proper taste of the country. That said, there’s easily enough here to fill two weeks or more if you want a slower pace.

What is the Wales Way driving route?

The Wales Way is a family of three named touring routes promoted by Visit Wales. The Cambrian Way runs 185 miles north to south along the mountainous spine of the country. The Coastal Way follows 180 miles of Cardigan Bay coastline. And The North Wales Way runs 75 miles along the northern coast through castle country. Together they cover around 440 miles. There isn’t a single numbered circuit route in Wales like Scotland’s North Coast 500, but these three routes serve a similar purpose. You can drive sections of all three, which is what our itinerary does.

Do I need a car to visit Wales?

We’d strongly recommend having a car for this itinerary. Many of the best sights in Wales, from remote castles to coastal walks, aren’t well served by public transport. You can visit some parts of Wales by train and bus (Cardiff, the north coast towns, and the main Conwy to Bangor corridor are all on rail lines), but you’ll miss a lot without a car. If you’d rather not drive, joining a guided tour is a good alternative. We suggest some tour options earlier in this guide.

What is the best time of year to visit Wales?

For the best weather and longest days, late May through mid-September is ideal. June and September tend to be a good balance between decent weather and fewer crowds. School holidays (mid-July through August, Easter, and half-terms in February, May and October) are the busiest periods. Rain is possible at any time of year, so always pack waterproof layers regardless of when you visit. For a full breakdown, see our Wales planning guide.

How much does a week’s road trip in Wales cost?

This varies a lot depending on your accommodation choices and time of year. Car rental from Cardiff starts from around £30 to £50 per day depending on season. Fuel for the full route is roughly £80 to £120 depending on your car. B&B accommodation typically ranges from £70 to £150 per night for a double room. Many of the best attractions (St. Fagans, the National Slate Museum, the National Library, Aberystwyth Castle) are free. For paid sites, we’d recommend a Cadw Explorer Pass which covers most of the castles and historic sites on this route.

Is it safe to hike Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)?

Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) is a popular hike that thousands of people do safely every year, but it is a proper mountain and needs to be treated with respect. Weather conditions can change fast and poor visibility, high winds, or ice can make the paths dangerous. Always check the Met Office forecast before you go, carry appropriate clothing and equipment, let someone know your route, and don’t attempt the hike in bad weather. If you’d rather not walk, the Snowdon Mountain Railway will take you to the summit.

 

Further Reading

And that’s it for our detailed Wales road trip itinerary! We hope you found this guide useful. We also wanted to share some more resources we think might help you with planning this and future trips in the UK.

• For help with the logistics of your Wales trip, see our detailed Wales planning guide
• If you’re looking for more road trip inspiration in the UK, check out our North Coast 500 planning guide and North Coast 500 seven day itinerary
• If you’re heading to Scotland, check out our 2 day Edinburgh itinerary, our Glasgow and Loch Lomond itinerary, our guide to the best day trips from Glasgow, our guide to things to do in Edinburgh, our itinerary for Skye and the Highlands, our guide to the best day trips from Aberdeen, and our guide to the best day trips from Edinburgh to get you started.
• We have a two week UK road trip itinerary and a one week UK road trip itinerary
• We also have a one week Cornwall itinerary
• If you’re not familiar with driving in the UK, see my guide to driving in the UK for helpful tips.
• We have guides to many cities in the UK you can check out! See our guides to things to do in Manchester, things to do in Stratford upon Avon, things to do in Bristol, things to do in Portsmouth, tips on a weekend in York, tips on Visiting Oxford on a Day Trip, and things to do in Cambridge to get started
• If you’re looking for a guidebook for your trip, check out the Rough Guide to Wales

And that’s it! Have you ever visited Wales? Do you have anything you’d add to the above? Just let us know in the comments below, and safe travels!