# Things to do or see in Wales **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 7, 2011, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174 "2011-07-07T12:22:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/1 "2011-07-07T12:22:26Z")
So, in a couple of months the newly-minted missus and I will be honeymooning in Wales. We’re going to spend a couple weeks photographing castles and sheep and coastlines. What are some things we absolutely should \*not \*miss? We’re both able-bodied and outdoorsy. We’ll have a rental car, and we have 6 different spots we’re spending nights, so we should be able to see all parts of the country. ---
**Author:** ![Morgyn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morgyn/32/3041_2.png) [@Morgyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgyn)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/2 "2011-07-07T12:58:19Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > So, in a couple of months the newly-minted missus and I will be honeymooning in Wales. We’re going to spend a couple weeks photographing castles and sheep and coastlines. > > What are some things we absolutely should \*not \*miss? > > We’re both able-bodied and outdoorsy. We’ll have a rental car, and we have 6 different spots we’re spending nights, so we should be able to see all parts of the country. I’d suggest [Bodnant Garden](http://www.bodnantgarden.co.uk/flower.html), to begin with, although you’ll be much too late to see the Laburnum Arch in flower. The nearby city of [Conwy](http://www.conwy.com/)has some marvelous things to see, including the [castle](http://www.castlewales.com/conwy.html), a nearly fully restored early Elizabethan home ([Plas Mar](http://www.conwy.com/plasmawr.html)), and the [Smallest House in Great Britain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smallest_House_in_Great_Britain) (Really. Some dude traveled the entire country measuring homes to determine this, because he wanted to save at least one of the houses.). IIRC, Conwy itself is billed as the only walled city that still has an intact wall. I spent a month in Great Britain a few years back and stayed several days in Rowen, just outside of Conwy. Lovely, lovely place. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/3 "2011-07-07T13:05:06Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > The nearby city of [Conwy](http://www.conwy.com/)has some marvelous things to see, including the [castle](http://www.castlewales.com/conwy.html) … Easily one of my favorite castles in all of G.B. The [Severn Bridge](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severn_Bridge) is worth a walk over too. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/4 "2011-07-07T13:13:23Z")
Moved to IMHO from Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/5 "2011-07-07T13:33:39Z")
Hay-on-Wye is a nice place to visit - famous for its bookshops but an attractive town even if you’re not into books. Close by, the Offa’s Dyke path goes right along the English border and over Hay Bluff which has great views. ---
**Author:** ![glaeken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@glaeken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glaeken)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/6 "2011-07-07T13:51:05Z")
Mount Snowdon is worth climbing. You can even go to the top by Steam train if you are not feeling up to the climb. It’s been a long time since I climbed it but I believe the main route is 5 miles so you are looking at a 10 mile round walk if you do decide to do the climb. Here is a nice link on the various routes. The Llanberis Path is the route I have done and its also where you can get the train from [http://www.mountainwalk.co.uk/walkingsnowdon.html](http://www.mountainwalk.co.uk/walkingsnowdon.html) ---
**Author:** ![grimpixie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecb155/32.png) [@grimpixie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grimpixie)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/7 "2011-07-07T17:58:41Z")
We loved Pembrokeshire - large parts of the coast are protected and there’s a lovely walk (or series of walks) along the cliff-tops; [St David’s Cathedral](http://www.stdavidscathedral.org.uk/) is well worth a visit (it was, IIRC, the third most prestigious medieval pilgrimage destination after Jerusalem and Rome) as is the well-preserved [Pembroke Castle](http://www.pembroke-castle.co.uk/). It unfortunately rained the whole week we were in Snowdonia (and our 10-month old daughter was ill) so I can’t really comment on the north of the country. Grim ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/8 "2011-07-07T18:12:57Z")
I would have suggested seeing [the rift](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiff_rift), but I understand it’s been closed. ---
**Author:** ![Maeglin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@Maeglin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maeglin)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/9 "2011-07-07T18:29:45Z")
My wife and I have driven around Wales on vacation a few times. It is full of spots we love. We try to go during the Hay Festival at the aforementioned Hay-on-Wye, but alas, that is done for this year. Conwy was a wonderful suggestion. It’s one of our favorite places anywhere. Also not to be missed in north Wales are Beaumaris and Harlech (where I proposed to my wife, incidentally). If you are doing the Iron Ring, obviously you can’t miss Caernarvon, Flint, Rhuddlan, and Criccieth. Since the weather is good, you might also have a fun morning in Llandudno. It’s an old-fashioned working-class little resort town. If you can spare the time, Portmeirion is also a neat side trip. The Roman fort at Segontium is also very cool, but I am a Roman historian so you might expect I will think that. In south Wales, it’s definitely worth it to visit St. David’s and the surrounding villages. We’ve driven up (and down) Cardigan Bay on country lanes. If you are not used to country lanes, this will take longer than you think. It can be very slow and occasionally terrifying going. We drove from St. David’s to Porthmadog on the coast road and it took quite a long time. I am very jealous: we would have loved to go this year, but not with the baby. Have a wonderful time! ---
**Author:** ![Registered\_at\_Last](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bc79bd/32.png) [@Registered\_at\_Last](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Registered_at_Last)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/10 "2011-07-07T18:58:47Z")
If you are coming from overseas make sure you spend a night in a pub. No not the bar itself, but some have rooms to rent. When we went, we used the [Good Pub Guide](http://www.thegoodpubguide.co.uk/)as a bible, both for rooming and for dining choices (as well as good beer). They now have a searchable website. Do an “advanced search” for either “food award” or for “stay award”. We were not disappointed with their ratings. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/11 "2011-07-08T12:44:05Z")
Thanks for the suggestions. I’m going to map out our exact route this weekend and see where all these things fall. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/12 "2011-07-08T14:34:09Z")
> [@Morgyn](#): > > The nearby city of [Conwy](http://www.conwy.com/)has some marvelous things to see, including the [castle](http://www.castlewales.com/conwy.html), a nearly fully restored early Elizabethan home ([Plas Mar](http://www.conwy.com/plasmawr.html)), and the [Smallest House in Great Britain](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smallest_House_in_Great_Britain) > [@lieu](#): > > Easily one of my favorite castles in all of G.B. Thirding the Cowy recommendation. I’d second Caernarvon too, and add a second vote for (to be fair, the ruins of) Harlech as well. And Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, of course, is actually not a bad stop. It gets you onto Anglesey as well. ---
**Author:** ![put\_down\_the\_sabre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/da6949/32.png) [@put\_down\_the\_sabre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/put_down_the_sabre)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/13 "2011-07-08T14:37:40Z")
Don’t forget to go for a night out in Swansea and get beaten up by thugs. Drive through the valleys and see dead industrial towns. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/14 "2011-07-08T14:41:39Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, of course, is actually not a bad stop. It gets you onto Anglesey as well. And not far down the road, Llandudno is a rather charming and typically-Victorian seaside resort town. ETA: Oops - I see **Maeglin** already said that. We agree. ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/15 "2011-07-08T14:52:06Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > And Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, of course, is actually not a bad stop. It gets you onto Anglesey as well. Luckily, I’m planning on taking my wide-angle lens. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![put\_down\_the\_sabre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/da6949/32.png) [@put\_down\_the\_sabre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/put_down_the_sabre)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/16 "2011-07-08T15:08:16Z")
> [@Turek](#): > > Luckily, I’m planning on taking my wide-angle lens. 😛 That placename is fake, anyway. pdts ---
**Author:** ![Cicero](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cicero/32/3594_2.png) [@Cicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cicero)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/17 "2011-07-08T15:24:08Z")
What about a rugby game in Cardiff? ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/18 "2011-07-08T15:30:22Z")
Aberystwyth is nice. It’s a university town on the coast, very pretty. Lots of nice shops. They also have a Safeway (or at least they did in 1997), which amused us greatly. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/19 "2011-07-08T15:38:53Z")
> [@put\_down\_the\_sabre](#): > > That placename is fake, anyway. It’s not “fake” so much as “made up for commercial purposes” which is not \*quite \*the same thing. Would you say the name “Disneyland” was fake? ---
**Author:** ![glaeken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@glaeken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glaeken)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174/20 "2011-07-08T15:48:01Z")
Tenby is a nice little sea side town. Well it was in the 70’s when I last went there 😃 Caldey island was also worth a trip. [http://www.virtualtenby.co.uk/](http://www.virtualtenby.co.uk/) It might be a useful stop if need a stop in that area. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/things-to-do-or-see-in-wales/588174.md?page=2)