Wales Travel Forum

My wife and I are experienced travelers throughout North and Central America, the Caribbean and Asia, but have never be to the U.K. or Europe. We are in the early stages in planning a trip to London, Scotland and Wales in the autumn of 2010. We're in our 50s and healthy -- up for some walking and hiking, but we like to travel at a leisurely pace and comfortably. At this point we're planning on traveling with a small tour company in Scotland before or after visiting Wales. We also plan on spending a few days in London on either side of our visit.

I've posted elsewhere about possibly barging the canals in Wales for a week, but thought we'd start over and consider all the options. We don't want to do the typical bus tour in which we're herded like, well, sheep (I understand Wales already has enough of those), but I don't necessarily want to spend my days meandering back roads in a tiny car.

So, what are we looking for?

1. I'm an amateur landscape photographer and would like to visit places like Snowdonia and other pretty places -- villages, castles, waterways, etc.
2. We enjoy spending a few days in one place, eating pub food and drinking local beer, listening to local music and talking to local people.
3. We prefer clean, comfortable accommodations -- B&Bs, inns, etc., avoiding the chains. If you're familiar with Rick Steves, we're not using his services because he tends to use lodging a tad below our standards.
4. We'd consider a small tour group if the pace is leisurely and the guides are knowledgeable. I'm not crazy about doing my own driving but I'll do it under the right conditions. If I can drive in Boston and the mountain roads of Idaho I can drive anywhere.

So, we'd appreciate wide-ranging advice on everything from things to see to places to stay to tour options to transportation options if we strike out on our own. How about renting a cottage in a central location as a home base from which to make day trips? If it's doable, here's the perfect week in Wales for us -- we arrive by train in a centrally located town and take a cab or public transportation or our awaiting rental car to a nearby cottage. We unpack and walk five blocks to a pub, where we have a great dinner, too much beer, and listen to some live music. Over the next week we get up in the morning and strike out to a destination, where we spend the day walking, taking pictures, shopping and talking to people. We return home each late afternoon or early evening where we enjoy yet another evening at the pub or, if we're particularly exhausted, we take some wine and cheese to the cottage for a quiet evening at home.

Or something like that.

Thoughts? Other ideas? Fantasy that doesn't happen in real life? Sounds like we want to hang with Gandalf and the hobbits? Any and all advice, suggestions and input are welcome.

Roger Plothow
Idaho Falls, Idaho USA

My apologies if this topic has been addressed before. We're interested in renting a private barge for week in Wales. We would be interested in hearing from others who have done this, particularly people from outside the U.K. for whom this had been a first trip to Wales. Obvious questions:

1. How would you rate the accommodations?
2. Does this sort of trip provide the sort of independence I think it does?
3. What are the pros and cons?
4. Would you do it again?

Many thanks.

I'll be staying at the Hotel St. Davids in a few weeks. Are there any good pubs within walking distance from the hotel?

A couple of years ago a friend took me to an Italian restaurant in Swansea that was overlooking the bay and it was high up. But I cannot for the life of me remember the name of it. I do remember the salt and pepper seabass was amazing.Anybody any ideas ? If its any help the road to it was winding down a hill and reportedly went past Catherine Zeta Jones's house !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Or he could have been winding me up ? Any help gratefully received thanks Roverbhoy

Hi, has anyone cruised the Llangollen canal from Wrenbury to Llangollen recenty? A friend read that you can spend a lot of time just queueing to cross the aqueduct. We are planning to hire a narrow boat in October so thought it might not be too busy then. Would be grateful for any advice on this route - will we make it there and back in a week? Another option suggested was to abandon the idea of travelling to Llangollen and go in the other direction and perhaps make it to the Anderton boat lift? Any comments or recommendations of good pubs en route gratefully received!

I could not get accommodation in Cardiff on Sat 22nd August, the night of the U2 concert, so I booked accommodation in Bristol. I was wondering if I could get Public Transport back to Bristol after the concert (probably after 11pm), or possibly there may be some special transport arranged for the concert, such as coaches back to Bristol, etc.

I would be very grateful if I could get advice on this.

Thanks,

JEPDEANE.

does anybody have a contact number for charlestons bar and grill please???

I'm planning a trip to Cardiff, probably in the summer/fall of next year, and wanted to start a list of things I had to see while I was there. Are there any places you would recommend?

I would love to go for St. David's day in March, but alas I cannot. Are there any other festivals that would be interesting to see?

Thanks,

Katie

What is the distance from Manchester to the Tintern Abbey site? How long does it take to make this drive--without stops along the way?

Dear all,

i'm looking for 1 night accomodation for 22nd August (1 double room - one night)- Unfortunately i cannot find any accomodation on the internet (probably because there are u2 on the same night).

If you know of any hotel, apartment, hostel which might be available kindly send me details.

Thanks a real lot in advance.

Regards
Stefan

Is there any sites in Llanberis where I can park my car overnight for 1 day as I am planning a camping trip?

Hi there.
We have a rough plan prepared for our trip to Snowdonia and need and advice to make sure we do not miss any 'must see/ be there'. We are mainly interested in nature - amazing views and great waterfalls and other wonders of nature (something of which there is plenty in Snowdonia), perhaps an old castle. We are certainly not that much interested in towns and villages and museums.

Short climbs can be managed but my friends by no means are hikers, so climbing any mountains out of question. If you think there is something really worth viewing that is missing from our list than please do say so (as this is the main reason for this post). It would be even better, as our plan is kind of full, if you could not only make a suggestion of what we are missing but also what we should drop from our list to make time for that new thing?. Actually I'm not quite sure if the list below isn't too tightly packed anyway and what with all the travelling around.

We plan to spend there 3 days and 2 nights. Will leave very early and get to our first attraction around 9 am. I have not yet checked if what we want to see can be fitted in that time but in rough order of our trip this is what we hope to see:

Pass of the Cross (off A470 at Dinas-Mawddwy),
Rhiwargor Waterfall (by Lake Vyrnwy or Llyn Efyrnwy)
Hirnant Pass (or through Cwm Cynllwyd and Bala Lake, depending on which rout we choose)
Betws-y-Coed (for Fairy Glen and Conwy Falls)
Swallow Falls
Lyn Ogwen (with short climb up Cwm Idwal, perhaps Llyn Bochlwyd and Ogwen falls)
then up A5 through Nant Ffrancon (Falcon Valley, right?)
if we have time than Caernarfon Castle
then down through Pass of Llanberis (and mountain railway up Snowdon)
Dolbadarn Castle
then down A498 to Pass of Aberglaslyn
then down A496 to Harlech Castle
Barmouth (for Panorama Walk or rather few glimpses)
Dolgellau (for Torrent Walk - ther is also apparently well worht seeing a route from Dolgellau to Arthog on B-roads)
and that would be about it


Any comments, suggestion would very welcome. Suggestions of which roads to take to reach our destinations so that to have the best views etc. are more than welcome. I know 3 days is not a lot but that's what we have and we are determined to make best of it. We did this kind of thing in Pembrokeshire last year and it did work - we had a glimpse of Pembrokshire magic that we marvel at to this day.

I am staying in the Cardiff bay area for a couple of nights next month, I have heard that the area between Cardiff bay and the city centre is a bit rough and not safe at night, is this true? How long does it take to walk? If not which is the best method of transport to take? I will be having a short brak with my girlfriend, which pubs or restaurants can anyone recommend?

I have three hours to kill in Llandrindod whilst waiting for a train. Any ideas what I can do to fill in my time which would include a spot of lunch.

Cheers,

Pete

VT member rexvaughan and his wife Sacra are visiting Cardiff all the way from Georgia, USA (well, I think that is where Decatur is!!) on 29-31 May.

I have suggested having a small gathering on Saturday evening, certainly to sample some of cardiff's fine ales, but also possibly to have a bite to eat.

Anyone else interested? If so, leave a reply here or send me a VT email. It has been a while since the last VT gathering in Cardiff and there may be some new peeps in the area that I've never met and, who knows, might want to seize the chance to meet some real, live, fellow VT members...

Please recommend a place to stay in Caerphilly, Wales on 21 and 22 August 2009.

Does anyone know of a high quality restaurant that delivers food in Cardiff? We have tried most of the Indian/Chinese/Southern fry chicken takeaways but I am looking for a high quality restaurant that will deliver a ready prepared, hot meal in Cardiff.

It's my and my wife's silver wedding anniversary at the end of May and as we have my elderly mother living with us we are unable to go out to celebrate so we thought we would find a restaurant that delivers to the home.

It seems that none do, at least, none I could find using Google. Loads of Indian and Chinese etc but no French, Portugese or similar. can anyone help?

PS - Any ideas of what present to buy her?

Hello

I am struggling to find a hotel in Fort William in Wales. The internet throws up a huge amount of information on Fort William in Scotland but nothing in Wales.

I would be grateful if someone could assist me with this.

Hi all!

I am going to be in Cardiff with a friend on Easter Sunday and Monday (12-13th) April. Any suggestions for eating out? Our budget is about £40 a meal, but we can go up to £60-70 for something really special. We don't want to go the chain restaurant route, e.g. ASK, Pizza Express, etc.

Thanks in advance!

hi all Welsh speaking VTR'S ;-)

We are planning a stag weekend in Cardiff in September.We are having an afternoon at Chepstow races on the Frdiay,Comedy Club Friday night,and a morning clay pigeon shooting the following day.The rest of our time I would guess will be spent frequenting local pubs and bars.
Are there any bars that we should try to avoid,we are not youngsters,all are 40+,so we are not stupid,but we want to sample the nightlife Cardiff has to offer,without any aggro.We're not clubbers,but enjoy decent music and the craic.
Any tips would be appreciated

cheers

the bear

Dear all,

i already posted a question in the London Forum about travelling from London Luton to Cardiff. They informed me that the bus is available but apparently its quite a lengthy journey plus a number of stops.

Now i'm considering renting a car - do you know roughly how long does it take to get to cardiff from london luton by car? i'll be travelling on a saturday morning.

Regards
Stefan

A friend and I will be staying in Cardiff for a few days in April, but are students on a budget. Any suggestions as to where we can stay? Our range is £20-40 a night, tops! Cheap B&Bs, hostels (preferably with double rooms) and any other suggestions welcome/desperately sought.

Thanks in advance!

Last May when I was in Cardiff there was a new hotel being built in Cardiff Bay (near the Millenium Centre). Can anyone tell me whether this hotel is open yet and what the name of it is?

Many Thanks.

My husband and I just booked a flight from London to Manchester July 17 - 19 and a car to get us to Valley, near Holyhead. How long does the drive take, and what motorways do we take?

Thanks!
L-A

Hi, My family is coming to the uk to visit and we would like to visit wales, they have had enough of london. I'll be travelling from london to swindon/bath then head on to wales and will be driving. I'm looking at the dates of 20-23rd/24th December and I'll spend a night in wales then head off to wales. With the 3/4 days I have, could someone recommend us an itinery? What would you do? Would staying in cardiff for all 3 nights be ideal or would it be better to move off from one place to another? I'm hoping to book accomodation soon so hopefully e price wont creep up too much. I dont mind travelling as we have the car, as long as its do-able. My parents are about 50 and my bro and I are 19/20. We probably wont end up partying or anything. and we're not museum people as well. We prefer sights and sceneries if that make sense. Like a buckingham palace, tower of london, trafalgar square, big ben, westminister, windsor sights as opposed to the british museums, history museum, science museum, airforce ground stuff kinda place.

It will be our first time driving around uk, so I have some advice on the traffic even possible route would be ideal. Also, would it be better to return to london on the 23rd or 24th since people would probably be going home for christmas and they may be a jam?

Many many thanks for all your help in advance.

Me n my friends planning to travel around UK for a week this dec. The planning are from london to wales to scotland and then heading down to london. If we spend 2/3 days in wales...is it enough for us to go around there?I'm thinking of going to cardiff, cardigan and snowdonia. Is it far travelling from one places to another?Btw..we r renting a car. Thanks in advance for ur help

My friend and I have a wonderful opportunity to housesit in Clunderwen, Wales.
This is a rural area of South west wales and we are keen walkers, interested in historial sites and gardens. Will also be relying on public transport and any info on how to reach the coast walks etc would be greatly appreciated. Would also like to spend some time in northern Wales (few overnight breaks) - intereted to know what the distances are between north and south and how accessible it is. Thanks in advance.
Jenaf

Hi There

We are thinking of making a fmily trip to wales in November

We were thinking of going to Cardiff on a friday night and doing short trips from there to other locations (i.e. we will spend both nights there),

Can you please suggest must see's and and any 1-2 hour trips from Cardiff to other near by cities?

We like the local experiance small villages, castles and local festivels etc.. if any

thanks

ER

hello, i need to get to holly head by sept 27 at 11:00am but for really cheap. please help me!!!!

ive drove past going to work in cardiff from birmingham and thought id visit the castle with my girlfriend as i think its quite romantic and fairytale looking would any body be able to recomend me anywhere to stay nearby for a weekend please i would be most greatful.