How to Plan a Road Trip Through Wales
If you love long road trips and are looking for scenic drives alongside diverse attractions, Wales is the best option. It is one of the popular destinations for road trippers. Your road trip will introduce you to many remarkable sites in Wales, like Castles, ancient ruins, and National parks. Not only that you will also experience hidden beaches, mountains, and delicious local food. This means you will explore a lot of things during your road trip. So you need to prepare well, and that’s what this guide will help you with.
1. Choose the Right Time of the Year
It's important to choose the right time of the year because of the weather conditions and the tourist crowds, which vary a lot throughout the year. So, will you take the risk of coming here during the summer? When the weather seems pleasant and the days are longer, allowing you to explore more, but here, this time of the year is the busiest one in Wales.
A lot of tourists head towards Wales during this season. In contrast, you can visit from September to November, when there are fewer tourists, but the days are shorter compared to the summer season. The choice is up to you now.
2- How to Get Here from Manchester
As I start my journey from Manchester, I will guide you to reach Wales through this route. But before that, I must recommend that you get the best Manchester airport cheap parking services from ezybook. It was convenient and safe. Personally, the experience was top-notch. If you are at Manchester Airport, then driving is the best option for you to reach the various parts of Wales. You can reach the Northern side within 1 and a half hours from the M56 and A55.
3- Plan the Route
If you are coming from the Northern side, then this will be the best route for your road trip:
Snowdonia National Park (Day 1-2)
Start your day by visiting the Snowdonia National Park. You can visit the Mountain Snowdown here. Visit through hiking, or you can take the Snowdon Mountain railway, it's up to you.
Along your way, there is a UNESCO World Heritage site, which is a castle named Caernarfon Castle. Don’t miss it if you love exploring old heritage sites.
2- The Cambrian Mountains (Day 3-4)
This place is known as the green desert of Wales. It is your third day of the road trip through Wales, and here you are in a peaceful, remote area full of nature. There is a seaside town there and a beautiful beach, which is a great place for relaxing and enjoying the sea view.
Here comes the Devil Bridge, another famous spot where you will enjoy the waterfalls and some old stone bridges.
3- Pembrokeshire Coast (Day 5-6)
Welcome to the smallest city of the UK and a place also known as the spiritual destination. Not only that, but there are some stunning coastlines of the UK here. You can spend your day on the beaches or observing the wildlife there.
4- South Wales (Day 7-8)
You can simply end your road trip at Urban Cardiff, it is the best for you if you want to enjoy fabulous nightlife. Not only is it good for the nightlife perspective, but there are some heritage sites too, like Cardiff Castle and the National Museum. Don’t miss Cardiff Bay, it is an ideal location for waterfront views and good food.
4- Book in Advance
This section is dedicated to those who are planning their road trip to Wales in the summer season from June- August. This is the peak holiday spot, especially for UK residents. Some of the best hotels are already booked, so you need to plan a booking if you wanna get the best accommodations without any hassle.
There are many types of accommodations you can get in Wales, like: bed and breakfast, which was usually run by the locals and you can find them everywhere from small towns to remote countryside. If you are coming with the family, then try cottages and lodges, they are best if you are looking for a long stay. Apart from that, there are castle stays and campsite stays available too.
And lastly, there are hotel that ranges from budget-friendly to luxury ones, you can choose according to your budget. But book the hotels at least 3-4 weeks ahead. You can book from the booking platform apps, or you can also check their official websites.
5- Choosing the right Vehicle for Rent
It's essential to choose the right vehicle for rent, or you might end up in trouble. You need a vehicle because public transportation is limited in the rural areas of Wales.
I would recommend a small car for a couple or a solo traveller as it would be the best option to explore the narrow towns and villages, and small cars are easy to park as there are certain limitations for parking in the narrow towns.
6- What to Pack?
The weather is highly unpredictable here in Wales.
Here is what you should pack, especially if you are having a road trip in Summer:
A waterproof jacket
Sturdy Shoes
Keep a map, or you can also use Google Maps
A power bank that keeps your phone charged
Snacks
Water bottle
A small first-aid kit
Conclusion
A road trip through Wales will give you the best travel experience. You will explore diverse attractions, sea views, castles, and National parks. As I said, there are hidden beaches, mountains, and local food too. All you have to do is choose the right time of the year and plan your route smartly. If you are planning for the peak season, then I would recommend that you book in advance, rent a vehicle, and pack some essential items for use, and here you go! You are ready for the perfect road trip through Wales.
