With so many places to visit in the UK, an expat experience in England would not be complete without visiting Wales and Scotland. If Scotland is under your belt and England is well-traveled, a Wales road trip to see the most beautiful places isn’t only the most fitting way to close out years of living abroad, but a safe socially distanced option, too.
For beautiful things to see and do in Wales in just 3-days, read on to start planning or to simply feel inspired by all things Welsh.
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Why A Wales Road Trip
By no means does this mean to wait till the end of your expat journey to visit Wales. In fact, Wales is one of those magical places that can only be understood by those who’ve felt it. And I mean that sincerely (and with a bit of humor too as you’ll see why later in this post).
Wales tugs on all the sensories which is why it’s so darn beautiful. I don’t recommend a Wales road trip for someone seeking social crowds, abundant nightlife, overall busyness, or even a suntan. For the most part, Wales is quite the opposite: peaceful, quiet, pristine, and utterly breathtaking – even in the rain.
Coastal walk, Portmeirion Hotel
What’s special about a Wales road trip is that it caters to mountain hikers, coastal lovers, castle seekers, or even someone trying to get to Italy but can’t quite travel there. And my favorite part is experiencing the quintessential caravan park which turns out to be vastly different from an American RV park. Trust me when I say that Wales is the perfect place to check off that UK bucket list item.
The Wales Road Trip Map
For our family of four, I set out the most efficient 3-day Wales road trip itinerary possible, covering the best things to do in Wales along the course. There are so many things to do in Wales that it would be impossible to cover North Wales, South Wales, and everything in between in only 3 days.
The best bet is to focus on a road trip route that offers you the greatest reward for the amount of time you have to visit. With only 3 days to spare, I chose the top 3 things I absolutely HAD to see, and the road trip developed around those pretty must-see sights first.
With the Lake District kicking-off the beginning of our final UK road trip before repatriating to the USA, I knew Wales needed to offer a big finale.
And it truly delivered.
This road trip originates from St Albans with the first stop being the Lake District, followed by Wales and then back to St Albans. This route can be easily altered for a road trip from London to Wales. You can read more information on visiting the Lake District or how to combine a Wales road trip with the Lake District here.
Beautiful Things To See & Do In Wales In 3 Days
The first 3 things to do in Wales laid the foundation for this Wales road trip, but all 11 are beautiful, unique, and not to be missed.
1 – Conwy Castle
Conwy Castle, North Wales
The moment I discovered Conwy Castle it made the top of my list of things to do in North Wales. Located along the River Conwy with colorful fishing boats in the foreground, this massive medieval castle with walls and towers surrounding Conwy make this World Heritage Site unique.
Conwy offers a coastal castle vibe that makes it different from other UK castles. Even if the castle is closed, you can spend hours in Conwy which is exactly what we did.
Enjoy a walk along the marsh which is easily found along the river. This offers the best views of the castle with boats included. Within Conwy, head for the towers and walk the walls. Or grab fish & chips from the High Street and take in Conwy Castle along the waterfront.
The kids will get a kick out of the smallest house in Great Britain. You can’t miss it.
2 – Snowdonia National Park
Snowdonia National Park
The drive from North Wales heading south through Snowdonia National Park is so beautiful that you’ll be telling your driver to pull over every 5-10 minutes. Stop where it’s safe to do so, but be sure not to miss the peak: Mt Snowden.
Although road signs are all in Welsh, you won’t need help figuring out where you are or what’s worthy of a photo opp.
Dina Mawddwy was an unexpected breathtaker in Snowdonia during our westerly drive towards Brecon Beacons. Avoid driving too fast or you won’t be able to pull over in time for a view of the horses amidst the rolling green landscape.
Turning the car around can be tricky in some areas along the blinding drive.
Just know that it’s pretty clear when you’ve “arrived” in Snowdonia because the terrain changes and clouds are so low that you’ll feel like you’re floating amongst them. In fact, my daughter believes that she touched a few clouds along the way.
If you’re concerned that a road trip isn’t enough to experience Snowdonia, let me tell you this.
I was fearful that driving through Snowdonia alone wouldn’t be enough to experience the magic of what everyone talks about. While hiking the National Park is a favorite and top thing to do in the park, driving through the passes of Snowdonia does not disappoint.
3 – Portmeirion
Portmeirion
Have you ever imagined what Portofino might be like? Well, this pretty little Italian inspired village in North Wales, designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975, might in fact be the closest thing to Portofino than Portofino itself.
Walking through Portmeirion feels more like a Disney World ride than an actual working and living Welsh village. From the human-sized chess pieces to the Italian sculptures throughout, you’ll pinch yourself that you’re in Wales to remind yourself George Clooney doesn’t live here.
While the village itself boasts the colors and charm of the Italian Riviera, the coastal walk beyond the Portmeirion Hotel is quite lovely.
Before planning a visit to Portmeirion, book day tickets in advance. Portmeirion is a popular thing to do in North Wales and a highlight of any Wales road trip.
4 – Barmouth Bay Beach
Barmouth Bay Beach
Every holiday needs a Barmouth Bay Beach. It’s one of those beaches that feels like it’s entirely yours and no one else’s. Located a bit further north of Barmouth Beach on the idyllic west coast of Wales and western corner of Snowdonia, Barmouth Bay Beach is situated only a minutes walk from Barmouth Bay Holiday Park.
William Wordsworth sums this area up best after his Barmouth visit in 1824:
With a fine sea view in front, the mountains behind, the glorious estuary running eight miles inland, and Cadair Idris within compass of a day’s walk, Barmouth can always hold its own against any rival.”
Morning runs, seashell hunting (Shell Island is within walking distance), dune jumping, and long after-dinner walks are a few of the best things to do in North Wales and this immense beach covers it all.
Bring wellies and plan on getting wet – whether it rains or not – because exploring the rock pools, or even clay pools, is pretty cool for everyone.
5 – Harlech
Harlech Castle
Harlech Castle can’t be missed while traveling south from North Wales along A496. The massive medieval castle built between 1282 and 1289 sits atop a cliff that can be seen for miles as you wind your way towards the southwestern edge of Gwynedd and the Irish Sea.
From the A496, the Welsh Castle appears to stand entirely alone, like a giant figure out of place along the highway. Truthfully, I didn’t think we needed to see more than what could be seen from the highway itself, but we went as planned anyway.
What I discovered was that the treasure of Harlech Castle is actually the town of Harlech itself.
Don’t get me wrong. Harlech Castle with its bright green moat walls and the Irish Sea in the background is so so pretty. And that’s without being able to tour the inside.
If you love experiencing the culture, Harlech is a great Welsh village to meet and support the local people. You don’t need to know Welsh but if you know a little, this is a great place to try.
A few lovely Welsh shops to browse in Harlech:
- The Old Cheese Market – The owner is ready to recommend her favorite wines to pair with cheese to take back to your Holiday Park after roadtripping all day.
- Snowdonia Soaps – Artisan soaps locally made to take home as the perfect Wales road trip souvenir.
- Hen Bethau Eisteddfa Antiques – From wicker baskets to tea sets, there are so many lovely antiques to choose from. The little lady that let me browse while she arranged her window display was just the sweetest.
And if shopping the one-off unique gift shops on the High Street doesn’t make your list of things to do in North Wales, this might tip that.
Harlech is home to the steepest street in the northern hemisphere: Ffordd Pen Llech, with a gradient of 1:2.67 (37.45% stretch over fall).
6 – Barmouth Bridge
Barmouth Bridge
Barmouth Bridge is an almost half-mile single-track wooden railway across the River Mawddach. You simply have to park and walk it.
Aside from the impressive 360º views of mountains and sea, the Barmouth Bridge is the oldest timber viaduct in Wales. There’s a troll toll for pedestrians and cyclists to pay in order to cross which the kids find quite amusing (an on your honor system since 2017).
And while you’re in Barmouth walk the High Street. There is a super cute shop, luvit, which I personally couldn’t visit but wish I had. Luvit Wales painted a mural of rainbow wings as a thank you to all those serving and helping others during the pandemic. Take a photo with the rainbow wings, donate, and be sure to pop inside. #luvitbarmouth
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7 – Llyn Clywedog
Llyn Clywedog
A pretty thing to do in mid Wales is to stop at the Llyn Clywedog viewpoint. It’s so pretty in fact that Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II visited the Llyn Clywedog Reservoir in July 1986.
Created in the 1960s to help prevent flooding of the River Severn along with providing continuous water supply throughout the summer, this man-made lake is greater than 6-miles and holds 264 billion gallons of water. Or in UK terms, the Clywedog surface area is about 230 football pitches.
Aside from the pretty landscape the viewpoint offers, it’s a great location to easily spot red kites (the bird that is) and other wildlife.
8 – Brecon Beacons
Brecon Beacons
One of the prettiest stops on this Wales road trip as you navigate through south Wales towards Cardiff is the Brecon Beacons. There is a pull-off point at Glyn Tarell that I highly recommend to stop for photo opportunities and even to stretch legs.
You’ll want to linger for hours and wish you had the time for a day hike. This point along the drive is incredibly inspiring. For kids along the Wales road trip, they may feel less inspired than you to climb the surrounding hills, but there’s a food truck if you need to do a bit of bribing.
Shortly after the Glyn Tarell pull-off point on the A470 is a parking lot for Pen Y Fan. This is where to park to walk Pen Y Fan – the highest peak in south Wales.
We didn’t allocate time for a 4 mile circular walk (estimate at least 2.5 hours) but it’s the one thing I wish we had made the time for but didn’t. Use Brecon LD3 8NL, United Kingdom to drive there.
9 – Castell Coch
Castell Coch, aka “Red Castle”
About 30 minutes outside of Cardiff in South Wales is Castell Coch or “Red Castle”. This Gothic Revival 19th-century castle is reportedly built by the richest man in the world, John Crichton-Stuart, and architected by a Victorian genius, William Burges.
As you navigate the town of Tongwynlais in South Wales, it’s hard to imagine a fairy-tale castle hidden behind the one-up one-down terraced houses and busy car-lined streets. But this pretty Red Castle is nestled atop a hill, privately secluded amongst the woodlands that protect it from decades of advanced civilization below.
It’s a lovely and short uphill walk from the street (if the car park is closed or full) to the Castle entrance.
Referred to by a historian as “one of the greatest Victorian triumphs of architectural composition.”, it’s understandable why the Red Castle is regularly voted by the public as a favorite building in Wales.
10 – Cardiff Castle
Cardiff Castle
The city of Cardiff properly deserves at least a day on its own, but you can still see the best of Cardiff by carving out 2-hours in your Wales road trip. Of all the things to do in Cardiff, visiting Cardiff Castle is a must.
Located in the city center, Cardiff Castle has continuous activities scheduled so there’s always something going on, including even birds of prey for you to admire or brave to hold.
But the most impressive awe-inspiring site on the castle grounds is the 11th-century original motte and bailey castle atop a 3rd-century Roman Fort. Even with all the activities available, visiting this Castle is as simple as bringing a blanket to picnic and stay a while.
As a bonus don’t miss the Animal Wall along the left side of the Cardiff Castle entrance.
11 – Cardiff Bakestones
Cardiff Bakestones, Cardiff Market
While in Cardiff, go to the Cardiff Market and eat Welsh Cakes. The welsh jam and cream cake from Cardiff Bakestones is a MUST!!!! These little Welsh cakes aren’t only super cute, but they will blow your mind.
Go ahead and buy at least 6…maybe 12. They are beyond amazing and officially on my top 5 favorite desserts, which is a pretty big deal because I’m a huge whoopie pie and cake fanatic.
Ask for one right out of the oven!
How To Pull Your Wales Road Trip Together
Here’s how these amazing things to do in Wales are organized over 3 days:
Day 1 – Things To Do In North Wales Heading South
- Conwy Castle & Town
- Snowdonia
- Barmouth Bay Beach
Day 2 – Things To Do In North Wales
- Portmeirion
- Harlech
- Barmouth
Day 3 – Things To Do In Mid & South Wales
- Llyn Clywedog
- Brecon Beacons
- Castell Coch
- Cardiff & Cardiff Bakestones
Where To Stay In North Wales
Barmouth Bay Holiday Park, Snowdonia, North Wales
For self-catering accommodations that offer convenient access to Snowdonia and the Welsh coast, Barmouth Bay Holiday Park is the perfect home away from home location. Being my first vacation experience at a holiday park in the UK, I was expecting a typical American camping style holiday with shared bathrooms and tight living quarters, but this is far far more luxurious than that.
Incredibly clean with spacious rooms to accommodate everyone, choose to enjoy a cocktail after exploring all day on your deck or cozy up inside by the electric fireplace. And if you’re lucky enough to rent one, how luxurious does a Wales road trip sound with your very own hot tub?
But beyond the perks of staying inside at Barmouth Bay Holiday Park, it’s the spectacular views and Barmouth Bay Beach access outside that make this place pretty special.
From listening to the sounds of the ocean from your caravan, morning walks on the beach, after dinner beach adventures at night…it really is an awesome homebase for your trip to Wales. And even when it’s pouring rain, it’s simply perfect.
Restaurants Near Barmouth Bay
While you can cook pretty much anything your stomach fancies at your caravan or lodge, it’s nice having the option to take a break from the kitchen. Keeping a cooler with food and beverage options in the boot is always a great idea for a road trip, too.
We personally chose to make breakfast every day while at Barmouth Bay Holiday Park but ordered takeaway for other meals so that we could try Welsh food and support local businesses.
For places to eat while staying at Barmouth Bay, try these local restaurants that offer takeaway and some indoor dining.
- Tony’s Express – Italian takeaway only during the pandemic.
- NineTeen.57 – A contemporary restaurant that offers seating outside.
- Norbar – A lovely casual establishment with super nice people serving pizza and burgers.
- Barmouth Bay Holiday Park – Offers an on-site grocery store and a fish & chips shop. This is a very chill place to grab food, try using the fish fork, and then walk it off later on the beach. There are picnic tables to eat outside.
If You Have More Time In Wales
If you have more time in Wales and these places are open for visitors, here are a few more things to do on your trip:
- Snowdonia Zip Line – Certainly the fastest way to experience the beauty of Snowdonia. Claimed to be the fastest zip line in the world! It goes 100mph. Secretly I was thrilled my 8 and 11-year old couldn’t go on it this summer when it was closed due to Covid-19.
- Talyllyn Steam Train – 55 minutes from Tywyn on the coast into Snowdonia National Park to Nant Gwernol. You’ll cross seven miles making it a truly picturesque and easy way for the whole family to see Snowdonia National Park.
- Tenby – This is further south so wasn’t an option for our 3-day itinerary. Tenby is a pretty fishing village full of colourful cottages and coastal charm. The photography reminds me of coastal Maine so it’s a must for me to visit someday.
Essentials For Your Wales Road Trip
Plan on bringing food to prepare meals at your self-catering accommodation. Or be sure to call ahead to book reservations or at least confirm availability of what dining places are open.
Bring towels! Both for showering and for the beach (any time of year).
Pack clothes for all weather conditions, but definitely rain: raincoats, wellies, waterproof gear, and umbrellas are a must.
Our silly attempt at making frowns after a downpour on Barmouth Bay Beach
And don’t forget the Maps of the United Kingdom book by Rachel Dixon and Livi Gosling. Counties are broken down into colorful illustrative ways to highlight all the attractions and points of interest in Wales. This is the perfect book for finding things to do in Wales along your road trip when you have the extra time or simply want to vacation spontaneously.
Final Tips On These 11 Pretty Things To Do In Wales
A Wales road trip to take in these beautiful sights involves a lot of driving. There aren’t many service stations so be sure to stop when you see one.
Some roads are perfectly wide but certain areas, particularly Mid Wales, are nail biters. When narrow single-track roads aren’t second nature, a UK road trip can be totally stressful. And for anyone prone to car-sickness, take the time to enjoy the lush Welsh landscapes by adding frequent stops. Your kiddos will appreciate you!
We rarely saw cars on the road let alone people, so this Wales road trip is all about who you choose to ride it with and the beautiful things to do that inspire you along the way – from crisp Snowdonia peaks to sandy beaches, fairytale castles, and jammy Welsh cakes, this is magical Wales. And why you need to road trip here.
Looking for more UK travel inspiration or itineraries with kids?
- 12 Of The Best UK Road Trip Ideas With Kids
- 13 Best Things To Do In Edinburgh, Scotland (& Where To Stay)
- Subscribe to aBroad purpose to receive travel printables, like this UK Bucket List, and start planning a life you love!