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What's a must see or do in Wales
- Thread starter KIPAX
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- KIPAX Lancashire UK
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Well..It's this Sunday 
Sunday
Pistyll Rhaeadr Powys (UK tallest single drop waterfall)
Monday
Devils Bridge
Elan Valley (Vist night as well Dark Sky Park)
Tuesday
Travel south taking in Black Mountain rd. best rd in Wales through brecon beacons then Neath waterfalls and valley
Wednesday and Thursday
Pembrokshire coast.. Bosherston Ponds, St Govan's church, Castles and all manner of stuff
Friday
Caernarfon Castle
Train up to top of mount Snowden
Home for tea and work friday evening
Nothing is written in stone.. this is a driving holiday so it's not spending all day in one place.. these are some of the things we have marked as "to do/see" and we will be discovering the rest as we go.. this plan worked fantastic round scotland same time last year so
Taking Lumix DMC LX7 perfect for holiday snapping IMHO
many thanks for everyones help and suggestions ...
Sunday
Pistyll Rhaeadr Powys (UK tallest single drop waterfall)
Monday
Devils Bridge
Elan Valley (Vist night as well Dark Sky Park)
Tuesday
Travel south taking in Black Mountain rd. best rd in Wales through brecon beacons then Neath waterfalls and valley
Wednesday and Thursday
Pembrokshire coast.. Bosherston Ponds, St Govan's church, Castles and all manner of stuff
Friday
Caernarfon Castle
Train up to top of mount Snowden
Home for tea and work friday evening
Nothing is written in stone.. this is a driving holiday so it's not spending all day in one place.. these are some of the things we have marked as "to do/see" and we will be discovering the rest as we go.. this plan worked fantastic round scotland same time last year so
Taking Lumix DMC LX7 perfect for holiday snapping IMHO
many thanks for everyones help and suggestions ...
Keith W
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Well..It's this Sunday
Sunday
Pistyll Rhaeadr Powys (UK tallest single drop waterfall)
Monday
Devils Bridge
Elan Valley (Vist night as well Dark Sky Park)
Tuesday
Travel south taking in Black Mountain rd. best rd in Wales through brecon beacons then Neath waterfalls and valley
Wednesday and Thursday
Pembrokshire coast.. Bosherston Ponds, St Govan's church, Castles and all manner of stuff
Friday
Caernarfon Castle
Train up to top of mount Snowden
Home for tea and work friday evening
Nothing is written in stone.. this is a driving holiday so it's not spending all day in one place.. these are some of the things we have marked as "to do/see" and we will be discovering the rest as we go.. this plan worked fantastic round scotland same time last year so
Taking Lumix DMC LX7 perfect for holiday snapping IMHO
many thanks for everyones help and suggestions ...
Have fun and enjoy!
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LX7 is a great little camera.
Byker28i
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Sunday
Pistyll Rhaeadr Powys (UK tallest single drop waterfall) -
Note: DO walk to the top for the view - use the path not the steps!. Take a photo of the missus at the top
Monday
Devils Bridge
Elan Valley (Visit night as well Dark Sky Park) -
Note: Rhayder Red kite feeding station there - 3pm feeding time
Tuesday
Travel south taking in Black Mountain rd. best rd in Wales through brecon beacons then Neath waterfalls and valley
Wednesday and Thursday
Pembrokshire coast.. Bosherston Ponds, St Govan's church, Castles and all manner of stuff -
Stackpole Inn - Brilliant food, St Governs Inn Bosherton good pub food.
Pembroke, near the castle at the road junction look for the blue building saying Tea and Cakes. AMAZING cakes - cheap.
Don't expect a phone signal much outside Pembroke, castle has free wifi
Pistyll Rhaeadr Powys (UK tallest single drop waterfall) -
Note: DO walk to the top for the view - use the path not the steps!. Take a photo of the missus at the top
Monday
Devils Bridge
Elan Valley (Visit night as well Dark Sky Park) -
Note: Rhayder Red kite feeding station there - 3pm feeding time
Tuesday
Travel south taking in Black Mountain rd. best rd in Wales through brecon beacons then Neath waterfalls and valley
Wednesday and Thursday
Pembrokshire coast.. Bosherston Ponds, St Govan's church, Castles and all manner of stuff -
Stackpole Inn - Brilliant food, St Governs Inn Bosherton good pub food.
Pembroke, near the castle at the road junction look for the blue building saying Tea and Cakes. AMAZING cakes - cheap.
Don't expect a phone signal much outside Pembroke, castle has free wifi
Byker28i
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In fact - our HR manager is heading to south pembrokeshire next week - I gave her a brief tourist guide.
Saundersfoot
Great beach, sandy, no dogs allowed on the beach May to September, when the tide is out you can walk all along to Wisemans bridge and from there to Amroth, but probably not all at the same time.
There is a walk that goes all along the front, using old miners tunnels (quite short and lit) which is at the end of The Strand. Leads into Coast – a great fish restaurant I thought reasonably priced.
Details of the walk
http://www.visitsaundersfootbay.com/uploads/files/Saundersfoot walk web.pdf
For food the Beachside BBQ (by the beach entrance) upstairs and overlooks the beach looks good – smokehouse, BBQ type food, we’ve not tried it but it’s supposed to be very good. The Old Chemist inn overlooks the beach if you sit out the back, again decent bar food – allows dogs in so it will be full of people with dogs.
There’s also a fishmonger in a small building in the harbour carpark, and the butcher in town is very good.
Heading East is Wisemans Bridge, the Inn seemed popular but I’ve not been in yet, then Amroth. Not much at Amroth, pebbly beach/stones when the tide is in, large sand area when the tide is out. The Amroth Arms is under new management and is very good for good gastro pub food. You can easily walk here to Colby Woodland gardens (National Trust) or drive. Nice walk around the gardens, decent NT café and a small art gallery.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/colby-woodland-garden
Heading West is Tenby, worth a visit as it’s a walled town, pretty harbour, has some good shops, most of the main ones and the estate agents for that area Drive in towards the town centre and use the Rectory car park, always lots of room, 5 min walk into town. Look over the wall at the very expensive apartments on south beach. Huge long sandy beach and pretty harbour.
On one of the corners in town is a great pasty shop. Lots of great places to eat, cakes and coffee places.
Further West is Manorbier, pretty castle, sandy beach with a river going into it, not much else there, a couple of small eating places. However drive up by the base on the way out/in and there’s a great viewing point over Skrinkle Haven Beach.
Next West is Freshwater East – large sandy beach, caravan park at the bottom of a steep hill. Usually quiet-ish. Nothing special.
Then we come to my favourite part, Stackpole, Bosherton and west.
Stackpole Quay, narrow lanes to this but good National Trust tea shop and the start of the walk to Barrafundle Bay. Very pretty bay you can only walk to but busyish as it’s well known
The Stackpole estate is HUGE! (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stackpole) Gardens, large lily ponds (think really big lakes). If you park at the main stackpole entrance you can walk around the gardens, not the house as it seems to be privately rented out.
You can park at Bosherton and walk down to Broad Haven south beach around the lily ponds which is stunning, or drive to the beach at Bosherton and walk down some steps to it.
Go see St Govens Chapel, a chapel set into the rocks.
Food –
Stackpole Inn – amazing food, you may have to book a table – best Gastro pub in the area.
St Govens Inn – Bosherton, under new management, very good pub food and beers
Gastro popup caravan in the Bosherton beach (broad haven south) car park, selling all local produce. Fantastic sausages
Heading west from here is Castlemartin range. If the range isn’t active (which at the moment is weekends only) then you can drive through to the coast to see the Green bridge and stack rocks with a short walk. Stunning scenery. If the range is active, there’s a spectator area at Warren where you can watch the tanks shoot.
Go through Castlemartin to Freshwater West – amazing beach, probably my favourite. Rocks at one end, long wide beach with dunes. Check out the little food caravan – amazing (half a lobster in a baguette etc)
Carry on west to Angle, pretty village, small beach, caravan park. The island fort is up for sale is you’ve got just under £1m
Food – follow the signs to the Old Point House, rocky untarmaced road with a car park at the end by the pub. Good pub food and you can sit outside overlooking the bay. Ignore the refinery on the other side and it’s a pretty bay with sailing boats moored.
Then it’s follow the road around and into Pembroke. Best parking is usually the long stay next to the castle but if busy then there’s plenty of parking around.
The Castle is very good, lots to see, lots to walk around and a decent little café, however just past the long stay car park opposite the road junction is a blue building, has signs for tea and cake. AMAZING CAKE SHOP! And cheap. If you want they’ll do you a full afternoon tea with doggy box for what you cant eat. A few little shops, check out the antique places in the old churches.
Pembroke dock has the main supermarkets and not much else, one tiny high street with very little in in. Haverford West has the main shops in the area. Carnavon is the biggest shopping place with a modern shopping centre.
Carew Castle is pleasant to visit, it’s worth walking around the back to the tidal weir. Interesting restoration and a good view of the castle
Saundersfoot
Great beach, sandy, no dogs allowed on the beach May to September, when the tide is out you can walk all along to Wisemans bridge and from there to Amroth, but probably not all at the same time.
There is a walk that goes all along the front, using old miners tunnels (quite short and lit) which is at the end of The Strand. Leads into Coast – a great fish restaurant I thought reasonably priced.
Details of the walk
http://www.visitsaundersfootbay.com/uploads/files/Saundersfoot walk web.pdf
For food the Beachside BBQ (by the beach entrance) upstairs and overlooks the beach looks good – smokehouse, BBQ type food, we’ve not tried it but it’s supposed to be very good. The Old Chemist inn overlooks the beach if you sit out the back, again decent bar food – allows dogs in so it will be full of people with dogs.
There’s also a fishmonger in a small building in the harbour carpark, and the butcher in town is very good.
Heading East is Wisemans Bridge, the Inn seemed popular but I’ve not been in yet, then Amroth. Not much at Amroth, pebbly beach/stones when the tide is in, large sand area when the tide is out. The Amroth Arms is under new management and is very good for good gastro pub food. You can easily walk here to Colby Woodland gardens (National Trust) or drive. Nice walk around the gardens, decent NT café and a small art gallery.
https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/colby-woodland-garden
Heading West is Tenby, worth a visit as it’s a walled town, pretty harbour, has some good shops, most of the main ones and the estate agents for that area Drive in towards the town centre and use the Rectory car park, always lots of room, 5 min walk into town. Look over the wall at the very expensive apartments on south beach. Huge long sandy beach and pretty harbour.
On one of the corners in town is a great pasty shop. Lots of great places to eat, cakes and coffee places.
Further West is Manorbier, pretty castle, sandy beach with a river going into it, not much else there, a couple of small eating places. However drive up by the base on the way out/in and there’s a great viewing point over Skrinkle Haven Beach.
Next West is Freshwater East – large sandy beach, caravan park at the bottom of a steep hill. Usually quiet-ish. Nothing special.
Then we come to my favourite part, Stackpole, Bosherton and west.
Stackpole Quay, narrow lanes to this but good National Trust tea shop and the start of the walk to Barrafundle Bay. Very pretty bay you can only walk to but busyish as it’s well known
The Stackpole estate is HUGE! (https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stackpole) Gardens, large lily ponds (think really big lakes). If you park at the main stackpole entrance you can walk around the gardens, not the house as it seems to be privately rented out.
You can park at Bosherton and walk down to Broad Haven south beach around the lily ponds which is stunning, or drive to the beach at Bosherton and walk down some steps to it.
Go see St Govens Chapel, a chapel set into the rocks.
Food –
Stackpole Inn – amazing food, you may have to book a table – best Gastro pub in the area.
St Govens Inn – Bosherton, under new management, very good pub food and beers
Gastro popup caravan in the Bosherton beach (broad haven south) car park, selling all local produce. Fantastic sausages
Heading west from here is Castlemartin range. If the range isn’t active (which at the moment is weekends only) then you can drive through to the coast to see the Green bridge and stack rocks with a short walk. Stunning scenery. If the range is active, there’s a spectator area at Warren where you can watch the tanks shoot.
Go through Castlemartin to Freshwater West – amazing beach, probably my favourite. Rocks at one end, long wide beach with dunes. Check out the little food caravan – amazing (half a lobster in a baguette etc)
Carry on west to Angle, pretty village, small beach, caravan park. The island fort is up for sale is you’ve got just under £1m
Food – follow the signs to the Old Point House, rocky untarmaced road with a car park at the end by the pub. Good pub food and you can sit outside overlooking the bay. Ignore the refinery on the other side and it’s a pretty bay with sailing boats moored.
Then it’s follow the road around and into Pembroke. Best parking is usually the long stay next to the castle but if busy then there’s plenty of parking around.
The Castle is very good, lots to see, lots to walk around and a decent little café, however just past the long stay car park opposite the road junction is a blue building, has signs for tea and cake. AMAZING CAKE SHOP! And cheap. If you want they’ll do you a full afternoon tea with doggy box for what you cant eat. A few little shops, check out the antique places in the old churches.
Pembroke dock has the main supermarkets and not much else, one tiny high street with very little in in. Haverford West has the main shops in the area. Carnavon is the biggest shopping place with a modern shopping centre.
Carew Castle is pleasant to visit, it’s worth walking around the back to the tidal weir. Interesting restoration and a good view of the castle
OP
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Just n from a long day shooting athletics.. will have a proper read of this later and google map at same time... THANKS
zendog
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For a rainy day - slate quarry tours in (no I can't spell it)
http://www.llechwedd-slate-caverns.co.uk/
http://www.llechwedd-slate-caverns.co.uk/
DeadpanDodo
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@Byker28i - that is an excellent write up of the South Pembrokeshire coast area. In fact it mirrors most of what we do here at the weekend - are you stalking me?
You obviously enjoy your food. One more place to try - Ultra Comida deli in Narberth - has authentic tapas in the back room around large communal tables - exceptional value.
In the Northwest of the county, St Davids is spectacular and worth the detour, Kippax.
You obviously enjoy your food. One more place to try - Ultra Comida deli in Narberth - has authentic tapas in the back room around large communal tables - exceptional value.
In the Northwest of the county, St Davids is spectacular and worth the detour, Kippax.
Byker28i
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LOL, we head there a lot - our favourite place. Currently looking for a small bolt hole there.
Actually missed out the Stackpole walled garden - nice little NT cafe, so good cakes etc, walled garden - worth a walk all the way around to find the secret garden.
I'll have to do another guide further around. Some excellent places, Dale, Nolton Haven with the beach and caves, Newgale beach for the surfers, Solva harbour, St Davids, Then there's Abereiddy beach and the blue lagoon, Porthgain, Abercastle... So much
OP
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OP
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Pistyll Rhaeadr Powys (UK tallest single drop waterfall)
Been there done that Most of the paths to the top where closed but we managed to find one off the side of the car park.. finally got to top.. came from above it and down to the top of waterfall...scary looking over....... have to say view great going up but not so special at top of waterfall.. much better view from bottom of it But a great visit ..legs and hips aching a bit though... missus is having a hot bath now haha..... Elan Valley all day tomorrow and fingers crossed for a clear sky as going back late on fro this http://www.elanvalley.org.uk/explore/dark-skies
Been there done that
Most of the paths to the top where closed but we managed to find one off the side of the car park.. finally got to top.. came from above it and down to the top of waterfall...scary looking over....... have to say view great going up but not so special at top of waterfall.. much better view from bottom of it But a great visit ..legs and hips aching a bit though... missus is having a hot bath now haha..... Elan Valley all day tomorrow and fingers crossed for a clear sky as going back late on fro this http://www.elanvalley.org.uk/explore/dark-skies
OP
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An enjoyable week.. however the last day was spoilt by the weather.. 37 quid each for the train up snowden to see nothing of the views and have one of the scariest moments EVER hanging onto the dial at the top in gale force winds and rain. thought i was gonna be blow away ... Couldnt get the camera out at the top so just under it and even then was howling with wind and rain couldnt keep the lens dry on DMC-LX7
OP
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Day 1 was Pistyll Rhaeadr highest one drop waterfall in the UK ... unfortunatly all paths where closed to get close or up bar one.. that was to go way round the back and up then back down again to top of waterfall... this we did and the views going up spectacular... A few other people there who climbed over the closed signs and took the paths... we decided against that so took the long route to top ..
Not my type of photography and was using panasonic lumix DMC-LX7 on fully auto
Not my type of photography and was using panasonic lumix DMC-LX7 on fully auto
OP
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This is what I like about my driving holidays.. day 2..nothing signposted about it apart from the one in the pic.... not a tourist attraction.. just spotted it as we drove down the road.. got out took pics of an old abandoned coal mine.. You could get a sense of the layout....
OP
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Black mountain pass listed as one of the top roads in the UK runs through the brecan beacons national park.. a winding up down rd with some great views... even managed a posh selfie using the timer on the DMC LX7
AJQS
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The lead mine is Cwmystwyth, an old and historically very important place. Great road to it too between Aberystwyth and Rhayader!
Couple more from Elan valley as it was a big day out this
