Looking for a holiday that doesn’t involve passports, airport queues and still rivals a trip abroad? A Wales Staycation can offer rugged mountain peaks to traverse, blue-flag beaches to lounge on and imposing castles to explore.
Whether you are looking for a relaxing beach break, a road trip or an adrenaline rush, Wales has it all. You just need to know where to look, think outside the box and have your normal travel mindset switched on.
In this post we answer the following questions:
- When is the best time and season to plan a Wales staycation
- How to make your staycation the best it can be
- Different types of staycations in Wales
- Explore beautiful regions in Wales that easily compete with a foreign holiday.
- PLANNING YOUR WALES STAYCATION
- HOW TO MAKE YOUR WALES STAYCATION FANTASTIC
- DIFFERENT TYPES OF WALES STAYCATIONS
- STUNNING WALES STAYCATION
- READ MORE ABOUT WALES
PLANNING YOUR WALES STAYCATION
WHAT IS A STAYCATION?
A staycation means exploring your own country, whether locally for days out or further afield to discover a new area. In fact the benefits of a staycation may surprise you.
While giving you the chance to relax and unwind, they also eliminate the hassle of airports, flying and travel times. Plus, you leave less impact on the environment.
WHY GO ON A STAYCAYCATION TO WALES
Wales is a small country in the UK, but don’t let its size deceive you. With stunning national parks, castles dating back to the 11th century, mysterious standing stones to explore and glorious white-sand beaches, Wales is a dream destination.
Easily reached from anywhere in the UK, Wales is a superb treasure-trove of coastal paths, mountain passes, untamed islands, lush verdant hills, pretty villages and prehistoric sites.
WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO VISIT WALES?
Deciding the best time to visit Wales can be tricky, as UK weather is unpredictable at the best of times. Will you be blessed with glorious weather you normally enjoy on a foreign trip? Possibly not. However, Wales has so much more to offer besides the weather.
We personally enjoy May to June and September to October as we love hiking. But you can have a great time, whichever month you travel, as each season is different, offering unique experiences.
HIGHLIGHTS OF EACH SEASON IN WALES?
HIGHLIGHTS OF SPRING IN WALES (March-May)
Spring in Wales is a sign of new beginnings, with birds singing and flowers emerging. Bluebells form a ground cover and trees are in blossom. The sense of impending summer hangs in the air.
Easter marks the start of the tourist season with activity providers and accommodation opening their doors. Now is the perfect time for a road trip, with great views and sublime scenery to be seen. Try the Gospel Pass over the Black Mountains from Hay-On-Wye.
Or include the delightfully scenic loop around Great Orme in North Wales.
HIGHLIGHTS OF SUMMER IN WALES (June-August)
Welsh Summers provide long daylight hours and the chance to enjoy (hopefully) the warmest driest weather of the year. Visitors flock in droves to coastal towns, beaches and hotspots.
This is also a great time to enjoy the great outdoors, get off the beaten track and have adventures. Try kayaking, water sports, hiking and adrenaline fueled pursuits.
HIGHLIGHTS OF A WELSH AUTUMN (September-November)
Autumn showcases trees, forests and gardens in magical red, orange and yellow hues. It is a spectacular time of the year to enjoy fewer crowds, especially along Pembrokeshire Coastal path and Wales Coast Path.
Now is a great time to climb Snowdon in North Wales and Pen y Fan/Corn Du in Brecon Beacons National Park. Enjoy their outstanding natural beauty in peace.
HIGHLIGHTS OF WINTER IN WALES (December-February)
Gloomy dark and cold winter days are given life with Christmas lights. Cardiff makes for a great city break with festive markets and winter festivals. Charming pubs invite you in with their roaring fires, while waterfalls are overflowing.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR WALES STAYCATION FANTASTIC
Holidays make us feel less stressed, more relaxed and provide an opportunity to step outside our normal routines. We delight in visiting new attractions, trying different food and using different modes of transport.
We are sometimes so interested in discovering new destinations abroad, that we fail to see the highlights of our own cities and countries. So as you would do abroad, put your tourist hat on and start exploring Wales in the same way.
Visit new cities, hike new trails, admire new vistas, try new food and drinks and your Wales staycation will be different, but unique and fantastic.
THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX
Do your research and you will be surprised by what a staycation in Wales can offer. There are three National Parks, all packed with magnificent scenery, and waiting to be explored. Check out top events and festivals to attend, or try a unique experience.
Why not book a surf-lesson at one of the coastal beaches. Learn how to cook Welsh specialities such as roast lamb, cawl and rarebit, at a cookery school.
There are endless possibilities and entertaining things to try in Wales. You just have to let Wales surprise you!
GIVE YOUR STAYCATION A WELSH TWIST
Did you know you can go cave trampolining in a disused slate mine in Blaenau Ffestiniog? How about stargazing? Wales has 3 International Dark Sky Parks, so be dazzled in the Brecon Beacons, Snowdonia or the Elan Valley.
Stay the night in a castle, or pitch your tent in a secluded bay and watch the sunrise over coastal cliffs. Watch puffins on Skomer Island or attend a famous Welsh music Festivals such as International Musical eisteddfod.
Go on a Cardiff Tasting Tour, take a pottery workshop or ride a steam train!
TRY UNIQUE EXPERIENCES
Okay, so a staycation in Wales is not going to compete with an exhilarating Safari in Namibia or driving the Icefields Parkway in Canada. But there is so much to discover in Wales, that offers a unique experience.
Wales is justly proud of its industrial heritage. Take a tour down a real coal mine, the workplace of miners up until 1980. Big Pit National Coal Museum takes visitors 90m into the mine, which is both sobering and fascinating.
Take a narrowboat across the longest and tallest aqueduct in Britain in Wrexham or look inside the 16th century former fisherman’s house in Conwy, proclaimed Britain’s smallest house. How about a self-guided tour of Great Orme copper mines in Llandudno?
Visit Pendine Sands, the beach used for six world land speed record attempts or head to Llanwrtyd Wells, Powys to watch the yearly World Bog Snorkeling Championship!
DIFFERENT TYPES OF WALES STAYCATIONS
What kind of staycation are you looking for? Consider what you like doing and what interests you enjoy. Here are some great Wales staycation ideas that you can experience.
FOOD AND DRINK STAYCATION IN WALES
How does a food and drink themed staycation sound? Welsh cuisine focuses on fresh local produce, with emphasis given to tender lamb, freshly caught fish, and an array of quality cheeses.
If you are a foodie, this is a great opportunity to sample Welsh cuisine and spirits.
From world-class Abergavenny Food Festival, to Michelin-starred restaurants such as The Checkers in Montgomery.
Sample single malt whiskies at Penderyn Distillery in Brecon Beacons National Park. Or if gin is your tipple, indulge at Snowdonia Distillery in Conwy or Eccentric Gin in Llantrisant.
WALKING AND HIKING TRIP
Wales is a walkers idea of paradise. Although compact, landscapes are diverse. From verdant hills, dramatic valleys, flowing rivers and rocky bluffs, to rugged cliffs and jagged peaks.
With over 25,000 miles of accessible paths to hike, and three wonderful national parks to explore, you will be in your element.
Try several sections of Wales Coastal Paths – Llyn and Pembrokeshire are typical favourites.
ACTIVITY BASED STAYCATION TRIP
Outdoor activities come in the relaxed to the rigorous kind. All come served with a healthy dose of nature. From a winter stroll ending in a cosy pub, to horse riding, cycling, watersports and canyoning. You choose the level of adrenalin required.
Reel in a catch of the day on the banks of the River Usk, walk around one of 200 scenery-rich golf courses or explore the Cambrian Mountains on horseback.
For those in search of more adrenalin, zipwire across a disused quarry in Snowdonia, go white water rafting down Bala’s River Tryweryn or
WELSH BEACH BREAK
Wales have some fantastic blue-flag beaches with sweeping golden sand, hidden secluded bays and pretty harbours. From surfing at Rest Bay in Porthcawl to Three Cliffs Bay, accessible only by foot. Families will have endless fun at Newport Sands and Tenby sandy beaches.
If you prefer solitude there is always Porth Oer and Barafundle Bay. So yes, Wales staycations come with prescribed beach heaven!
ROMANTIC GETAWAY
Looking to get away for a romantic break without the kids? Wales can offer endless accommodation choices, from luxury hotels with spas to out-of-the-way cabins and cottages with hot tubs.
For sheer luxury book a stay at Palé Hall, Gwynedd or St Brides Spa Hotel in Pembrokeshire.
WILDLIFE SPOTTING IN WALES TRIP
Areas of Wales are renowned for their wildlife encounters, from woodlands, wetlands, mountains and cliff tops. Take a ferry to Skomer Island for guaranteed summer sightings of the beautiful puffin.
Waters around Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion are a haven for dolphins and seals. One of the best places to see wild ospreys is Cors Dyfi Nature Reserve in Powys, while some of the best bird watching in Wales, can be found around Holyhead’s South Stack.
And yet, if you travel beyond its urban areas you will also discover some truly spectacular (and often unexpected) wilderness areas, many of which are renowned for their incredible wildlife encounters.
CULTURAL STAYCATION TRIP
Wales has more castles per square mile than anywhere else. From fairytale to atmospheric. From brooding to striking and quirky. There is a wealth of history behind each one.
Wales is filled with heritage sites and fascinating history. From prehistoric standing stones, to breathtaking gardens and ruins. Begin your Industrial Heritage trail at Blaenavon, learn about Thomas Telford’s canal system at Pontcysylite Aqueduct then descend into the Lewis Merthyr Coal Mine.
ROAD TRIP IN WALES
Wales makes a great road trip holiday. Hit the open road and discover Wales’ most scenic roads. The North Wales Way stretches 75 miles and covers Delightful towns such as Conwy and Llandudno as well as Anglesey.
The 180-mile Coastal Way winds around Cardigan Bay, Pembrokeshire and the Llyn Peninsular. And the 185-mile Cambrian Way takes in Cardiff, Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia.
STUNNING WALES STAYCATION
With so many top things to do in North and South Wales, quirky places to stay and incredible places to eat, you are spoilt for choice.
Let us help you with these inspiring regions to explore on your Wales staycation. Whether you want a bolt-hole in the countryside, a cosy cottage by the sea or a luxury city hotel, we have you covered.
GOWER PENINSULA
Designated as the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1956, the Gower offers diverse beauty in every corner. Wild moors dotted with heather, with dramatic cliffs, golden sand beaches and stunning vistas.
THINGS TO DO ON GOWER
- Waterfront walks along the Wales Coast Path, plus Worms Head.
- Swansea and Swansea Bay are only 20 minutes drive away. Visit the National Waterfront Museum, Dylan Thomas Centre and Glynn Vivian Art Gallery.
- Mumbles is a fashionable seaside retreat, with Mumbles Pier, Oystermouth Castle and Clyne Gardens.
- Uncover local history at Weobley Castle, Arthur’s Stone, Oxwich Castle, in hidden caves and sunken shipwrecks.
BEST GOWER BEACHES
- Rhossili Bay is simply stunning, with sweeping sands and a haven for birds nesting in the cliffs.
- Caswell Bay and Langland Beach are patrolled by lifeguards in the Summer, making them perfect for families.
- Llangennith beach, Langland and Caswell Bay offer great surfing.
- Pwll Du, Brandy Cove and Three Cliffs Bay offer a more remote experience.
GOWER PENINSULA ACCOMMODATION
- Culver House Hotel, Port Eynon
- Beautiful Two Bedroom Flat, The Mumbles
- The Forge, Reynoldston
BEST PLACES TO EAT IN GOWER PENINSULA
- Sample some of the local delicacies, such as Penclawdd Cockles, Salt Marsh Lamb and the famous Laverbread (seaweed).
- P.A’s Wine Bar, Mumbles
- Bay Bistro, Rhossili
- Slice, Swansea
ANGLESEY
Connected to the mainland by a bridge, the Island Of Anglesey in North Wales is surrounded by 125 miles of stunning coastline. A great place to experience a slower pace of life, walk along the Anglesey Coast Path, enjoy watersports and lounge around on white-sand beaches.
THINGS TO DO ON ANGLESEY
- Beaumaris Castle, Courthouse & Gaol is central in the town
- Try kitesurfing and spot birds and puffins at South Stack.
- Take a cruise around Puffin Island
- Explore the remains of Penmon Priory then walk up to Black Point to see the lighthouse.
- Wander around Plas Newydd House and Gardens, the former ancestral home of the marquess of Anglesey.
- Watch a glorious sunset at Llanddwyn Island.
- Walk around the whole island enjoying stunning coastal scenery.
ANGLESEY BEACHES
- Trearddur Bay for windsurfing, Rhosneigr Beach for windsurfing, diving and fishing.
- Red Wharf Bay and Benllech for unending sandy beaches
- Rhoscolyn and Trearddur Bay offer great coves fpr sea kayaking.
- For intimate rugged covers to explore, go to Porth Dafarch or Church Bay.
BEST ANGLESEY ACCOMMODATION
- Chateau Rhianfa, Beaumaris
- Tre-Ysgawen Hall, Llangfeni
- The Hayloft, Bryngwran
BEST PLACES TO EAT ON ANGLESEY
- Sosban And The Old Butchers, Menai Bridge
- The Marram Grass, Newborough
LLYN PENINSULA
Staunchly Welsh, this peninsula feels cosily remote. With coastal walks offering spectacular views, an ancient pilgrim’s route and iron-age hillfort, this is a mystical place.
Visitors are lured by the stunning sand beaches and watersports, but the best way to discover the area’s beauty is on foot.
THINGS TO DO ON LLYN
- Walk sections of the Llyn Coastal Path to discover this stunning peninsula.
- Explore Tre’r Ceiri, an Iron Age Hillfort.
- Look over Cardigan Bay from the remnants of Criccieth Castle.
- Lloyd George Museum in Llanystumdwy, where you can learn about his rise from humble beginnings to British Prime Minister.
- All manner of watersports from sailing, coasteering, paddle boarding, kitesurfing and wakeboarding.
- Bardsey Island for birdwatching and escapism.
- Plas yn Rhiw, a 16th Century Manor House with Ornamental Gardens.
BEST LLYN PENINSULA BEACHES
- Traeth Llanbedrog is a sheltered beach, lined with brightly-coloured beach huts.
- Porth Ceiriad beach, Abersoch is a locals favourite.
- Porth Neigwl, Abersoch is a great surf beach.
- Porth Iago beach is a small gem near Whistling Sands.
BEST ACCOMMODATION ON LLYN PENINSULA
- Gwesty Ty Newydd, Aberdaron
- Glyn Y Coed, Criccieth
- The Old Rectory Cottage, Pwllheli
BEST PLACES TO EAT ON THE LLYN
- Pontoon, Pwllheli
- Venetia, Abersoch
- Becws Islyn Bakery, Aberdaron
SNOWDONIA NATIONAL PARK
This mountainous region is alive with the sound of hikers, with a dizzying array of tracks leading to sublime views. The highest summit in Wales comes with far-reaching awe-inspiring views whatever the weather.
Not a hiker? Drive through the Park, take Snowdon Mountain Railway, visit castles, museums, genteel villages and get a dose of adrenalin at ZipWorld.
THINGS TO DO IN SNOWDONIA
- Visit the “Italian Village” of Portmeirion.
- Take the train up Snowden for exhilarating views without the effort.
- Explore Caernarfon Castle, Dolwyddelan Castle and Dolbadarn Castle.
- Wander around Beddgelert and Betws-y-Coed’s shops and cafes.
- Have a beach day at Black Rock Sands near Porthmadog.
- Enjoy a ride aboard the narrow-gauge Ffestiniog Railway.
- Get your waterfall fix at Pont-y-Pair falls, Conway falls, and Swallow falls.
TOP WALKS IN SNOWDONIA
- Walks up Snowdon include Llanberis Path, Pig Track, Miners Track, Snowdon Ranger Path, Watkin Path and Rhyd Ddu Track.
BEST ACCOMMODATION IN SNOWDONIA
- Mary’s Court (Mairlys) Guest House, Betws-y-Coed
- Alpine Apartments Snowdonia, Betws-y-Coed
- The Rocks At Plas Curig Hostel, Capel-Curig
PLACES TO EAT IN SNOWDONIA
- Ffin y Parc, Llanrwst
- Bistro Betws-y-Coed
- Pen-y-Ceunant Isaf, Llanberis Path
BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK
Covering 520 square miles, this quieter national park offers shimmering lakes and reservoirs, lush green valleys, mountainous terrain and flowing waterfalls.
Explore castles, a whisky distillery, pretty villages, scenic drives and fantastic scenery.
THINGS TO DO IN THE BRECON BEACONS
- Take a tour at Penderyn Distillery and sample whisky and gin.
- Wander around Brecon Cathedral during a Brecon Beacons road trip.
- Explore the picturesque townss of Brecon, Crickhowell, Hay on Wye and Talgarth.
- Go stargazing in the fifth place in the world to be awarded “dark-sky” status.
BEST WALKS IN THE BRECON BEACONS
- Pen-Y-Fan(886m) is the tallest peak in the Park. Combine with a trek up Corn Du (873m)
PLACES TO STAY IN THE BRECON BEACONS
- Bear Hotel, Crickhowell
- Llangoed Hall, Bronllys
- The Swan at Hay, Hay-on-Wye
PLACES TO EAT IN THE BRECON BEACONS
- Felin Fach Griffin, Brecon
- Book-ish, Crickhowell
- St.John’s Place, Hay-on-Wye
PEMBROKESHIRE
With a spectacular coastline, Pembrokeshire is a great choice for families. With blue-flag golden beaches on three sides, 186 miles of coastal path, glorious harbours and magnificent views.
Adventure sports, boat trips, castles, festivals and vibrant towns are just some of the attractions that have visitors flocking in their droves.
THINGS TO DO IN PEMBROKESHIRE
- The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path provides endless wildlife encounters, panoramic vistas and awesome landscapes.
- The coastal town of Tenby with its pastel coloured houses, narrow streets and sweeping golden beach is a delight to explore.
- Take a ferry to Skomer Island and see the beautiful puffins.
- Narberth excels with small independent shops, boutiques and cafes.
- Carew, Manorbier, Pembroke, and Haverfordwest Castles are great historical places.
- St David’s Cathedral lies in a valley and is charasmatic.
- Take a boat trip to Caldey Island, go sea kayaking at Fishguard or coasteering at Abereiddi.
BEST BEACHES IN PEMBROKESHIRE
- Freshwater West, Whitesands Bay and Newgale Beach offer great surfing.
- Barafundle Bay is one of Britain’s finest beaches.
- Tenby, Broad Haven and Poppit Sands are great options for families.
- For seclusion seek out Porthlysgi Bay, St Davids, Bullslaughter Bay, Castlemartin or Presipe near Manorbier Beach.
BEST PLACES TO STAY IN PEMBROKESHIRE
- The Grove, Narberth
- Penally Abbey, Tenby
- Slebech Park Estate, Wiston
- Atlantic Hotel, Tenby
PLACES TO EAT IN PEMBROKESHIRE
- Coast, Saundersfoot
- Food At Williams, Pembroke
- Cwtch, St.Davids
WALES STAYCATION WRAP-UP
Hopefully, you are now convinced that Wales has a lot to offer! So whether this is a first visit to Wales or you were just looking for inspiration, why not take the plunge and book a trip to Wales. You won’t be disappointed!
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