Best home base to explore south Wales over holidays

We visited South Wales in 2017, visiting Cardiff, Tenby, St. David's and a small village in Cardiganshire where my paternal ancestors came from (leaving for America in 1716).

We loved Tenby, it is seaside and between Cardiff and St. David's.

Second vote for Tenby! It’s lovely and also convenient.

If you haven't spent time in Cardiff before, I would definitely consider it as a base for part of your time. There is so much to see and do in Cardiff. I'm not a city person but Cardiff grabbed me. We did a day trip to Tenby. That was enough time there for us but it would be a good base the surrounding area and maybe St. Davids (although St. Davids is difficult to get to on public transport. We really wanted to go there but couldn't swing it on public transport with the time that we had.

Another vote for Tenby but note that it takes 2 hours 45 minutes to reach Tenby from Cardiff by train so it is rather slow going - even though the train could do 100mph. (Many bends and the further west you go, the slower it gets). It takes only 1 hour 50 minutes to reach Cardiff from London (Paddington) by train with most of journey at around 123 mph.

I suggest you firstly make for Cardiff to use as a base. Most of the city centre is pedestrianised and is pleasant to walk around. You will find lovely arcades dating from the late 1800’s as well as modern malls. Cardiff Castle is right by the shopping area and the other side of the castle is Bute Park. (Boats go from a pontoon to Cardiff Bay)

If staying in Cardiff - places nearby (within 8 miles) include St.Fagans Castle and Museum of Welsh History - Cardiff Bus 32 but note that last bus back is 3pm so go early & no Sunday service.

Caerphilly Castle can easily be reached by local train. On the return, you might like to alight at Lisvane and walk through Cefn-Onn-Park which is 4 minutes NW of the station. (Good pub/restaurant to left of entrance drive). You could then return to the station and continue back to Cardiff - perhaps changing trains at Queen Street in order to reach Cardiff Bay.

You might like to consider visiting ‘A Welsh Coal Mining Experience’ at Trehafod in the Rhondda Valley. If going by train - you need the Treherbert service. Alternatively, you could go by Stagecoach Bus 132 which stops outside the entrance. (This bus starts a Greyfrioars Road in Cardiff - not the bus station). This 132 service can also be used to reach Castell Coch near Tongwynlais in north Cardiff.

Also consider visiting Dyffryn Gardens - especially in summer. This National Trust property is just to the W of Cardiff and you need First Cymru Bus X2 - alight at St.Nicholas (get driver to tip you off - as in all cases mentioned). The gardens are a 1 mile walk down a country lane.

A bit further afield, consider taking a train to Chepstow and then a bus to Tintern Abbey (ruin); then return to Chepstow and walk down the hill to castle = first Norman Castle in Wales. (Check out the view from the river bridge).

If you wish to go further inland - consider heading to the old industrial town of Merthyr by train or bus and then take the T4 over the Brecon Beacons to the country town of Brecon.https://traws.cymru/en
Then take Celtic Travel bus X43 from Brecon to Abergavenny - have a look around before heading back to Cardiff. (The train station is a 15 minute walk SE of the town centre. (Or do it in reverse).

Also note that Bath is just over an hour from Cardiff by train.

Swansea was heavily bombed during the war and the re-build was ‘not good’. The city is not really worth a stay but having said that, the Gower peninsula to the west has wonderful coastal scenery - especially at Rhosili at the end of the peninsula.

Tenby is wonderful and if you go down to the harbour, you will find boat trips out to Caldy Island or along the coast. Wonderful beaches west of Tenby - such as Barafundle Bay - but impossible to reach without a car. Tenby is surrounded by beaches.

PS. Nearest sandy beach to Cardiff is Barry island - 30 minutes on the train. It would have been nice before the humans arrived! Enough said.

Google the places mentioned.

Check out these South African You Tubers:> Tenby. and Cardiff.

When in Cardiff, do visit the Cardiff Castle, but also a few miles north of Cardiff, visit Caerphilly Castle. Also, see The Museum of Welsh Life a few miles west of Cardiff.