All adult family group is looking for a small town or village as a base in Wales. We are not doing big day trips but need an area with some walks from the door or within maybe an hour drive. We will have a car. We like pubs, ruins, castles, history, and scenery, and would prefer being on the coast. Our focus is relaxation with some walking rather than driving around. Kayaking would be a plus. Previous places that have fit our needs were Fowey in Cornwall, Seaford on the South Coast, Helmsley in Yorkshire. Thank you for any suggestions.
Posted by
Lake District, England
7393 posts
You want Snowdonia in North Wales.
If you want to be on the coast then Caernarfon (the proper modern spelling since 1974) will suit you very well, looking at your travel history. Your first castle is right there in the town centre, plenty of others around. If you fancy a day off driving the Welsh Highland steam railway will deliver you to some wonderful walks on it's journey to Porthmadog.
There are also good bus links from Caernarfon into Snowdonia.
https://www.festrail.co.uk/
You're on the Menai strait- so I'm sure kayaking will be found- perhaps ask Plas Menai- the National Outdoor Centre for thoughts-
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11658 posts
We enjoyed St. David’s and wish we’d stayed there longer. We walked along the coastal path , found a pub for lunch, took a bus back. Delightful!
You can take a fine daytrip to Pembroke Castle as well.
Posted by
Land of La
9101 posts
Curious as to why you posted in the England forum about Wales?
The country of Wales does have its own forum. Might get more answers to your question.
Posted by
Lincolnshire, UK
2212 posts
For North Wales, my coice would be either LLandudno (Victorian seaside towm) or nearby Conwy (medieval walled town with a ruined castle) for the north coast
Alternatively, there is Criccieth with its ruined castle.
If heading for South wales, then either the tiny St David's with its cathedral and ruined Bishop's Palace, or else possibly Tenby another walled town but bigger.
Posted by
OP
Fredericksburg, TX, USA
74 posts
So sorry to have done that wrong. Guess I never looked at the whole alphabet!
Thanks for the helpful replies.
Posted by
2540 posts
Consider Barmouth:>https://www.visitsnowdonia.info/barmouth_abermaw
Hikes in the area:>http://www.mawddachestuary.co.uk/walks/panorama-walk.html
You can also move location for a day out using the Cambrian Coast Railway. Get off at Minffordd and walk just over a mile to see Portmeirion, for example. (Or go by Car if you have one).
Porthmadog is the starting point of 2 steam railways and would also make a good base. https://www.festrail.co.uk
Posted by
Stratford upon Avon
470 posts
Being on the coast restricts the walking options
I would look for somewhere like Bishops Castle. although in England its very close to the Welsh border
Superb walking country in all directions with ruined castles nearby at Clun at Montgomery although there is not much trace of the castle in Bishops Castle