Wales or Cornwall ? (Looking for suggestions from travelers who have been to both.)

Well, it's kind of like comparing apples to oranges. If you're driving, I would probably go with Wales just because it's easier to drive around. Cornwall can be difficult with a car because some of the roads are so narrow and have the built-up stone walls on each side that you run the risk of damaging your rental car.

Oh, I just looked and saw your note about rail and bus travel. I had a car when I was in Cornwall, so I'm not sure about public transportation. There are a number of threads on this forum about it. Obviously, any kind of public transportation will slow you down more than a car would, but I do know there's decent public transportation in Cornwall. I'm not sure about Wales, as I had a car when I was there also.

But overall, they're both beautiful and wonderful, but they're both very different. And yes, I agree that Cornwall is the most different from where you have been before. You will find that Wales has the beautiful scenery and the gorgeous castle ruins. It's different from Yorkshire and the Peak District and even the Lake District, though. It's definitely not as crowded as any of the other places you mentioned will be. A good choice if you'd like to have a little bit more serenity and solitude, as opposed to the crowds that you will find in Cornwall.

Looking back at my trips, I enjoyed them equally, I think. I'd probably give the edge to Wales just because I don't like crowds, and Cornwall definitely has more tourists there. But really, they're both pretty wonderful, so I don't think you can go wrong with either choice.

South Wales is closer to Bath than Cornwall, and easier to access by train, although the trains don’t go everywhere and you will need to use buses as well. Both places are well worth visiting so you can’t go wrong destination wise.

I don’t know anything about getting around by bus as I wouldn’t go somewhere rural without a car. The bus services are going to be fairly sparse and require careful planning.

It depends what you mean by ‘most different’?
I’ve been to Cornwall, and it is very nice, but I’m still going to be slightly biased and say Wales.
As well as the beautiful scenery it also has an interesting and ‘different’ history, culture and language.

Is there anything you are particularly interested in? Scenery? History?

I've been to both areas and as others have said both are beautiful. That said I would go back to Wales because it is much easier to get around on the trains and buses available. There was a book called Britain by Rail which was updated. The should be similar things online. There are also many TV shows available on your streaming services. There are also several more Castles, Coastal Walks, Excursion Trains up Mountains, lots of Sheep and many charming Villages and Beach Resorts. Wales is included on the www.nationaltrust.org.uk check to see if Senior Passes, or timed Overseas Tourist Passes are available. I might take the train from Bath to Chester and then to Conwy and check out most of the Edward Castles in the North. Stay overnight on a Sheep Farm on Anglessy and continue to Caernarfon. Depending on your speed of travel continue south to do Coastal Walks. We drove, but I understand if that doesn't work for you. You may be able to do guided daytrips to see more if you want. Bon Voyage!

Not sure what you mean by Southern Ireland (whether literally, or just the Irish Republic), but if you go to Pembrokeshire you can then catch the ferry to Rosslare (at pretty much the south eastern tip of Ireland) from either Fishguard or Pembroke Dock twice a day.

From Rosslare there are the trains to Dublin, and re-instated bus services to Waterford, which extend all the way to Cork and Tralee (replacing a mothballed railway line). For several years the buses too were withdrawn, but have made a come back.

In other words you don't have to go to North Wales, for the ferry from Holyhead.

In Cornwall the bus services have just been re-jigged, but the full bus timetable book is here- https://www.transportforcornwall.co.uk/services

Also by September there is a good chance that the Mid Cornwall Metro may have started- with more frequent services on the main line, also to Newquay and Falmouth.

I don’t know anything about getting around by bus as I wouldn’t go somewhere rural without a car. The bus services are going to be fairly sparse and require careful planning.

Assumptions can be erroneous. Especially out in Pembrokeshire the services are quite reasonable- forming part of the Traws Cymru strategic bus network of Wales.

The same is true of the Brecon Beacons- much better services than you might expect. You can get to the Beacons from Cardiff, then drop down on the bus afterwards to Swansea on an hourly Traws Cymru service for trains further afield, including to Pembrokeshire- https://traws.cymru/en

I have been to both in early to mid September. I loved them both, however, I would chose Wales at that time of year. Cornwall was very very crowded when we were there. We also found Wales a little easier with public transportation.

it also has an interesting and ‘different’ history, culture and language.

I would also like to add that this all applies to Cornwall as well as Wales.

As for not driving into walls (known as “Cornish hedges”) the trick is to steer in such a way as you don’t drive into them. It’s not that hard.

I visited both in August and September 2025.

Cornwall: We stayed in St Austell with the explicit purpose to visit https://www.edenproject.com/visit and https://www.heligan.com/, and they were absolutely worth the trip. It was easy enough to get there by train and get back to London the same way.

Wales: I planned to visit Wales, but deliberately did not make detailed plans. I went by train from Copenhagen to Cardiff and spent 4 nights there, which was enough to see "everything" - including a walk to Cardiff Bay and around the bay. Then I winged it and visited Fishguard, Aberystwyth and Betws-y-Coed.The first two was chosen for their easy transport (train and bus). Both were nicely un-touristy :-) Aberystwyth had a cable car to the top of a hill with a fine view, but the town was VERY windy.

I had been to Betws-y-Coed before (in 1987 by car) and It seemed much changed - and not to be more un-touristy. It was very difficult to get there and back - my trains kept getting canceled.

I ended in Chester (by train), which is on the edge of Wales - mainly to visit the zoo, which was amazing, but the town itself was also quite interesting.

As far as Cardiff is concerned - these are the places that are of interest in and around the city that can be reached by public transport:>
4 castles can be found in & around the city?
https://www.cardiffcastle.com/the-castle/ is found in the centre and dates from Roman times. In the middle is a Norman keep (1087) but much of the castle dates from the 1800’s when it was owned by the Marquess of Bute.
CAERPHILLY CASTLE is a massive medieval fortress just a 20 minute local train ride north from Cardiff. The castle is everything that you would expect of an 1100’s fortress complete with moat. If you are visiting Caerphilly, you might like to break the journey at Lisvane station and walk for 5 minutes across the car park and into CEFN-ONN-PARK (free). (In spring it is very colourful with azaleas, camellias, rhododendrons and bluebells all under the canopy of a temperate rain forest). https://www.outdoorcardiff.com/parks/parc-cefn-onn/
https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/caerphilly-castle

CASTELL COCH stands on a hillside in north Cardiff. If you have a car - it is M4 junction 32 and you could easily visit this castle and Caerphilly Castle in one go - or taxi between the 2. If visiting by bus from Cardiff - you need Stagecoach 132 from Greyfriars Road and alight at Tongwynlais (about 25 minutes out). The walk from the bus stop to castle is about 17 minutes uphill.
https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/castell-coch

ST.FAGANS CASTLE & MUSEUM OF WELSH LIFE is just to the west of the city. The site is vast and needs at least half a day. You have grounds with buildings of significance brought from all over Wales and re-erected. The Castle is really a 1500’s Manor House. You will also find gardens near the castle. You will also find indoor galleries explaining about life in Wales through the ages - handy if it starts to rain. https://museum.wales/stfagans/about/ (The actual castle is undergoing renovations in 2026 but plenty to see at this museum and grounds).

LLANDAFF CATHEDRAL is about 2 miles NW of Cardiff Castle.https://www.llandaffcathedral.org.uk
If visiting Cardiff, I suggest you visit CARDIFF BAY - which is just over 1 mile south of the city centre.
https://www.visitwales.com/destinations/south-wales/cardiff/top-things-see-and-do-cardiff-bay
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WALES is found just N of the shopping area next to the City Hall. It has extensive art galleries.
If visiting Cardiff, note that the city holds major events - especially in the Principality Stadium. This can result in hotels charging massive rates to cash in on all the fans and transport systems are stretched.
Best to avoid such events if of no interest.
https://www.visitcardiff.com

Dyffryn Gardens (NT) are a short bus (First X2) ride from Cardiff to St.Nicholas plus a 1 mile walk down a country lane.

Most of Wales is hilly/mountainous and has attractive coastlines - especially in *Pembrokeshire, the Gower peninsula and up the west coast - including the Isle of Anglesey. * Tenby is the main town visited by tourists.
NW Wales is also well worth visiting:> https://www.visitwales.com/destinations/north-wales/eryri-snowdonia-mountains-and-coast/things-see-do-and-experience-eryri

Cornwall also has attractive coastlines with the south coast being more sheltered with many creeks. Wales wins on inland scenery and medieval castles and narrow gauge steam railways.

https://www.visitcornwall.com
https://www.visitwales.com