North and South Wales

We loved Conwy, both the walled town and the castle. Also the castles at Caernarfon and Beaumaris (on Anglesey). Haven't been up Snowdon but it would be great in good weather. Besides the train up Snowdon, the Welsh Highland Railway runs a train between Caernarfon and Porthmadog through beautiful countryside, see http://www.festrail.co.uk/.

Thank you for these details. One in our group is an AAA member, so perhaps she can get the Wales book directly. Love Brecon Beacons - but have not been to Pembroke coast. Robert Plant is the lead singer of Led Zeppelin - apparently they wrote an album (yup, over 40) at Bryn-y-aur - a little cottage on the South end of Snowdonia.

How about Mid Wales, around the English/Welsh borders? Some years ago we travelled for a week in this area and for most of the time it was just us and the sheep on the roads. We used a previous version of this guide and found it invaluable. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Leisure-Guide-Wales-AA-Guides/dp/0749566957/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1338720810&sr=8-1 We stayed in the old town of Monmouth and also Newtown. Visit the Elan Valley (Wales' mini Lake District). The "lakes" are the reservoirs built to supply water to the English Midlands. http://www.elanvalley.org.uk/home/ Also the Brecon Beacons National Park. For coastal scenery the Pembrokeshire Coast is hard to beat.

With five days, I'd give three to the major castles, starting at Chepstow, and working the semi-circle to hit Caerphilly, Kidwelly, Pembroke, Harlech, Caernarfon, and Conwy. Harlech is the best castle in the world, except that it might just tie with Krak Chevalier (currently a bit hard to visit). Little Chepstow is a darn close second. The whole drive is only about three hundred miles (six or seven hours, with plenty of stops). Two hours is enough for most of the castles. The above sequence would put you within striking distance of either Anglesy or Snowdonia. I'd probably pick the latter, but drive it instead of taking the train (never have, but have hiked the rail bed the whole way and you see more by driving). What Linda said about the Pembrokshire coast. I lack about thirty miles to claim I've hiked the entire Welsh coast and I would have long been done except that I keep going back to the PCP. There's some pretty good walks along the west side of the Wye above Chepstow as well. I'm working on the Offa's Dike Path as well but keep taking tangents and haven't seen enough of it to make an intelligent comment. I'd give minimal time to Conwy. The regimental museum at Caernarfon can slow you down if you're not careful. I'll pass on who Plant might be or where Bryn-y-aur is, having never heard of either.

Just returned from the England in 14 Days trip. We loved Wales! I'd trust any of Rick's suggestions. Everything we saw was interesting, awe-inspiring or gorgeous. We made plans before we left to spend time in Conwy watching a local cricket team. The pitch is right across the road from the town walls. Folks were warm and welcoming and generous, and we had a wonderful time learning about the game.

Snowdonia is amazing. I am just back from a trip there. We stayed in a fantastic converted church at Capel Curig. One dilemna is the trip up there. We ended up not going as I wanted to take the train up and walk down, but my boyfriend was only up for this if it was dry. Visibility was not good in the end and still the earliest train we could have gone on was 5 pm, so if I was making a once in a lifetime trip to see it, I would book the return journey and hope the weather was great and just foirfeit the return part of the ticket. Check out Brunning and Price pubs. I have been to most of them and the food is usually a very high standard with a good selection of real ale.