What are YOUR favourite places in Wales?

Out of the way, maybe, but the Neath Abbey, Neath, Wales, Near Port Talbot and Sansea (on the Atlantic coast) is worth a visit if you are interested in ruins of that era (1200's). Very Interesting....also the "valleys" in that area, old cold mining towns, no great attractions, but very sennic and interesting as well.

Wales has the best castles in the world. What I like to do when taking somebody new is start at Chepstow (near Cardiff) since it's fairly simple (but has all the essentials) and I can quickly explain how a castle works, then work my way around the coast clockwise. You're coming from the wrong direction for this, so here's the best of the castles in your order: Conwy, Caernarfon, Harlech (best of them all), Pembroke, Carmanthen, Kidwelly, Caerphilly, and little Chepstow. There's only a couple of hundred more. Take a look at: castlewales.com. Over-rated is Cardiff Castle, nothing else in the country is over-rated. The places is terrific and nobody seems to go there. The people are first-class as well. If you want megalithic stuff, look at this: megalithic.co.uk. You'll need to worm your way down to the Welsh pages. I once spent the better part of a month just looking at the iron-age hill forts. A redone one, but worth a look is Castell Henllys. Many of the rest take some good hiking. There's a good regimental museum in Caernarfon Castle. (Royal Welch Fusiliers). The National Museum in Cardiff is really well-done. If you have time, a boat tour of Cardiff harbor is interesting. For fairly serious hiking, consider the Pembrokshire Coast Trail (up high, not on the beach). For easier hiking, try bits and pieces of the Offa's Dyke Trail. Oh yeah, and there's this area called Snowdonia.......

You have my blessing to give Cardiff a miss. It is the only place I have been in Wales. The castle was a disappointment, the National Gallery was full of mediocre works. Cardiff Bay was mildly interesting to this Torchwood fan. It was fun to order a pint of Brains in a pub. You can do better than Cardiff.

We LOVED Edward's Castles in N. Wales - especially Caernarfon and Conwy. We stayed in a nice B&B in Conwy and used it as our base to see 4 of the 5 castles. Do a google search to get inspired - there are lots of pages devoted to the Welsh Castles of Edward I.

Caernarfon Castle, Portmeirion, Snowdonia National Park,
Tintern Abbey (North of Chepstow - Wordsworth: Lines Written a Few Miles above Tintern Abbey, on Revisiting the Banks of the Wye during a Tour, July 13, 1798)

Do not miss Tintern Abbey. Very inspiring. Ranks up there with Stonehenge and Avebury. Also fun is to get into a pub in the evening and chat with the locals. The welsh accent is so distinctive

We actually enjoy Cardiff. Lots of good shopping- both "highstreet" stores and markets. Good restruants, too.
For nice walks/hikes, the Snowdonia area is lovely. You can also go to Mt. Snowdon and take a cog wheel train up to the top of the mt. Great views. I think there is a slate mine that does tours nearby, too. We stayed in Betws-y-Coed. Lovely little village with lots of b&bs. Also has some artisits "studios" and potteries.

We loved Wales! We spent 4 days in Cardiff (loved it, even the castle which was mainly interesting for the Norman keep but the manor house was also interesting to see how the super rich lived). Tintern was just amazing, we were there late in the day, it was barely raining, just so "Welsh"! We loved Caerphilly, Carnarfon, Harlech, Beaumaris and Conwy. We spent 2 nights in Conwy, loved the village, stayed in a B & B just outside of the walls but walking distance. We drove from Cardiff to Conwy, through Brecon Beacons, which was a great drive. Wales is on our list to go back to so we can see more!

.......and for what it's worth: the latest issue of NatGeo's Traveler rated the Pembrokeshire coast as one of the top 99 places to go in the world......... so was CT, but who cares?

Unfortunately, my only trip through Wales is a blur - a few day section of a several month journey through Europe 30 years ago. So I can't provide comments on specific, and certainly not on current, things to do or see. However, I clearly remember how beautiful the country was. It's on my list of places to go back now that I have returned to travel mode in recent years. I honestly think you could land there with no itinerary at all and have an incredible time just finding treasures along the way. As someone else pointed out, Wales is Castle Central! A gorgeous country. You'll love it.

We stayed in Betwys-n-Coed and found it a great location. Started the trip further south to see Tintern Abbey and castles that others mentioned. There were some delightful hikes around B-n-C. One was called the Fairy Walk and started within a private sheep farm. We found Wales to be cheaper than England, friendly, excellent food, and driving easy. Other sights we liked in the area: the Trefir Woolen Mills, Bodnant Gardens, Gwydir Castle, Powis Castle, Mount Snowden, the house built in a day, and the cute little town of Llanwrst. In this town there is the most charming tea room covered in Virginia Creeper and it was actually on the cover of a RS Guidebook several years ago-but not even mentioned within the book. Most over rated Place IMO: Portmeirion.

I feel I have to defend poor Cardiff Castle which no one else seems to like! I do adore Gothic Revival architecture though so I guess it wouldn't appeal to everyone.

Be sure to stay on a farm B & B. I also love just getting a survey map and driving around to find old hill forts & ruins that are marked on the map. Hike on Offa's Dyke which forms most of the border between England and Wales. Ride the old steam train up the mountain in Snowdonia. And, as everyone says, you can't beat Wales for castles-they are all wonderful. If you have a chance visit the Welsh Life Museum just outside Cardiff.

Pick up a copy of "Hudson's Historic Houses and Gardens, Castles and Heritage Sites"
It is available on amazon.co.uk. Its an amazing guide that will have you re-routing some of you travels so not to miss some stunning Castles and amazing gardens and Manor homes.