Boots in Wales question

If it was my trip I’d go from Lancaster over to Bangor and Caernarfon before heading down to Caerphilly and Cardiff. If there was time, while in the Bangor area, visit the nearby Conwy and Beaumaris castles.

public bus and train.

Lancaster has more than the Castle to visit, oh and the Castle has a very nice cafe. Also in the Castle (but a different attraction) is the Police and Crime Museum (the Castle was also a prison for many years) in the old cells- free.
The interesting Priory Church is next door, other very good museums include the City Museum, the Maritime Museum (Lancaster was an important port), and the Judge's Lodgings Museum, also the little Cottage Museum.
There is a good value combo ticket at £8 for the City Museum, Maritime Museum and the Cottage Museum.
The Judges Lodgings is part of the Lancashire Council museums £25 pass (most paid museums in Lancashire).
There is also the remains of the Roman Bath House, signed from the Maritime Quarter.
Also make time to visit the splendid Williamson's Park.

I think you will like Lancaster a lot.

You need to choreograph your visit, as all except the City Museum and the Castle have limited opening hours (the Cottage especially is Saturday only).

I clicked on this topic thinking it would be a question about finding a pharmacy in Wales :)

I agree with Jaime above, that's the same route I would recommend. Caernarfon is a very nice place to stay. We once stayed just slightly out of town and had a view across the Menai Strait to Anglesey, which is worth visiting if you have the time. On the island itself is Plas Newydd House and Gardens, which I haven't been to but has been on my to-visit list for a while. And Stuart is right, there is a lot to see in Lancaster.

Cardiff to Heathrow for an afternoon flight?

I hope it is a very very late afternoon flight. I hope that works out

I track that Cardiff to LHR is 2.5 hours. Am concerned that you feel I need luck to make a late afternoon flight? What do you know that I am not seeing? Tks.

The M4 is a very busy road. The 2.5 hours figure is a non-rush hour, no accidents, and no construction estimate. Essentially, allow plenty of time to reach the airport. It would be better to sit in the airport by arriving early than sitting in traffic on the M4.

Yes it is 2 1/2 hours plus or minus. So if you leave Cardiff at 0651, that equals an 0931 arrival, allow an hour in hand for bad luck, and a 3 hour check in= a flight after 1330.
The first train from Cardiff on a weekday is at 0500= an 1130 or later flight.

On that train in 4 weeks time the fare is £60.75 with a Senior railcard.

I probably wouldn't want to leave much later than that 0700 train.

... and no matter if road or rail .... proverbially sometimes things happen

That settles it!! Staying at LHR airport hotel before flight. Not in my nature to worry about traffic, so appreciate the info.

People are being a touch dramatic, an 0917 train would get you into Heathrow by midday. If you are super risk averse an 0815 train gets you there at 1040.

Of course a dreadful fate could befall you and every train gets cancelled (this is extremely rare) but that's what travel insurance is for. I would much rather have an extra evening in Cardiff than a drab Heathrow hotel

This is an excellent website about the Castles of Wales:>https://www.castlewales.com
Also check out:> https://www.visitwales.com/cadw

As others have said, start with Lancaster & work south. You will need to pass through Chester - well worth a look. Make CONWY your first stop in Wales - the castle is right above the train station.

Bangor is not really worth visiting - though you could use it as a base for trips by bus to CAERNARFON CASTLE , BEAUMARIS CASTLE & the Victorian PENRHYN CASTLE. Far more to see in NW Wales. Consider the SNOWDON MOUNTAIN RAILWAY.

To go by train from NW Wales to Cardiff - the fastest route is back along the north Wales coast to Chester and then south via Shrewsbury to Cardiff. (Direct trains operate on this route). Alternatively, consider going to Porthmadog by bus or from Caernarfon by WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAY:> https://www.festrail.co.uk

From Porthmadog, it is possible to take the ’normal’ Cambrian line along the coast & then inland to reach SHREWSBURY (worth a look) and then a train down to Cardiff. The Cambrian Line is very scenic:> https://www.visitwales.com/destinations/north-wales/explore-cambrian-coast-railway-line

CARDIFF has 4 Castles in and around the city. CARDIFF CASTLE is in the centre of the city & is ‘owned’ by Cardiff Council. Unfortunately, the Council run commercial events on the castle green - so you might find it set up for a music concert. That said, it is well worth climbing the Norman keep and seeing the interior of the castle - which was owned by the Marquess of Bute.

CAERPHILLY CASTLE (Cadw) is just a 20 minute local train ride north of the city and well worth seeing - though the town is not up to much. En-route - could alight at Lisvane station for a walk in Cefn-Onn-Park - which is best in May.
https://cadw.gov.wales/2-1-entry-offer-transport-wales

CASTELL COCH on a hill side north of Cardiff is another creation of the Marquess of Bute on the site of a medieval castle. (Bus to Tongwynlais & then a 20 minute walk up hill).

ST. FAGANS CASTLE & MUSEUM OF WELSH LIFE is a 25 minute Bus (32) ride west of the city. Well worth seeing but undergoing renovations at the moment. This is free as it is run by the museum service - as is the NATIONAL MUSEUM OF WALES (closed Mondays). Note that the last bus back to the city from St.Fagans is around 2.30pm & the site is large - so go out ready for opening at 10am. (No bus on Sundays).

As well as wandering around the city centre - suggest you also try and visit Cardiff Bay = 1 mile to the south.

Wow posters--thanks and especially you James. I might just add another day or 2 to the schedule!

If on the Shrewsbury to Cardiff leg, the trains call at LUDLOW. You might like to consider seeing this small town which has a castle - best viewed from west of the river. It does not look up to much when you leave the station as all you see are supermarkets. Reach the main road and turn left up the hill and the town is olde England.

I have not been in the castle.https://www.ludlowcastle.com
https://www.ludlow.gov.uk/visit-ludlow