I posted earlier that I’m looking for a quaint village or town, oozing Welsh charm to visit for five or six days end of September. Found a great price for flight into Cardiff. I will not be renting a car. Am hoping for recommendations of a place to spend my time for rest and relaxation, walks and soaking up the history. Any ideas of a place within 2 or 2 1/2 hours by train from Cardiff? I have Welsh Ancestry from South Wales so to stay in or around that area would be wonderful. Thank you.
Posted by
392 posts
I think Tenby would be a good option. It's on the train line which is a bonus, and from there you could take a bus trip to David's and a boat trip to Caldey Island. Hopefully you'll catch some nice weather. I'm not sure there really is such a thing as Welsh Charm....
Posted by
OP
NYC, NY, usa
148 posts
I quite enjoyed Wales when I was there five years ago. We were in Northern Wales. Conwy and Llandudno. Thought it was lovely.
Posted by
2403 posts
You don't say where this flight is coming from but Cardiff Airport has no trans Atlantic flights.
Posted by
Charleston & Birmingham
4317 posts
Be sure to go to the Welsh Family Life Museum-you take a bus from Cardiff.
Posted by
OP
NYC, NY, usa
148 posts
Flying from Boston, layover in Amsterdam. Still open for suggestions please. Thank you.
Posted by
Royaume-Uni nul points, pas plus
2506 posts
Posted by
2403 posts
Don’t go to Saundersfoot by train as the station is a mile from the town with no transport links down some roads where I would not wish to walk due to traffic danger. Far better to stay on to the next stop at Tenby - which is a better place and has the rail station in the town:>https://www.visittenby.co.uk (Note that this is nowhere near Cardiff as it is about 3 hours away by train).
Near to Cardiff, Caerphilly Castle is just a 17 minute train ride away. You should also catch an Easyway 32A bus from Westgate Street and visit St.Fagans Castle & Museum = about 20 minutes on the bus.
Chepstow also has a castle & can be reached by train in about 35 minutes. You could then take a local bus (hourly) a short way up the Wye Valley to see Tintern Abbey (ruin).
Another good trip by train is up The Marches Line to Shrewsbury (1 hour 45 minutes). On return trip, stop off at Ludlow for a flavour of ‘Ye Olde England’ - best view of Castle is from west side of river.
Please note that on most Sundays in September that major closure of the main line in the Cardiff area is taking place for electrification work.
Also consider tours such as:>http://www.realwalestours.com and www.seewales.com
Posted by
7661 posts
We spent two nights in Tenby, a very historic Welsh city. Just ask about Jasper Tudor when there.
James provided some great advice with his post.
Posted by
2403 posts
We would call Tenby a town. A city is a much larger place - such as Cardiff. However, having said that, a much smaller place that has a cathedral would also be called a city. In Wales, an example of a small place with a cathedral would be St/David’s - on the far western tip of Pembrokeshire.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11315 posts
We spent 3 nights in St. David’s last month and I would have gladly stayed a week, but only if you like to walk. Charming small city—Britain’s smallest city— with good restaurants an pubs, bus network supporting walking routes, nice people, affordable.