Pros / Cons of Cardiff, Conwy, Penzance

Do you see alternatives?

There are literally many thousands of places to see nature, castle, beaches and “old stuff”. No need to limit it to 3.

Trains go about every hour from London Paddington to Penzance and they all stop at Exeter. Nationalrail.co.uk.

Also Penzance isn’t in Wales.

Cardiff isn’t usually an expensive place to stay so I wonder if your dates coincide with a large concert at the stadium in the city. You don’t say when you’re travelling.

Thanks Helen, I’ll be visiting right at the June and July mark. Thats a really good call about the concerts - there are two large acts in Cardiff that I’m aware of, one right before and the other right after that time frame. Perhaps that is why the options seem limited and the prices so high.

I've stayed in Penzance on a Rick Steves tour so didn't have to use public transit but it is way the heck out there, lol. IF you choose Cornwall, you might choose something closer in. I've also stayed in Falmouth on a Road Scholar tour and liked the atmosphere of that location better than Penzance. Both tours saw some cool old stones if that is what you are looking for but I'm pretty sure none were accessible by public transit.

I've stayed in Conwy as well and enjoyed it, again not using public transit there. The Great Orme Bronze Age copper mine site outside Llandudno was interesting and accessible via the tramway.

It was ancient times when I stayed in the Cardiff area so no comments.

Cardiff would work if castles are an interest. Near it are Cardiff, Caerphilly, Coch, and Chepstow castles. Tintern Abbey is also nearby. When I think of Cardiff, beaches don’t come to mind. Penzance would work for visiting smaller villages.

With very limited time, to me, Conwy is too far away.

I had a rental car when I was in that area, so was not dependent on public transportation schedules to many places.

Choices, choices.

And I assume you know about St. Fagan's folk park that is easily accessed from Cardiff? It's one of my favorite places in Europe.

Conwy is far out of your way. However it is only one change of train from there to Exeter if you use Llandudno Junction (one mile across the bridge from Conwy)- change at Birmingham New Street or Newport (Gwent)- the latter is by far the most scenic route. But the journey is long due to the long distance.

From Conwy you can also easily get to Caernarfon and Beaumaris Castles by bus. If you stay in Caernarfon as opposed to Conwy then Harlech Castle is also easy to reach by hourly bus- changing bus at Porthmadog.

Then the same trains to Exeter from Bangor (very frequent bus from Caernarfon)

Getting around Cornwall by public transport is easy- there is a self perpetuating false story on this forum otherwise which simply isn't true.

If you want to do castles Falmouth is a bit more central than Penzance- Pendennis (at Falmouth), St Michael's Mount (England's answer to Mont St Michel)- hourly bus from Falmouth, and St Mawes (direct ferry from Falmouth, or two buses switching at Truro. To get the best out of the day I suggest ferry out, bus back.
Also Restormel Castle at Lostwithiel- train from Penzance or Falmouth- change at Truro from Falmouth.
Also St Catherine's Castle at Fowey- train to St Austell, then regular bus. There are even integrated bus/rail tickets.

However Penzance is about 300 miles from Heathrow, so arriving at noon it is going to take time to get there, so it is a late night arrival no matter which way you do it.

It will cost you but there is one spectacular Cornish experience you can get like no other, and away from the crowds.

Go to Penzance on the Saturday. Stay overnight. On Sunday morning take the morning ferry to the Isles of Scilly or fly fixed wing from Lands End Airport or fly helicopter (the only scheduled helicopter service in Europe) from Penzance.
Two nights on the gorgeous Isles of Scilly, then fly fixed wing back to Exeter on the Wednesday.

As I say experiences like that do not come cheap, and there are only two castles that I can think of on Scilly. But you get beaches and nature in bucket loads. Visitors are not allowed to drive on the Isles- you walk or cycle basically. On the out isles they are all small enough to walk. Tresco Abbey Gardens are one of the highlights of a trip out there.

Thank you all. Yes Choices Choice really sums it up - the comments are helpful. Im regrettably agreeing that Conwy is too far out for this trip and short window. Im going to pull my Cornwall plans closer in to the upper portions as suggested and also lean into my Cardiff research a bit more. Nice call on St Fanigans (spelling). I find that very interesting as well as the castles called out. The Great Orme was indeed on the Conwy list….tWill see what I come up with and will come back here (or England) for more advice. Thx!