Wales does not have one big attraction to begin with, such as Edinburgh in Scotland or London in England. It is a potpourri of many different attractions – gorgeous countryside, hills and dales, historic castles, and waterfalls. The hotels are small, B&Bs are cosy and Airbnbs are comfortable. Breakfasts are wholesome and warm scones and cakes await you at little roadside eateries.Â
We roamed around in our car taking in the many lovely sights, never having to drive too far to the next beautiful spot. In our usual style, we skipped the big cities and drove through pristine countrysides and smaller roads. Here’s our route map:
Here are the highlights of our trip:
Chepstow Castle
This Norman castle, above the banks of Wye river in Southeast Wales, was built as a series of terraces instead of the usual concentric circles that you see in other castles, a very unusual construction.Â
Raglan castle
 This grand Welsh castle changed over centuries from a fortified castle to a Tudor manor-house, but sadly today it is a vast ruin.
Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
This 19th century aqueduct, a UNESCO world heritage site, transported not just water, but boats! It is the keystone of a canal built in the 19th century without any locks. The aqueduct spans the river Dee with a set of 19 arches made with local sandstone, cast iron and wrought iron. You can walk along the edge of the iron trough that holds the canal waters, far above the river.
Conwy Castle
Soaring curtain walls and eight huge round towers gives this castle a daunting appearance. A hike to the top reveals a stunning all-round view of distant mountains and a cluster of three bridges – the road bridge, rail bridge and the Conwy suspension bridge!
Copper Kingdom
An off-the-beaten-track location at Amlwch fishing harbour on the north coast of Anglesey! It had once been the largest copper mine in the world. We enjoyed a unique tour around this place taking in the stories of the copper industry.
South Stack Lighthouse
Situated off the northwest coast of Holy Island in Anglesey, it was originally built to warn ships of the hazardous rocks below. Adventurous hikers may climb down 400 steps on the steep cliffs to reach the lighthouse. The waves crashing on the granite cliffs can rise to about 60 metres! Spectacular views!
Read more at Isle of Anglesey
Beaumaris Castle
A traditional, but unfinished, 13th century castle complete with a moat – great views to be had from the top of the castle.
Caernarfon Castle
Once the mightiest of King Edward-I’s “Iron Ring” castles, it is now in ruins but a still a good place to walk around in the corridors and rooms. There is a large military museum, too.
Devil’s Bridge and Falls
Have you ever seen three bridges stacked one above the other to span a deep gorge? We climbed down the rickety stairs into the gorge to see a waterfall at the bottom and look up at the three bridges high above. The first of the three bridges is nearly a thousand years old. There is an interesting story behind the name, and a visit to the charming cafe will get you the story, plus warm scones and Welsh cakes.
Cenarth Falls
The Teifi river cascades down hard rock to generate a series of waterfalls at the quaint village of Cenarth, located between Cardigan and Newcastle Emlyn. A 17th century stone bridge across the river provides great views. A gentle walk along the riverbank took us closer to the falls.
Read more at Cenarth Falls
At the westernmost tip of Wales, we found this 12th century Norman cathedral that has evolved over the ages. The small coastal village and the unspoiled countryside offer good opportunities for walking and hiking.
Aberdulais Falls and Tin Works
An amazing “double bill” – beautiful falls, and the remnants of a medieval Tinworks powered by the falls. There is a lot of history to be savored in the ‘museum-cum-exhibition.’
Read more at Aberdulais Falls
Merthyr Tydfil
Like many other places in Wales, it is hard to figure out how to pronounce this name, but whichever way you say it, this is one of the most historically fascinating and beautiful regions of Wales. We enjoyed driving around here and Brecon Beacons and ended up at the impressive Talybont Turbine and reservoir.
The Brecon Mountain railway
We took a ride in a heritage narrow gauge steam railway that chugs its leisurely path through the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Here are some more pictures to inspire you!
Frankly, we didn’t quite know what to expect when we started on our 10-day tour of Wales, with little planning by way of itinerary and accommodation bookings. But it was one of our most charming leisurely drives, and we left wishing we could stay longer and vowing to return!
With all those castes and architecture, it’s not difficult to imagine Wales back when it was inhabited by tribes of people in their mini-fiefdoms, all battling each other for land, riches, and women. I love that Wales has retained as much of it’s heritage as it can, and place names still have to be in Welsh as well as English.
Love Wales…Only visited once many years ago…this was such a perfect reminder to go back but also give more days to enjoying it..beautiful people and places to discover.
Wales is fabulous, some incredible countryside, castles – haven’t been for ages but your road trip itinerary looks great. When life gets back to some kind of normality, could be tempted to do this. But you missed Cardiff, that is a lovely city and has a lot to offer 🙂
Wales is definitely on my list of places to visit. I’ve been to Scotland and Ireland, but haven’t made it to Wales yet. Seeing all these amazing castles and historical ruins just make me want to go even more. I thought the aqueduct that also held boats was so interesting. I’ve never heard of that before. Thanks for sharing your journey and wonderful photos.
I feel like I stepped back into the 12th century. Those castles! What a beautiful country long on my list to visit.
We visited Wales last fall and clearly did not spend enough time in this amazing country. We would both like to go back and see some of the amazing castles you mention on this list
I love Wales but haven’t been there in years. I do think now that staycations are going to be more appealing than flying that I will no doubt be doing a lot more road trips around the UK. All those castles that you visited make me want to go right now!
I love being close to waters – so I could check that off the list. And then those castles – they looks as if a knight comes around the corner any moment. I really need to visit Wales – it looks just so beautiful. Would it be possible to do this tour by public transportation – since I’m not driving?
Hi Renata, I believe you can explore the beautiful Welsh countryside using their rail network. Check it out at https://www.greatlittletrainsofwales.co.uk/
Oh I am completely captivated! This is just the kind of thing Don and I would love to do. I did some long tramps in Wales years ago and really loved it.
I’ve been through England, Scotland and Ireland, but not yet Wales! Perhaps that’s next? I hope. It looks as beautiful as the rest of the UK and I’m sure I’d love it there.
Thank you! After a recent trip which left me in awe of Scotland, the beauties of Wales is next on my list to explore. You have given me even more inspiration to discover the landscapes closer to home. I particularly love the look of Devils bridge – what a fascinating place!
What a beautiful road trip! I really need to explore more of Wales! I visited Portmeirion, Snowdon, Aberystwyth and Devil’s Bridge Falls a few years ago but there are so many stops on this road trip that I’d love to see! Thanks for the great guide!
I love Wales, and driving around it must have been a cool experience. I’ve visited many spots, but still have plenty on my list, so a proper road trip would be a great way to see all these amazing features.
aww have wanted to visit here so badly and Chepstow Castle looks like a fairytale 🙂
Thanks for the post!
Jackie
www.joujoutravels.com
Wales is on our list. So many great ideas in this post — I really wouldn’t know where to start first. Perhaps a fairytale-feeling visits the castles.
Gorgeous! I love how many castles you managed to fit into your road trip! I do love the natural beauty in Wales…it is so perfect for relaxing road trips. 🙂
Wales is gorgeous! Would love to take a road trip here and explore all your recommended stops!
So much history and with such stunning scenery and variety of sights, you made excellent use of your 10-day trip at what sounds like a relaxing and leisurely pace. Love your photographs.
Wales looks like such a beautiful country! I will need to visit the UK and see this beautiful place. I love medieval it is. 🙂
Castles and lighthouses and beautiful scenery – this looks like my kind of road trip. I haven’t been to Wales since I was a kid so I would love to go back and explore more, what a great road trip guide
Wow Wales looks so dreamy. I love all the gorgeous waterfalls and castles. I cannot wait to go explore all of these spots. thank you for sharing!
Wow, I never thought Wales was such a beautiful place to visit. Definite adding it to the list. Merthyr Tydfil handsdown convinced me.
Wales is absolutely on my travel wish list. A long road trip sounds like the perfect way to enjoy all of these gems. Small cosy B&B stays would be a perfect way to travel slowly from spot to spot. You have shown me lots of reasons to move this trip higher on the list. I can see why you want to return.
I visited some of the sights above during and after hiking the Pembrokeshire Coast Path a few years ago. I know that we missed Pontcysyllte Aquaduct, but it was too far inland. But I have never seen pictures of the Devils Bridge before. It looks so stunning! Wales would be worth another visit!
Wales seems so different than anything I’ve witnessed in the US I would love to explore there one day and see that unique architecture in person!
I can’t wait until we can visit the UK without quarantining first. The road trip looks very doable so I’m bookmarking this to save. But might head straight to the Lighthouse first.
This looks beautiful! Wales has always been on my list and I love all these tips!
With all these landmarks and sceneries, I won’t be surprised with the satisfaction and happiness you’ve had while on the road. I would definitely enjoy a leisure drive here with my favorite playlist. Entering the 12th century with a background music in the modern times, that would be so cool! Your shots are captivating!
Oh my goodness! This looks like such an amazing road trip. I love the route you took because it includes both coastal and inland places. I’m jealous you got to see so many castles. What a fabulous experience!
Oh my God those castles are stunning. I have never been to Wales before, but I do have it on my list. And this road trip seems perfect. All those amazing sceneries and landscapes are so beautiful and would make a perfect road trip. I would specially love to visit the South Stack lighthouse.
When most people think of Wales, they think of it as the “land of song”. While that’s true, there is so much more to the country than music! From puffin islands and craggy castles to the best beaches, gorge walks and stunning mountain scenery, Wales has something for everyone. Fascinating fact: For a small country, Wales has a heck of a lot of castles. With over 600 of them, Wales has more castles per square kilometre than any other country in the world.
lol. love the line “like many places in Wales, it’s hard to pronounce this name.” We spent two-weeks in Wales and were flummoxed the entire time by the language but entirely dazzled by the people and places. It’s on the most underrated places in Europe. I’m obsessed with St. David’s, what’ a beautiful coastline and now I want to go to Devil’s bridge!
A Road Trip through Wales is still on my bucket list. So far, I have had a Scotland road trip. I would love to visit Chepstow Castle and Raglan castle as I love old architecture and would like to feel the spirit of past times. Holy Island in Anglesey, with 400 steps on the steep cliffs to reach the lighthouse, seems to be the perfect adventure too. Devil’s Bridge and Falls are so spectacular. I would love to photograph this place—a very detailed and inspirational post.
OMG, this is a dream trip for me. So many castles – my favorite in this list is Beaumaris Castle. Lighthouse added and stunning waterfalls. I suspect, I would need a dozen memory cards trying to click it all.
We are starting to think about new places for our travel planning board. And Wales is one high on the list. Your road trip through Wales provides some amazing stops we will need to plan. The outdoor sights are stunning. But I would not pass on a castle or two. I know 10 days won’t be enough.