Route Overview
5 days through Wales: Cardiff → Brecon Beacons → Pembrokeshire → Snowdonia → Conwy/Llandudno. 500 miles, mix of city + countryside + coast + mountains.
Day-by-Day
- Day 1 Cardiff — Cardiff Castle, Principality Stadium, Cardiff Bay, Welsh dinner
- Day 2 Cardiff → Brecon Beacons — Pen y Fan hike (Wales' highest), waterfalls
- Day 3 → Pembrokeshire Coast — Tenby, St Davids (UK's smallest city), surfing
- Day 4 → Snowdonia via Aberystwyth — Mount Snowdon climb (or train), Portmeirion village
- Day 5 → Conwy/Llandudno → home — Conwy Castle (UNESCO), Great Orme tram, A55 home
Castles & Highlights
- Cardiff Castle — 2,000 years history
- Conwy Castle — Edward I, UNESCO
- Caernarfon Castle — King Charles invested as Prince here
- Harlech Castle — dramatic clifftop
- Beaumaris Castle — Anglesey, fairytale moat
- Mount Snowdon — 1,085m peak, 7 routes up
- Portmeirion — Italianate fantasy village
- Llanfairpwllgwyngyll — train station with the world's longest place name (58 letters)
Where to Stay
- Cardiff: Voco Cardiff Lighthouse, Park Plaza
- Brecon: Llangoed Hall (luxury), Peterstone Court
- Pembrokeshire: St Brides Spa Hotel, Manorbier Castle Inn
- Snowdonia: Hotel Portmeirion, Llanberis budget B&Bs
- Conwy: Castle Hotel Conwy
Costs
| Item | 5 days for 2 |
|---|---|
| Hire car | £200-330 |
| Fuel | £70-100 |
| Hotels (4 nights) | £400-900 |
| Food + drinks | £200-350 |
| Castles + activities | £100-150 |
| Total | £970-1,830 |
🏔️ Snowdon options: 6 walking paths (3-7 hours), or take the Snowdon Mountain Railway (£40 return, 2.5 hours).