Lechyd-da!
So, the Project Manager and I have gone out on something of a limb and booked a trip to the UK for this coming Christmas. Please don't get started on masks, injections, Government Policy, Variant D, E or Omega, any of that stuff and let's get happy about the prospect. All dates below are based on what I think will happen.
We'd love some advice on where to go in Wales. We are arriving in the UK the week before Christmas and staying in Hampshire, leaving Winchester on December 26th. We have booked Portmeirion on the 29th, and a hotel in Snowdonia for the 30th and 31st, heading back south on New Year's Day for our flight back on January 3rd. We're pretty set on what we do before Christmas and the days in Wales already booked over New Year, but we've got three other nights in Wales (with a hire car) for the night of the 26th through the morning of the 29th which are open.
I love the idea of the coast road up through New Quay, Aberaeron, Aberystwith and Barmouth as a route. We'll be coming over the Severn Bridge on the M5. A Welsh friend has advised us to avoid Cardiff, Swansea and the southern cities at that time of year for reasons best explained by himself, I'm just passing on instructions.
So the question really is - where do we stay on a leisurely trip up the Welsh coast over three nights? We love quiet, country, peaceful and dramatic scenery and historic cities. We also love good food and a comfortable bed. We don't need 5* hotels, but we also appreciate not having to pee in a field. A decent curry house counts for good food also, but local cuisine would be great.
We're also cool with a city environment, our last two days will probably be right on Trafalgar Square in London, so we don't freak out at the sight of a bus or a taxi.
We've got about 200 miles to drive, I suppose, and we don't want to be dragging the suitcase in and out of the car every five minutes, so where can we go so we have one, maybe two stops overnight on the way north? Bear in mind this is the end of December so "great sunny, sandy beach" probably isn't top of our list. We also won't be packing crampons, so yomping up to the top of the Brecon Beacons with half a bar of Kendal Mint Cake and a thermos of tea isn't on the cards either (been there, done that, Royal Hampshires, winter, 1976 and no thermos of tea).
All suggestions gratefully received and appreciated.
Diolch!
(See, we're getting good at this)
Steve. Hope helps https://www.visitwales.com/inspire-me/days-out/christmas-shopping-and-christmas-markets-wales (https://www.visitwales.com/inspire-me/days-out/christmas-shopping-and-christmas-markets-wales) I would avoid cardiff, aim for Bangor, Caernarvon, Aberystwyth
, Harlech.
Thanks, Chris. Great help, as always.
Quote from: LASteve on July 31, 2021, 04:38:52 AM
Thanks, Chris. Great help, as always.
I would email tourist information see what's on and check hotels, markets what's open to avoid disappointments
Well we have a magnificent beach which is as attractive in Winter as it is in Summer. If you like walking, there's a former coal railway along the cliffs, leading to the ruins of a coal mine and iron works. Normally, we have a New Year's Day Swim event, with up to 2, 000 people taking part, so the village is busy with fireworks the previous night. This year, well who knows? Keep an eye on facebook.com/visitsaundersfoot/
If you like Dylan Thomas, his house, pub and grave can be found in Laugharne (pronounced Larn) not far away.
https://www.dylanthomasboathouse.com/ (https://www.dylanthomasboathouse.com/)
https://browns.wales/ (https://browns.wales/)
St David's, Wales' smallest city (pop 1600), has a magnificent cathedral and nearby coves (Solva, Porthgain) and beaches (Newgale, Whitesands) are beautiful whatever the weather. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/St-Davids-Wales/ (https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryMagazine/DestinationsUK/St-Davids-Wales/)
Nearest steam railway is the Gwili near Carmarthen - https://gwili-railway.co.uk/ (https://gwili-railway.co.uk/)
Wales has a complete coastal path if walking's your thing. Variable challenges at different points. https://www.walescoastpath.gov.uk (https://www.walescoastpath.gov.uk)
There's so much more though...
Mike
Having just finished watching the heavy but entertaining Welsh police drama series 'Hinterland' on Netflix, I would not recommend Aberystwith.... they have multiple murders there every week, if the show is anything to go by! ;)
Quote from: maridunian on July 31, 2021, 09:01:09 AM
Well we have a magnificent beach which is as attractive in Winter as it is in Summer ...
Mike
Thanks for all that Mike, exactly the sort of ideas we're looking for. I've never been to that part of Wales, so that's a great area to spend a couple of days before heading north. I'll do some research!
Unfortunately we'll miss the cold-water swim on New Year's Day as we'll be in Betsw-y-Coed. I'm sooo disappointed :)
Quote from: Bealman on July 31, 2021, 09:17:32 AM
Having just finished watching the heavy but entertaining Welsh police drama series 'Hinterland' on Netflix, I would not recommend Aberystwith.... they have multiple murders there every week, if the show is anything to go by! ;)
I had a broken leg set in Aberystwyth hospital when I was four, a plaster cast from my toes to my hip. A little emergency room drama to help liven up the family holiday fortnight!
Steve in betswy coed check Ffestiniog, portmeirion , Blaenau and https://www.glanaberhotel.co.uk/christmas-party-packages/ (https://www.glanaberhotel.co.uk/christmas-party-packages/) plus good luck
Quote from: LASteve on July 31, 2021, 04:31:25 AM
We'll be coming over the Severn Bridge on the M5.
Item 1 on the "to buy" list - a road map :P
Quote from: LASteve on July 31, 2021, 03:36:48 PM
Quote from: maridunian on July 31, 2021, 09:01:09 AM
Well we have a magnificent beach which is as attractive in Winter as it is in Summer ...
Mike
Thanks for all that Mike, exactly the sort of ideas we're looking for
You're very welcome Steve. Do message me any follow up / detail questions you may have. Travelling west of Carmarthen, assume 30mph tops when calculating travel times.
Mike
PS We also have a Monterey Cypress which has recently been saved from felling through a public campaign. https://www.tenby-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=131236&headline=Twelve%20months%20reprieve%20for%20%E2%80%98Saundersfoot%E2%80%99s%20Lonely%20Tree%E2%80%99§ionIs=news&searchyear=2021 (https://www.tenby-today.co.uk/article.cfm?id=131236&headline=Twelve%20months%20reprieve%20for%20%E2%80%98Saundersfoot%E2%80%99s%20Lonely%20Tree%E2%80%99§ionIs=news&searchyear=2021)
Quote from: chrism on July 31, 2021, 03:53:15 PM
Quote from: LASteve on July 31, 2021, 04:31:25 AM
We'll be coming over the Severn Bridge on the M5.
Item 1 on the "to buy" list - a road map :P
Ah right - it's been a while since I've been down that neck of the woods. :)
Quote from: LASteve on July 31, 2021, 04:39:14 PM
Quote from: chrism on July 31, 2021, 03:53:15 PM
Quote from: LASteve on July 31, 2021, 04:31:25 AM
We'll be coming over the Severn Bridge on the M5.
Item 1 on the "to buy" list - a road map :P
Ah right - it's been a while since I've been down that neck of the woods. :)
It's the M4 that crosses the Severn - using the new Severn crossing. The old Severn Bridge is now on the M48 which loops off the M4 and back but, unless you want to go to Chepstow or Monmouth, the M4 is probably the better route to take.
Incredibly Magor Services, close to where the two join at the Welsh end, is no longer the worst services in the UK, according to the latest Which? survey there are 19 others that are worse !!!!
creeping off topic...i recently discovered how very affordable houses are in the valleys. Friends of mine are moving off this island, from a 1 bed flat--and buying a 3 bed semi--in move-in condition--and putting 40 grand in the bank.
But the M5 is handy if you want to get from Brum to Cornwall ;)
Not on the coast, or in Wales, but in the general direction from the Welsh Coast to Heathrow.
Ross and Hay on Wye are reputedly very nice spots to stay.
John P
Quote from: jpendle on July 31, 2021, 06:56:43 PM
But the M5 is handy if you want to get from Brum to Cornwall ;)
And it has both the best (Gloucester) and the worst (Bridgewater) services ;)
If you are driving up the coast, you might find Aberdyfi an agreeable place to stay for a night. And it's handy for Rheilffordd Talyllyn, which just happens to have trains operating that week. https://www.talyllyn.co.uk/timetable (https://www.talyllyn.co.uk/timetable)
Pob hwyl.
John
Last time I was in Betsw-y-coed (2014), there was a model railway open to the public, which I didn't find out about until I got back here!
Dunno if it's still there.
Thanks, George. I'll do some research and report back (bach!)
George. Steve. Here is the idea you seek http://www.conwyrailwaymuseum.co.uk/ (http://www.conwyrailwaymuseum.co.uk/) Steve maybe worth emailing them to see if they are open
Thanks, Chris - tremendously helpful
Haia
So we're set with our Cymru leg of the trip, thanks to all of you for suggestions, many of which still to explore when we're in situ, so to speak.
Thanks to @maridunian (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=2947) Mike for setting us on the Pembrokeshire path. We're spending a night in Dylan Thomas's favorite bar, the Brown's Hotel - with luck we won't actually be sleeping in the bar, but you never know.
Two nights in St David's, with plenty of time to spend exploring the coastal paths and pubs and coastal paths pubs ( :veryangry:) Alright already, the coastal paths too. And pubs. :beers:
A leisurely drive up the coast to the previously-booked Portmeirion village with dinner at the hotel, then two nights in Snowdonia and seeing if we can fit in a visit to the railway museum if it's open.
@Train Waiting (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?action=profile;u=6222) - John, thanks for the suggestion, we might be able to fit in a side trip on the Talyllyn railway on the travel day, I'd forgotten that it was there.
So thanks all of you for the ideas. I just hope all this comes to fruition otherwise I'll be offloading hotel and restaurant reservations to all y'all if we suddenly find ourselves unable to travel!
Happy to buy drinks if any of you are in the area that week to say "Thank You" properly.
If you're going to Portmerion, you're only ten minutes from Portmadog and the teminus of the Ffestiniog and the Welsh Highland Railway, although whether they'll be open is another thing.
Do pubs still close on Sunday in some parts of Wales ?
Quote from: joe cassidy on August 01, 2021, 07:26:57 AM
Do pubs still close on Sunday in some parts of Wales ?
No, well not in the north anyway, all the expat scousers wouldn't stand for it. :D
I've been on the Tallyllyn and the Ffestiniog. Both nice, but the Ffestiniog was better in my book - mind you, a nice day weatherwise and drinking beer in a first class carriage! Full story Here (https://www.ngaugeforum.co.uk/SMFN/index.php?topic=22698.msg259363#msg259363)
Quote from: TrevL on August 01, 2021, 07:30:13 AM
Quote from: joe cassidy on August 01, 2021, 07:26:57 AM
Do pubs still close on Sunday in some parts of Wales ?
No, well not in the north anyway, all the expat scousers wouldn't stand for it. :D
They used to on parts of the Lleyn peninsula. The golf club at Morfa Nefyn must had had about 5,000 members, most of them "social" members who didn't play. The car park filled up and overflowed into a couple of neighboring fields on Sundays, and the bar was packed. The course was mostly empty!