Week Long Wales Road Trip: Unveiling the Hidden Gems of the Country
- Elise Abroad
- Jun 10
- 4 min read
The first time I went to Wales, I was six years old on a family vacation. We did a home exchange with a Welsh family, my predominant memories of the trip were all of the castles (I spent the trip looking for princesses), and the sheep.
Well, as a fully grown adult, I'm happy to report that Wales is still full of castles and sheep - and I'm still very much in love with the country. This time, we took an entire week to uncover all of the most beautiful corners of the country, travelling up and down the length of Wales to find the best spots, and putting together this ultimate week long Welsh road trip itinerary.
Day One: Gower Peninsula
The Gower Peninsula is absolutely beautiful, so even though it's quite a small spot, you can easily take the day to explore the area. Highlights of the area are Rhossili Beach and Three Cliffs Bay - both have lovely walks heading down to the beaches, or you can walk along the coastal paths for extraordinary views. For dinner, try The Ship Inn in Port Eynan, it's fantastic.
Day Two: Pembrokeshire Coast
The Pembrokeshire Coast is one of the most iconic spots in Wales, and for good reason! This is going to be a PACKED day, so make sure to bring your best walking shoes and sunscreen. Pendine Sands and Tenby are fantastic beach spots (you can even drive on Pendine Sands within certain restrictions a la Top Gear), and Tenby is the perfect spot to get fish & chips by the seaside for lunch! After lunch, head over to Church Door Cove for some incredible natural rock formations, and then Saint Govan's Chapel to discover a beautiful stone cathedral built into the rocks - and if you're feeling up for a walk, take a trek along the coast to see the Green Bridge of Wales, as well!
Day Three: I highly recommend you make your trip in the springtime for one key reason - the puffins at Skomer Island. Book ahead to get a chance to spend a day on the highly protected wildlife conservation area, or just a one hour boat trip to see the adorable birds. They're only around for a few weeks from April to June, so if you're making the trip another time of year, head straight to the next stop on the trip, the lighthouses Strumble Head and Dinas Head. Both are in beautiful spots along the coast, with craggy cliffside walks and wild ponies.
Day Four: West Coast & Anglesey On the fourth day, drive north to walk along the beach at the Ynyslas Sand Dunes, then on to Portmeirion, a beautiful and colorful tourist village. Then, head up to Caernarfon Castle and onto Anglesey - it's a heavy driving day, but if you can handle a few more stops, Anglesey island has some beautiful spots to see - I love both Twr Mawr Lighthouse and South Stack Lighthouse. Both would be perfect stop offs for a sunset picnic.
Day Five: North Wales Spend day five taking in the beauty of Northern Wales - this is one of the most magical days of the trip, and one of my favorites. Start your day with an hour long hike to the beautiful Aber Falls - this is a really great and easy, wide walking route with a gentle slope. Next, head to beautiful Conwy Castle (walk along the castle walls for the best views), and then the Llandudno Toll Road just outside of Conwy for some more gorgeous rocky vistas. Then, head south to one of the most iconic tearooms in all of Wales, Tu Hwnt I'r Bont.
Day Six: Elan Valley The Sixth day is all about exploring the beautiful and lush Elan Valley. Head south to the Pontarfynach, or Devil's Bridge, an amazing architectural bridge that's been built three times over history, each bridge just on top of the old iteration. Then, head over to Elan Valley and its numerous beautiful dams. You can go for a wander in Hafren Forest, or head to the Elan Valley Visitor's Centre and choose one of the many walks in the area.
Day Seven: Brecon Beacons On the last day of this epic road trip, head directly to Hay on Wye, the world's first book village! I love this little village, which is home to over twenty bookstores, and an annual literary festival (we caught one day of it and it was great!). I highly recommend making the trip to see it for yourself! Next, head to the Brecon Mountain Railway, and take a ride on the old steam train, across the hills of the Brecon Beacons. Bring a picnic along for the journey, and enjoy the beautiful views (and all the sheep!)
Now, I'm aware that this is a pretty whirlwind trip, so feel free to stretch out the days or areas where you'd like to spend more time - I could easily do an entire day on Anglesey, for example! It's such a beautiful country, and really does deserve to be seen in its entirety. I hope you have the best trip in Wales, and this guide serves as a helpful starting point for planning your journey!
Make sure to follow along with all of my adventures - UK and further afield - at @elise.abroad!
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