Staycations in Wales: Coast, Mountains and Castles

Wales packs three national parks, more castles per square mile than almost anywhere in Europe and a long, varied coastline into a country you can cross in a few hours. That makes it one of the most rewarding staycation destinations in Britain, whether you want beaches, mountains or history. Here is where to go, area by area.

Pembrokeshire and the south west coast

Pembrokeshire is the best-known stretch of the Welsh coast, and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is the only one in Britain designated mainly for its coastline. The coast path runs around the whole county, past sandy beaches, cliffs and small harbours.

Tenby is the most popular base, a walled town with pastel houses above two sandy beaches. Haverfordwest is more central and useful for exploring, and campsites around St Davids put you close to the tiny cathedral city. Cardigan is the gateway to the quieter north of the county. For a special stay, The Grove of Narberth is rated 4.8 from over 400 reviews. Campers should read our guide to the best campsites in Pembrokeshire.

Snowdonia and north Wales

Snowdonia, also known as Eryri, has the highest mountains in Wales, with Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) at the centre. Betws-y-Coed is the classic base for walkers, with forest trails and waterfalls close to the village. On the coast, Barmouth and Criccieth offer beaches with mountain views, and Dolgellau sits below Cadair Idris. See our guide to the best campsites in Snowdonia for places to pitch up.

North Wales is also castle country. Edward I built a chain of fortresses here, and Conwy and Caernarfon are the most complete, with Conwy's town walls still intact. Llandudno, next door to Conwy, is a Victorian resort with a pier and the Great Orme headland.

Mid Wales

Mid Wales is the quietest part of the country. Aberystwyth is a seaside university town with a promenade and cliff railway, and Machynlleth is a small market town at the southern edge of Snowdonia. Llangollen in the north east is known for its river, its steam railway and the nearby Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.

The Brecon Beacons and the borders

The Brecon Beacons, now also known as Bannau Brycheiniog, are the gentler of the Welsh mountain parks, with grassy ridges, waterfalls and reservoirs. Brecon and Crickhowell are the best bases, and Abergavenny is known for its food. On the English border, Hay-on-Wye is the famous town of bookshops.

Cardiff and Swansea

Cardiff is a compact capital with a castle right in the centre and a waterfront at Cardiff Bay. Our Cardiff staycation guide covers it in detail, including St Fagans National Museum of History, an open-air museum of Welsh life. Swansea is the gateway to the Gower peninsula, and our Swansea guide has more ideas.

Planning your trip

Wales is larger than it looks from the road network, and journeys between north and south take longer than you'd expect, so it makes sense to focus on one area per trip. The coast is at its best from late spring to early autumn, while the castles and cities work in any season.

For more ideas, see our guides to historic staycations, surfing staycations and walking breaks.