South Wales Holidays & Weekend Breaks

South Wales Holiday Guide

South Wales boasts a distinct character formed by its fascinating history, rich culture and stunning natural beauty. Once an industrial coal and iron working heartland, the region today boasts green valleys, peaceful forests and rolling moorlands. To top it all off there are castles, glorious beaches and, the icing on the cake, Cardiff, the capital of Wales.

The core South Wales region consists of Cardiff, the South Wales Valleys, the Vale of Glamorgan, and the borderlands of the Wye Valley and Vale of Usk. Within these there is enough to cater for everyone, from nature lovers keen to explore idyllic scenery to history buffs interested in medieval castles and museums, and culture, shopping and food aficionados will love the great shops, dining and entertainments of Cardiff and the region’s other vibrant towns.

Sightseeing in South Wales

If sightseeing is your bag, you won’t be disappointed by South Wales. In Cardiff, you can learn about Wales’ history at the National Museum of Cardiff, and explore fanciful Cardiff Castle. Alternatively, you may want to tour the iconic Millennium Stadium and admire the modernist slate and steel architecture of the Wales Millennium Centre.

Elsewhere, explorers will love the Wye Valley, with its ancient and medieval landmarks, including the stunning Roman baths at Caerleon, Chepstow Castle and Tintern Abbey.

Or you can delve into Wales’ recent industrial past at the Blaenavon Ironworks and The Big Pit: National Coal Museum in the South Wales Valleys.

Your options for historical sightseeing don’t stop there: you could also venture into the beautiful Vale of Glamorgan to see its fine Ogmore Castle and wander round the gorgeous Dyffryn Gardens, laid out in Edwardian times.

Shopping in South Wales

When it comes to shopping in South Wales, Cardiff tops the list. The city bursts with places selling everything from designer clothes to books, jewellery and local crafts. You can browse flagship stores at the St David’s Shopping Centre, stroll the High Street, or scour the independent shops and gift emporiums stuffed into the city’s Edwardian and Victorian arcades. Other shopping haunts include Abergavenny with its buzzing Victorian market hall, and Hay on Wye’s endlessly enticing bookshops.

Food, Restaurants and Nightlife in South Wales

South Wales’ culinary scene is focused on Welsh produce and comes to life in countless restaurants, cafes, markets and foodie events. Cardiff offers artisan coffee spots, modern Welsh eateries and international restaurants, while elsewhere, you’ll find stylish bistros, tearooms, ancient inns, farm shops and gastro pubs perfect for lunches and evenings out. Food lovers especially will rave about Abergavenny’s popular Food Festival every September.

Outdoor fun in South Wales

South Wales has outdoor pursuits in spades, and not just on its beaches. Families will adore the sandy beaches, seaside towns and adventure centres of Glamorgan, not to mention the walking trails, cycle paths and industrial heritage sites of the South Wales Valleys. Other draw cards include the bracing Brecon Beacons National Park with its Brecon Mountain Railway, fishing on the River Wye, and the almost endless opportunities for sports like mountain biking, kayaking, horse riding and golf right across the region.

Guide to Exploring South Wales

Abergavenny

Tucked in the hills of Monmouthshire in south Wales, Abergavenny sits six miles from theEnglish-Welsh border and is known as the ‘Gateway to Wales’. Set beside the UskRiver, the picturesque market town edges the beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park, making it ideal for enjoying the greatoutdoors.

With the Black Mountains providinga stunning backdrop, the town of Abergavennyhas much to offer. It is a delightful, traditional centre brimming withshops, pubs and restaurants, historic sites and a wealth of other attractions,including bustling markets and tranquil riverside walks.

Brecon

For those with a sense of romance Breconis the ideal place to lose, and find, yourself in. This historic Welsh townnestles in the foothills of the BreconBeacons National Park in the County of Powys.Surrounded by rugged, natural splendour are its narrow streets that aredecoratively lined with Georgian and Jacobean shop fronts. In Breconyou can experience a real sense of timelessness whilst surrounded by history.

Carmarthen

Carmarthen is said to bethe oldest town in Wales, and has an incredibly rich history, dating back topre-Roman times. The county town ofCarmarthenshire, it sits on the River Towy, eightmiles north of beautiful Carmarthen Bay and itsfamous beaches. With an abundance of historical sites, an extremely diverseshopping experience, and pubs and restaurants galore,Carmarthen is a place you will remember for a longtime after your visit.

Llanelli

Llanelli sits on theRiver Loughor’s estuary, near the west coast of Wales and in the heart ofbeautiful Carmarthenshire. Ten miles from Swansea,this picturesque traditional Welsh town was historically a mining town, butmore recently has become a popular tourist destination. With a wealth ofnatural attractions and a rich cultural heritage, it has something to offerevery visitor.

Port Talbot

Dating back to the Bronze Age, the seaside town of Port Talbot Wales is an excellent base from which to explore the best of the Welsh countryside and coast.

Hay on Wye

Hay on Wye is a smallmarket town in Powys,Wales, just across the border with Hereford, England. It is best known for itslarge number of second-hand and specialist bookshops, and since 1988 has hostedthe famous Hay Festival of Literature and Arts, which takes place over 10 daysin May and June.

Swansea

The second largest cityin Wales, Swansea isknown for its vibrant energy and welcoming charm. With the university on itsdoorstep, the city has a large student population which means plenty of choicewhen it comes to shopping, dining and nightlife. And with the city currentlyenjoying something of a rebirth through an extensive bout of regeneration – nowboasting both a national museum and a new marina, as well as five Green FlagAward-winning parks – Swansea is fast becomingknown as “the Brighton of Wales”.

Neath

If you’re passionateabout the great outdoors, then Neath is the place for you. Nestling conveniently between Glamorgan’s Heritage Coast and the BreconBeacons National Park, Neath is something of amecca for mountain bikers and hikers alike, uniquely positioned as it is toprovide the very best Welsh, and indeed British, coastline, mountain and greenvalley landscapes. What’s more, with Swanseanever more than just a short road-trip away you will also have quick and easyaccess to the city fast becoming known as “the Brighton of Wales”, where youcan let your hair down once you’ve burnt some calories on the mountaintrails!

Aberdare

Aberdare is a bustling town in the Cynon Valley, South Wales, and the most populous in the Rhondda Cynon Taf county borough. The town has a history that goes back to the Middle Ages, when it was just a small village in an agricultural zone. The village grew rapidly in the early 19th century thanks to the plentiful presence of coal and iron ore in the region, and the population of the parish grew tenfold in the first half of the century.

Builth Wells

Located within the Welshhalf of the Wye Valley, at the meeting point of the Wye and Irfon rivers,Builth Wells provides a quintessential glimpse atlife in a mid-Wales market town with a rich vein of farming traditions runningthrough its core.

Cardigan

Situatedon the south west coast of Wales, close to beautiful PembrokeshireCoast National Park, the ancient town of Cardiganis a picturesque little port with activities catering to every taste. Recentefforts to regenerate the town and its quayside have successfully injected Cardiganwith a new burst of life.

Crickhowell

Thanks toCrickhowell's rural location, neatly sandwichedbetween Abergavennyand Breacon,the town is ideal for outdoor pursuits. Alongside the usual range of hotels youare spoilt for choice when it comes to campsites and bed and breakfastaccommodation that caters for active visitors throughout the year.

Fishguard

Comfortably tucked on the headlandbetween its modern ferry port and former fishing harbour, Fishguardis so much more than a gateway to Ireland.

Haverfordwest

Haverfordwest is a vibrant andbustling country town with an eclectic range of activities for the wholefamily. The county town of Pembrokeshire, Haverfordwestis situated in the Welsh countryside on the west banks of the River Cleddau,not far from the world-famous PembrokeshireCoast National Park.

Merthyr Tydfil

Merthyr Tydfil wasonce a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution and the iron capital of theworld. Today it has reinvented itself as a welcoming place for touristsvisiting South Wales.

Monmouth

Whetherfor a day trip or a relaxing summer break, you’re sure to have a memorablevisit to the market town of Monmouth in Wales.Nestled in the Wye Valley, between the Forestof Dean and the convergence of the rivers Monnow and Wye, Monmouthis a rural breath of fresh air close to a designated Area of Outstanding NaturalBeauty.

Pembroke

Don’t let the fact that Pembroke itself is little more than a single street put you off. This is no ordinary street, and this is no ordinary town.

Saundersfoot

Saundersfoot is a fishing village located in the heart of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Positioned at the foot of a picturesque wooded valley, it offers unspoilt nature alongside quirky, independent boutiques, bars and restaurants.

St Davids

St Davids is a city in Pembrokeshire, that sits on the Alun River and St Davids Peninsula at the most westerly point of Wales. With around 1,600 people living in the city, it is the smallest city in Britain in terms of both size and population. St Davids received city status in the 16th Century because of its Norman cathedral, but this status was revoked in 1888. In 1995 its city status was restored by Queen Elizabeth II, but in reality it has the feel of a small village.

Tenby

Revered as Wales’ mosticonic seaside town, with it’s brightly coloured houses overlooking pristinesandy beaches, Tenby brings quaint charm to the SouthWales coastline.

Milford Haven

Thecoastal town of Milford Haven in Walesis situated on a prominent spot along the PembrokeshireCoastal Path. Founded on the northernmost stretch of land alongsidethe waterway of the same name, Milford Haven’snatural harbour has made it an important strategic port since the Middle Ages.

Mumbles

Mumbles sits in amajestic position on the western tip of Swansea Bayand has been the favoured holiday resort of the area since early in the 19thCentury, when passengers began arriving on what was then the brand new steamrailway. As well as being a stunning destination in its own right, it marks thegateway to the Gower Peninsula, a part of Wales which, in 1956, became theUnited Kingdom’s first official Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Newport

Located as it is on theconfluence of the Rivers Usk and Severn, Newportcity is truly a product of both its history and its geography. A port sincemedieval times, it has a rich history of industrial and strategic relevance,and its proud heritage can be enjoyed today with sights such as the NewportTransporter Bridge, Newport Castle, NewportCathedral and TredegarHouse. And yet for all this history of industry, Newport also lies at the heart of an area of outstanding natural beauty. The Forest of Dean and the Wye Valley are both right on the doorstep, whilst the Brecon Beacons are just a short drive away.

Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

Running the length of the beautiful coastline of south-west Wales, the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park takes in rugged cliffs, craggy offshore islands, fabulous beaches, pretty moorland hills and an amazingly diverse range of wildlife.