the grand tour of wales 2006

looby-loo_2

Glad you had a nice time.

Newquay in Wales is the only place best avoided - at all costs. Especially the campsites - some very unsavory people there. We moved on before getting the tent out.

The rest of Wales is quite beautiful.

crompton

how about making it a group MSE-Wales event, lots of us meet up and trek round wales for 2weeks using any means possible...? would be a laugh at least

TJ27

I agree with just about all of the suggestions above. We live in such a brilliant place really!

Barafundle is well worth a visit and is generally accessed via the cliff top walk from Stackpole Quay. Another of my favourite beaches is Mwnt, just up from Cardigan. The last time I was there, I was out in my canoe and surrounded by a small group of dolphins. What an experience. Actually there are probably hundreds of great beaches around. West Wales is brilliant.

The Gower is superb. You Jacks are so lucky to have that on your doorsteps. I reckon Caswell is to Swansea what Bondi is to Sydney, but nicer.

North Wales is superb too. I've done triathlons at Bala, which involved swimming a mile in Llyn Tegid. Very bracing and good fun. Snowdon and Cadair Idris are lovely but you'll be spoiled for choice if you want to climb mountains. I thought Beaumaris Castle was great, especially when lit up at night.

I recommend a visit to Afan Argoed if you've got a mountain bike. Great fun.

Don't forget Mid Wales either. The Elan Valley near Rhayader is lovely in the sunshine.

And I think Cardiff is probably one of the best capital cities you could ever hope to have. But I might be a bit biased.

I could go on and on and on about the absolutely brilliant range of amazing places to visit in Wales and I don't even work for the Wales Tourist Board.

p.s. Isn't Helvellyn in the Lake District??

Janepig

TJ27 wrote:

Barafundle is well worth a visit and is generally accessed via the cliff top walk from Stackpole Quay.

I really fancy going to Barafundle, but being an unfit lardy with two small children I'm wondering how difficult the trek is to get there. I've been told previously that it's about 20 minutes walk from the nearest parking place. Is this right?

Jxx

milliejon

The Sirhowy Valley Country Park is lovely. I used to live at the bottom of the mountain and quite often used to go for quiet walks.

It has fantastic walks and there used to be great wild bird of prey displays on very hot days. They'd be soaring on the warm air together ....

I loved that part of living there.

mollymunchkin

Janepig wrote:

I really fancy going to Barafundle, but being an unfit lardy with two small children I'm wondering how difficult the trek is to get there. I've been told previously that it's about 20 minutes walk from the nearest parking place. Is this right?

Jxx

Yes it's a bit of a hike to the beach but definitely worth it. There are a number of steps up from the car park, then a flat walk across the cliff top and then you ascend down to the beach. These stone steps are quite steep but you'll be amazed how many people make the effort to go down there.

We've been down with our 2 year old in a buggy. The car park is a National Trust one so there is a charge for that (can't remember how much or if it's all year round).

HTH

TJ27

Janepig wrote:

I really fancy going to Barafundle, but being an unfit lardy with two small children I'm wondering how difficult the trek is to get there. I've been told previously that it's about 20 minutes walk from the nearest parking place. Is this right?

Jxx

Well I went there a while ago with my young daughter (she was about 4 at the time) and my disabled wife, who has great difficulty walking. I have to say that it was a bit of a struggle for my wife and I had to keep a close rein on my daughter to make sure she didn't run off the cliff or something. But we did get there.

For a typical person I guess a twenty minute walk sounds about right. I'm sure you'd manage it and it's no different from any other cliff walk really. Just stick to the path, take care, stay away from the edge and don't do anything daft. There's good parking at Stackpole Quay and a little cafe if I remember correctly. I'm told that there is another route but I don't know where from.

There are other great places in that area if you don't fancy the trek though. Freshwater East is nice, has parking very close to the beach, and even a boardwalk to help you across the dunes. Hows that for ease of access? My daughter learned how to ride her bike on the firm sand at Freshwater East.

I was in Tenby a few months ago. A lot of people I know really don't like Tenby, but crikey, have you ever walked along South Beach on a breezy day, in the sun, when there's big surf? It's a bloody magnificent place to be!

Do you know what, last week I booked a holiday for me and the family in Barbados. After reading this thread and thinking about all the great times I've had in Pembs, I think I might cancel and go to Poppit Sands Youth Hostel instead. (Anybody been there?? What an awesome view!!)

pavlovs_dog

just wanted to say TJ, i love your enthusiasm for wales, its refreshing to see :T

tigertiger_3

What about Merthyr Tydfil, could stay in Brecon Beacons national park, http://www.penrhadwfarm.co.uk/,
visit Brecon Mountain Railway which is not far from the accomodation http://www.breconmountainrailway.co.uk/, lovely walks!!

You have to go to the Gower in the summer!

Janepig

tigertiger wrote:

What about Merthyr Tydfil, could stay in Brecon Beacons national park, http://www.penrhadwfarm.co.uk/,
visit Brecon Mountain Railway which is not far from the accomodation http://www.breconmountainrailway.co.uk/, lovely walks!!

You have to go to the Gower in the summer!

And there's nowhere finer than Rhossili. Can't wait for the kids to be a bit older and we can once again tackle the dreaded cliff path down to the beach. Fantastic!!

Jxx