Help on Things to do in Wales

Jamjar_2

We are off to Wales for 2 weeks in July- self catering cottage (near Neath) We have two kids aged 4 & 8.
We are travelling from Scotland and its our first visit to Wales.
We would like to take them to lots of interesting places but don't want to get ripped off on lots of entry fees etc.

We will have a car so we are able to get around easily.

Also any family friendly fun eating places to recommend to me?

Any ideas?

Many thanks

pavlovs_dog

ooooh!

um.... in and around the south wales area there's loads to do!

i particularly recommend pembrey, the beach (cefn sidan) is fab! blue flag, loads of sand dunes to explore, and set in a national park (great walking routes, bike trails etc)

then there's oakwood (theme park)
folly farm
mccarther glen retail outlet (designer shops at cut prices)
the gower (more fab beaches)
swansea marina (strong maritime history)
brecon beacons
dan yr ogof showcaves
big pit
st fagans museum of welsh life
cardiff is worth a day out (tours of millennium stadium etc)
bike trails stretch for miles around wales (the taff trail for example)
porthcawl (another beach (with small pleasure beach type theme park)


wales also has more castles per sq mile than anywhere else in the world, which are always popular with kids. (most campsites are full of leaflets promoting things like this). in particular, castell coch (castle coch) is a stunning fairytale-esque castle


umm...all the things i've listed are all along the m4 corridoor, or are quite easily accessible within about an hour's drive from neath area.


hope that helps, just holler if you want any more info.

M.E.2-2

Click Here for info/photos of Neath canal.

Glad

have you had a look here

mellyp

Margam Park is great. And a cheap day out too, only pay (I think) £2 - £2.50 to park the car, no entrance fee per person, like most places, so you'll save a bundle if there's 4 of you.

I go there a lot with my 2 children.

It's close to Neath too.

Website is http://www.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk/margampark/

wolvesinwales

St Fagans in Cardiff outdoor museum, in lovely surroundings, free entry.

LilacLillie

Try this site

walesindex.co.uk

Everything you've ever wanted to know................
LL

Tom_Jones

With two young children, try the Oakwood theme park, about a 1 and a half hour drive from Neath mind


http://www.oakwood-leisure.com


Is Penscynor Bird gardens still open ?? that's very close to Neath if it is.

M.E.2-2

Is Penscynor Bird gardens still open ?? that's very close to Neath if it is.

Afraid not--closed a few years ago.

localshop

Is groveland still going? We went there out of season and found ourselves amongst only a dozen or so other families - great - no queues for the dogems or go karts - fantastic value for money.

Sunday night in Llanelli is curry night. Eat as much as you can for £6.50 [adults] or £3.50 [Kids] at the bengal lancer [behind Asda]

Wig

Near you in Neath will be the Aberdulais falls (National trust) interesting couple of hours, but can't tell you how much.

As others have said, St fagans is FREE and is excellent, you can spend as long as you like here you will be hard pushed to see it all in under 4 hours.

If the National botanic gardens are open then that is a nice few hours, expect about 6 pounds for an adult.

Skomer Island near Haverford west is a bird island, I think you can walk to it at low tide.

If you like a hill walk then just north of Merthyr Tydfill is Pen-Y-Fan, takes about 40 mins to walk up - nice view.

Near Tenby Caldy Island you need to check the boats, go and see the monastery.

The waverley paddlesteamer goes from Penarth, out and back.

Near Barry, place called Sully go down beach road? there is a pub called Captains wife, large car park, where you can walk at low tide across to sully island, about 15 mins walk so you won't get trapped.

National Trust was doing a special offer last year 45 pounds for dual membership for a year, they might have a similar offer on this year and you could visit all the NT sites you wanted.