Help on Things to do in Wales

pavlovs_dog

ooooh wig, judging by this and your hyper value post, i'd hazard a guess and say you pretty much live on my doorstep. the first fellow MSE'r i've discovered close by

M.E.2-2

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.

There is a pub not far from that one that used to have mirrors on the ceilings upstairs but I can't remember its name.Anyone brave enough to own up to knowing it?

ooooh wig, judging by this and your hyper value post, i'd hazard a guess and say you pretty much live on my doorstep. the first fellow MSE'r i've discovered close by

and you can't miss me as I am the one that makes everyone wait while I hand in loads of coupons at Asda

OOPS-just realised how that sounds.I was actually looking over the place when looking for a pub to take on.:o

HappyHelen_2

Try day in Tenby on beach ('bout 50 mins from Neath) Lovely wandering.... beach sand castle building... but take thermos since u will be ripped off on coffee I'm afraid!

moggins

The Chocolate Farm at Llanboidy is wonderful, St Fagans is great for adults but my kids were bored rigid

Oakwoods is the best theme park in the country IMHO, good value for money and exceptionally clean and tidy.

The Llangloffan Cheese Farm is lovely too and my kids were enthralled watching how cheese is made.

carl310166

If you are in the Swansea area,you have to try a Joes Ice Cream...mmmmm

You could always visit Graig y Nos Castle in the Swansea valley,just down the road from Dan yr Ogof showcaves or there is a Monkey Sanctuary which is charity funded near to Colbren (between Swansea and Neath valleys).

If you are more specific to where you are staying,i can advise you where your nearest supermarket is,as may need to stock up for the week.I find this is the biggest hassle when you have travelled a long way and need to get food in.

Wig

OK

Aberdulais falls (neath) (NT) takes about 1 hour slowly or 35 - 45 mins quickly, not very big place, but interesting none the less. Two things here for kids, the waterfall itself (not very big, you can walk to more impressive ones for free, Ill post again some more waterfalls later) and a big waterwheel, which will interest them for 5 minutes no doubt.
adults 3.20
kids 1.60

Dinefwr House 40 mins Llandeilo (NT) (I'm going here on the weekend)
adults 3.80
child 1.90

Dolacothi gold mines 25 mins from Landeilo (NT) No doubt good stuff here for the kids.
adults 3.20
kids 1.60

Dan Yr Ogof caves 25 mins north of Neath near Craig y Nos
7 days a week, 10 am opening, info line 01639 730801
Has dinosaur park, shire horse centre, iron age farm, at least 3 separate caves, all included in the one admission price which is (as is usual with these things) absent from the leaflet.
https://www.showcaves.co.uk I think this has to be a "must go" for you.

Like I said, consider a membership in the national trust, family 2+2 is full price 68.50 / year which maybe steep (for you) considering not many sites in South Wales & none in Scotland, but you could also go somewhere on your drive down and somewhere else on your drive home. Join online get 3 months free Don't forget to cancel your membership if you don't want a second year.

And/or you could join Historic Scotland which should get you half price admission to English Heritage properties and the CADW properties in Wales. But not National Trust properties.

Wig

https://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk

http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/index/member/membership_benefits_detail.htm
family membership 65 pounds

Jamjar_2

Thank You (or should I say Diolch !) for all your replies, a lot of this information is very useful for our trip.

Keep them coming

The Jamjars

Wig

Free waterfalls, near Merthyr Tydfil. From Neath North up the A465 past Glyn Neath, at Hirwaun turn North on the A4059, park car either at Penderyn and walk North West to the falls, or park near Ystradfellte and walk south to the falls (longer walk) You'll need OS map 160, it is a long walk there and back, but I am told it is worth it.

Another falls is turn left at Glyn Neath A4109 - 4 miles, turn right to Coelbren, Henrhyd falls are not far.

ben500

Some wonderful places posted here but I can't believe no-one has mentioned Merthyr Mawr sand dunes, for a family day out you can't get much cheaper! take your kids to the desert right in the heart of Wales and pay just for car parking, as a child from a low income family of the sixties and seventies this place was the dog's sweetbreads for us, many hours of fun sliding down the dunes on nothing more than a piece of cardboard, a breathtaking view from the top of the dunes and wildlife everywhere from lizards to buzzards, water voles, rabbits and hares some beautiful birds an fauna if you can keep the kids quiet enough, take some snacks and drinks refreshments can be obtained but only from an icecream van which parks up in the car park.

Porthcawl funfair a few miles down the road with a nice but at times windy beach, donkey rides and the usual fairground with all the trimmings.

Previously mentioned Castle Coch off the A470 and only a couple of miles out of your way if your travelling through Cardiff via the M4 and well worth the detour but best at night when it is lit up, this is occupied by a beautiful princess who looks out at night at the people admiring in search for her prince amongst the little boys {there were no little girls in our house so no need for a prince looking for princesses} our parents used to line us up so she could get a good look at us to see if we would get picked!!

Heatherton Park near Tenby is an extremely low priced park with archery, shooting, clay pigeon shooting, bumper boats, carting, batting cages absolutely hours of fun for the kids and you even get to sit on your backside and watch if you don't want to join in!

In the heart of the city you have places such as VICTORIA PARK with its large outdoor paddling pool with a huge fountain right in the centre which the kids hang around waiting for the keepers to turn on, plenty of ball playing areas and tennis courts, ROATH PARK (its actually three parks in one) with its boating lake with a lighthouse slap bang in the middle of it all kinds of ducks, geese and swans (get a few loaves of the no frills bread at 9p give the kids a bag each and take the weight off your feet), and masses of green playing areas,tropical botanical house, large playground with a 40' slide refreshments readily available and restaraunt/cafe on site. THE BAY DEVELOPMENT AREA with the National Assembly building, Techniquest (a little pricey but hours of fun) and just over the road Harry Ramsden's where you can use the bogof voucher posted elsewhere in the forums, (pm if you can't find it and I can email it to you), or over to Penarth Marina and show them around the flash boats moored up there for free, drive across the barage at the right times even.

Check with the Welsh National Opera if you want to take in the arts a little they usually have free tickets to give away for dress rehearsals (same show but with one or two interuptions maybe)

Not everyones cup of tea but still quite a site nonetheless is Port Talbot Steel works (what's left of it I haven't been that way for a while) keep an eye out on your right on your way to Cardiff from a childs point of view its enormous and very grey!

Up the motorway a little further if you go to Newport don't miss the town centre clock which transforms on the hour and is quite spectacular for the kids to watch, I won't say more on that it will spoil it for you. Newport by the way probably has more pound shops per square mile than any othe city.

There are of course finer places to visit and see (I didn't feel it necessary to mention the stadium) but those I have listed are in the most part free or well within the reach of those on a low budget.

HTH a little.


Geez don't I go on!! and look at all those brackets and exclamation marks!!!!!