Help on Things to do in Wales

rogerramjet

Don't forget Aberavon Beach, nice long sandy beach with free carparks (or was last time I was there)...just down the road from Neath, last time I was there they were doing a lot of work along the seafront, so probably a lot of things for kids to do as well as just playing on the sand

welshrich

You really have nothing to worry about on this front. South Wales is a great place to have a wonderful, but at the same time inexpensive holiday. It is quite an 'undiscovered' corner of Britain compared to places like Cornwall and the Lakes etc. and you will find that things are priced more reasonably and less geared up for ripping off tourists. Neath is very well placed for getting about - the local road network is excellent and the M4 on your doorstep. You could easily fill up a fortnight with things to do and hardly have to spend any inflated entry prices.
Firstly there is the excellent National Museum of Wales which owns about 5 or 6 world class attractions well suited for a family day out
1. The Museum of Welsh Life - Europe's largest outdoor museum
2. Rhondda Heritage Park - coal mine
3. Caerleon Roman Amphiteatre - only one of its kind in UK
4. National Museum in Cardiff - great for kids
- all of which are FREE entry. Check them out at https://www.nmgw.ac.uk
Then there's the fantastic Margam Park near Neath - pay for parking and get in for FREE. (https://www.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk/margampark) The Park features splendid walks, a narrow gauge railway to the children's adventure playground, the birds of prey rescue centre, farm trail and pets corner, the Fairytale Village, fishing and you will see the best collection of deer in Wales. You then have the Gower Peninsula on your doorstep and places like Worm's Head - again pay for parking and the rest is FREE. Europe's largest sand dune system at Merthyr Mawr - pay for parking and the rest is FREE. Closer to your cottage you have the beautiful ruins of Neath Abbey (FREE) Neath Museum (FREE) Dylan Thomas Centre (FREE)
Even if you do feel like spending you will find things are very reasonably priced - A family ticket for Aberdulais Falls is £8 (https://www.nationaltrust.org), Carreg Cennen Castle £8 etc. Let me know if you would like some more ideas.
Cheers
welshrich

Jamjar_2

Fantastic 1st Post Welshrich,we are very much looking forward to our 1st trip to Wales with only 12 days now before we go.
Any ideas on good value places to eat for families ?
What about local newspapers for whats on ?

Many Thanks

Jamjar_2

Oh Forgot to ask :-

Where are the best Car Boot Sales/Markets and what day are they on ?

Thanks again

welshrich

If car booting for bargains is your thing then you should definitely try and get to Singleton Hospital Car Park in Swansea on a Saturday morning. Weather permitting, the sale starts at 5:30am and ends around midday. With stunning views of Swansea Bay, it can get quite busy in the Summer. Other local car boot sales include:

Clydach Market, Players Industrial Estate, SA65 5BQ; Wed 6am–1pm (07971 485181) Also an indoor market on Thu & Sun 9am–4pm

Garngoch Superstore, Gorseinon; Sun 7:00am – 1:00pm (01792 894927)

Station Road, Port Talbot, SA13 1LB. Tue & Sat 9am-3pm (07836 359687)

There is a list of all the car boot sales in the area on the website https://www.carboots.tk and in the local newspaper.

welshrich

The local newspaper is the Swansea-based South Wales Evening Post which offers a mix of local news, features, sport and listings of what’s on in the Swansea/Neath/Port Talbot and Llanelli areas. It is famed as being the paper where Dylan Thomas cut his journalistic teeth and is usually available after lunch every day.

Lots of useful information on What's On may be found on the South Wales local council websites
https://www.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk
(http://www.neath-porttalbot.gov.uk/wow/index.cfm)

https://www.swansea.gov.uk
https://www.bridgend.gov.uk
https://www.carmarthenshire.gov.uk
https://www.valeofglamorgan.gov.uk
https://www.cardiff.gov.uk
https://www.caerphilly.gov.uk

All areas within 45 min drive of Neath

carl310166

welshrich,where are you from? Neath???

welshrich

The is a very good choice of places to go to eat around the Neath-Swansea area. In the daytime you could try somewhere like Neath Market - if you like haggis you should be okay with the local speciality - Faggots and Peas!
https://www.welshfoodie.com/february_2005.htm
There are also some great pubs around - one of my favourites is The Butchers Arms in Alltwen - good food, nice atmosphere and very reasonable prices. If you are a fan of that other great Welsh speciality, curry, then I would recommend The Indian Cottage in Pontardawe.

dean_ham

http://www.rhonddaheritagepark.com/home.asp

Another tourist attraction

Wig

I guess you are leaving tomorrow 2nd July?

So you might see this and might not.

You mentioned markets, Pontypridd market is on Wednesdays and is reputed to be one of the best in the area, BUT I personally don't see what all the fuss is about, if you want 5 tacky lighters for a pound fine or if you need a cheap pair of socks or a cheap jacket/fleece/trousers etc fine, but it's not my cup of tea and I don't think much of what is on offer.

Eating cheap, I like to go to IKEA in Cardiff, Mon - Fri after 3.30pm you get 2 meals for 5 pounds, and if you have a storecard, you get free drinks too. If you don't have a storecard you can apply for one instore and still qualify for the free drinks - make sure you get a joint account because sometimes they say only one free drink glass per card holder. It's not posh but it is cheap and you get a reasonable view of Cardiff.

There are of course innumerable pubs which advertise outside on their blackboards, two meals for 6 pounds...the one I'm actually thinking of is on the A473 between Llantwit Fardre and Cross Inn/Llantrisant it is called "Scotts Hotel" I think and it is right next door to a newly refurbished Texaco petrol station (there are two texaco stations on this stretch of road a small one and a new big one).

I dunno about Swansea, but look at the chinese restaurants to see if they advertise "eat as much as you like" buffets usually on a Sunday.

For a day out, did we mention Mumbles? in Swansea, there is a huge sandy beach a very long sea front to walk along, culminating in Mumbles Pier and amusement arcades. If you are there at low tide there is an island you can walk to right at the far end.