Best road trip around South Wales: complete guide

Get ready for some of the most beautiful scenery in the UK! Our latest itinerary covers a road trip in South Wales, home of the Gower Peninsula, capital Cardiff and two of the country’s three national parks. Visit Wales’ southern region on our expertly guided trip to make sure you see the very best of this stunning part of the country!

Best road trip around South Wales: 10 places you can’t miss

This South Wales road trip starts in Cardiff, taking you through the Brecon Beacons National Park in the south and mid-Wales before heading to the spectacular beaches of the south coast. We recommend at least three days… more is always better!

Total distance: about 255 miles | Recommended days: 3 to 5 days | Best time to do the route: from May to October | Route on Google Maps

1. Hay-on-Wye

Our trip starts in Hay-on-Wye, the National Book town of Wales on the north-western tip of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Known locally as Hay, the town is best known for its annual Hay Festival celebrating books and literature, which runs alongside the HowTheLightGetsIn Festival Hay-on-Wye. Other options include visiting the medieval fortification and 17th-century mansion house Hay Castle, shopping for crafts, antiques and books, and sampling the finest of Welsh produce at the Thursday Hay Market, held in the town for over 700 years.

Hay is in the upper part of the Wye Valley between Wales and England, just north of the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). It’s also on Offa's Dyke Path, the 177-mile walking route between England and Wales.

It’s only 58 miles fromCardiff to Hay-on-Wye, so it’s easy to start in the Welsh capital instead – If you do start from there, we recommend driving fromCardiff to Hay-on-Wye via Abergavenny for a browse around this charming market town.

2. Pen y Fan

The Brecon Beacons National Park features in many Welsh road trips, and it’s not difficult to see why. This landscape of moorland, valleys, waterfalls, reservoir and the Brecon Beacons range of hills plus the Black Mountains is a popular Welsh destination, especially for outdoor activities like hiking and climbing

One of the park’s many highlights is the peak of Pen y Fan/ Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in South Wales at 886 metres (2,907ft) and the highest British peak south of Cadair Idris in Snowdonia National Park. It’s also on the 99-mile Brecons Way, which runs from west to east across the park.

Pen y Fan is well worth climbing if you can – the Bristol Channel, Swansea Bay, Carmarthen Bay, the Gower Peninsula, the Black Mountains, the Cambrian Mountains and Exmoor all are visible from the peak on clear days. Park up at the car park at Pont ar Daf, close to the Storey Arms centre, and take the footpath to the path leading to Pen y Fan and neighbouring Corn Du.

Drive fromHay-on-Wye to Pen y Fan on a 21-mile journey, passing the market town of Brecon, also well worth a visit.

Check out the best Brecon campsites for your road trip!

3. National Showcaves Centre for Wales

Next up is one of the most magnificent sights in South Wales – the National Showcaves Centre for Wales featuring the 11-mile cave system of Dan yr Ogof. This vast network of caverns is said to be the biggest in the UK and has been named the greatest natural wonder in Great Britain.

Dan yr Ogof, the Cathedral Cave and the Bone Cave are all open to visitors (online booking in advance is essential). Experienced cavers who want to explore further can apply to the Dan Yr Ogof Conservation Advisory Panel – it’s thought the network of caves here could extend to over 90 miles!

The centre is a perfect day for kids too, as it includes an Iron Age farm, gold panning activities, a shire horse centre, farm and playgrounds, and over 200 full-size dinosaur models.

The drive from Pen y Fan to the National Showcaves Centre for Wales is 18 miles.

4. Cardiff

We’re heading fully south now, to the glorious South Wales coast with a first stop at country capital Cardiff. There’s so much to see and do here we recommend at least a full day – and there are plenty of Cardiff campsites to pick from if you want to stay overnight!

Among Cardiff’s many highlights are the Wales Millennium Centre for gigs and events; the open-air National History Museum at St Fagan's; the National Museum and Gallery of Wales; Cardiff Castle; and Queen Alexandra Gardens park. A laid back option is the Centenary Walk, running for just over two miles through the city centre and passing many of Cardiff’s landmarks and historic buildings.

Dan yr Ogof to Cardiff is a short leg on our Wales road trip, at just over 45 miles. Stop off at Merthyr Tydfil on the way for a picnic in Bethesda Gardens or a mountain bike ride at Bikepark Wales, the UK's first purpose-built mountain biking centre. You’ll also pass Pontypridd and its scenic Ynysangharad Park, and can detour from Pontypridd to Caerphilly for Caerphilly Castle and the summer Caerphilly Cheese Festival.

5. Barry and Barry Island

And now to the coast! Drive south from Cardiff for the short journey to the seaside town and resort of Barry Island, best known as a location in the BBC comedy Gavin and Stacey. With amusement arcades, a beach and the Barry Island Pleasure Park, this is a top option for a family day out in South Wales.

There’s loads more to see and do here: you could hike part of the Wales Coast Path from Barry or take the Vale Trail 4, a coastal route that includes the most southerly point on the mainland of Wales. Romilly Park & the Knap Lake, Fonmon Castle Park & Gardens and nearby Porthkerry Country Park are all great for peaceful afternoons, and for something a bit different there’s adventure golf at Smuggler’s Cove. Also head to the Goodsheds, which has eateries and craft outlets in former shipping containers and railway carriages.

The drive fromCardiff to Barry Island is only 11 miles, leaving plenty of time for enjoying the seaside.

6. Gower Peninsula – Mumbles

The Gower Peninsula in southwest Wales was the first area in the United Kingdom to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It’s a stunningly scenic location, with gorgeous coastline, caves and plenty of little rocky coves as well as golden beaches.

We have two must-see stops on the Gower Peninsula on our South Wales road trip. Our first is Mumbles or The Mumbles, a headland on the western edge of Swansea Bay once listed by the Sunday Times as the best place to live in the UK. Its stand-out feature is Mumbles Pier, a Grade II-listed Victorian structure of 255 metres with 18th-century Mumbles Lighthouse to its left. Another top option is Oystermouth Castle, high on a hill overlooking Swansea Bay – check out its 14th-century graffiti art and the 30-foot high glass bridge.

Elsewhere around the Gower, there are five more castles to see (Landimore, Oxwich, Pennard, Penrice and Weobley), several little villages to visit (try Llangennith for surfing and Oxwich for spectacular views), and heaps of outdoor activities to try including surfing, golf and horse riding.

The drive fromBarry Island to Mumbles is 46 miles (or fromBarry Island to Mumbles via Porthcawl is 48). Port Talbot and Swansea are both well worth a stop along the way.

7. Gower Peninsula – Rhossili Bay

The Gower Peninsula is beautiful overall, but perhaps its most breathtaking scenery is at Rhossili Bay and Worm's Head, often claimed as one of the best coastal scenes in Europe. Arrive here in the morning (Mumbles to Rhossili Bay is just 17 miles) and start a Rhossili hike from the National Trust shop at the beginning of the clifftop path.

For outdoor activities around this part of the Gower, drop into the Rhossili Activity Centre at the bay, where you can arrange abseiling, caving, climbing, coasteering, cycling, kayaking and mountain biking. Whatever you go for, make sure you’re at Rhossili for sunset – the views are amazing!

8. Tenby

Our next stop takes a 68-mile journey fromRhossili Bay to Tenby, which along with neighbouring Saundersfoot is among the most visited seaside towns in Wales. Start at the town’s lovely harbour when you arrive, to see its cute coloured houses or arrange a boat trip for mackerel fishing. Other boat trips leave from Tenby harbour to Caldey Island, one of the holy islands of Britain.

Leave plenty of time for Tenby’s beaches and coastline too. There are four to pick from – Castle Beach, North Beach or South Beach – while ramblers can take the 4.5-mile walk to Saundersfoot on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path.

The direct route fromRhossili Bay to Tenby is 69 miles. But make a few detours if you have time – to the market town of Llanelli, the biggest in Carmarthenshire, and to Laugharne, former home of the poet Dylan Thomas.(Rhossili Bay to Tenby via Llanelli and Laugharne is 72 miles.) Both routes pass Carmarthen, the county town of Carmarthenshire.

9. Pembroke Castle

From Tenby, drive west along the coast to Pembroke Castle, an absolutely stunning sight on the rocky promontory overlooking Milford Haven. Founded as a small bailey in the late 11th century, the castle has been an integral part of Welsh history ever since, in a setting so spectacular it’s been used as a shooting location for several films.

You’ll find plenty to keep you occupied on a day here, including falconry shows, tours, festivals and regular events. There’s also a café and a gift shop. Tickets must be booked in advance.

Our route fromTenby to Pembroke Castle goes via Barafundle Bay and Freshwater East (18 miles), both beautiful spots for a stop-off.

1. Milford Haven

Time for the final stop on our South Wales trip! Drive nine miles west fromPembroke Castle to Milford Haven on the North Milford Waterway, one of the deepest natural harbours in the world (and called “the finest port in Christendom” by Nelson). A scenic and peaceful port town, it’s an ideal end to your trip!

Milford Marina is the town’s central point, with shops, restaurants and boat trips around the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Arrange a fishing trip to land mackerel, bass and shark among other species, or take a cruise to spot dolphins around the coast and seabirds around the islands of Skomer, Skokholm and Grassholm.

Want to extend your south Wales road trip? Continue along the Pembrokeshire coast to St Davids, Britain’s smallest city, or cut inland and direct north fromMilford Haven to the Preseli Hills. Further afield, drive inland to mid-Wales and destinations like the Elan Valley.

Organise your south West Wales road trip

Now that you know where to go, it’s time to find a van to take you there. With a range of options forcampervan hire in Wales on Camplify, you can find the perfect van for your road trip. Take a look at our campervan hire in Cardiff and campervan hire in Pembrokeshire listings if you’d like to narrow your search further!

Want to try out another Welsh road trip itinerary? Our best road trip around Wales, places to visit on a west coast of Wales road trip andNorth Wales road trip guides should give you plenty of ideas! And if you need to brush up on your camping knowledge, we’ve got that covered too. From the best campervan spots in Wales to advice on wild camping in Wales, you can do your research on how to make the most of your # vanlife adventure before you set off!

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