We all know Wales isn’t short of pretty places to visit. But finding the time to visit them, and explore those hidden gems you’ve had written in your notes app for months, can be tricky to get round to.
As well as that trying to get to all the best ones at once by doing some mammoth drives around the country might not be your idea of a dream holiday. But it turns out lots of us might have been travelling around Wales wrong because there might actually be a better way.
With the four-day Explore Wales rail pass, you can cover a lot – beaches, mountains, and castles – without needing a car, a bus, or a stressful amount of train ticket screenshots saved on your phone. It costs £149 for an adult and £74.50 for a child but there are reduced rates if you have a railcard. From superstar gigs to cosy pubs, find out What’s On in Wales by signing up to our newsletter here.
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You can buy an Explore Wales Pass from the Transport for Wales app and website, and at any of their stations and ticket offices or from the conductor on the train. You’ll need to have the app to activate the ticket on your phone.
The best thing about it is that it takes you all around Wales so you can pick and choose which places you go to. But if you’re looking for a pre-planned route we’ve come up with one which takes you from the capital to the southwest coast, through mid Wales, and up to the far edge of Anglesey before looping back to Cardiff so you can do a massive chunk of the country (and see some of its most striking spots) all in one go – and watching the scenery flash by is all part of the experience.
Day one: Cardiff to Tenby
Crackwell Street is part of the clifftop streets that boast the pretty, painted, mostly Georgian townhouses in Tenby -Credit:Alex Ridout, Media Wales
Start from Cardiff Central and head west to Pembrey and Burry Port (about an hour and 25 minutes).
It’s a small station but there’s a beach nearby if you fancy stretching your legs or just seeing the sea early in the day before heading to your main destination.
From there hop back on and head to Tenby (around one hour 10 minutes via Carmarthen and Whitland), which has previously been ranked highly as one of the best seaside towns to visit in the UK.
With its four stunning beaches just a short stroll from the lively town centre, quaint cobbled streets that could rival those in Italy or the French Riviera, and a collection of eye-catching, brightly-coloured houses it’s hardly surprising.
This charming harbour town has always been a draw for those looking for a seaside holiday with local hotspots often bustling with customers lining up during peak times.
Day two: Tenby to Aberystwyth
Head north to Fishguard and Goodwick (about one hour 46 minutes). This is a beautiful line winding past fields and the stunning coastline.
After a short stop in Fishguard, and maybe some fish and chips, you’ll double back through Carmarthen and Swansea then across to Aberystwyth via the Cambrian Line.
It’s a bit of a stretch as it’s just over three hours altogether but the changing views more than make up for it with rivers, hills, and plenty of relaxation.
Aberystwyth is known as the ‘culture capital’ of Wales -Credit:Pawel Libera/Getty Images
Once you get to Aberystwyth you’re kind of spoilt for choice as this is somewhere that’s been highlighted for being somewhere that kind of ticks all your boxes.
There’s loads to do and tick off if you want to plan ahead but it’s also a stunning location just to meander around without really knowing where you’re going.
Aberystwyth Castle is one of the most standout features or you could just enjoy the beach and pier – or pretend you’ve gone back in time and take a ride on the Vale of Rheidol Railway.
Day three: Aberystwyth to Holyhead
This is the big travel day as you’ll be heading towards Holyhead (a four-and-a-half-hour journey from Aberystwyth) but as most routes swap in Bangor you’ll get to tick off another incredible Welsh city.
From there you can get a train and stay on all the way to Holyhead right on the edge of beautiful Anglesey.
It’s a long ride, but definitely not a dull one, and you’ll get to pass Llanfairpwll and finally over the Menai Strait.
An aerial shot of the ancient Beaumaris castle -Credit:iStock / Getty Images Plus
Once you’re in Holyhead you can pretty much walk straight out onto harbour views and make your way to wherever you fancy heading on the island. Beaumaris is a stunning spot and there’s also the Anglesey Sea Zoo, Plas Newydd House and Gardens, and the colourful town of Amlwch if you wanted to tick off some popular activities.
Day four: Holyhead to Cardiff
Time to head back. The return trip takes about four and a half hours if you wanted to go for a direct train.
But if you fancy breaking the day up there’s always the option to get out a couple of times if you’re using the day pass and then hop back on a later train to Cardiff if you’ve still got enough energy to see a few more sights.
Llanfairfechan’s promenade and beach is a popular spot -Credit:Visit Wales
Llanfairfechan is on the way back and is a small town with a long stretching beach where you can enjoy the view of various mountains nearby and in the distance as it’s so close to Eryri and is well worth a stop.
Also on route is the gorgeous market town of Abergavenny. This might be the perfect place to grab some dinner before getting back to Cardiff as there are loads of cute shops and restaurants and it’s got a traditional feel which makes it an attractive spot for tourists to head to.