Heart pumping and jaw clenching. No, I’m not about to bungee-jump off the side of a mountain, I’m driving though the Welsh countryside.
It’s was always a dream of ours to visit the Welsh countryside. From the stories of countless sheep to ocean landscapes, the country offered what we often looked for in a summer holiday.
We typically like to takeoff to the north to enjoy the areas that are only accessible in the summer. In past summers, we’ve traveled to the Grand Teton National Park and Sylt, Germany. Wales was breathtakingly beautiful with the a mix of rolling farm fields, open landscapes, and ocean scenes. It’s all beautiful places on a warm summer day.
In this post, I’ll share some of my favorite moments in the Welsh countryside to inspire your holiday.
Plan your Welsh countryside adventure
How do you get around in the Welsh countryside? Car.
I did see several busses and a few trains, but you would need the patience to wait for these modes of transportation to arrive. The car offered the most accessibility.
But driving in Wales isn’t for the faint of heart.
From driving on the left side of the road to turn turns and high hedges, you will white-knuckle it all the way to your destination. Not to mention the cow that randomly bolted in front of our car while driving.
Heart stop.
Best times to visit
The best time to visit Wales is obviously in the summer. It’s the time when you will have the most probability of sunshine and warmer weather. However, that doesn’t mean that it didn’t rain, and it wasn’t windy.
When traveling in the Wales, one must be prepared for all types of weather!
Exploring the Pembrokeshire Coast
Sadly, we underestimated Wales.
It’s a country that respectively needs a two-week holiday to enjoy the sights. We gave it about 4 days, meaning that we were only able to explore the city, Cardiff, and the Pembrokeshire Coast.
The Pembrokeshire Coast easily would need five days of exploration to do it justice. We underserved this beautiful area, which was a pity.
What can you explore in the area?
- Dramatic coastlines: Cliffs, beaches, islands
- Charming villages: St. Davids, Tenby, Fishguard
- Wildlife encounters: Seals, puffins, dolphins
- Coastal path walking: Best sections and difficulty levels
- Local seafood: Fresh catches and seaside dining
We enjoyed an afternoon in St. Davids, which is a charming coastal and countryside town. The Abby in St. Davids was very impressive and was a nice afternoon to explore and learn something about the area.
Loving the food
I enjoy food, which it always something to enjoy locally on your holiday. For me, it was amazing to learn how the Welsh had their own cuisine traditions over England.
As close as they’re by distance, the Welsh people are their own culture, language, and traditions. (And they should be treated as such!)
What can you eat in the area?
- Welsh rarebit, cawl, bara brith, and other classics
- Seafood and (lots) of mussels
- Welsh Cakes – specifically my absolute favorite!
Wales is calling me back
It wasn’t nearly enough time to explore this area respectfully, and it will need another holiday.
The Pembrokeshire Coast is somewhere that I could escape to for a quiet countryside, surf retreat — which might be something to plan in the future.
From the food to the fresh air and seaside cliffs, this area has natural and pure beauty to offer.
It’s important to travel in a sustainable and respectful way towards local communities and natural places. I love writing about the places that I see, but I recognize the negative impact that travel has on our planet. I’m not perfect, but I put considerable effort into reducing my impact from my travels. If you love this topic, I’d love to discuss it with you!
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About The Author
Megan Thudium is a Senior Marketing Strategist, focused on brand and content, working as a climate communicator, and Managing Director of Content For Good & Co. With over 10 years of experience in content marketing and project management, Megan successfully ran a niche B2B content agency for several years, scaling the content team from one to fifteen members in a matter of months. Her focus is now on supporting content growth in an honest and ethical manner in the age of AI.
