visit to Wales

[Caline]

Firstly, I apologise for not posting this in the locations section, but from the look of it no one ever goes there!

I want to plan a short trip to Wales and am after a really scenic area with plenty of walking opportunities and of course photography too.

I am after ideas of locations as I have never visited that neck of the woods before.

Many thanks

Caline

[lisadb]

Can you narrow it down a bit for us Caline? north or south? Lisa.

[Caline]

I'm not sure. Probably more South to be honest as we live in Buckinghamshire so that would make it an easier drive. I am not sure how long the drive to North wales would be so I need to investigate this.

[PaulatUKcamera]

I am biased - I live in West Wales!

However, it is an easy drive from where you live to the borders and Mid Wales.

I have recently contributed a lot of the photos (marked pw)and all the descriptions and pages with links to attractions to this Web Site that describes the different areas of Wales.

If you'd like to visit West Wales, I can give you much more detailed guidance, as I have spent the past 25 years here and now that I work in the tourist industry, have acquired a good working knowledge of attractions, beaches, events, best viewpoints etc etc.

My photographs of West Wales and descriptions of places can be found here.

My plan for this Summer is to visit somewhere new every week and I will be taking lots of photographs that will be posted to that general page.

If you want to know more about a particular area, just PM me

Paul

[Mikerocks]

Caline

What do you like to take photos of? Landscapes, coasts? mountains? waterfalls? urban stuff?

Mike

[Hwntws]

Caline,
May I suggest Gower Peninsula, Swansea, great for seascapes and countryside, a few miles inland. Also you're not too far away from Brecon Beacons,(30- 40 mins), and Pembrokeshire National Park (60 mins). Wherever you go, have a great time.
Regards
Ray

[elenydd]

May I suggest Gower Peninsula, Swansea, great for seascapes and countryside, a few miles inland. Also you're not too far away from Brecon Beacons,(30- 40 mins), and Pembrokeshire National Park (60 mins). Wherever you go, have a great time.

Sounds like the first half of a Wales tourist board brochure: the second half being Snowdonia, Anglesey and the North Wales Coast.

For real Wales, travel to the Cambrian Mountains, unspoilt by National Parks, AONB's and their busybody hanger on's. Just remember that when you come, leave nothing but footprints, and take nothing but photos. And we will be happy that you love the area. Base yourself in Aberystwyth or Rhayader. Travel to Tregaron, Lampeter and Llandovery and all places in between. You will not fail to find great photographic locations.

[Caline]

Wow, thanks for all those suggestions. I need to get a map out and I have ordered the rough guide to wales too. Thanks Paul for the offer of further advice. I will get my map and book then get back to you.
Much thanks!

Caline

[Hotblack]

I really like the western end of the Pembroke coast. The area around Dale, Skomer Island, St Brides, Little Haven etc, around to St David's is lovely.

[spinno]

I really like the western end of the Pembroke coast. The area around Dale, Skomer Island, St Brides, Little Haven etc, around to St David's is lovely.

Caldey Island is worth a visit...although named craggy island by some members of the family

[Malcolm_Stewart]

... Travel to Tregaron, Lampeter and Llandovery and all places in between. You will not fail to find great photographic locations.

Pleased to see the central area mentioned. I really enjoy the drive east along the mountain road from Tregaron, and it's one of the few accessible places (from Milton Keynes) which to me feels like you've really got away from habitation. Wide vistas without signs of remote farmhouses are quite rare, I find.

There's also Cwm Ystwith with its dramatic valley and decaying mine workings, and lots of photo opportunities.

[welshwizard645]

Richmond to the Vale of Clwyd takes about 4 hours by car (M40, M42, M6, M54 -> A5.

You pass through some wonderful scenery in the Vale of Llangollen (Castell Dinas Bran, Llangollen, the River Dee, the Railway, Pont Cysyllte)...

then A542 (I think) takes you over the Horseshoe Pass towards Rhuthun, a medieval market town with lots of Tudor buildings. The Vale of Clwyd is flanked by the Clwydian Range, Menlli, Hiraethog and Berwyn mountains, as well as the Denbigh moors (the Gwylfa Hiraethog, an abandoned shooting lodge near the Sportsman's Inn is particularly photogenic). Dinbych has its' castle and Llanelwy has it's cathedral.

I don't know much about South wales, but I rate the north (except for the plastic scousers and mancs moving in )