Coastal South Wales Five-Day Itinerary
As the autumn chill sets in and soup season officially takes over, we find ourselves holding onto the warmth of the sun. Join us as we reminisce about a magical summer trip through coastal South Wales. From the vibrant waterfront of Swansea and the iconic pastel harbor of Tenby to the medieval history of Pembroke and the wild, sweeping sands of the Gower Peninsula, this 5-day itinerary is a feast for both the camera lens and the soul. Grab a warm bowl of leek and potato soup, and let’s dive back into the golden hour.
SOUTH WALES FIVE-DAY ITINERARY
I have been wanting to explore more of Wales for a long time. As they say, "all good things come to those who wait". Coastal South Wales was definitely worth the wait. We travelled on local transportation, but you might like to travel by car and fly to Cardiff. Here is the five-day itinerary that you too can enjoy.
Day 1 - SWANSEA
We travelled by train from Edinburgh on the Avanti West Coast Line, making changes at both Crewe and Cardiff before reaching our final destination of Swansea.
Accommodation for six nights at Swansea Premier Inn City Centre. We pre-booked on a room-only basis and then added the meal deal package of one dinner (two courses + drink) on our last night and a full breakfast for the morning of our checkout (£26.99 each for both dinner & breakfast). Great value! Don't miss the incredible food and drink opportunities while exploring.
We arrived at 1.30am on the Saturday morning for check-in, it was a speedy one. In super quick time, we were in our double-ensuite room. As you can imagine, our day started much later. Going for a delicious brunch at The Observatory Swansea, with views across Swansea Bay (It can get busy, we timed it well. You might like to make a reservation). Followed by a stroll around the city centre, The Quadrant shopping centre and indoor market dating back to 1897 (don't miss the delicious home baked Welsh Cakes at only £1.35 for 4!), dinner at ASAGA Noodle Bar and then Chuckl comedy night at Swansea Grand Theatre (It is always worth having a look in advance at local theatres to see what is on and pre-booking tickets).
Day 2 - PEMBROKSHIRE
We saved our Welsh Cakes for breakfast, as it was an early start to catch the train to Pembroke 08.09am. Swansea Train Station is very small with only a Costa Coffee (opening 9am Sunday mornings), there is also a good-sized Tesco Express (High Street) across the road for snacks, drinks etc (6am - 11pm everyday).
The Transport For Wales train service to Pembroke takes two hours with the last station being Pembroke Dock. The Tickets are £22.00 per adult for a day return and can be bought on the day from the ticket machine at Swansea Train Station.
After the lovely scenic train journey, it was a short 10-minute walk to the bus stop for the small Coastal Cruiser Shuttle Bus 387 (turn right onto the main street and the bus stop is on the opposite side of the road (they're are also public toilets close by). We paid by card, and it was £9.00 each for a day ticket. We climbed onboard the 10.36am departure, to the Green Bridge, Stacks and The Cauldron before walking the coastal route to St Govan's. Wow! The scenery is spectacular. There is a large free car park, but no public toilets etc here. If you time it well, you may have the opportunity to treat yourself at the roaming ice cream van at St Govan's
From St Govan's, we headed inland towards Bosherton. Enjoyed a delicious pub lunch at the Bosherton Inn and headed to see the Bosherton Water Lilies (in flower early/mid June). It is free to visit the site, but free car parking is only for National Trust Members (£4/£8). There are also public toilets available.
Time to do the journey in reverse. Last train leaving Pembroke 19.17pm returning into Swansea at 21.35pm. Thankfully, it was a late lunch in Bosherton, and kept us going until returning into Pemboke and visiting the local Coop mini supermarket (pub's last food ordering on Sundays is at 3pm, no restaurants. There was one Kebab takeaway open).
It was an incredible day. With incredible sights, delicious food, and the weather held off long enough for our 5 miles, all in all.
There is so much more to see in the area, including the Harry Potter character Dobby's memorial (Freshwater West), Pembroke Castle, and more.
Please note: we opted to travel to Pembroke and the surrounding area on a Sunday, as the coastal walk goes through a military zone. That can be closed during other times. The small Coastal Cruiser 387 bus is small, and on our return, it was almost full. If travelling in the height of summer, it might be a good option to stay in Pembroke overnight or to get a local taxi company (Dan's Cabs 00 44 (0)1646 795001, not open on a Sunday or Pembroke Taxi's 00 44 (0)7917378114 or perhaps an uber) to take you to the scenic spots, without the long walk in between and the long scenic Coastal Cruiser 387 journey to save time and the long wait for the last train back to Swansea.
Day 3 - THE MUMBLES
Today was a more leisurely day exploring The Mumbles. We took the number 1 First Bus to Caswell Bay just after 10am, which takes around 30 minutes. An adult day return ticket costs £7. Then walked along the landscaped promenade, pier, and up onto the coastal path to Surfside Cafe, Rotherslade Bay. Time for lunch and the return walk inland back to The Mumbles and a delicious ice cream from Joe's before the no 2 First Bus to Swansea Bus Station.
Top Tip: Don't miss Joe's creamy vanilla ice cream, or you might like to treat yourself to a scoop of Welsh Cake Ice Cream. Yum!
Day 4 - TENBY
Today, visiting the "little town of fishes" - Tenby. The fishing village where Roald Dahl stayed during summers, in his early year's is a must-visit. Take the train from Swansea Train Station to Tenby. Tickets cost £22.00 Adult return for the 1-hour-30-minute journey. Explore its hidden nooks and crannies, enjoy one or two traditional Welsh delights at the indoor market, a visit to the Tudor Merchant House, a pint or two from Harbour Brewery, a selfie at one of the most photographed places - Sergeants Lane, a boat trip to Caldey & St Margarets Islands, and if you time it well, a stroll out to the tidal - St Catherine's Island.
Day 5 - GOWAR PENINSULA
If you love walking, incredible scenery, and heritage, don't miss a visit to Gowar Peninsula.
We took the 11.17am 118 Adventure Travel bus to Parkmill (by Shepherd's Cafe/shop). The 50-minute journey costs an adult £7.15 for a day return.
There are two paths you can choose from when you exit the bus. You can either turn right or left (facing the trees). We opted to turn left, which takes you up a small gravel footpath and then turn left again and up the hill to the right, which takes you a small road before reaching the golf course. Follow the path through the sand dunes to the romantic ruins of 12th-century Pennard Castle. Shrouded in folklore. The local legend tells of the lord who angrily drove away the local fairies. They are said to have cursed the castle and brought over an almighty mountain of sand all the way from Ireland to swallow the castle overnight! The views of the stunning Three Cliffs Bay, river valley, and out to the ocean are said to be among the best in Wales. We thoroughly enjoyed the walk and the incredible views. Inside the sheltered stone walls, you might like to enjoy a picnic (why not stop at the Little Valley Bakery by the Gowar Heritage Centre, for some delicious focacia, pastries to enjoy, at the seating bench just as you exit the castle, with scenic views.
From there, follow the path up north and then to your right, where you will find an interesting sculpture, more bench seating, and the paths to walk across the Three Cliffs, down to the beach, or follow the coastline path around to the right. At this point, we took the sand dunes path down to the beach, much easier to go down than to climb up (which, if you opt for the other path, you can, and take the castle in towards the end of your walk/climb).
From here, it is a lovely walk along the beach to the stepping stones, then a short walk back through the forest and onto the main road. Time for a refreshing local cider at Gowar Heritage Centre. You might like to take the tour, and discover more about the local history, flour making, or perhaps enjoy one of the workshops, including Welsh Spoon Making!
An hour and 30-minutes later, we re-boarded the 118 Adventure Travel Bus on the same side as Shepherd's Cafe & Shop for the 16.28pm return journey. Reaching Swansea Bus Station at 17.15pm in time for dinner at Swansea City Centre Premier Inn.
Day 6 - RETURNING FROM SWANSEA TO EDINBURGH
After a late breakfast, it was time to re-pack and take a leisurely walk to Swansea Train Station. The return journey was much quieter departing at 12.54pm with a 30-minute change in Crewe before reaching Edinburgh at 20.24pm.
It was a lovely week, with so much more to explore. We can't wait to return!
I hope you have enjoyed reading and are feeling inspired to visit South Wales, UK.
As always, I love to read and answer any comments/questions you have. You can get in touch in the usual ways via the comment section below, email, and Facebook.
Until next time....
Happy Travels,
Michelle x
Comments