Wales Grand Loop 14-Day Self-Drive Itinerary

A self-drive loop from Cardiff covering the South Coast, West Coast, Snowdonia, and the Borderlands, connecting major national parks and castles.

Drive counter-clockwise around Wales, passing through the Gower Peninsula, Pembrokeshire Coast, Cardigan Bay, Snowdonia, and Anglesey, then heading south via Llangollen to the Brecon Beacons. You will stay only one or two nights in most places, meaning frequent hotel changes, but the driving distances are manageable. Perfect for travelers with plenty of time who want to see all of Wales on their first visit. If you only have ten days, you can skip the rest days in the Brecon Beacons and Aberystwyth.

The Snowdon Mountain Railway only runs to the summit from approximately May to October; in bad weather, it may only go halfway.

Day by day

Day 1 · Cardiff Castle & Cardiff Bay

Cardiff（Cardiff Castle、National Museum Cardiff、Cardiff Market、Cardiff Bay & Mermaid Quay）

Explore the city center on foot. In the afternoon, take a water bus or bus to Cardiff Bay (approx. 20 mins).

Stay: Castle Quarter

Day 2 · St Fagans to the Gower Peninsula

Cardiff（St Fagans National Museum of History） → Swansea & Gower（Mumbles、Three Cliffs Bay、Rhossili Bay）

Drive from Cardiff via the M4 to the south coast of the Gower Peninsula (approx. 1 hour 30 mins total), stopping at St Fagans in the morning.

Accommodation in Gower is highly seasonal; booking in advance is essential.

Stay: Rhossili

Day 3 · Worms Head to Tenby

Swansea & Gower（Worm's Head） → Tenby & Pembrokeshire Coast（Dylan Thomas Boathouse、Tenby Harbour、Tenby Town Walls & Five Arches）

Drive from Rhossili via Llanelli and Laugharne to Tenby (approx. 110 km, 2 hours drive).

Access to Worms Head is tidal. Check safe crossing times before you go.

Stay: Tenby Old Town and Harbour

Day 4 · Pembrokeshire South Coast Castles & Bays

Tenby & Pembrokeshire Coast（Pembroke Castle、Barafundle Bay、St Govan's Chapel）

Drive from Tenby via Pembroke and Stackpole to St Davids (approx. 2 hours total driving time).

Access to St Govan's Head can be affected by military firing range activity. Check the monthly road closure notices in advance.

Stay: St Davids

Day 5 · St Davids Peninsula Day Trip

Tenby & Pembrokeshire Coast（St Davids Cathedral、St Davids Bishop's Palace、Whitesands Bay、Blue Lagoon, Abereiddy）

Using St Davids as a base, take short drives around the peninsula (approx. 15 to 25 mins per stretch).

Stay: St Davids

Day 6 · North Along Cardigan Bay

Tenby & Pembrokeshire Coast（Pentre Ifan） → Aberystwyth（Aberaeron、Aberystwyth Promenade & Royal Pier）

Drive north from St Davids along the coast via the A487 to Aberystwyth (approx. 130 km, 2.5 hours drive).

Stay: Seafront and Town Centre

Day 7 · Steam Train to Devil's Bridge

Aberystwyth（Vale of Rheidol Railway、Devil's Bridge Falls、Constitution Hill Cliff Railway & Camera Obscura）

The Vale of Rheidol narrow-gauge steam railway takes about 1 hour each way. Allow half a day including the waterfall walk.

Train schedules vary by date and generally do not run from November to March.

Stay: Seafront and Town Centre

Day 8 · Harlech & Italianate Village

Eryri (Snowdonia)（Harlech Castle、Portmeirion、Beddgelert）

Drive along the coast via Machynlleth and Harlech to Beddgelert (approx. 110 km, 2.5 hours drive).

Stay: Beddgelert

Day 9 · Summit Mount Snowdon

Eryri (Snowdonia)（Snowdon Mountain Railway、Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)、National Slate Museum、Dolbadarn Castle & Llyn Padarn）

Drive from Beddgelert to Llanberis (approx. 30 mins). The mountain railway round trip takes about 2.5 hours.

Book mountain railway tickets in advance. Allow 6 to 7 hours if you plan to hike to the summit.

Stay: Llanberis

Day 10 · Caernarfon & Anglesey

Eryri (Snowdonia)（Caernarfon Castle） → Anglesey（Llanfairpwllgwyngyll、Menai Suspension Bridge） → Eryri (Snowdonia)（Beaumaris Castle）

Drive from Llanberis to Caernarfon, cross the Menai Strait, and take the A55 to Conwy (approx. 1.5 hours total driving time).

Stay: Conwy

Day 11 · Conwy Old Town to Llangollen

Eryri (Snowdonia)（Conwy Castle、Plas Mawr） → Llangollen（Llangollen Wharf (Horse-drawn Boats)、Castell Dinas Brân）

Explore Conwy on foot in the morning, then drive via the A55 and A494 to Llangollen in the afternoon (approx. 1 hour 15 mins drive).

Stay: Llangollen Town Centre

Day 12 · Aqueduct to Hay-on-Wye

Llangollen（Pontcysyllte Aqueduct） → Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)（Hay-on-Wye）

Drive south from Llangollen via the A483 to Hay-on-Wye (approx. 2.5 hours), then continue to Brecon (approx. 40 mins).

Stay: Brecon

Day 13 · Pen y Fan Hike

Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons)（Pen y Fan、Brecon Cathedral）

Drive from Brecon to the Pont ar Daf car park (approx. 20 mins). The hike to the summit and back takes about 3 to 4 hours.

The summit can be very windy and weather changes quickly. In wet or foggy weather, consider the Four Waterfalls Walk instead.