Aberystwyth to south wales ?

[ips]

Done north wales (and work there quite regularily) but havent been to south wales ever. We are planning on heading towards Aberystwyth then driving down the coast to st davids etc and working are way along the south bit around swansea then whatever. Planning on mainly caravan club CL's (but dont mind any site if its good and not more than £20) and occasional wilding if suitable spot found (ie on / close to a beach) so any reccomendations of any stops on the above route would be most welcome. Also are there any parts of the coast road that need to be avaoided in a 6m coachbuilt. Any other info and or reccomendations on south wales is very welcome.

ips

[donna miller]

Drive past St Davids until you come to Newgale beach, the campsite is on your left £5 per person per night, no hook ups but good clean toilet and shower block. No young groups or dogs.

If you need hook up, you can park up behind the pub adjacent to the site, not sure what the cost is.

[nuevoboy]

Not meaning to put a damper on things, but hope you're bringing your wellies.

The site Donna mentions is directly opposite the beach and is actually at (or below) sea level.

Every summer holiday time, we have the usual torrential downpour and the whole site floods.

Last year a whole troop of cubscouts got completely washed out and it's sad to see all the campers wading around in foot deep water trying to salvage their gear.

There is a slight rise at the back of the site but mostly filled with surfing dudes in their campervans.

 

There's a new CL opened up a couple of miles south-east, called Simpson Hill Farm and is listed in the current Caravan Club magazine (page 83) on the road between Simpson Cross and Broad Haven.

There are a few other CL's in the area too, mostly just a couple of miles inland. Not sure if you've got bikes or like walking.

 

Be careful travelling down the hill coming from St.Davids into Solva, as it's quite narrow and busy.

Don't whatever you do, take the coast road between Broad Haven and Little Haven. No doubt someone will tell you they got their 6m.+ 'van round the bends, but I've seen plenty of cars jammed between the walls.

 

I can recommend the CC site at Pembrey Country Park between Carmarthen and Llanelli.

Easy access to the cycle paths and handy for the walk down to the beach and forest walks.

That's if you can in there.

 

Sorry I can't recommend more specific sites but they're all too near our front door to have tried 'em.

Hope you enjoy your visit.

 

[Cattwg]

Yes we also like the site at Newgale. As stated it’s £5 per person per night but they also charge for showers – 50p. A word of caution, if there has been recent very heavy rain parts of the site are prone to flooding. The whole coast in that area is magnificent.

Cattwg :-D

[Hopesy]

Our daughter is at uni at aber and when we viist we use a CL called penygraig farm. I think it's £8 a night has a loo and a shower. It's on a slope so ramps are needed. The site is very very peaceful and it's quite common to sit outside the van and watch the red kites circling. Nothing at all around the site but it's next to a cycle way which makes it easy to get into aber (about 20 mins cycling). The view is lovely too.

Rog

[crinklystarfish]

We've wildcamped all over Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. Finding spots is easy. We also did a CL at approx. SM 72983 24466 (can't remember the name) right on St David's head. It's a beauty. Some of the roads are gnarly, err on the side of caution if it's unclassified.

[Gwendolyn]

Agree with nuevoboy – the road from St David’s into Solva is hair-raising, although both places are lovely to visit. [Great clothes / gift shop in Solva…]

 

And also echo his warning about the road between Little Haven and Broadhaven, but again, both are worth a visit.

 

 

Otherwise – starting at Aberystwyth:

 

1. Aberaeron – harbour town; Georgian buildings.

 

2. Newquay is pretty and the Ceredigion Heritage Coast between there and Cardigan is less busy than the Pembrokeshire coast. But the lanes are very narrow around Llangranog, Tresaith etc.

 

3. The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park needs no mention I guess – it really is spectacular. Wonderful walks. Castles galore. Islands.

 

Think about parking up and using the mini-bus coastal service. It will get you where motorhomes dare not go!!!

 

4. My favourite walk:

Park at Stackpole Quay [narrow access, but you should get down there; or use the coastal bus service]. Pick up the free map from the National Trust kiosk. Walk across the fields to Bosherton Lily Ponds. Make a circuit [long or short] of the ponds, ending up at Broadhaven beach [not to be confused with the Northern Broadhaven!] then back across the cliff path, down into Barafundle Bay, up the other side and resume cliff path to Stackpole.

 

Reward yourself with a Cream Tea at the National Trust tea rooms by the slipway.

 

5. Narberth – inland but an interesting market town with excellent butcher / fishmonger. Antiques. Clothes. Individual shops.

 

6. Away from the crowds, don’t overlook Carmarthenshire, the Towy valley is worth a drive.

National Botanic Gardens of Wales; Aberglasney Gardens [somewhat similar to the lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall – it’s a garden restoration project and quite delightful]; National Trust place at Llandelio – itself a pleasant little market town.

 

7. Two estuary towns in Carmarthenshire with castles Laugharne [Dylan Thomas connection] and Llansteffan.

 

8. Around Swansea – the Gower of course… where else??? Again, best to walk to the best coves.

 

9. Again, inland and away from the crowds – at the top of the Neath valley, on the edge of the Brecon Beacons, is a glorious waterfall walk which takes in 7 or so waterfalls, the path actually goes behind one of them. Park at Pontneddfechan.

 

10. Glamorgan Heritage coast around Ogmore and Southerndown. Another castle, stepping stones across river to the dunes at Merthyr Mawr.

 

Again, sorry cannot help with sites as we too live in Pembrokeshire and our daughter lives in Swansea [great for trips to the Gower].

 

Enjoy!

 

[ips]

Thank you all for the info, it sounds wonderfull.