Whether you’re looking to build sandcastles and soak up the sun on the seashore, get active with adrenaline-pumping pursuits, or simply want to get out in nature with the kids in tow, Wales has you covered. The best part? You don’t need to break the bank, thanks to a wealth of budget-conscious options from accommodation to activities. Here are three budget-friendly Welsh holiday suggestions …
For beach fun: the Gower peninsula
Take one glance at the beaches of Gower and you’ll instantly see why the peninsula was declared the UK’s first area of outstanding natural beauty back in 1956. The beaches here are not only stunningly beautiful but they are also a great place for family fun, thanks to the safe, clean swathes of sand. Pitch your tent at the five-star Three Cliffs Bay holiday park where you’ll get a camping spot with your own electricity, water, a picnic table and fire pit, plus you’ll have access to shared modern shower and toilet facilities. With tent poles firmly in place, head to any of the nearby beaches such as the famous Rhossili, where four-legged friends are welcome all year. Alternatively, try the more easily accessible bays of Oxwich and Caswell. The Wales Coast Path runs the entire way around the Gower peninsula, providing spectacular views and plenty of fresh air.
If the Welsh weather’s not on your side, drive over to nearby Swansea, where you’ll find the National Waterfront Museum, which celebrates centuries of Welsh industry with its interactive exhibits featuring planes, steam engines and more. The free museum also hosts a regular programme of activities for children.
Next door, you can splash around in the indoor waterpark LC Waterpark and Leisure Complex with its twisting slides and pools, or scale the 30ft climbing wall. Stop by the pretty seaside town of Mumbles on the way back to your tent to enjoy fish and chips on the waterfront, and then a scoop of Joe’s ice-cream, whose recipe is a closely guarded secret.
For time in nature: Bannau Brycheiniog
There are lots of options for places to stay in Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons), from campsites to hotels, youth hostels to bunkhouses. Once you’ve settled in to your lodgings, head off into the countryside to nearby Tretower to visit the 900-year-old castle, then watch the Welsh countryside whiz by from the old-fashioned luxury of a steam train at the Brecon Mountain Railway – you’ll pass by reservoirs, lakes and mountains as you chug along in the vintage carriages.
To see this rugged landscape a different way, test your mettle at BikePark Wales where there are some 40 trails for riders of all abilities and a family-friendly Ticket to Ride option. Or, for something a little more laid-back, learn all about the landscape’s natural larder with Brecon Beacons Foraging, where children go free with a paying adult. Cantref Adventure Farm offers the opportunity to get up close and personal with the farm animals and is set up for family days out, with shows, street food, slides and rides.
Did you know that the western part of Bannau Brycheiniog is a Unesco Global Geopark? The rocks here date back 470m years. Bannau Brycheiniog national park has international dark sky status, meaning that because there is so little light pollution, it’s the perfect place for a spot of stargazing. Bring binoculars or simply lie back and look up to see the Milky Way light up the night sky above you.
For active adventure: Eryri
If your idea of a family holiday involves keeping active and trying something new, then north Wales and Eryri (Snowdonia) might be the place for you. Book yourselves a self-catering static caravan at the family-run Bryn Gloch Caravan & Camping Park to be perfectly placed to experience all that Eryri national park has to offer. Children aged 10 and over will love the exhilaration of the rafting safari at the National White Water Centre, where suitably kitted out in helmets, buoyancy aids and paddles, you’ll venture downstream accompanied by an expert guide.
If you prefer to get your thrills on dry land, then head to the unforgettable Bounce Below – an epic trampoline park housed in a disused mine twice the size of St Paul’s Cathedral. If the weather’s fine, lace up your walking boots and head for the mountains. Strong walkers might forgo the often-busy Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and head instead to Cader Idris. The Minffordd Path circular route is about six miles long and is a chance to enjoy the legendary tales of the giant who is said to have used this mountain as an armchair.
Soothe aching legs and wind down at one of the beaches that line the coast of the Llŷn peninsula. Pack a picnic and some layers and watch the sun go down over Cardigan Bay and the Irish Sea, with a warming hot chocolate and a slice of bara brith to hand.
For more information on holidays in Wales, see visitwales.com