plr

I'm still trying to decide whether to keep a rental car through my whole week in Wales, or whether to use trains and/or bus to get through the entire mid-section quickly, since I have no stops planned for that region. I will probably embark toward the south from Harlech or thereabouts. If I drive, what routes would be the easiest/quickest? And if I use public transport, what suggestions do you have for best route and means?

wasleys

A couple of questions and few quick thoughts.

Where are you starting the trip and where in the west are you going?

I doubt you would have much success getting a one-way rental to Harlech.

Public transport in Wales is generally slow and sparse unless you are looking at the east-west coastal routes in north and south.

Driving would seem the best option.

plr

Wasleys, I am starting out from Manchester airport, and will return there at the end of the week. I appreciate your caution that a one-way car rental might not be possible. I've read that driving through the midlands is very slow and tedious. Wanting to not waste time on that drive, do you (or anyone) have recommendations for a good route?

wasleys

It's impossible to answer that question without knowing where you want to go in Wales.

annhig

Hi plr,

you can fly from Manchester to Bristol on Air southwest - here's the link:

http://www.airsouthwest.com/travel.php?id=2.

there are no easy ways to drive, but I suggest that you go to a site like viamichelin.com, and play about with the route finder section. you can put in various options, but you should be aware that their driving times are a bit on the optimistic side, depending of course when you are travelling. 2am in the morning might be good!

good luck!

PalenQ

To go from North Wales to South Wales I could highly recommend taking the Ffestiniog Railway(sp?) to do that. From Conwy you track up the verdant Conwy Valley to Ffestiniog where you transfer to a narrow-gauge railway originally built to port slate fom gritty Ffestiniog's slate mines down to the sea in southern Wales. Should take 4-5 hours I suspect - I did it once but can't remember but a fascinating way and utilitarian way as well. This narrow-gauge railway fatures Lilliputian train cars and goes down precipitous slopes to the sea. If going by train check out these sites that contain more details on this railway - www.ricksteves.com and www.budgeteuropetravel.com and the official site of the rail line - www.festrail.co.uk. The rail line has garnerd Heritage Status in Britain.

plr

SO SORRY!--I was forgetting that my other current threads are not connected to this one. :</ I am needing to travel from probably Harlech to the central or western part of the southern coast...doing castle ruins all along the south, and then back to Manchester. Destination in the south of Wales is dependent on best driving route at this point.

wasleys

@plr, Getting information from you is a bit like drawing teeth! I think you need to do some research. I assume you are interested in castles with which Wales and the English borderland is stuffed.

Go the Cadw website at http://www.cadw.wales.gov.uk/default.asp?ID=6 and search on 'Castle'.

Go to the English Heritage site at http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/ and select 'Castles'.

From those sites you will find that there is essentially a ring of castles round Wales and it would be possible to organise a circular route. You need to check opening times and dates and decide which appeal to you and how many you can do. Don't be over optimistic in terms of numbers.

@PalenQ, The Ffestiniog is wholly within North Wales.

plr

No Wasleys, actually, I've already done all the research. My posts are all on top. "One week in Wales: Best Locations for Lodgings?" lists my chosen sites.

janisj

Wasleys: So we don't end up reinventing the wheel here -- check out a few of the OPs other threads. There is no need to go back over all the possible places of interest/castles/trains in Wales

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...ough-wales.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...s-in-wales.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/euro...r-lodgings.cfm

plr

Thanks, janisj. I did think I was clear in my initial post that I'm just asking about the quickest means and route from Harlech or nearby through mid-Wales to any point in central or SW Wales. Perhaps this re-states my question more clearly?

plr

PalenQ, I just realized that I had not responded to your post. Unless I'm missing something on the website, the Ffestiniog Railway does not extend beyond the north of Wales. Is there any train available that goes all the way from the north to the south coast?

janisj

plr: "<i>PalenQ, I just realized that I had not responded to your post. Unless I'm missing something on the website, the Ffestiniog Railway does not extend beyond the north of Wales.</i>"

I think our PQ is a bit confused (it does happen from time to time ) As you know, the Ffestiniog railway is a narrow gauge line in North Wales/Snowdonia. It won't get you down the country.

For your plan -- I'd keep the car and just take scenic train excursions here an there. But to explore all the castles and such -- you'll really want the car.

Mucky

Keep the car.
Public transport is a drag.


Muck

PalenQ

I think our PQ is a bit confused (it does happen from time to time ) As you know, the Ffestiniog railway is a narrow gauge line in North Wales/Snowdonia. It won't get you down the country.>

Well yes I saw the NW Wales in title and though Snowdonia, etc. But if in North Wales - conwy area which I thought OP hasd mentioned in earlier thread by I guess I was wrong then the Ffestiniog Railway after the Conwy Valley Railway is a great way to head to South Wales - if you have time.

First of all yes keep the car but if going by public transit, contrary to dazed and confused janisj the Ffestiniog Railway does indeed intersect at Portmaddog with a main rail line along the coast - a couple of stops south is Harlech and Harlech Castle (the train rolls right by the castle) - the tracks end at Aberyswth a really nice university town I stayed in for a few days once and then you go by bus to the South Wales Coast or continue on to Shrewsbury, a really nice IMO underrated English town, to Swansea - all by rail. By rail this would be one of the quickest if not the quickest route from the Conwy North Wales area to South Wales.

But the trains are slow so the fastest way by far is to drive.

Again I misunderstood the Q but what janisj says is just wrong - yes janisj can indeed be wrong contrary to popular impression!

Cathinjoetown

PLR,

From Harlech to Cardiff driving through mid-Wales is under a four hour drive. Not sure where you are headed exactly on the south coast.

Powys Castle, not a ruin but very interesting with fantastic gardens, and Hay-on-Wye, a village of bookshops, plus the Brecon Beacons are roughly on your way, not that you could easily stop at both Powys and Hay. Note I said roughly.

Just sticking to the north- south route, I think it's a beautiful drive, very stress free, passing through some pretty villages and market towns.

Cathinjoetown

Try some test driving itineraries on www.mapquest.co.uk or similar

plr

Thanks to everyone for your knowledge and references to links. I think I understand the consensus here to be that:

1) there is no train route which goes all the way from NW Wales to the southern coast; and

2) traveling through mid-Wales will be faster by car than by public transportation.

I'm disappointed, as I'd have loved to enjoy the midlands scenery from a rail car, but so it is.

I have to admit that when I've gone to the mapping links, I've been just a little intimidated by the number of route-changes....many of which just say "Turn on road." That's it. I'm not kidding. Just "Turn on road!" And these instructions are not always in connection with roundabout intersections. Aarghh!! I have visions of my driving in circles throughout the country and never arriving! Any honest reassurances are welcome!

janisj

"<i>I have to admit that when I've gone to the mapping links, I've been just a little intimidated by the number of route-changes....</i>"

Don't rely on either a GPS or on-line mapping sites. A GPS is good to have -- but definitely buy a road atlas as soon as you get to the UK. Most petrol stations, book shops, etc sell them and they don't cost very much. Absolutely a must.

A GPS will get you from point to point most of the time -- but they can also send you down farm tracks and into restricted areas. Having a proper road atlas will be a big help.

PalenQ

It is very hard IME driving in Britain to get lost as there seems to be a sign for the next city and even hamlet on practically every corner - just get a good map like an Ordnance Survey map and you can never ever IMO get lost.