With an early morning start from Bristol on Sat 14/9/08 we have 2 days to experience Wales. We are driving. How much can we achieve. Probably want to see some of Cardiff. Can anyone help please

We drove from the Cotswolds area to Ruthin, Wales, and the scenery was beautiful. In Ruthin we attended the medieval banquet, which was a blast! Touristy, yes, but as none of my group had ever attended something like that, it was still lots of fun.

Well since Ruthin is on the opposite end of Wales from Cardiff - not that doable.

landor: In 2 days you could easily visit Cardiff, Chepstow, Tintern Abbey (a must) and Caerphilly (another must)

Outside of Cardiff is the Welsh Folk Museum. Buildings showing old ways of life in Wales. I remember there was a street of row houses and each one had been fixed to show a way of life in different generations (some time in the 1800's, 1920's and World WarII). Craft demonstrations. Interesting story tellers in each home.

We also went to Caldecott castle and found they hold medieval banquets but we had not booked ahead and they had no room for us that night or the next.

Roman ruins in Newport(?). Remains of an arena.

Tintern Abbey is in the area.

Penhow Castle was interesting. Actually a small fortified home. It was one of the seats of the Seymours (as in Jane, third wife of Henry VIII). I felt as if the family had just stepped out of each room. The tools, dishes and other little bits were around as if someone would be back in just a jiff to finish whatever she was doing. It gave a good picture of 16th century life. I remember seeing in a safe corner of the courtyard a cat and her very young kittens.

Castle Coch is between Cardiff and Caerphilly. It is a 19th century romantic interpretation of a castle built by a coal(I think) baron. Same one who renovated Cardiff Castle. It was fun though not authentic middle ages.

Hope this gives you some ideas.

I realize that my description of Welsh Folk Museum sounds as if it is just one row of houses. there is much more--miner's house, farm houses of successful farmers to those at subsistence level. Houses of various craftsmen.

Also right nearby is a manor house and fascinating gardens. One part of the garden devoted to shrubs pruned into various shapes (can't remember the word for that).

Can't remember if the manor house is part of the folk park or separate.

The Welsh folk museum is at St Fagans and the manor house is part of the open air museum. We took a 20 minute bus ride from the central bus station to get there.
Cardiff Castle is well worth seeing.
Tintern Abbey is quite spectacular and the area around is very pretty.

landor if you are interested in all things Roman, there is a very interesting Roman amphitheatre just outside Cardiff.
Together with York and Chester, Caerleon was one of only three fortress settlements in Britain built for the Romans' elite legionary troops, namely the 2nd Augustan Legion which had been sent to Wales to crush the native Silures tribe.
Artifacts unearthed can be seen in the Legionary Museum.

Hi Landor,
You have some great suggestions so far.

In 2 days you can see a lot, you have a car which is a massive advantage so.

I would say the following:
Idea for Day 1. Cardiff.
Cardiff Castle, Civic Centre, National Museum of Wales, Cardiff Bay then off to St Fagans for the Museum of Welsh life.
(Cardiff Center is undergoing a re build at the moment so the area around the Marriott hotel is literally a building site.)

Head out to Caerphilly, Castle Coch at Tongwynlais
idea for Day 2
Head west to the Mumbles and the Gower penninsula (about 90mins drive) or head North to Brecon then heading round to Chepstow, Tintern, Caerleon (this has the roman remains)

That's some food for thought.

Or you could head further West to Tenby or Laugharne, St Davids which are lovely areas to visit in Sept.

Do you have any specific interests?

http://www.itchycardiff.co.uk/

http://www.castlewales.com/

Muck