Itinerary for Wales-need some help please.
 

My husband, myself and our 16 year old daughter are planning a trip for next May, beginning of June in England, Scotland and Wales. While most of the trip is falling together, I am having problems with an itineary for Wales. We would like to pick up a car in Bath and travel north to/through Wales. My daughter is a scifi/fantasy fan and has a very romantic interest in Wales. She has her heart set on the medieval banquet in Ruthin(i understand it is somewhat hokey, but I feel obligued to include it) and we would like to include a few castles such as Harlech and Caernarfon. Also, we would like to turn in the car the morning of the third day and take the train/bus to Edinburgh. We are regrettably going to postpone a visit to South Wales for another trip. Any suggestions for a scenic route to North Wales from Bath(avoiding difficult driving areas as this will be our only experience on the left) and how to best use our limited time would be greatly appreciated. Also, how to make the connection on the third day to Edinburgh is of particular concern to me. Thanks in advance. This message board has been a great help during the initial planning and I'm sure I'll have more questions as I continue to finalize the trip.

Absolutely do NOT miss Beaumaris castle...and Conwy too. We did Conwy, Beaumaris and Caernarfon inone day very easily-they are pretty close together. Your daughter will LOVE Beaumaris-its on the isle of Angelsey, and has white swans swimming in the moat-beautiful! If you would like to see pictures visit out website at www.panteravb.com and click on UK pics toward the bottom-I beleive they are in alphabetical order. HAve a wonderful time-we ADORED N. Wales!

Thanks for the advice. WE will be sure to include all and was glad to see we could do it all in one day. Your pictures were great. Someone posted their pictures on the Frommer web site. I think you would like them. Did you stay anywhere you would like to recommend

How would I go about locating those pics on teh Frommers website?
We stayed in Betws-Y-Coed at the Ty Gwyn...a 16th century coaching inn...we LOVED it. They have a wonderful restaurant and pub with original beamed ceilings. I miss it!

Hi, sbenz!

You did not say how long you have in North Wales. When you say on the "third" day you have to catch a train to Edinburgh, does this mean you have only three days in Wales?

1) Assuming that you have only 3 days, I would say that you fastest route is to go by the "freeways", the multi-lane highways. Go northward by taking the M5 to the M6, then head westward on the M54.

Driving on these multilane highways is a very good way to get used to driving on the left side of the road.

For detailed directions, go to the Mappy site or the Viamichelin site and map out your intended route.

Just avoid driving, especially the M6, during peak traffic hours.

Once you are in Wales, the roads are usually two lane and wind around a great deal. Figure on going 30 mph. And don't get too large a car! You'll need a smaller car for all those curves!

2) Harlech is in a beautiful area. You will like the sweeping vistas of Tremadog Bay. You should probably plan on Harlech being your first castle and then work northward from there.

Right across the entrance to Harlech Castle is a lovely restaurant in the hotel - can't remember the name, but very good food at reasonable prices.

3) Caernarfon is a must see. Inside the castle, there is a very good exhibit of the Royal Welch Fusilliers which I would highly recommend.

4) You can work your way northward to Beaumaris, Conwy, etc., then head back eastward to Ruthin.

5) You wanted to take a train to Edinburgh. Manchester would probably be the best place to drop off your car.

Here's the railroad site:

nationalrail.co.uk

6) Try and find a book on Welsh myths. It's absolutely wonderful to read their myths, the entire landscape will come alive for you!

7)Also check out information on the area, like anything on Snowdonia:

www.snowdonia-npa.gov.uk

Wild and beautiful north Wales! What a wonderful trip! Have fun!

Hi Ani,

Go to Frommers.com-Click on Community at the top- Choose Europe under featured destination-click on the Great Britain msg board- look under the discussion on Wales. There is a direct link to the web site. Enjoy!

It's a shame that you want to avoid South Wales when you are practically on the doorstep in Bath. Cardiff would only be an hour away by the M4 motorway, and there is no more of a fantasy castle than Cardiff (and Castell Coch just outside). They were "re-decorated" for the Marquess of Bute in the 19th century in the most amazing and bizzare way.
You could visit Cardiff and then travel to North Wales along the A470 trunk road (going past Castell Coch at the intersection with the M4 junction 32). This is a very good road until you get to mid Wales (past Brecon) when it becomes single lane. The scenery is breathtaking.
If your daughter is a scifi fan then you MUST visit Portmeirion where "The Prisoner" was filmed. It's a beautiful place anyway. Both Harlech and Caernarfon are not far away, as is Conwy.