It depends what you're after!
North and South offer very different things, although both offer excellent mountain biking.
North offers hill walking, castles, and some vast, deserted beaches. At 13 I guess your daughter may be a little bit old for Greenwood Park near Caernarfon, but this was great for my boys, 4 & 7. I guess that the steam railways may also not hold her attention? Ffestiniog and the Welsh Highland Railway are the highlights. Sea Canoeing is another great activity and the coast of Anglesey is great for this. (It's an activity that's equally suited to the South as well). One tip for north Wales is that if the weather is poor, head for Anglesey, then onwards to Holyhead. South Stack and the lighthouse are spectacular destinations, but it's another strenuous activity.
South Wales offers superb beaches, much like Brittany, particularly Gower and Pembroke. Three Cliffs Bay is my favorite. Then there are the water based activities - you can go on whale watching tours (you'll be lucky to see one though!) and Skomer Island is a spectacular destination - there's a particularly good boat tour which will go though the tidal narrows if the timing is right - the tour guide used to plunge the boat into the white water, filling it with water, then applying the power to release the water over the stern. It's possible that the health and safety police could have out a stop to that now!
There is also a Centre-Parcs-like holiday village in South Wales called Bluestone, which is much cheaper than C.P. and is a good base for exploring the South.
Don't forget the mid-Wales coast, we visited the area south of Harlech last Easter and enjoyed it. It's different, somewhat undiscovered, maybe not the best choice for your first visit to Wales though.
Holiday 2014-Wales Advice
- Richard B
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Re: Holiday 2014-Wales Advice
So I wish I was James Bond, just for the day.
Kissing all the girls, blow the bad guys away.
Kissing all the girls, blow the bad guys away.
- Helix Von Smelix
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Re: Holiday 2014-Wales Advice
Helix Von Smelix wrote:Many thanks for all the good info for me to look through.
Tenby is another 1 and there is Oakwood & also Folly farm around that area for your 13 yr old daughter
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Re: Holiday 2014-Wales Advice
Get on the M4 and play Junction RouletteHelix Von Smelix wrote:keep 'em coming
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Re: Holiday 2014-Wales Advice
Agree with this recommendation. As a Welshman living in Wales I have to say this part of the country is especially lovely. I also recommend taking a walk on the Pembrokeshire Coastal path. Some parts are very easy, others more strenuous. But the scenery is breathtaking.RosscoEvs wrote:I'm from Pembrokeshire myself, so would recommend anywhere on the coast there, tenby is a lovely town with a lovely town beach, littlehaven and broadhaven also lovely. St Davids is great, and Newport also a nice town. I'm also a big fan of the Gower, and love rhossilli beach.
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- Richard B
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Re: Holiday 2014-Wales Advice
Careful, you may end up in Bracknell!JAG wrote:Get on the M4 and play Junction RouletteHelix Von Smelix wrote:keep 'em coming
So I wish I was James Bond, just for the day.
Kissing all the girls, blow the bad guys away.
Kissing all the girls, blow the bad guys away.
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Re: Holiday 2014-Wales Advice
Even worse BlackwoodRichard B wrote:Careful, you may end up in Bracknell!JAG wrote:Get on the M4 and play Junction RouletteHelix Von Smelix wrote:keep 'em coming
Sorry for any spelling or grammar mistakes there will be
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Re: Holiday 2014-Wales Advice
Agree with Richard B, if you're off to Pembrokeshire, bluestone is a great place to base yourself. Kids will love the pool on a rainy day. Also, the accommodation is far superior to centre parcs.
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Re: Holiday 2014-Wales Advice
As a Cardiffian (yes I know some Welshmen don't think that means I'm Welsh !) now living amongst the English heathen I agree with a lot of the advised - the Gower , Snowdonia ,Bluestones ( probably best for younger children ) but your 13 year old will love the shopping in Cardiff ! It is a great city and worth a visit
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Re: Holiday 2014-Wales Advice
Agreed - Cardiff is always worth a visit if one is on South Wales. Come in the summer and go to Cardiff Bay - Mermaid Quay is a great place to hang out.SimonB wrote:As a Cardiffian (yes I know some Welshmen don't think that means I'm Welsh !) now living amongst the English heathen I agree with a lot of the advised - the Gower , Snowdonia ,Bluestones ( probably best for younger children ) but your 13 year old will love the shopping in Cardiff ! It is a great city and worth a visit
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Re: Holiday 2014-Wales Advice
& if you do visit my fine Capitol City let me no loltheaub wrote:Agreed - Cardiff is always worth a visit if one is on South Wales. Come in the summer and go to Cardiff Bay - Mermaid Quay is a great place to hang out.SimonB wrote:As a Cardiffian (yes I know some Welshmen don't think that means I'm Welsh !) now living amongst the English heathen I agree with a lot of the advised - the Gower , Snowdonia ,Bluestones ( probably best for younger children ) but your 13 year old will love the shopping in Cardiff ! It is a great city and worth a visit
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