Recommended Weekend Getaways From Cardiff

The second-largest national park in the UK, Snowdonia National Park is named for the 3560 ft high Snowdon, the highest peak in Britain south of the Scottish Highlands. Although the peak is what the park’s best known for- it’s attacked every year by thousands of trekkers and mountaineers of all ages, nationalities and skill levels, the park itself is worth a visit. It stretches over almost 1350 sq km, and contains many rivers, lakes, forests, glacier valleys, and some historical sites as well. Among the latter are Roman forts, Norman castles and ancient, Bronze-age burial sites. Although the point nearest to Cardiff is only about 40 minutes’ drive from the city, if you have the time and the inclination, you can try going further into the park- some of its attractions are the lovely town of Betws-y-Coed, the castle town of Harlech, and the old slate-mining village of Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Much smaller than Snowdonia National Park is the Brecon Beacons National Park, a little more than 1700 sq km in area, and encompassing some of the most interesting regions in Wales. The park includes four mountain ranges, of which one of the most picturesque is the Black Mountains range; within the Black Mountains are the Honddu River, the ruins of Llanthony Priory, and the peak of Waun Fach. Also within the park are mine valleys- there isn’t any more mining activity here now, but the pits are still there for tourists to see. The market town of Brecon, a historic one, is also worth a visit. 

The countryside surrounding Cardiff is worth exploring, if only to get a feel of what Wales is really like. Glamorgan, with its lovely coast and rich cultural heritage, is just a stone’s throw away, as is the pretty Wye Valley. All you have to do is hire a car or take one of the frequent buses from the city, and head out into the countryside- even if you go nowhere in particular, just visiting the nearby villages and having a beer at a rural pub can be quite a treat!