Scenic Road Trips — The Wales Way

Drive three signature routes that showcase Wales at its best — sweeping coastlines, mountain passes, castles, colourful harbours and quiet lay-bys with big views. Use this map to sketch a full road trip or pick out scenic sections for a great day on the road.

How to use this map

Choose a tab to highlight a route (All · The Coastal Way · The Cambrian Way · The North Wales Way). Follow the coloured line, click clusters to zoom, then select a pin for photos, practical notes and links to official sites. The search box jumps to towns, beaches and landmarks; the thumbnail strip helps you preview points of interest quickly.

The three routes

• The Coastal Way — Cardigan Bay’s beaches, harbours and cliffs between the Llŷn Peninsula and St Davids.
• The Cambrian Way — Through the heart of Wales from North to South via uplands, reservoirs and market towns.
• The North Wales Way — Castles, seaside resorts and Menai Strait views roughly following the A55 corridor.

What you’ll find en route

• Viewpoints & lay-bys for classic photos and picnic stops.
• Short walks to waterfalls, headlands and easy summits.
• Beaches with swim notes and nearby facilities.
• Towns & harbours for cafés, ice-cream and supplies.
• Heritage — castles, gardens and industrial landmarks.

Practical tips

• Routes on the map are indicative — follow local signs and check live traffic and weather.
• Expect narrow lanes and single-track sections; use passing places and drive courteously.
• Parking can be seasonal; carry change or use council apps. Respect local access and resident parking.
• Mobile coverage varies in rural areas; download offline maps where possible.
• EV drivers: plan charging stops in advance and carry your network apps/cards.

Drive responsibly

Keep to speed limits, leave gates as you find them, and take litter home. Many stops are near sensitive habitats and farmland — please tread lightly.

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Suggest a stop

If you manage a viewpoint, visitor attraction, café, farm shop or heritage site along these routes and would like to be considered for inclusion, please send details via
Work with Discover Wales.
Listings are curated for clarity and visitor value.

Driver Notes

The Coastal Way — Llŷn Peninsula to St Davids

Start: Aberdaron (Llŷn)
End: St Davids (Pembrokeshire)
Distance: ~180–210 miles / 290–340 km (depends on detours)
Pure driving time: ~6–7.5 hours (without stops)
Best pace: 2–4 days

Route overview

Follow Cardigan Bay and the west coast of Wales on mainly the A497/A487 with short scenic side roads. Expect sea views, pastel harbours, sandy bays and clifftop lay-bys. The road is easy to drive, with short single-track detours to beaches and viewpoints.

Highlights and suggested stops (north to south)

• Aberdaron & Porth Meudwy – tiny fishing cove and café.

• Porth Oer (Whistling Sands) – short lane, National Trust beach.

• Porthdinllaen / Ty Coch Inn – walk the beach from Morfa Nefyn car park.

• Criccieth – castle on a headland; good bakery stops.

• Portmeirion – Italianate village; book parking in season.

• Harlech Castle – UNESCO site, steep streets, big sandy beach below.

• Barmouth & Mawddach Estuary – bridge views; promenade parking.

• Aberdyfi & Tywyn – long beaches, ice-cream stops.

• Machynlleth (short inland hop) – market town; good for fuel/food.

• Ynyslas Dunes – vast sands; check tide and soft-sand parking rules.

• Aberystwyth – promenade, Constitution Hill cliff railway.

• New Quay – harbour and dolphin-watching boats.

• Llangrannog – pocket beach, steep approach.

• Aberporth & Tresaith – twin coves; short clifftop walks.

• Cardigan & Mwnt – chapel on a headland, often dolphins offshore.

• Newport (Pembs) – Parrog quay, cafés.

• Strumble Head – lighthouse and dramatic cliffs.

• St Davids – UK’s smallest city, cathedral; end at Whitesands or Abereiddi Blue Lagoon.

Optional detours

• Llŷn coast lanes to cliff-top car parks between Aberdaron and Nefyn.

• Llanerchaeron (near Aberaeron) – National Trust villa and garden.

• Porthgain & Traeth Llyfn – rugged harbour and a stunning hidden beach.

Seasonal and traffic notes

• Peak summer (late July–August): slow traffic at Portmeirion, Barmouth bridge, New Quay, Aberaeron, St Davids and Whitesands. Arrive early or late.

• Bank holidays: queues around coastal towns and narrow beach lanes.

• Storms and high tides (autumn–winter): exposed seafronts can flood or close temporarily; check local council advisories.

• Wildlife seasons: seals pup Sept–Nov around Abereiddi and Porthgain; keep distance.

Driving tips

• Use passing places politely on beach lanes.

• Many beach car parks use pay-by-app; carry a card/coins as backup.

• Mobile signal can dip in coves; download offline maps.

• Campervans: overnighting rules vary; use official sites.

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The Cambrian Way — Llandudno to Cardiff (A470 spine)

Start: Llandudno (or Conwy)
End: Cardiff
Distance: ~185 miles / 300 km
Pure driving time: ~4.5–6 hours (without stops)
Best pace: 1.5–3 days

Route overview

This is Wales end-to-end through mountains, moor and market towns, largely on the A470. It threads Eryri, Mid Wales uplands, the Elan reservoirs (via a short detour) and Bannau Brycheiniog before rolling into Cardiff.

Highlights and suggested stops (north to south)

• Great Orme (Llandudno) – toll marine drive, big views.

• Conwy – castle and quay; good early fuel/coffee stop.

• Betws-y-Coed – walks to Swallow Falls; craft and outdoor shops.

• Dolwyddelan & Moel Siabod views – roadside lay-bys for photos.

• Blaenau Ffestiniog – slate landscapes; Zip World for thrill detour.

• Coed y Brenin – forest trails and café just off the A470.

• Cadair Idris – Dol Idris car park for a short lake walk.

• Mallwyd – church and bridge; handy break point.

• Llanbrynmair → Caersws → Llangurig – open moorland driving.

• Rhayader – Elan Valley loop detour (1–2 hours) to dams and viewpoints.

• Builth Wells – market town on the Wye.

• Brecon – cathedral town; cafés and canal walk.

• Storey Arms & Pen y Fan – mountain passes and lay-bys.

• Pontypridd – last fuel/food before Cardiff.

• Cardiff – end at Bute Park or Cardiff Bay for a finale.

Optional detours

• Devil’s Bridge & Ceredigion uplands from Llangurig (adds 1–2 hours).

• Talybont Reservoir short loop from Brecon.

• Elan Valley scenic loop is the top pick if you only do one.

Seasonal and traffic notes

• Winter: A470 high sections (particularly near Dinas Mawddwy and Storey Arms) can have snow, ice and low visibility; carry warm kit.

• Royal Welsh Show (late July, Llanelwedd/Builth Wells): heavy traffic and rolling road management in the area.

• Cardiff major events (stadium concerts, rugby): city centre traffic restrictions and full car parks; use park-and-ride.

• Autumn: rutting season on moors; occasional deer on the road at dawn/dusk.

Driving tips

• Plenty of fuel stops but fewer 24-hour options in Mid Wales; top up when you can.

• Watch average-speed zones and village speed limits.

• Weather changes fast; cloud and rain can arrive in minutes on the tops.

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The North Wales Way — Holyhead to Chester (A55 coast)

Start: Holyhead
End: Chester
Distance: ~75–95 miles / 120–150 km (depends on island detours)
Pure driving time: ~2–2.5 hours (without stops)
Best pace: 1–2 days

Route overview

A castle-lined coast with beaches, piers and the Menai Strait. The A55 is fast and direct; for views, hop on the old coast road and the island lanes.

Highlights and suggested stops (west to east)

• South Stack – lighthouse and cliffs just outside Holyhead.

• Trearddur Bay – sweep of sand and cafés.

• Ynys Llanddwyn (detour from Newborough) – iconic island and views.

• Menai Bridge & Britannia Bridge – strait viewpoints and short walks.

• Beaumaris (detour) – castle and pier.

• Caernarfon – castle and walled town, waterfront parking.

• Dinas Dinlle – beach with Yr Eifl views.

• Conwy – castle, town walls and quay.

• Llandudno – pier, Great Orme toll road or tram; classic resort feel.

• Bodnant Garden (detour) – world-class gardens above the Conwy Valley.

• Colwyn Bay promenade – smooth seafront for a leg-stretch.

• St Asaph Cathedral – the UK’s smallest city by some measures.

• Talacre Lighthouse – photogenic sands and iron-streaked dunes.

• Flint Castle – marshland views towards Dee estuary.

• Chester – Roman walls, cathedral and the Rows.

Optional detours

• Anglesey coastal lanes to Porth Dafarch, Rhosneigr or Benllech.

• Llanberis (short inland dogleg) for lakeside views of Yr Wyddfa.

Seasonal and traffic notes

• Bank holidays and school holidays: A55 congestion near Conwy Tunnel, Llandudno Junction and roadwork zones.

• High winds: restrictions occasionally affect the bridges to Anglesey.

• Llandudno events (e.g., spring festivals): town centre parking fills quickly; use signed overflow car parks.

• Beaumaris fairs and regattas: narrow streets; arrive early or late.

Driving tips

• Mix A55 for faster hops with the old coast road for scenery.

• Bridge viewpoints are limited; use signed car parks and walk back for photos.

• EV drivers: good coverage along A55 towns; fewer chargers on Anglesey’s west coast lanes.

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Quick planning cheatsheet (all routes)

• Pace: Double the pure drive time to allow for photos, short walks and meals.

• Parking: Many coastal car parks use pay-by-app. Take a card and coins.

• Navigation: Download offline maps. Signal can be patchy in coves and uplands.

• Weather: Check Met Office mountain and coastal forecasts. Sea mist and mountain fog reduce visibility quickly.

• Road etiquette: Use passing places on single-track, let faster traffic by, and keep farm gates as found.

• Leave no trace: Take litter home, keep dogs under control near livestock and wildlife, respect dune and cliff protections.