Activities in Wales
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A
Mike Mayberry Kayaking
Offers instruction courses (one/two days £87/147) and guided kayaking tours for more experienced paddlers.
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Celtic Diving
Runs half-day scuba-diving taster sessions in its own practice pool (£65), as well as PADI-certificated diving courses. Dive sites include several wrecks.
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C
Tenby Cycles
You can rent bikes from Tenby Cycles.
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Blorenge
Abergavenny sits amid three glacially sculpted hills - Ysgyryd Fawr (Skirrid; 486m) to the northeast; Sugar Loaf (596m) to the northwest; and the Blorenge (559m) to the southwest. Each has rewarding walks and fine views of the Usk Valley and the Black Mountains. Although the summit of the Blorenge is closer to town than Sugar Loaf - the round trip is only 5 miles - it is a much steeper and more strenuous outing, and good walking boots are recommended.
Cross the bridge over the Usk on Merthyr Rd and immediately turn right and follow the lane past the cemetery and under the main road. Cross the B4269 road in Llanfoist and follow the lane beside the church until it bends…
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Llangollen Railway
The 7.5-mile jaunt through the Dee Valley via Berwyn (near Horseshoe Falls) and Carrog on the former Ruabon to Barmouth line is a superb day out for families and heritage rail lovers alike.
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Sugar Loaf
Abergavenny sits amid three glacially sculpted hills - Ysgyryd Fawr (Skirrid; 486m) to the northeast; Sugar Loaf (596m) to the northwest; and the Blorenge (559m) to the southwest. Each has rewarding walks and fine views of the Usk Valley and the Black Mountains. Easiest of the three is the cone-shaped Sugar Loaf, which offers a 9-mile return trip from the centre of town to the summit via heath, woodland and the superb viewpoint of Mynydd Llanwenarth.
You can cheat by driving to a car park about halfway up on Mynydd Llanwenarth; from here it's a 4-mile round trip. Head west on the A40, and at the edge of town turn right for Sugar Loaf Vineyards, then go left at the next…
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Gap Road
There are lots of opportunities for both on-road cycle-touring and off-road mountain-biking around Brecon; the National Park Visitor Centre at Libanus has information on routes, some of which begin at the centre itself.
The classic off-road route in the Brecon Beacons is the Gap Road, a 24-mile loop from Brecon that takes in a high pass through the hills close to Pen-y-Fan, a descent through Talybont-on-Usk and a final easy return stretch along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. Ask for details at Brecon tourist office or the National Park Visitor Centre.
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Walks
You can put together coastal walks of all lengths starting from Caerfai Bay, three-quarters of a mile south of town, and following the coastal path to Porthclais (2 miles), St Justinian (6.5 miles) or Whitesands Bay (8.5 miles), returning to town on the Celtic Coaster bus.
The section from Porthclais to St Justinian is especially fine, with wild coastal scenery, plenty of wildlife (look out for seals, porpoises, sparrowhawks, choughs, gannets and cormorants) and views across turbulent Ramsey Sound to Ramsey Island.
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E
Tintern and Return
The classic Tintern and Return walk begins at the tourist office and heads upriver along the Wye Valley path to Tintern Abbey, returning via the Offa's Dyke Path on the eastern bank. The total distance is around 13 miles; allow a full day, with lunch at Tintern. The tourist office sells a leaflet to accompany the walk, but you'll also need Ordnance Survey Landranger map No 162 (also available from the tourist office). You can cut the walk short at Tintern and return to Chepstow (or continue to Monmouth) by bus.
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Plas Menai, The National Watersports Centre
The excellent Plas Menai, The National Watersports Centre, 3 miles out along the A487 towards Bangor, offers a year-round range of water-based courses for all interests and ability levels - from sailing to power-boating, plus multi-activity courses suitable for families and youth groups. Advance reservations are mandatory. The centre also offers on-site accommodation with en-suite B&B (rooms around £30) and a bunkhouse (dorms £20).
reviewed
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Vale of Rheidol Railway
Old steam locomotives (built between 1923 and 1938) have been lovingly restored by volunteers and chug for almost 12 miles up the valley of the River Rheidol to Devil's Bridge (an hour each way). The line opened in 1902 to bring lead and timber out of the valley.
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Cycle Routes
The tourist office has a brochure-map of Gwynedd recreational cycle routes, established by Gwynedd Council along disused railway lines. Three of these are based around Caernarfon: the 12-mile Lôn Eifion running south to Bryncir (starting near the Welsh Highland Railway station); the 4.5-mile Lôn Las Menai along the Menai Strait to the village of Y Felinheli; and the 4-mile Lôn Gwyfrai to the village of Waunfawr.
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Welsh Airsports
The Blorenge, rising above Abergavenny to the southwest, is one of Britain's finest paragliding and hang-gliding sites. In fact, it is so important that the Southeast Wales Hang-Gliding and Paragliding Club purchased the mountain in 1998. Several records have been set from here, and the mountain regularly hosts competition events. Welsh Airsports offers instruction in paragliding seven days a week, weather permitting.
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Llangollen History Trail
For walkers, branded signs around town mark out the new Llangollen History Trail, a six-mile, or four-hour, circular trail following the history of the town and the surrounding Dee Valley. The walk offers a chance to spot local fauna, such as birds of prey. Arm yourself with a copy of OS Explorer Map 255 before setting out and see www.deevalleywalks.com for details.
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Dee Valley Way
The Dee Valley Way is a 15-mile trail split into five sections that follows the course of the River Dee from Corwen to Llangollen. Allow one-and-a-half days to cover the whole trail. The walk offer a chance to spot local fauna, such as birds of prey. Arm yourself with a copy of OS Explorer Map 255 before setting out and see www.deevalleywalks.com for details.
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Mawddach Estuary Trail
The beautiful 11-mile Mawddach Estuary Trail is a flat (and in places wheelchair-accessible) path that's great for walking or cycling. Running through woods and past wetlands on the southern side of the Mawddach Estuary, it begins in town at the car park and runs past the RSPB Information Centre, 2 miles west of Dolgellau.
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Black Mountain Activities
In Glasbury, 4.5 miles southwest of Hay, Black Mountain Activities offers other activities such as climbing, caving and mountain biking with prices from around £55 per person per day. They do hire out mountain bikes (half/full day around £15/around £25) as well as canoes (half/full day £20/£30).
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Guided Tours
You'll need at least half a day to do justice to St David's Cathedral. In July and August there are 90-minute guided tours at 14:30 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; at other times, tours can be arranged in advance. The one led by the dean himself, a history and archaeology scholar, is recommended.
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Pembrokeshire Coastal Path
The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path finishes in St Dogmaels, a mile west of Cardigan town centre. You can hike the final section of the coast path in reverse from Cardigan Bridge to Ceibwr Bay (9 miles) via Cemaes Head, then cut inland to Moylgrove village (1 mile) and return on the Poppit Rocket bus.
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Cardiff Road Train
The toy-town Cardiff Road Train, with live commentary, runs from Stuart St (opposite Techniquest) to the Cardiff Bay Barrage along a landscaped embankment on the east side of Cardiff Bay (and is the only way to travel this route - the east side of the bay is normally closed to the public).
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Beacon Park Boats
The Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal runs along the foot of the Blorenge mountain, southwest of town. You can take to the water with Beacon Park Boats which rents out electric-powered boats (up to six persons). In a day, you can cruise south to Goytre Wharf, or north to Llangattock and back.
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Bay Island Voyages
Bay Island Voyages offers a range of cruises aboard high-speed RIBs (rigid inflatable boats), ranging from a half-hour thrash around Cardiff Bay to a two-hour trip to Flatholm Island in the middle of the Severn Estuary. They are based at a trailer kiosk parked near the Pierhead Building.
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Teifi Marshes
You can walk or cycle from Cardigan through the Teifi Marshes to the Welsh Wildlife Centre - from Finch Square head east along Pont-y-Cleifion to the roundabout, turn right, cross the bridge and descend the stairs on the right, then follow the trail east under the bridge (1 mile).
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Monmouth Canoe & Activity Centre
Monmouth Canoe & Activity Centre offers half-day/full-day/week-long trips on the Wye in two-seater Canadian canoes (around £25/around £30/around £180) or single kayaks (£18/£20/£120). Canoe transport and guides/instructors cost extra.
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JJ Canoeing & Rafting
Less than a mile west of Llangollen on the A5, JJ Canoeing & Rafting offers a range of activities and instruction year round, such as canoeing, kayak instruction and gorge walking. You can bring your own equipment and use the river for a £5 water fee.
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