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Best Road Trips in Wales: Explore the Coast, Mountains & Castles by Road
Looking for the best road trips in Wales? This page helps you choose the right route based on where you want to go, how long you have, and the landscapes and experiences you want to explore. From dramatic Wales coastal road trips along the Irish Sea and Atlantic edge, to mountain journeys through Eryri (Snowdonia), Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) and the quiet heart of Mid Wales, Wales offers some of the most varied and scenic driving routes in the UK.
Here you’ll find clearly defined itineraries covering the three official Wales Way touring routes — the Coastal Way, Cambrian Way, and North Wales Way — alongside flexible ideas for shorter scenic drives, walking-led trips, and slower, experience-focused travel. Expect castles, national parks, beaches and coves, historic towns, wildlife-rich coastlines, dark-sky landscapes and some of the best walking and cycling scenery in Britain.
Use the interactive Wales road trip map below to hover over each route and see how the journeys connect across the country. Click any route to explore a full road trip guide, including highlights, driving distances, suggested pacing and regional focus. Whether you’re planning your first self-drive Wales itinerary, comparing scenic routes, or looking for inspiration for a campervan or motorhome trip, this page makes it easy to plan with confidence.
Wales as a Region - £24.99
Forest of Dean & Wye Valley + North Coast of Wales + West Coast of Wales + Cambrian Way + Star Gazing
Welsh Borders & West Wonders - £16.99
Forest of Dean & Wye Valley + Wales’s West Coast
Wales Explorer - £19.99
North Coast of Wales + West Coast of Wales + Cambrian Way
Welsh Borders & Mountains - £16.99
Forest of Dean & Wye Valley + Cambrian Way
North Wales & Peak District - £16.99
North Coast of Wales + Peak District
Point-to-Point Guide and Plan, More Than Just a Map
Our guides are built for road‑trippers who want to go beyond some pins on a map - with flexible, curated itineraries designed to help you explore with purpose and make the most of every moment.
From 3‑day getaways to 2‑week adventures, we provide a point-to-point plan to cherry-pick from, not just how to get there. This is not just a map; it’s a thoughtful guide for a meaningful way to explore with loads of extra travel information.
Digital & Accessible – Read anytime on phone, tablet or desktop for 12 months.
Flexible Itineraries – Plan trips from 3 to 14 days with mix-and-match options.
Curated Highlights – Signposting to attractions, experiences and overnight stops.
Travel and Transport Information – including by car, parking, public transport, and air.
Maps and Route – Google Maps point-to-point, plus references and pre-populated customisable routes.
Online access - nothing to download
Local & Practical Tips – Includes self-guided walking tours, hidden gems and references.
Linked for Ease – Click straight through to bookings and local info.
Printable Shortlist – Save and print your personalised itinerary.
Things That Will Make You Want to Take a Road Trip in Wales
— and which Wales road trip they’re best explored on!
Wales is a country that rewards slow travel. Distances are short, but landscapes change fast — coast to mountains, castles to beaches, dark skies to harbour towns. What makes it perfect for a Wales road trip is how naturally its highlights group together into very different journeys. Rather than trying to see everything at once, each route offers a distinct way into the country. If you need more inspiration, check out our blog Top 12 places to visit in Wales.
For Mountains, Big Landscapes & Classic Scenery — The Cambrian Way
If your idea of the perfect road trip involves mountain passes, long views and a real sense of space, the Cambrian Way road trip is where Wales shows its wildest side.
This route is built around Eryri (Snowdonia), the Bannau Brycheiniog, and the remote heart of Mid Wales — landscapes of peaks, reservoirs, ridgelines and quiet roads. It’s ideal for travellers drawn to scenic driving, walking, photography, waterfalls, dark skies and places that feel far from crowds.
Best for: mountains, national parks, scenic drives, walking, stargazing, slow travel.
For Coastlines, Beaches & Wildlife — The Coastal Way
If it’s sea air, beaches and clifftop walking that pull you in, the Wales Coastal Way road trip is the most varied coastal journey in the country.
This route links the sheltered coves of the Llŷn Peninsula, the wide sweep of Cardigan Bay, and the dramatic cliffs of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Along the way you’ll encounter long sandy beaches, hidden coves, dolphin-rich waters, harbour towns and sections of the Wales Coast Path, often considered one of the best coastal walking routes in Europe.
Best for: beaches, coastal walks, wildlife, seaside towns, photography, campervan travel.
For Castles, Islands & Historic Coast — The North Wales Way
The North Wales Way road trip suits travellers who want history layered directly onto the landscape.
Beginning on Anglesey, this route combines island coastlines, ancient sites and some of Britain’s most impressive medieval fortresses. The castles of Conwy, Caernarfon and Harlech sit alongside classic seaside towns, promenades, coastal paths and an easy transition inland into valleys, canals and UNESCO-listed engineering.
Best for: castles, coastal heritage, island landscapes, historic towns, short scenic stops.
For Walking the Landscape — Coast Paths & Border Trails
Wales is made for walking-led road trips. The Wales Coast Path offers 870 miles of uninterrupted coastal walking, while inland routes like Offa’s Dyke Path trace ancient borders through hills and valleys. Many travellers combine short drives with half-day walks, viewpoints and beaches — using the car to unlock landscapes rather than rush between sights.
Best for: walking holidays, slow exploration, linking short hikes with scenic drives.
Why Road Trips Work So Well in Wales
What makes a Wales road trip itinerary special isn’t just the sights — it’s how they connect. Mountains flow into coast. Castles rise straight from beaches. Quiet valleys sit minutes from busy harbours. Whether you’re planning a North Wales road trip, a Mid Wales scenic drive, or a coastal self-drive itinerary, Wales rewards choosing the right route for the experience you want — and then taking your time with it.
That’s exactly what each Wales Way route is designed to do.
Every great road trip begins with an idea — a place that pulls you in, a view you can’t get out of your head, or simply the urge to get out on the open road. You can look for fresh inspiration, find experiences that excite you, choose the kind of vehicle that suits the way you like to travel, and make use of practical road trip planning tips that keep things simple rather than stressful. However you like to explore, you’ll find everything you need here to turn your trip into something truly memorable.
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