Self-Launched Discover Wales: London to Snowdonia, Cardigan Bay & Pembrokeshire in 5 Days

Start early at Paddington and take a Great Western Railway train to Hereford or Abergavenny (~£25-35 advance single, 2h30-3h). From Hereford, hop the local bus or a short taxi to Hay-on-Wye (~£5-8) for 2-3 hours among the bookshops, castle ruins and riverside walks — the same stop the coach tour makes, just without the guide. Continue by bus/train via Builth Wells or Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth (allow 3-4h, ~£15-20 combined), arriving late afternoon. Dump your bag and walk the Promenade for sunset over Cardigan Bay, then dinner in a pub on Bridge Street. If you really want the Cotswolds and Elan Valley stops, add a day: a £15 return bus from Moreton-in-Marsh covers Bourton-on-the-Water, and the Elan Valley is reachable by bus from Rhayader (seasonal, check times).

🚌GWR train London Paddington → Hereford (~£30 advance), local bus to Hay-on-Wye (~£6), bus/train onward to Aberystwyth (~£18)

🛏Hostel or cheap B&B in Aberystwyth (e.g. dorm bed ~£25-30, or a small seafront guesthouse ~£45-55 double)

• →Hay-on-Wye bookshops and castle
• →Aberystwyth Promenade sunset walk
• →Aberystwyth Castle and Old College

Catch the T2 TrawsCymru bus north from Aberystwyth to Porthmadog (~2h, ~£7-9 day ticket territory) — sit on the right for estuary views. From Porthmadog take the Sherpa/seasonal bus or a short taxi to Beddgelert (~£4-6), a gorgeous stone village at the foot of Snowdon, and walk the Aberglaslyn Pass riverside path (1-2h, easy, free). Then head to Harlech by train or bus (~45min, ~£6) to explore Harlech Castle (Cadw entry ~£9-11, or free with a Cadw Explorer Pass if you're doing several). Return to Aberystwyth in the evening or, for a shorter Day 3, overnight in Porthmadog/Blaenau Ffestiniog instead. Note: the T2 and Snowdonia Sherpa buses are seasonal — in winter check timetables and consider basing yourself in Betws-y-Coed.

🚌TrawsCymru T2 bus Aberystwyth → Porthmadog (~£8), local bus/taxi to Beddgelert (~£5), bus/train to Harlech and back (~£12)

🛏Second night in Aberystwyth, or a Snowdonia hostel/B&B in Porthmadog or Betws-y-Coed (~£25-35 dorm, ~£50 double)

• →Aberglaslyn Pass walk from Beddgelert
• →Harlech Castle (Cadw)
• →Snowdonia village wandering

Head south on the T2 or T5 TrawsCymru bus to Aberaeron (~1h, ~£5), the pastel-harbour town the tour stops at — get a honey ice cream and walk the harbour wall. Continue to New Quay (~20min, ~£3) for the dolphin-watching option: local boat operators run 1-2h wildlife trips from the pier for ~£18-25 (book on the day or via GetYourGuide/Klook in peak season). If you're short on time, skip the Dinefwr and Laugharne stops or slot Dinefwr in by bus from Carmarthen (Newton House + castle ~£6-9, National Trust). Reach Tenby by evening via Carmarthen and Whitland (train ~2h, ~£12-15) — the walled seaside town is your base for two nights. Buy a day return on the coastal buses to keep costs down.

🚌TrawsCymru/local bus Aberaeron + New Quay (~£10), train Carmarthen → Tenby (~£14), local buses (~£5)

🛏Hostel or seaside B&B in Tenby (~£28-35 dorm, ~£55-70 double in season)

• →Aberaeron harbour and ice cream
• →New Quay dolphin-watching boat trip (optional, ~£20)
• →Dinefwr Estate and Newton House (optional detour, ~£8)
• →Tenby harbour and town walls

Take the coastal bus (Puffin Shuttle / Celtic Coaster in summer, standard service in winter — check Pembrokeshire Greenways timetables) west to St Davids (~1h15, ~£6-8). Do the cliff walk from St Non's to the cathedral and back (1.5-2h, free) and visit Britain's smallest city's cathedral (donation ~£5). If the weather's good, walk a stretch of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path — the St Davids Head loop is spectacular. In the afternoon head to Pembroke by bus/train (~1h30, ~£8) for Pembroke Castle (~£9-10 entry), the birthplace of Henry VII. Return to Tenby for the evening. Alternatively swap in a half-day sea-kayak or coasteering session out of St Davids or Dale (~£45-60) if you want an activity hit.

🚌Coastal/local buses Tenby → St Davids (~£7), St Davids → Pembroke (~£8), return to Tenby (~£6)

🛏Second night in Tenby (~£28-35 dorm)

• →St Davids Cathedral and St Non's cliff walk
• →Pembrokeshire Coast Path section
• →Pembroke Castle

Train from Tenby to Cardiff Central (~2h15, ~£20 advance) and stash your bag in left luggage. Take the Cardiff Bus 32/32A to St Fagans National Museum of History (~25min, ~£3 return) — free entry, the open-air museum the tour finishes at, with relocated Welsh buildings, a working bakery and a castle. Give it 2-3 hours. Return to Cardiff, have a quick look at the castle exterior and the arcades, then take the GWR train back to London Paddington (~2h, ~£30 advance). You'll be back in the city well before the tour's ~19:30 coach drop-off if you take an early Tenby train.

🚌Train Tenby → Cardiff (~£20 advance), Cardiff Bus 32 to St Fagans (~£3), train Cardiff → London Paddington (~£30 advance)

🛏None (day 5 ends in London)

• →St Fagans National Museum of History (free)
• →Cardiff Castle exterior and city arcades