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10 great reasons to choose a South Wales holiday cottage

Whether you’re after a peaceful weekend or an action-filled week, a South Wales holiday is bound to please.

Offering some of the UK’s loveliest scenery, you can enjoy the best of coast and countryside on a South Wales holiday. The region’s unique landscape and wildlife make South Wales a fabulous outdoor playground. Hit the glorious beaches of the Gower Peninsula, walk the coastal path and ride the waves. Or go underground at the Dan Yr Ogof Showcaves and discover waterfall country, the Brecon Beacon peaks and ancient castles galore.

Why not take a look at our top 10 reasons to choose a South Wales holiday cottage and try a slice of South Wales heaven on your next Staycation Holidays break.

1 The Brecon Beacons National Park

South Wales holiday cottage: Brecon Beacons National Park
 
South Wales is best known for the spectacular Brecon Beacons National Park, home to Pen y Fan, the highest point in southern Britain. Widely considered one of the most beautiful parts of Wales, the 519 square miles boast an extremely diverse landscape with stunning mountains, rolling moorlands, hidden waterfalls and amazing wildlife. All punctuated by a handful of market towns where you will find some delightful pubs. And guests at our South Wales holiday cottages near Pontardawe can delight in having the Brecon Beacons right on their doorstep!

2 The stunning waterfalls & caves

South Wales holiday cottage: South Wales Waterfall
 
‘Waterfall Country’ is one of the most beautiful and popular parts of the Brecon Beacons National Park. This spectacular natural attraction comprises over 15 waterfalls and makes for a fun hike, especially following a downpour! An inspiration to many artists, don’t miss Aberdulais Falls, famously painted by Turner. Meanwhile, Henrhyd Falls, the highest in Wales, featured in The Dark Knight Rises as the entrance to the Batcave. You can even walk behind the curtain of thundering water.

Alternatively, go underground at the fantastic caves in the area. The National Showcaves Centre for Wales, voted 'Britain's Greatest Natural Wonder' and the winner of numerous awards, comprises three spectacular caves, Dan-yr-Ogof, Cathedral Cave and Bone Cave, each offering a unique underground experience. The centre also houses a fun dinosaur park, shire horse centre, replica Iron Age village and stone circles.

Good news too - the Vale of Neath’s spectacular waterfalls and The National Showcaves of Wales are just a short hop from our South Wales holiday cottages near Pontardawe!

3 The beaches & coastline

South Wales holiday cottage: Rhossili Bay and Worms Head, Gower Peninsula

Rhossili Bay and Worms Head, Gower Peninsula

Hankering for unspoiled Blue Flag beaches and stunning scenery? Then a South Wales holiday should be on your ‘bucket’ (and spade) list! The UK’s first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty was the Gower Peninsula where Rhossili Bay, Three Cliffs and Caswell Bay are a few of the stunning beaches, perfect for surfing and sandcastles. You can also enjoy dramatic cliffs, beaches, harbours and secluded coves on the spectacular Glamorgan Heritage Coast and Pembrokeshire Coast National Park - the UK’s only coastal National Park.

The many safe sandy beaches on the Gower Peninsula are between 15 and 30 miles from our South Wales holiday cottages near Pontardawe, whilst the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and Glamorgan Heritage Coast are less than an hour’s easy drive away.

4 The outdoor adventures

 

A South Wales holiday is made for adventurers. Whatever your interest, be it fishing, water and adventure sports, horse riding or golf, you’ll find it near our holiday cottages. If you’re a bit of an adrenaline junkie, or fancy trying something new, then coasteering may be just the ticket – after all the activity was pioneered in Wales. Just how adventurous are you feeling? Maybe canyoning, rock climbing, caving, gorge walking, quad biking or kayaking is more your thing. Local activity specialists Adventure Britain can organise all of these and more. You get the picture. South Wales is an outdoor dream!

5 The gardens & country parks

South Wales holiday cottage: Aberglasney Gardens

Aberglasney Gardens

Lose yourself for a few hours at Aberglasney Gardens, an exceptional survival of a 17th century garden, or explore the National Botanic Garden of Wales, home to the world's largest single span glasshouse. Discover Wales’ finest rhododendrons at Clyne Gardens in Swansea or the steep limestone cliffs north of Merthyr Tydfil - the only place in the world where you’ll see the tree known as Ley’s Whitebeam. There is a wide choice of country parks and nature reserves too. Head to The Gnoll Estate or Pembrey Country Park, both perfect for a host of fun activities with the family.

6 The villages, towns & cities

South Wales holiday cottage: Cardiff Bay

Cardiff Bay - Pierhead and Millennium Centre 

There are so many interesting and beautiful towns and villages; from old mining communities in the picturesque valleys, many of them home to unique inns, museums and shops, to the vibrant seaside resort of Mumbles, with its promenade, shops and restaurants. Cardiff, the capital of Wales has plenty to offer, whether you’re a culture vulture, shopaholic or sports fanatic. Catch a show in the iconic Wales Millennium Centre, check out Cardiff Castle and get educated at the National Museum Cardiff - just a few of the must-see attractions. Swansea, Wales’ second largest city, has a huge sandy beach and one of the most beautiful settings in Britain

7 The walking & mountain biking

South Wales holiday cottage: Mountain biker riding a trail in a mountain bike park in South Wales

Riding a trail in a South Wales mountain bike park

The diversity of landscape makes South Wales a walker’s paradise. For breathtaking rural scenery, head to the wild, romantic landscapes of the Brecon Beacons for mountain and waterfall walks; if you prefer scenic coastal walks and rides, the Gower AONB, Glamorgan Heritage Coast and Pembrokeshire Coast Path offer some of Britain’s finest; or make a beeline for one of South Wales’ nature reserves and country parks, including Afan Forest Park, known as ‘Little Switzerland’ with its marked nature trails and some of Britain’s best mountain biking. Find great cycling too at BikePark Wales, the UK's first full scale mountain bike park and the Millennium Coastal Park which features over ten miles of traffic-free coastline with wonderful views of the Gower coast.

Our South Wales holiday cottages make the perfect base for a walking and cycling break, as they are central to all of this and more, as well as offering secure bike storage facilities. In fact, you can enjoy wonderful walks and cycling right from your cottage doorstep. Just expect one thing - amazing scenery, whether on two legs or two wheels!

8 The wildlife

South Wales holiday cottage: Red Kites in the Brecon Beacons National Park

Red Kites in the Brecon Beacons National Park

A South Wales holiday offers bountiful opportunities to spot the country’s endemic wildlife. Both the Gower and Pembrokeshire coasts are hotspots - seal sightings are common and lucky visitors spot dolphins and whales (yes, whales in Wales). The cliffs at Worms Head on Gower’s westerly tip are thick with razorbills, guillemots, kittiwakes and fulmars, with the occasional appearance of puffins during nesting season (April to July). The Llanelli Wetland Centre provides a wildlife haven all year round and a great family day to boot. Head for the Brecon Beacons National Park to spot some of Wales’ rarest wildlife, including otters, great crested newts, marsh fritillary butterflies and bats. Birdwatchers here can spot red kites, tawny owls and red grouse, along with endangered species such as lapwings, little ringed plovers, nightjars and reed warblers. Our South Wales holiday cottages near Pontardawe are situated on the River Clydach, a haven for wildlife - herons, dippers, grey wagtails, trout and otters all live here.

9 The history & heritage

South Wales holiday cottage: Carreg Cennen Castle

Carreg Cennen Castle

There are countless museums to explore from our South Wales holiday cottages. The National Waterfront Museum in Swansea is a real treat for history buffs with its story of industry and innovation in Wales tracing 300 years. Go underground at Dolaucothi Roman Gold Mines and the Big Pit National Coal Museum - a real coal mine with historic colliery buildings and exhibitions above ground too. Or head to St Fagan’s National History Museum to experience a remarkable collection of over 40 reconstructed historic buildings from all over Wales – from Celtic times to the present day. 

There are ancient castles aplenty too – in fact, Wales has 641 of them! Some of the best are close to our South Wales holiday cottages, including Carreg Cennen, the UK’s most dramatically situated castle, perched on a 300ft crag above the River Cennen. Offering outstanding 360-degree views of the Brecon Beacons National Park and surrounding countryside, the ruins are fun to explore, and there’s also a cave and hiking trails

10 The Dylan Thomas Trail

South Wales holiday cottage: Dylan Thomas Boathouse

Dylan Thomas Boathouse

Our South Wales holiday cottages are ideally located for exploring the legacy of Dylan Thomas (1914-1953), Wales' famed poet and writer. In Swansea, fans can visit his birthplace as well as The Dylan Thomas Centre which houses an interactive exhibition about the author. Discover some of his other haunts in the seaside town of Laugharne, which provided inspiration for his work in the last four years of his tragically short life. Visit the Boathouse, his cliff-clinging family home, which has been converted into a fascinating museum of his life and work. Thomas worked in the Writing Shed above the Boathouse with its inspiring views of four estuaries. It was here that he wrote his most famous work, Under Milk Wood,and poems such as Over Sir John's Hill, which describes the view.

Make a break of it

South Wales holiday cottage: Hafod Y Wennol

Hafod Y Wennol (left) and Y Stabl (right), two of our South Wales holiday cottages

These are just a handful of experiences waiting for you on a South Wales holiday. If you’ve been inspired to visit, check out our fantastic collection of holiday cottages in South Wales here. Stay for a few nights, or longer and bag yourself an amazing escape. 

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