Days out in South Wales
A holiday in South Wales gives you access to countryside, coast, castles, modern shopping centres, interesting festivals and just about everything else you can think of. It’s a destination that families, couples, groups and solo travellers alike can all enjoy – whatever you’re looking to do during your stay, you’ll find a whole host of activities on your doorstep.
At Haven we have a total of four holiday parks in South Wales – Lydstep Beach, Kiln Park and Penally Court, all just a short walk from the photogenic fishing village of Tenby, Pembrokeshire, as well as Quay West in Ceredigion. These are fantastic locations for exploring not only Pembrokeshire, but the entirety of South Wales. With a wealth of attractions and locations to visit, we’ve made it easy for you by compiling our list of the best days out in South Wales.
Gower Peninsula
Gower is a stunningly beautiful area, jutting out into the sea off the coast of South Wales. Named as the UK's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1956, the area has maintained every ounce of beauty in its sublime golden beaches, cliff top walks and crisp ocean air, as well as the quaint villages, woodlands, moorland, rivers and valleys found inland.
If you've never made the time to walk the coastal path, you’ll find it to be an unforgettable experience and well worth the effort. Not all the coves and beaches are accessible by car so you’ll have to do some degree of walking either way. There are paid car parks and public toilets at some of the bays and plenty of small village pubs and restaurants for a snack or meal on the way. It can get busy on weekends and it’s over an hour’s drive from our Tenby holiday parks, but it's well worth a visit, especially Worm’s Head and the Magnificent Rhossili Bay.
National Showcaves Centre for Wales, Swansea
Address: Abercraf, Swansea SA9 1GJ
This unique attraction is one of the top days out in South Wales for families thanks to the sheer variety of things to enjoy — from a dinosaur park to an Iron Age farm and of course, cave exploration. You and your kids are free to wander the caves without a guide, but don’t worry, it’s easy to follow the route without getting lost! Just make sure to put on a hard hat at the fascinating “bone cave” where the ceilings can get a little low. There are dioramas with a storyline narration, informing you of the history of the cave’s discovery and facts about its formation.
Above ground you'll find a large number of dinosaur models of all shapes and sizes — many of them dynamic models — as well as an excellent museum with touch screen and interactive points. There's also a kid’s play centre with small zip lines at the Shire Horse Museum. With such a variety of content available, you’ll get plenty of bang for your buck. The National Showcaves Centre for Wales is an all-day South Wales day out so be sure to bring a packed lunch, or otherwise visit the cafe with its menu of sandwiches, baked potatoes, burgers and chips and hot drinks.
Clyne Gardens, Swansea
Address: Mayals, Swansea SA3 5BW
Outside of the concrete jungle that is Swansea lies an absolute gem of a park, close to the Mumbles area and sea front. Clyne Gardens has a superb array of flowers and trees from all over the world and the finest collection of rhododendrons in Wales, including 'Loderi King George' which can grow to 16m high.
Follow paths through a wooded valley by the side of a fast running stream to encounter waterfalls and fantastic views of the bay once you reach the top. The park is on a hill so can be somewhat challenging at times, but this should not be an issue for most people, though wheelchairs may struggle in the hillier sections. Otherwise, the gardens are family friendly, great for dogs, and home to a variety of wildlife for photography. At the bottom is The Woodman pub which makes for a great refuelling spot after a day of exploration.
Brecon Beacons
At the very heart of Wales, Brecon Beacons is one of the best days out in South Wales. Magnificent mountains, woodlands, waterfalls, castles, and much more — this National Park has it all. With two National Trails and numerous smaller routes in a total area of 520 square miles, you could explore Brecon Beacons for years and still have much more of its breath-taking beauty to discover.
If you’re able to trek all the way up, the view of Wales from top of the highest peak "Pen y Fan", almost 900 metres above sea level, is amazing. On the way up and down you might see wild horses, fresh mountain water springs, and of course it wouldn’t be a walk in Wales without plenty of sheep. For those with little ones, there are plenty of other attractions including a traditional steam railway with observation carriages, so no one needs to miss out on the scenery.
Swansea Plantasia Tropical Zoo
Address: Parc Tawe Retail Park, Swansea SA1 2AL
This huge glass pyramidal attraction houses exotic cacti, tropical plants, colourful wildlife, unusual insects and fish. It will transport you to a realistic jungle environment right in the middle of Swansea.
Having been subject to a £1.1 million revamp, Swansea Plantasia is a truly multi-sensory experience complete with the sights, sights and smells of the rainforest. Not only is it immersive, but also educational, thanks to the clear and concise accompanying props to all exhibitions. Other attractions include a rope bridge that spans the "rainforest" floor, giving you a bird's eye view of the building, and a tunnel which you can crawl through and see an ant colony, as well as some of the venue's old favourites including Cuddles the reticulated python.
Green Bridge and the Elegug Stacks, near Stackpole
Address: Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Pembroke SA71 5EB
The cliffs, headlands and offshore islets of Pembrokeshire are susceptible to erosion and can form dramatic formations, including impressive arches.
As natural arches go, it’s hard to beat the Green Bridge. It’s without a doubt one of the best things to do near Tenby, and it’s reachable by car in about 30 minutes. This stunning arch is 80 ft tall and reaches right out into the sea. As a bonus, the nearby Elegug Stacks are the home to nesting guillemots during late Spring and early Summer.
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Important information
*New holiday homes from £29,995 – UPDATED 29 August 2024
*Holiday home price is based on a new 3-bedroom ABI Horizon holiday home and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
Price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 29 August 2024, price is available at selected parks Blue Dolphin, Craig Tara, Cleethorpes Beach, Caister, Combe Haven, Far Grange, Greenacres, Golden Sands, Haggerston, Orchards, and Quay West. Price can be withdrawn at any time.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Pre-owned holiday homes from £14,995 – UPDATED 31 JULY 2024 *Holiday home price is based on a pre-owned holiday home and includes siting, connections and standard accessories.
Price excludes 2024 site fees, running costs and add-ons requested at point of sale. Subject to status and availability.
As at 31 July 2024, price is available at Blue Dolphin, Caister, Cleethorpes Beach, Combe Haven, Craig Tara, Far Grange, Greenacres, Golden Sands, Haggeston, Orchards, Quay West, Skegness and Wild Duck.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Site fees from as little as £150 a month with Let2offset at Lydstep Beach
Let2offset is a contractual lettings product that offers eligible owners a guaranteed letting income at a preferential rate (calculated each year) in exchange for a stipulated number of letting breaks. It also allows eligible owners to pay their site fees and receive their letting income in 12 equal monthly instalments; the monthly site fee amount charged by Haven will be after deduction of the letting income.
“Site fees from as little as £150 a month with Let2offset” is available at Lydstep Beach. The letting income received will vary by make, model and location. The monthly site fee payment does not include running costs e.g. utilities, rates & insurance. Offer is subject to availability.
"Site fees from as little as £150 a month with Let2offset” is applicable to new customer purchases of new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed or equivalent or superior grade holiday home purchases made through Haven where customers have also signed up to Haven’s Let2offset contract. It is not applicable to private sales and cannot be used in conjunction with our free Site Fee promotion. This offer is available at Lydstep Beach only and applies when letting a new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home (or equivalent or superior grade) for 15 weeks.
An example of how “Site fees from as little as £150 a month with Let2offset” operates under Let2offset is the purchase of an Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home at Lydstep Beach with a monthly site fee of £899.00 (includes purchasing discount of £29) and monthly letting income of £719.00. The monthly difference equates to £151 which will be charged to the owner's account monthly; to meet the site fee payment of £150 per month, an additional credit of £1 per month will be applied to the owner’s account. Both letting income and site fees are subject to yearly pricing reviews and the monthly site fee costs and letting income shown in the example are based on 2024 figures.
Modelled assumptions on expected annual site fee and letting income charges over the 7-year lettable life of the Atlas Sahara 3 Bed indicate that under Let2offset it is anticipated that these customers will continue to receive a monthly credit during this period, however, this is not guaranteed. The modelled assumptions are based on the historical performance of Haven over the past 5 years of trading.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.
Let2offset - make no site fee payments until 2031
Let2offset is a contractual lettings product that offers eligible owners a guaranteed letting income at a preferential rate (calculated each year) in exchange for a stipulated number of letting breaks. It also allows eligible owners to pay their site fees and receive their letting income in 12 equal monthly instalments; the monthly site fee amount charged by Haven will be after deduction of the letting income.
‘Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031’ is available at 33 Haven parks excluding Burnham, Cardigan View, Far Grange, Garreg Wen, Lydstep Beach, Riviere Sands and Seaview. The letting income received will vary by make, model and location. The monthly site fee payment does not include running costs e.g. utilities, rates & insurance.
“Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031” is applicable to new and existing customer purchases of new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed or equivalent or superior grade holiday home purchases made through Haven where customers have also signed up to Haven’s Let2offset contract. It is not applicable to private sales and cannot be used in conjunction with our free Site Fee promotion. It is available across 40% of eligible Parks and applies when letting a new Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home (or equivalent or superior grade for 15 weeks.
An example of how “Make no site fee payments when using Let2offset until 2031” operates under Let2offset is the purchase of an Atlas Sahara 3 Bed holiday home at Primrose Valley with a monthly site fee of £585.00 (includes purchasing discount of £45) and monthly letting income of £803.67. The monthly difference equates to £218.67, which will be credited to the owner's account. Both letting income and site fees are subject to yearly pricing reviews and the monthly site fee costs and letting income shown in the example are based on 2024 figures.
Modelled assumptions on expected annual site fee and letting income charges over the 7-year lettable life of the Atlas Sahara 3 Bed indicate that under Let2offset it is anticipated that these customers will continue to receive a monthly credit during this period, however, this is not guaranteed. The modelled assumptions are based on the historical performance of Haven over the past 5 years of trading.
Images are shown for representational purposes. Access to holiday home is subject to park opening times.
Park cannot be used as a permanent residence. Haven Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 01968698) and is a FCA appointed representative of Bourne Leisure Limited (t/a Haven). Bourne Leisure Ltd is registered in England (No. 04011660) and is authorised and regulated by the FCA (Financial Services Register No. 312847) as a credit broker and insurance distributor. Registered office: One Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. We may receive commission from the finance provider if you enter into an agreement with them.