Proposed South Wales bash

[CallySleeper]

I'm looking at combining a trip for a rugby world cup with a small bash to cover the south Wales and HoW lines.

Starting in Cardiff, my intention was to get a South Wales Flexi and do in effect a clockwise route to Fishguard/Milford/Pembroke, up to Shrewsbury then back to Cardiff, and at some point all the local/valley lines.

In order to keep the better half happy, is there anything of worth to do or see, especially out towards the west? I'd probably like to stop off and look round Cardiff, Swansea, probably Carmarthen but is there anything else of note. I like sea views

The intention of the trip would be purely for mileage and to get everything covered in one go. With this in mind, how long might the route above take - especially covering everything west of Carmarthen, and all of the Valley lines. Also, how much harder would it be to cover on a Sunday as opposed to a weekday.

Thanks!

 

[Greenback]

Sunday services on ATW are not the best! When I had a south Wales flexi pass I chose not to use it on the Sunday for rail travel!

St Davids cathedral is worth seeing, this will require a bus from Haverfordwest. A trip to see the monks of Caldey Island from Tenby is well worth it. A bus ride from Carmarthen will take you to the National Gardens of Wales (or whatever it is they are called these days) and the Gwili Railway.

There's a decent castle at Kidwelly, one at Llansteffan (a bus ride from Carmarthen) and there's some Dylan Thomas things at Laugharne (another bus ride from Carmarthen!)

FWIW, my better half would be happy just to visit the cathedral and Caldey Island as long as she had a decent meal somewhere as well!

 

[CallySleeper]

Thanks for the tips. Can't decide whether it would be worth using it on a Sunday. If I decide not to then it'll likely mean taking an extra day AL.

 

[Greenback]

You might be able to get some decent use out of it depending on where you are. The clincher for me was the fact that the first train east from Llanelli wasn't until 1040 at the time, and it was easier to do what I wanted to do on a weekday. I wouldn't write it off completely if you are some place where the trains start at a more reasonable hour.

 

[Quakers Yard]

Doing all the valleys would take a day in itself and recommend a bus between Merthyr and Rhymney or vice versa. I fancy doing a valleys challenge myself one summer Saturday this year too.
Watch out for engineering works too!

 

[Kite159]

And watch out if Wales are at home as a queuing system might be in place at central, you can't interchange you are funneled out and have to join the queues. (If you hit it at s bad time)

 

[CallySleeper]

Unfortunately my proposed circuitous route has had to be cut short, meaning that I'd probably have two full days at most for getting track done.

On that basis what would people recommend spending the time doing? I've wondered if it's worth doing the Valleys and getting them done. I'd then return to do the mainlines/HoW at a later date. Any PSULs eg. Swansea District line would be a bonus.

 

[Greenback]

The Fishguard trains from and to Cardiff are probably the best bet for the SDL in daylight. Maybe take the 1055 or so from Cardiff to Llanelli, then back via Swansea? Or continue to Whitland and do Pembroke Dock?

 

[Kite159]

Try and get the Fishguard train out of the way as it's more of a limited service than the other 2 West Wales branches

 

[CallySleeper]

Thanks for the Fishguard advice. If I got 1B96 out, presumably it forms 1B97 back? I'm assuming that's the best option, other than spending six hours in Fishguard(!) or getting a bus to somewhere like Pembroke.

I must say I'd be concerned about ferry traffic since Ireland are playing in Cardiff the day or two after. But as you said I could bail at Whitland and do the Pembroke Dock line for example. I've looked at trying to do both and Milford in a day but it doesn't look like this is feasible...?

In terms of spending a second day, what's good to get ticked off? Quakers Yard suggested it takes a day to do the Valleys, is this the case?

 

[D841 Roebuck]

Doing the Pembroke and Milford Haven lines in one day is most easily accomplished by catching a bus between the two termini.

I did a 3 day South Wales Ranger back in 2010, visiting the Gwili Railway's diesel gala and staying in two b&bs in Haverfordwest (one had double booked me!)

My route home on the Sunday was Haverfordwest (bus) to Pembroke Dock, then changing at Tenby, Whitland, Fishguard, Llanelli and then up to Salop via the Heart of Wales line.

 

[CallySleeper]

Had a quick look at getting a bus, I'm assuming it's only the 356 that goes between both termini? In any case I'll look closer to the time but I don't think the connections will work out in either direction

 

[Greenback]

The bus between Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven would be a good option if the times work out.

It does take a day to do the Valley lines, and I assume you'd be including Maesteg and Ebbw Vale plus the Vale of Glamorgan?

 

[CallySleeper]

The bus between Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven would be a good option if the times work out.

It does take a day to do the Valley lines, and I assume you'd be including Maesteg and Ebbw Vale plus the Vale of Glamorgan?

Yep. What I might do since I'm not sure Pembroke/Milford will work is head back to Cardiff and do maybe the VoG and Maesteg, then do the rest on the second day. Downside is of course I'd probably need to pay separately for this and get a Valley Explorer for day 2. I'd need to back Llanelli direction anyway at some point in order to do the HoW.

 

[Greenback]

That sounds good. If you whizz down to Fishguard and back, you can get out at Bridgend, do a quick return up to Maesteg and then take the Vale line back to Cardiff. You should have time to get a Maesteg ticket at Bridgend, then you can resume your journey back to Cardiff on whatever ticket you used to Fishguard. Unless it was an Advance!