Looking for the ultimate Wales road trip? The Welsh Coast 400 is an incredible 400-mile journey through some of the very best scenery, beaches, castles, mountains and coastal towns Wales has to offer.
We completed this road trip ourselves in July 2022, travelling from the North Wales coast through Eryri National Park, Mid Wales, Pembrokeshire and the Gower Peninsula before finishing our adventure in the spectacular Bannau Brycheiniog.
And what a road trip it was!
Over seven action-packed days, we visited mighty medieval castles, hiked to waterfalls, drove through spectacular mountain scenery, explored enormous beaches and discovered some of the most beautiful stretches of coastline anywhere in the UK.
The best bit? This is not just a route I’ve thrown together from behind a desk. We have personally driven it, camped along the way and visited the places featured in this itinerary, so everything below is based on genuine first-hand experience.
The complete Welsh Coast 400 route covers approximately 400 miles over seven days, making it ideal for a week-long adventure by car, campervan or motorhome.
You can follow our exact itinerary, slow it down over 10–14 days or simply use it as inspiration to create your own Welsh road trip.
In this guide, I’ll show you where we went each day, the best things to see along the route, suggested campsites, approximate driving times and plenty of practical tips to help you plan an unforgettable adventure.
The Welsh Coast 400 is a seven-day Wales road trip travelling from Llandudno in North Wales to Bannau Brycheiniog in South Wales, following much of the spectacular western coastline along the way.
| Day | Route | Main highlights | Approximate drive time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Llandudno to Eryri | Llandudno, Conwy Castle, Aber Falls, Swallow Falls | 1 hr 50 mins |
| Day 2 | Eryri to Shell Island | Watkin Path Waterfalls, Portmeirion, Harlech Castle | 1 hr 12 mins |
| Day 3 | Shell Island to Aberystwyth | Barmouth, Ynyslas, Aberystwyth | 1 hr 50 mins |
| Day 4 | Aberystwyth to St Davids | Aberaeron, New Quay, Mwnt Beach, Strumble Head, Blue Lagoon | 3 hrs 20 mins |
| Day 5 | St Davids to Tenby | St Davids, Pembroke Castle, Freshwater West, St Govan’s Chapel, Barafundle Bay | 2 hrs 20 mins |
| Day 6 | Tenby to the Gower Peninsula | Tenby, Rhossili Bay, Oxwich Bay, Three Cliffs Bay, Mumbles | 2 hrs 30 mins |
| Day 7 | Gower to Bannau Brycheiniog | Cardiff, Black Mountains, Brecon, Pen y Fan | 3 hrs 20 mins |
This is an action-packed itinerary, so do not expect seven days of sitting around drinking cups of tea and admiring the view.
Although, in fairness, there is plenty of opportunity to do that too.
By the way, if you’re looking to save hours of planning your Welsh Coast 400 trip, grab your very own copy of my Road Trip Wales Guidebook! With over 500 x 5 star reviews on my website and Amazon, it’s packed with everything you need for an unforgettable trip…
I designed the Welsh Coast 400 as a seven-day road trip, and it is absolutely possible to complete the full route in a week.
However, it is worth being clear that this is a fairly busy itinerary.
If you want to visit every castle, complete every walk and spend hours relaxing on the beaches, I would recommend giving yourself 10 to 14 days instead.
As a rough guide:
The brilliant thing about a Wales road trip is that there is no single compulsory route you have to follow.
You can easily adapt this itinerary, add extra nights in your favourite areas or return another time to explore the places you missed.
Absolutely. Wales is one of my favourite destinations in the UK for exploring by campervan or motorhome.
Unlike some other popular UK road trip destinations, Wales does not have quite as many intimidating single-track roads, although you will certainly encounter narrow lanes in rural and coastal areas.
Most of the route connects via a good network of A-roads, and there are plenty of campsites across the country.
We originally completed the Welsh Coast 400 in our campervan with our two border collies, Archie and Gem, and they absolutely loved it.
From swimming in the sea to joining us for the occasional cheeky pint at the pub, Wales proved to be a fantastic dog-friendly road trip destination too.
If you are travelling in a larger motorhome, I would recommend checking your route carefully before blindly following a sat-nav down narrow country lanes, particularly around remote beaches and coastal locations.
The Welsh Coast 400 can be driven throughout much of the year, but your experience will vary considerably depending on the season.
My personal sweet spot would be late spring or early autumn, particularly April to early May or late September into October.
The roads and attractions are generally quieter, accommodation availability is often better and you avoid the peak summer crowds.
Summer, from around mid-May to mid-September, gives you the longest days, the best chance of milder weather and full access to attractions and outdoor activities.
In June, sunset can be as late as around 9:45pm, giving you a huge amount of daylight for exploring.
The downside is busier roads, campsites, beaches and car parks.
If possible, I would avoid the busiest part of the school summer holidays in late July and August.
We completed the route in July ourselves, so it can certainly be done, but I would strongly recommend booking your campsites and accommodation in advance.
If you are travelling by campervan, motorhome, caravan or tent, Wales has an excellent selection of campsites.
Our suggested overnight stops for the seven-day route are:
I would always recommend checking availability and booking ahead during busy periods, particularly from May to September and throughout the school summer holidays.
You do not need to use these exact campsites.
There are plenty of alternatives throughout Wales, so choose accommodation that works best for your budget, vehicle and preferred travel style.
The cost of completing the Welsh Coast 400 will depend on your vehicle, accommodation, eating habits and how many paid attractions you visit.
If you are travelling in your own campervan or motorhome, your main expenses will be:
As a rough starting point, I would allow somewhere in the region of £600–£900 for two people for a week-long trip in your own campervan or motorhome.
It is certainly possible to spend less by self-catering and choosing cheaper campsites.
If you are staying in hotels and eating out regularly, your budget will naturally be considerably higher.
One advantage of this route is that many of its best experiences, including beaches, coastal walks, viewpoints and mountain scenery, are completely free.
Yes.
We originally completed the Welsh Coast 400 with our two border collies, Archie and Gem, and Wales is a fantastic destination for a dog-friendly road trip.
There are countless beaches, coastal walks and outdoor attractions to explore with your dog.
However, be aware that some beaches have seasonal dog restrictions, particularly during the summer months.
Restrictions vary by location, so always check the signs before letting your dog onto a beach.
You should also:
Travelling with Archie and Gem was a huge part of our own Welsh Coast 400 adventure.
There are few things better than watching your dogs charging around a huge Welsh beach.
Driving in Wales is generally straightforward, but rural and coastal areas can have narrow roads.
Allow more time than your sat-nav suggests, particularly in summer.
A journey that looks short on a map may take considerably longer once you have factored in narrow roads, slower traffic and the inevitable unplanned photo stops.
If you are travelling in a campervan or motorhome:
Wales also has a default 20mph speed limit on many restricted roads, so always follow the posted signs and allow sufficient time for your journey.
The Welsh Coast 400 is just one of countless incredible road trips you can take around Wales.
If you are planning your own adventure and want to save hours of research, my Road Trip Wales Guidebook is packed with incredible locations, practical travel tips, suggested itineraries, campsites and time-saving navigation information.
I have spent years exploring, researching and road-tripping around Wales, and I have designed the book in my usual No Fuss style.
That means genuinely useful information without pages and pages of unnecessary waffle.
Whether you are travelling for a weekend, a week or planning an epic adventure around the entire country, the guidebook is designed to help you plan less and see more.
You can also watch our full Welsh Coast 400 road trip video on YouTube to see exactly what the journey looks like before setting off.
Happy road tripping! 🚐🏔️🏖️
I’m Rob – a UK best-selling travel author, founder of No Fuss Travel Guides, and passionate about making travel simple and inspiring.
My first book, North Coast 500 – The Road Trip of a Lifetime (2022), became an Amazon best-seller and led to collaborations with Visit Wales and features inThe Sunday Times and The Guardian’s “Best of Travel”.
I also speak regularly at industry events, sharing insights on road trips, independent travel, and authentic experiences.
I’m a keen traveller and proud collie dog lover.
I hope you find value in my blogs and videos — and if you’ve got a question, just ask.
👉 Follow me on YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook for the latest tips and updates.
Rob – Staffordshire, UK
One Response
Please put me down for you wales Road trip when it’s available
Simon