Allotments 4 All

We are thinking of spending 10 days in Wales this summer, eldest daughter is thinking of studying in either Swansea or Bangor as of September 2007, so we thought we would go for a reckie!
Anyone know of any cheap cottages in either areas, away from big towns, a nice villiage and close to the beach, somewhere we can chill!
Was thinking of doing a week in the Swansea area and maybe the last few days in Bangor, or should we do it the other way around? Which area is the prettiest and quietest?
As you can see I need some help making the decision before I start looking for accomodation!!!
Off to check the tourist board!!
DP

Definitely Wales for hols!

Our bit is the far north-west or the far south-west.

DP. Middle daughter went to Bangor Uni and youngest went to Swansea.
Bangor is quieter, more rural and Swansea is big town (some parts are very rough). If you follow the A483 it goes tight down the middle of Wales and ends up in Swansea. If you follow the A5 it goes right up the centre of Wales and past Bangor. The A55 goes all the way along the NorthWales coast and into Bangor.
Enjoy!

Love Wales.  We're off thereagain this year.  Normally do Abergavenny area (Black Mountains) and Dolgellau/Fairbourne/Barmouth.  For a change we're having a week in Brecon and a week near Cardigan in July.

Couple of companies we've used regularly to book through are www.wales-holidays.co.uk/ and for Abergavenny (although that's not where you want to go) www.breconcottages.com/.

I used to spend every holiday with cousins in Nefyn, which is on the lleyn peninsular (next to anglesey). Definitely pretty - you have the mountains of snowdonia, marvellous beaches and quite a lot of solitude if you look for it.

Bangor is quite small, but getting nicer as the university expands and tourism sets in. My mum went there, but I guess it was quite different in the 60s, and she lived up a mountain at the time.

For places to stay, you could look at Caernarfon (amazing castle - or was when I was 15) or somewhere on the lleyn for more remote country cottages - nefyn and morfa nefyn both have good beaches if I remember correctly. Portmeirion (where the prisoner was filmed) is well worth a visit too, but very expensive to stay.

You could stay on Anglesey, but it gets very touristy in the summer, although Beaumaris (another castle - think I might have been obsessed as a child) is lovely, and has boat trips to Puffin Island (guess what they have there!). Try to come back over the Menai Bridge on a clear evening - the sun setting behind you makes snowdon look magical.

Harlech (about an hour from Bangor on the west coast) is lovely (and yes it has a castle), and the scenery inland is amazing. My favourite place is Llyn Cwm Buchan - a lake reached by a single track road in a narrow valley - beautiful (and the river downstream is perfect for swimming). Description from http://www.barmouth-wales.co.uk/walking.html

"Llyn Cwm Bychan is a beautiful mountain-girt lake nestling below Rhinog Fawr (2362 ft.). It is reached by following a narrow road which leaves the main coast road in Llanbedr and winds up into the hills following the rushing Afon Atro through some outstanding scenery. Above the lake is Craig-y-Saeth, the Rock of Arrow, rising precipitously from the shore. Beyond the lake the Roman Steps, an ancient pack horse trail, makes it way through the pass across the Rhinog mountain range to Trawsfynnydd".

(Trawsfynnydd is where there is a defunct nuclear power station, which has doubled as a castle in many hollywood films, and where my second cousin once caught  a two headed fish. don't swim in the lake ;-)

Hope that gives you some ideas - have just realised that I am reminiscing and rambling rather a lot! Sorry!

sl

My son is currently studying at Bangor and loves it. It has a reputation for being one of the safest universities because of the small city surrounding it and it is also one of the cheapest ones for student living costs. My daughter is due to go to Uni in 2007 and Bangor is on her list.
My mother lives on Anglesey and we visit North Wales a lot because of the above 2 reasons. It is a beautiful part of the UK and there is masses to see and do, castles (as mentioned in earlier reply!), stunning scenery and loads of beaches.
Good luck with the decisions, my daughter fancies Bangor, Manchester or Reading.

OOOOOOOOO Doris your coming to mine and Multiveg's part of the world.  ;D We live just south of Bangor on the outskirts of Carrnarfon.  I agree with all of the above. The Lleyn peninsula is a must especially down to Abersoch and Aberdaron( I used to live there)Beautiful gorgeous place.  Most of the beaches down there are gorgeous too.Whistling sands (Porth Oer) is especially gorgeous sighhhh my favourit place.  Anyway, if you have the time and we are about your more than welcome to come and see the 'estate' ha ha

Forgot to mention youngest is studying for her degree in Nursing  at Bangor U and also plays rugby for the ladies team ;D   You dont want to mess with HER   :o  ;)

Try www.mannsholidays.co.uk or www.nefynholidays.co.uk for reasonable prices on the lleyn peninsula.  Can always drive back to the places of interest.

Spent 17 years just outside Conwy, N Wales. Wish I could move back there today, lovely area, with LLangollen, Betws y Coed and Snowdonia on the doorstep. All my family still live near Conwy so visit often.

im going to Pwllheli  this year iv been going there since i was a baby  we drive to all the places conway Porthmadog   Abersoch   Aberdaron  Nefyn  i love it last cople of years its been only a day r two staying with my dad if hes been up there this year its a week just  me the kids and other half if i win the lotto its the first place im going to look for a house i saw in the paper a few months ago a house was for sale at just shy of a million pound iv got the pic coz its mine one day ( well i  can drean cant i )  im sorry wales is such a wounder full place even now i get all exsited when its time to go up there even just for the day the 2 hour drive chilles you out then the day on the beach r even just walking the town then im floting on air for at least a week after i get back im now 25 and its still like being  child when i go wales  also   Llanbedrog. iv climed up to the tin man a good few times  hes not there any more the old one  dad always said he would take some paint up to him the hammer right stuff but he neer did our caravan was a 10 mim walk from the beach at Llanbedrog
  so sorry for ramberling i just love  the place

Must put in a word or two for South Wales - although I do agree that North Wales is gorgeous. Although as has been said Swansea is a city with quite a mixture of environs - it was very badly destroyed in the war, much was rebuilt in the 50s and 60s in not very beautiful concrete constructions that were fashionable at the time but are now showing thier age. Its a vibrant and characterful place though - and the gateway to the Gower peninsula, which this week celebrated the 50th anniversary of being the very first area to be designated as being of outstanding beauty in Britain.
Rhossili Beach at the end of the peninsula is a 3 mile stretch of gorgeous golden sands and there are many other beautiful beaches and countryside to explore.
Wales is a wonderful place - I speak as an English person who has made her home here very happily for the past 9 years. If you do come DP call in and see how the Queensland Blue Pumpkins are getting on! Hope the picture gives you an idea of what is on offer.

DP, OH is from the Mumbles, just past Swansea - its truly beautiful.  His mum lives in Blackpill very close to Clyne Gardens - definitely worth a look if you are passing (and has great pub called the Woodman very close by if you want to eat).

Joe's icecream is a must if you do visit ... but have the original vanilla flavour (OH very sniffy about the recent flavoured additions !)   ;D ;D

When I was a nipper, we holidayed (camped) on the Pembrokeshire coast, Tenby.  Fab beaches, but for me the absolute highlight was a boat trip over to Caldy island - http://www.caldey-island.co.uk/.

THANK YOU ALL for your replies, and the links to properties to rent have been really helpful, though being me looks like we have left it far too late to find anything, but I am still searching!

Nice to hear Bangor rated so highly, might have to put a little influence on the daughter!! ;) ;) ;D

We have decided that is the area we wan't to visit this time around, (trying to influence daughter again!)
maybe stop in the South on the way home for a day or two, will let you know when/if I find anywhere for us to stay, and thanks again, :-*
DP

Can't think of dates of Eisteddfod at mo which will take place outside Swansea - 5-12th August so avoid!
We could have to have a meet up, DP & Mimi  ;D

A good idea if you are going to Wales is to get some of those cheap flower buckets from Morrisons. Turn them upside down and put a rim on it and you will have a welsh hat.
You will be able to blend in with the natives. Thats if they are doing cheap buckets in your area ;D

We are off to Wales this coming Saturday,staying in a cottage in the middle of nowhere ,near Cardigan.Anyone any tips on nice places to visit in the area?

Can't wait for some peace and quiet,nice walks and lovely views.

:D