The Coastal Way
The Wales Way
The Wales Way Circular Route
The Wales way
The Wales Way Circular Route: Why Drive the WWCR?
Perhaps it’s a post covid trend, but there is a rise in the need to;
- Get away.
- Take a break.
- Live on the road.
- Feel the freedom that travel brings.
- Focus on the moments in life that really matter.
Perhaps because we were all ‘locked up’ for a couple of years, when asked “What did you do last year?”, we now need to list something more than just our annual holiday. We crave adventure. We fear being locked up again.
The Wales Way Circular Route: The Rise of the Road Trip
It’s certainly difficult to miss the rise of the ‘road trip’.
It’s equally difficult to miss the need for tourist authorities to name the road trip. There are loads of them:
- North Coast 500
- Ben Nevis to the Isle of Skye
- The Atlantic Highway
- Ullswater to Windermere
- The Yorkshire Circuit
- Snake Pass and the Peak District
- The Causeway Coastal Route
- The Circular North East
- The Welsh Coast 400
Driving The Wales Way – The Wale Way Circular Route
One epic journey, three distinct routes together.
Dubbed The NC500 For Wales and the Wales version of Route 66, the three routes of The Wales Way showcase 420 miles of Wales’ most exceptional scenery. The Wales Way consists of three distinct routes: The Coastal Way, the Cambrian Way, and the North Wales Way. Each route offers a unique and diverse experience, but in this article, we will focus on the South Wales Coast from Cardiff to St Davids
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The Wales Way: Wales Alternative to the NC500
Wales Route 66
It’s like each county in the UK has looked at NC500 and thought – “Oh that’s the way to generate footfall around here.” Let’s take the ‘best bits’ of our area and make them into an easily navigable route, for those “time-poor but desperate to travel”. It’s true that some are particularly good, and some are spectacularly badly thought out. But you can understand, when looking at The North Coast 500 or Scotlands Route 66 and seeing that it generates over £20m a year for the local communities, there is a desire to replicate that model in other areas.
The Welsh Parliament has named these Wales Driving routes ‘The Wales Way’, but the three main routes they promote could cause confusion as these same names are also used for Walking and cycling routes.
- The Dragons spine or Cambrian Way
- The North Wales Way
- The Coastal Way
However, the Wales Way is not a circular route and is poorer for it.
Having looked at the issue we found other routes which contribute to the missing section, such as the:-
- Brecon Beacons and the South Wales Coast.
- West Coast 400
These will significantly close the gap. But do not fully satisfy the need to close the loop across the south of the country back to Cardiff.
So we wrote some blog posts to help you navigate from St Davids in the West, end of the Coastal Way, to Cardiff in the East, start of the Cambrian Way
We are not saying that our route is set in stone. To Zig Zag (Higam-Ogam) off the route is positively encouraged.
If you stay strictly on the route, M4, A48, A40, you will miss much, so you have to decide how much time you have, what is important to you, and what you want to see.
Whatever your focus there is much to discover in Wales, we have always thought the area beautiful (to the extent that we moved here nearly 20 years ago), but underpromoted.
Gower Peninsula Unveiled: A Tale of Coastal Majesty and Beauty
Things to do in Carmarthenshire: Unveiling the Scenic Beauty of Wales
Welcome to the Wales Way Circular Route…
Road Trip Wales Guide Book
Road Trip Wales – the ultimate ‘No Fuss’ Wales guidebook by Robbie Roams. Featuring incredible locations, practical tips and stress-saving hacks to ensure your Welsh Road Trip is simply unforgettable. This in-depth guidebook has everything you could possibly need to plan your Wales road trip, from Wales itineraries to budgeting and accommodation. You’ll have an incredible experience on one of the UK’s best-kept secrets!
Looking For Some Inspiration?
We always like to settle down with a book when researching a trip. Once we have a short list of places we want to see, then we hit the internet to narrow down what is viable or doable in our motorhome.
Take the Slow Road: England and Wales: Inspirational Journeys Round England and Wales by Camper Van and Motorhome
Lonely Planet Experience Wales (Travel Guide) Paperback – Folded Map
Snowdon / Yr Wyddfa Map | Conwy Valley / Dyffryn Conwy | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL 17
Cadair Idris & Llyn Tegid Map | Snowdonia National Park | Ordnance Survey | OS Explorer Map OL23
Snowdonia National Park Map & Walking Guide Bundle
Explore this beautiful area of England using this small map and walks set,
Mountain Walks: The Finest Mountain Walks in Snowdonia (Snowdonia: Top 10 Walks)
Travelling The Coastal Way in a Motorhome or Campervan?
We are currently putting together a list of our favourite places to stay overnight including some free park-ups and Campsites.
Start Your Coastal Way Journey.
A Coastal wander along the stunning West Wales Coast. Start your Journey HERE
Start Your North Wales Way Journey.
Exploring the North Coast and the Isle of Anglesey. Start your Journey HERE
Discover Wales: Stunning Locations to Visit
Some of our favourite places to visit on a trip around Wales. Find More HERE
Feeling Inspired?
Maybe you’ve driven the Wales Way, or embarked on a Wales road trip? You may have a business on, or near one of the Wales Way routes. Would you like write a guest post for our Wales Way Blog and tell us how you got on? Drop us a line and let us know what you have in mind.