It’s officially 2021, and I think many of us are excited for a new start. This year, I celebrated from my hometown, but in the past, I have been abroad. In the spirit of looking back on previous celebrations, I thought I’d share some thoughts on last year’s quiet trip to Wales!
Staying near Cowbridge
In 2019, we decided to go to Wales for New Years to have some time away without any pressure to do anything but have a nice meal and stroll around. We did a similar trip to Bath the previous year, and I noted down some recommendations, so if you’re interested in Touring Bath, check out that post!
When planning our quiet trip to Wales, we decided to stay in a cottage outside of Cardiff, closer to Cowbridge. This ended up being a great choice because we balanced a visit to Cowbridge, drive up to Brecon Beacons and a couple of days in Cardiff all in one short trip! We had our own car, and driving into the city was not a problem; however, I will say that when we wanted to book a taxi or catch an Uber, we had some trouble finding drivers in our area.
Walking around Cardiff
We made two trips into Cardiff, but because of the time of year, the castle, museums and many shops were closed. On New Year’s Eve, we ended up going into town in the evening for dinner, a walk around to look at the lights and a trip to Cardiff’s Winter Wonderland. We enjoyed some hot chocolate and ended up heading back before midnight, which was perfect for the low-key evening we wanted!
The next day, we visited Cardiff for a stroll in the morning and to see what might be open. Again, most things were closed, but we walked past Cardiff Castle to see the Christmas tree and lights outside. While we didn’t get to go inside the castle, I read a bit of history online to learn more. The castle has passed through many hands since its origin, including the Romans, the Normans, noble families and later the Bute family. The website explained that the 3rd Marquess of Bute collaborated with architect William Burges to transform the castle with exquisite designs and themed rooms. I found a virtual tour that gives a sneak peak of some parts of the castle, but I hope to visit again to see more myself.
Even though we were limited in the sights we could see, we were still able to enjoy walking around the city centre!
Exploring Brecon Beacons
On the last full day of our short trip, we spent some time walking around Brecon Beacons. We drove to Cwm Porth in Waterfall Country. This was around an hour drive, and parking was easy enough. There are other parking lots and entry points to the trails, so take a look at a map to see which starting point suits your plans best.
We took the Four Falls trail, but stopped for just two – Sgwd Clun-gwyn and Sgwd yr Eira. In general, the path was scenic and easy to walk. The trek down to Sgwd yr Eira was a bit steep and slippery, but manageable and very worth it! The waterfall was beautiful, and if you’re feeling adventurous, you can walk behind it for a different perspective.
Because we went in winter, we enjoyed the bare trees and blustery skies. We saw open fields and small paths framed by mossy stones. I imagine the trail is also beautiful in the summer, and I’d love to return to see the vibrant landscape then.
Overall, our quiet trip to Wales was just what we needed – a moment away to relax. While there is still much to see in Cardiff and the surrounding area, we were able to get a great preview. When we return again, we’ll need to do a deeper dive into the castle, museum, parks and the bay and select another trail to explore in Brecon Beacons!
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