Cottages in South Wales

Wales is a country that offers many stunning places to go on your holidays, so if you are looking for the ideal destination in this magical land, Holidu will show you many amazing options. South Wales is a region of Wales that is full of tourist wonders, both natural and historical, so it won't be easy to choose what to visit first. The counties that make up the region all have their own unique western European charm, with colonial facade centres, castles, coastlines, mountain valleys, museums, waterfalls and much, much more. And to top it all off, you can stay in beautiful and comfortable cottages, perfect for travelling with that special someone, as they have great privacy and are surrounded by large forests and stunning gardens.

Besides the fact that these cottages are close to nature, their facades are also something that will make you feel like in a fairy tale. You can find wooden cottages in different colours and sizes, as well as those with stone walls and enchanting terraces. No matter which one you choose or how many people you travel with, they come equipped with everything you need for your holiday, with comfortable rooms, electrical appliances, heater, internet connection, parking and much more. Are you ready for an unforgettable holiday? Book your cottage now!

What do our guests say?

Guests staying in cottages across South Wales consistently mention how quiet the evenings are, how easy it is to reach a beach or a hill path on foot, and how generous the welcome packs tend to be. Ratings of 9.5+ are common for properties with sea views or a hot tub, and many reviewers return in a different season to see the same landscape in a new light.

Here are our top-rated cottages from the past year:

1. Mole End - 9.9+: A four-person cottage at Summerhill in Pembrokeshire, praised for its peaceful setting and easy runs to the coast path.
2. Foxglove - Barn Conversion - Blossom Farm - 9.8+: A barn conversion with hot tub, terrace and garden, set on farmland in Pembrokeshire.
3. Woodlands Cottage - 9.6+: A well-reviewed four-person cottage with its own garden, popular with couples and small families in Pembrokeshire.

South Wales runs from the Gower Peninsula and Swansea Bay east through Cardiff and the valleys to the Wye Valley on the English border, with the moorland of Bannau Brycheiniog rising inland.

🥗Where to eat in South Wales?

According to Google Maps data and reviews, Beach House Restaurant is the best rated restaurant in South Wales. Below is a table showing the top 5 highly-rated restaurants hand-picked by our travel experts.

This countryside site is full of natural beauty and is well visited by tourists every year. It is home to some of the most incredible scenery in South Wales and is also a place where you'll find numerous magical waterfalls, such as Aberdulais Falls, as well as beautiful hiking spots and extensive areas of woodland.

If you want a day at the beach on your South Wales holiday, Whitmore Bay Beach is a fun and relaxing choice. Located in the town of Barry, this golden sandy beach with a colourful, lively atmosphere is sure to revitalize you. As well as enjoying the calm and shallow waters, you'll also find plenty of street food and recreational activities around the area.

This national history museum was founded in 1946 and is located in Cardiff. Here you will experience the different architectures that represented Wales back in the day, such as schools, churches, prisons, tolls, tanneries and more. Also, on display are various ancient artefacts such as water mills, weavers, clog makers, potteries and even a farm that still works to this day. Without a doubt a place that shows you the tender years of this country.

This fantastic bird sanctuary ensures a day of fun with the fantastic creatures that live there. You can learn how to carry, pick up and hold owls, hawks or buzzards correctly, and in turn enjoy watching them come back to you once you get them to fly high in the air. Definitely a perfect place for animal lovers.

This is a fantastic numismatic museum, which is the study of coins. Located in the town of Llantrisant, here you can learn about the history of UK coins, see with your own eyes how they are created, and even have the opportunity to create your own coin!

If you are looking for the ideal place for a quiet, but fun day outdoors, this amazing park in the town of Barry offers you extensive green areas and lush trees to enjoy. This place is popular for picnics, cycling and walking your pet and has nice cafés with delicious food to suit all tastes.

This rare but interesting museum is located in the community of Port Talbot, and is owned by the eccentric Barry Kirk. This place has an extensive display of different brands of baked bean cans, although there are also products from other types of food such as Heinz, Van Camp's and Branston, and as a bonus there are also objects related to the British comedian Mr Bean. This is a site that has to be seen to be believed.

1. Walk the sweep of Rhossili Bay
2. Chase waterfalls in the Vale of Neath
3. Step back in time at St Fagans
4. Go underground at Dan-yr-Ogof
5. Wander the ruins of Tintern Abbey
6. Climb Pen y Fan in Bannau Brycheiniog
7. Taste cockles at Penclawdd

1. Walk the sweep of Rhossili Bay

   At the western tip of the Gower Peninsula, Rhossili Bay curves for three miles below a grassy ridge, with the tidal causeway to Worm's Head at its southern end. Time your walk with the tide tables at the visitor centre and you can cross to the headland itself; miss it and the clifftop path towards Mewslade Bay is just as rewarding. Continue inland and you reach The Vile, a rare medieval field system still farmed in strips.

2. Chase waterfalls in the Vale of Neath

   Waterfall Country around Ystradfellte and Pontneddfechan packs four major falls into a few miles of wooded gorge. The best known is Sgwd yr Eira, where a ledge lets you walk behind the curtain of water, while Aberdulais Falls further south pairs its cascade with the remains of a tinplate works. Paths are muddy and rocky rather than difficult, so bring proper boots. Autumn, when the beech woods turn copper and the rivers are full, is the finest time to come.

3. Step back in time at St Fagans

   On the western edge of Cardiff, St Fagans National Museum of History gathers more than forty re-erected buildings from across Wales: a tannery, a chapel, workers' terraces, a schoolhouse and a working farm. Bakers still fire the bread oven and the miller grinds flour on site, so it smells as much as it looks like the past. Entry is free, the grounds are extensive, and a full afternoon passes easily. It is the single best introduction to Welsh life for first-time visitors.

4. Go underground at Dan-yr-Ogof

   The National Showcaves Centre for Wales, at the head of the Swansea Valley in Bannau Brycheiniog, opens up a 17-kilometre cave system. Three caves are lit for visitors: Dan-yr-Ogof itself, the flowstone chambers of Cathedral Cave, and Bone Cave, where dozens of human skeletons were found. Guides explain the finds as you go. Above ground there is an Iron Age farm and a dinosaur park, which keeps younger walkers happy on a wet afternoon.

5. Wander the ruins of Tintern Abbey

   Founded in 1131 beside the River Wye, Tintern Abbey is the roofless Gothic shell that inspired Wordsworth and Turner. The great east window still frames the wooded hillside behind it. Come early or late in the day and the crowds thin considerably. From the village a steep path climbs to the Devil's Pulpit, a limestone outcrop with the classic view down over the abbey and the river bend, and the Anchor Inn is a short walk back for lunch.

6. Climb Pen y Fan in Bannau Brycheiniog

   At 886 metres, Pen y Fan is the highest peak in southern Britain and the most popular walk in the national park. The motorway path from Pont ar Daf takes around three hours there and back; the quieter horseshoe from Cwm Gwdi rewards the extra effort with far fewer people. On a clear day you can see Exmoor across the Bristol Channel. Afterwards, the reservoirs and forest tracks of the Taf Fechan valley make an easy recovery stroll.

7. Taste cockles at Penclawdd

   On the Loughor estuary at the northern edge of the Gower, Penclawdd has gathered cockles from the sands for centuries, and the tradition still supplies markets across the region. Buy them fresh at Swansea Market, where stalls also sell laverbread, the seaweed purée traditionally fried with bacon and cockles for breakfast. Add a wedge of Caerphilly and some Welsh lamb from the same hall and you have the makings of a very good evening in a cottage kitchen.