One coastline · Eighteen unforgettable stops
The Welsh Coast 400 A Stunning Coastal Road Trip Around Wales
Beaches, castles, wildlife, mountain roads and harbour towns joined into one extraordinary 400-mile Welsh adventure. Drive it in four days, savour it for a week, or steal the section that refuses to leave your head.
Free route guide · Interactive map · Accommodation maps along the journey
This is not a road to rush
If you are dreaming of one of the UK’s ultimate coastal road trips, the Welsh Coast 400 delivers everything you could hope for.
This unforgettable journey winds around Wales’ spectacular coast, taking in dramatic cliffs, award-winning beaches, ancient castles, colourful harbour towns and some of Britain’s most breathtaking scenery. Travel by car, campervan or motorbike, stop often and let the route become as memorable as the places it joins together.
A useful note before you plan: accommodation maps, activity buttons and selected road-trip kit links on this page are affiliate links. If you book or buy through them, Days Out Now may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Recommendations remain editorial and should genuinely help the journey.
Route breakdown
Eighteen reasons to keep driving.
This guide follows the coast south from Anglesey to Cardiff. Start at either end, reverse it or take one chapter at a time — the route is yours.
Welsh Coast 400 map
See the whole journey before you take it.
Use the interactive map to follow the route, understand how the stops fit together and decide which part of Wales deserves your extra night.
Routes, access and local conditions can change. Use the map for planning, then check current road, parking, attraction, tide and weather information before travelling.
Start The Welsh Coast 400 at the wild north.
Begin where the land runs out. Anglesey gives the route a lighthouse, a castle and a sense of drama before the north coast leads you towards Llandudno and Conwy.
South Stack Lighthouse, Anglesey
Start with one of Wales’ most dramatic viewpoints. South Stack sits beneath towering cliffs with sweeping sea views, crashing waves and remarkable birdlife. The walk down towards the lighthouse makes the first stop feel like the beginning of something big.
- Wild coastline
- Photography
- Sunrise or sunset
Beaumaris Castle
A UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Edward I’s finest creations. Its moat, symmetry and setting beside the Menai Strait make this one of the most striking medieval stops on the journey.
- Castle walls
- Menai Strait views
- Welsh history
Llandudno & Great Orme
A classic Victorian seaside town with a spectacular coastal drive around the Great Orme. Expect sea cliffs, wide viewpoints and a nostalgic promenade with plenty of reasons to stop.
- Marine Drive
- Great Orme Tramway
- Pier and promenade
Conwy Castle
A mighty fortress overlooking the harbour. Walk the town walls, climb the towers and look across one of Britain’s best-preserved medieval strongholds.
- Battlement views
- Walled town
- Harbour photography
Mountains, castles & Cardigan Bay.
The coast gives way to mountain roads, waterfalls and castle country before the route finds the open beaches and lively seafronts of Mid Wales.
Snowdonia National Park
Swap the coast for the mountains of Eryri. Winding roads pass waterfalls, lakes and dramatic peaks, creating one of the route’s greatest changes of scenery.
- Mountain passes
- Walking routes
- Endless viewpoints
Harlech Beach & Castle
A vast golden beach backed by dunes and watched over by mighty Harlech Castle. It is peaceful, atmospheric and ideal when the day needs a slower stretch.
- Huge sandy beach
- UNESCO castle
- Family stop
Aberystwyth
A colourful seaside town with a long promenade, cliff railway and plenty of places to eat. It brings energy, character and a proper evening stop to the Mid Wales coast.
- Cliff railway
- Seafront walk
- Food and evening
Borth & Ynyslas Dunes
A striking landscape of shifting sand, wildlife and wide-open beach. Ynyslas forms part of a national nature reserve and feels wonderfully wild after the busier seaside towns.
- Nature reserve
- Wide beach
- Wildlife
Dolphins, harbour colour & the wild west.
Cardigan Bay brings wildlife, pastel harbour towns and slower stops before Devil’s Bridge pulls inland and Pembrokeshire raises the coastal drama again.
New Quay
A charming harbour town known for its resident dolphins. Take a boat trip, watch the water, enjoy fish and chips or simply let the harbour slow the day down.
- Dolphin watching
- Boat trips
- Harbour food
Llanerchaeron
A peaceful Georgian estate with gardens, woodland walks and a working farm. It is a calm, green change of pace from the coastal road.
- Georgian estate
- Woodland walks
- Working farm
Aberaeron
A postcard-perfect harbour town of pastel houses and excellent seafood. Stop for colour, food and a gentle wander around the water.
- Pastel harbour
- Welsh seafood
- Easy wander
Devil’s Bridge Falls
A dramatic waterfall beneath three stacked bridges and a landscape rich in legend. The walking trails are steep in places, but reward the effort.
- Waterfall walk
- Three bridges
- Welsh legend
Pembrokeshire Coast National Park
One of the UK’s most spectacular coastlines, with turquoise water, rugged cliffs, remarkable wildlife and beaches that can stop the whole journey in its tracks.
- Clifftop scenery
- Coastal wildlife
- World-class beaches
St Davids
The UK’s smallest city, home to a breathtaking cathedral and a peaceful, creative atmosphere. Small in scale, but easily worthy of a proper stop.
- St Davids Cathedral
- Small city
- Coastal base
Golden beaches to the capital.
The final chapter joins Tenby’s colour, Barafundle’s quiet beauty and the Gower’s huge views before Cardiff Bay brings the road trip to a lively waterfront finish.
Tenby
A colourful harbour town with golden beaches, medieval walls and a lively seaside feel. It is one of the easiest places on the route to turn one night into two.
- Harbour colour
- Golden beaches
- Medieval walls
Barafundle Bay
Remote, unspoilt and startlingly beautiful. The walk-in approach keeps this beach feeling like a discovery, even on a route already full of coast.
- Walk-in beach
- Clear water
- Unspoilt coast
Rhossili Bay, Gower
A vast sweep of sand and one of Wales’ great coastal views. Give the clifftop path time; this is not a place to admire only through the windscreen.
- Clifftop walk
- Huge beach
- Gower views
Cardiff Bay
Finish at the Welsh capital’s vibrant waterfront district, with restaurants, culture and modern architecture giving the final evening a completely different energy.
- Waterfront dining
- Welsh culture
- Capital finish
The practical answer
Welsh Coast 400 Total Distance & Recommended Duration
Allow roughly 400 miles and ideally four to seven days. The route suits coastal explorers, photographers, families and slow travellers who would rather stop for the beach, castle or viewpoint than chase a finishing time.
Build in local diversions, overnight bases and the roads that look too good to ignore.
Four days captures highlights. Seven makes room for walks, weather and spontaneous stops.
Use all eighteen, choose one chapter or create your own version from the live map.
Road Trip Essentials
Pack for the coast. Prepare for Wales.
The route is more enjoyable when the phone is secure, the water stays cold and a sudden Welsh shower does not end the walk. These are practical affiliate picks for the road, not a random shopping list.
Affiliate disclosure: these Amazon links may earn Days Out Now a small commission if you buy, without increasing the price you pay.
Keep the journey running
For coast, weather and walks
The useful backup kit
Book more than a bed
Find the moments that make the journey.
Castles, boat trips, family attractions, tours and experiences can turn a good stopping point into the story everyone remembers. Search live Wales activities when you know which chapter of the route has won you over.
More Welsh road trips & adventures
If Wales has you now, do not stop here.
Use the Welsh Coast 400 as the beginning. Go deeper into the mountains, chase waterfalls, take the campervan out again or build another coast-led weekend.
The Grand Welsh Tour
Mountains, coast, castles and remarkable roads joined into another proper Wales adventure.
Open the road trip →
North Wales Waterfall Road Trip
A route built around tumbling water, mountain roads and places that make stopping compulsory.
Follow the waterfall route →
Snowdonia Campervan Adventure
Take the van deeper into Eryri with a journey shaped around scenery and freedom.
Build the campervan trip →
Swansea Coastal Road Trip
City energy, Gower scenery and beaches that deserve more than a passing view.
Drive the Swansea coast →Four Waterfalls Walk
A memorable Welsh trail for the day the road trip needs boots instead of wheels.
Open the walking guide →
Explore More of Wales
Find more walks, road trips, castles, waterfalls, coast and places worth planning around.
Open the Wales guide →Welsh Coast 400 FAQs
What is the Welsh Coast 400?
The Welsh Coast 400 is a spectacular road trip covering around 400 miles of Wales’ breathtaking coastline. The route links dramatic cliffs, award-winning beaches, colourful seaside towns, ancient castles and some of the country’s most beautiful scenery into one unforgettable driving adventure.
How long does it take to drive the Welsh Coast 400?
Most people allow 4 to 7 days to enjoy the route properly. While it can technically be driven in less time, allowing several days gives you the opportunity to explore beaches, castles, walking trails, wildlife and coastal towns along the way.
Where does the Welsh Coast 400 start and finish?
This guide begins at South Stack on Anglesey and follows the coast south to Cardiff Bay. You can reverse it, start from the point closest to home or use one of the four route chapters as a shorter trip.
What are the highlights of the Welsh Coast 400?
Highlights include South Stack, Llandudno and the Great Orme, Conwy Castle, Snowdonia (Eryri), Harlech, Cardigan Bay, Pembrokeshire, St Davids, Tenby, Barafundle Bay, Rhossili Bay and Cardiff Bay, plus beaches, waterfalls and viewpoints between them.
What is the best time of year to drive the Welsh Coast 400?
Late spring through early autumn is generally the best time to visit. May, June and September can offer long days while avoiding the busiest school holiday periods. Whatever the season, check the current weather and road conditions before setting out.
Is the Welsh Coast 400 suitable for campervans and motorhomes?
Yes. The route suits campervans and motorhomes, with campsites, holiday parks and stopovers around the coast. Some smaller coastal roads can be narrow, so check vehicle access and plan overnight stops in advance.
Can you complete the Welsh Coast 400 in a weekend?
A long weekend lets you enjoy one or two sections, but to see the best of the Welsh Coast 400 you will ideally want at least four days. This gives you time to stop without turning every day into a race.
Are there good walks along the Welsh Coast 400?
Absolutely. The journey passes sections of the Wales Coast Path, clifftop trails, waterfall walks, nature reserves and mountain viewpoints. Check distance, terrain, tides and current access before starting a walk.
Is the Welsh Coast 400 family friendly?
Yes. Families can build the route around sandy beaches, castles, wildlife boat trips, historic towns, scenic picnic stops and gentler walking trails. Adapt the number of stops and daily distance to suit the ages travelling.
Is the Welsh Coast 400 worth doing?
Without question. The Welsh Coast 400 combines coastal scenery, fascinating history, remarkable beaches, welcoming towns and memorable roads into one of the UK’s great road trips.
Now make it yours
Four hundred miles. One very good reason to go.
Download the route, choose the first overnight stop and leave enough room for Wales to change the plan. The best version of this road trip will be the one that keeps making you pull over.
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