Family Days Out in South Wales
Theme Parks, Farms & Swimming - Swansea The Gower & Pembroke
South West Wales has lots of things to do for families . Rain or shine,the kids need never be bored as there is some thing for all interests, all ages and all weather.
AquaDome Port Talbot
01639 871444
The kids will love a day at “Wales’ Premier Leisure Centre” on Aberavon Seafront.
Parents can relax in the bars and restaurants or join the kids in the giant spaceship, Inca temple, lily pond, bubble loungers, river rides, wave machine, space whirl and towering falls that make the theme pool a popular attraction.
Getting there: Follow the signs for Aberavon Beach (B4286) from M4 or A48 at Port Talbot. The No 8 First Cymru bus passes the Aquadome every 20 minutes linking Port Talbot Parkway station and Port Talbot bus station.
Cefn yr Erw Primate Sanctuary
01639 730276
A former Welsh hill farm in the upper Swansea Valley provides sanctuary for unwanted animals, mainly primates, including chimpanzees, baboons, spider monkeys, capuchins and marmosets .
The sanctuary is open to visitors daily from 10:30 till dusk. There is the opportunity to be a “Keeper for a Day” for £100.
Getting there
The sanctuary is in the village of Abercrave 15 miles north of Swansea, just off the A474 an hourly bus service runs from Swansea to Abercrave. For more detailed directions visit the Cefn yr Erw website.
Folly Farm
01834 812731
The Welsh Tourist Board awarded Folly the title “Top Day Out in Wales” in 2005. You will need a whole day to do everything here. The zoo is home to over 200 animals including rare breeds. The funfair, Europe’s largest undercover vintage fairground, is the ideal place for kids to get excited and adults get nostalgic.
Jolly Farm is home to a huge variety of farm animals including horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, pigs, Shetland ponies and hens, the bottle feeding show gives visitors the chance to feed a baby animal.
If the kids still have any energy left let them loose in the adventure play area, this massive outdoor and indoor complex has a variety of innovative features suitable for all ages.
A day ticket costs £6.95 for adults and £5.95 for children, but there is an additional charge for the funfair, go-karts and the theatre.
Getting there
From Carmarthen take the A40 for approx. 10miles to the St.Clears roundabout, take the first exit on the A477 Tenby road for approx 12 miles to the roundabout near Kilgetty and then take the A478 road for Narberth. Folly Farm is one mile along on the left hand side.
Gower Heritage Centre
01792 371206
A working 12th century water-mill hosts a rural life museum with craft shops, craft activities, play areas and an animal farm. The Centre is easily reached by road from Swansea, about 8 miles away and if the weather is good can be combined with a trip to one of the Gower’s magnificent beaches.
Getting there
The centre is 8 miles west of Swansea at Parkmill, on the South Gower Road (A4118), the First Cymru service 118 from Swansea to Rhossili passes the site and runs roughly every hour Monday to Saturday, but less regularly on Sunday.
Margam Country Park
01639 881635
A magnificent country park, just outside Port Talbot, where admission is free except for a £3 car parking charge and a ride on the train. There is so much to do at Margam Country Park that it warrants a separate article.
Getting there
The Park is half a mile from Junction 38 on the M4 and is clearly signposted. The First Cymru X1 service from Swansea to Bridgend via Port Talbot stops at the park gates.
Oakwood Theme Park
01834 861889
Oakwood is a theme park with something for everyone. Thrill rides, family rides and kids rides are all included in a single admission ticket priced £14.75 and £13.50 for 3-9 year olds. Daredevils will love rides like Speed, Megaphobia, Vertigo and The Bounce while younger visitors will enjoy Playtown Rides, The Magic Factory and The Wacky Factory. There is a 15% reduction for tickets bought online more than three days in advance.
Getting there
Oakwood is off the A40 at Canaston Bridge, 8 miles East of Haverfordwest and is clearly signposted on brown tourist information signs from the end of the M4.
Pemberton’s Chocolate Farm
01994 448800
A chocoholic’s dream! Smell, taste, drink, see and touch the forbidden fruit in award winning chocolate workshops.
A factory tour shows how chocolate is made and all ages can have a go. Shops on site sell chocolate and fudge , giving you ample opportunity to stock up.
The factory tour costs £3.45 and £2.95 for children. Admission to the rest of the site, which is closed on Sundays, is free of charge.
Getting there
The farm is about 8 miles north of the A40, near Whitland, follow the brown signs from the A40.
Tourist Information
Carmarthenshire Tourist Information
Pembrokeshire Tourist Information
Swansea Bay Tourist Information
Other Things to do in South and West Wales
Things to do in South West Wales
Margam Country Park ,South Wales
Days Out on The Gower Peninsula
