The Best Time to Visit Wales

March in Wales

A month of celebration

Wild daffodils.

March is a month of renewal and festivity in Wales, of new life and of St David – the nation’s patron saint. On the first of the month, parades, concerts, and festivals of Welsh culture and heritage light up towns and cities across the country.

Daffodils – Wales’ national flower – join in on the celebrations, carpeting meadows and woodlands in vibrant yellows and golds. Head to Cardiff or Caerphilly to experience the festivities or to Coed y Bwl for the best daffodils.

April in Wales

The land springs to life

Spring lambs.

By April, colour is everywhere. Woodlands brim with carpets of bluebells and spring wildflowers, whilst the hillsides come alive with the bleating of newborn lambs. It’s lambing season, and nowhere captures it better than the rolling pastures of Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacon) or the lush valleys of Eyri (Snowdonia).

April is also the perfect time for waterfall hikes, with cascades at their fullest as mountain snowmelt feeds the rivers. Don’t miss the famous Four Falls Trail in the Brecon Beacons, or the spectacular Swallow Falls near Betws-y-Coed in Eryri (Snowdonia).

May in Wales

Spring gardens in full colour

National Botanic Garden of Wales.

Typically the sunniest month in Wales, May is the perfect time to explore the nation’s spring gardens. Don’t miss the National Botanic Garden of Wales, home to the world’s largest single-span glasshouse and a hub for botanical research and conservation.

Other highlights include Dyffryn in the Vale of Glamorgan and Bodnant in the Conwy Valley. As you wander the trails and pathways, you’ll find exotic species interwoven with native plants in ever-changing seasonal displays. Keep an eye out for rare butterflies feeding on fragrant flowers and birds flitting between the trees.

September in Wales

Food festivals

Surfing in Wales.

Combine outdoor adventure with seasonal food celebrations as Wales transitions into autumn. With long-ish daylight hours still on your side, it’s the perfect time to hike, cycle, or explore the countryside without the crowds.

The nation’s three national parks become peaceful havens and the waves pick up along the coast perfect for surfing, whilst the arrival of harvest season brings fresh, local produce to numerous food festivals. Not to be missed is Abergavenny Food Festival, one of the country’s most celebrated foodie events.

October in Wales

Magical wildlife encounters

A seal saying hello.

In October, Wales transforms into a realm of extraordinary wildlife encounters, whether you explore its quiet woodlands, rugged mountains, or windswept coast. Along the coast, breeding seabirds have departed, but grey seal pups now rest beneath towering cliffs, their white fur glowing in the low-lying sun.

Inland, the forests and valleys of Brecon, the Elan Valley, and the Wye are alive with the drama of rutting red deer. October also heralds the arrival of Europe’s tiniest songbird, the goldcrest, along with other migratory species.

November in Wales

Autumn colour

Autumnal waterfall.

To appreciate the best of autumn, a woodland walk is a must-do on your Wales November itinerary. Autumn colours peak around mid-November lighting up the valleys in woodlands in ruby reds, polished copper and decadent golds.

For the best views, visit the ancient woods of the Elan Valley and the riverside trails of the Brecon Beacons. In north Wales, the Nant Gwynant Valley combines amber woodlands with shimmering waterfalls and views of the surrounding mountains.

Still wondering when is the best month to visit Wales? Here’s a quick snapshot of what you can expect throughout the year: