Two days of wild play, woodland adventures, grand estates, golden sands and plenty of time to relax
Looking for a family break that gives everyone something to look forward to? Head to Neath Port Talbot – the Dramatic Heart of Wales.
Here, dramatic mountains tumble into green valleys, ancient woodland, and three miles of golden beach which stretch out across Swansea Bay.
Get ready for an unforgettable adventure!
Day 1
Valley adventures, woodland wonders & a splash of luxury
Stay: Crynant Holiday Cottages
Your family adventure begins deep in the Neath Valley, where the village of Crynant makes the perfect base for exploring the Dramatic Heart of Wales.
Set in beautiful countryside, Crynant Cottages gives families something rather special: a place where the accommodation is as much a part of the holiday as the attractions.
And when you’ve got children in tow, having space to spread out makes all the difference.
With three beautifully unique properties that sleep between six and nine people, these holiday cottages are a great option for families of all sizes.
There’s room for everyone to relax, play and enjoy the countryside, while the indoor swimming pool means you can finish a busy day with a bit of well-earned downtime, cocooned against the autumnal chill.
The location also puts you within easy reach of some of the area’s biggest family adventures. This isn’t just somewhere to sleep, it’s part of your family adventure.
Do: Gnoll Country Park
After breakfast, head down the valley to Gnoll Country Park in Neath.
Set in the historic Gnoll Estate, the park combines woodland, open green spaces, cascades and historic features – giving you plenty of opportunities to explore without having to follow a rigid itinerary.
The park has recently had a major upgrade. The newly refurbished visitor centre provides a welcoming gateway to the estate, while the improved park facilities make it even easier for families to spend time here.
For younger children, you’ll find the Treetops Indoor Play. This three storey fun house and sensory play area will keep young ones amused while you can relax with a coffee and some locally sourced cake.
Beyond the visitor centre is a feast of fun family attraction from the new adventure playground with its giant towers and spiralling tube slide. There’s also Gnoll Towers playground with a range of accessible features and challenging multi-platform spaces.
A unique feature of the park is the enchanting Tree of Many Faces. Get your camera ready for priceless photos of your children enjoying the award-winning carved tree and the giant storytelling throne that sits alongside it.
Follow the paths. Explore the park. Find somewhere to play. Look for wildlife. Discover the historic landscape. Or simply let the children decide where you’re going next. You never know what’s around the corner at Gnoll!
Lunchtime: Gnoll Park Cafe
When little legs start to tire and stomachs start rumbling, you don’t need to leave the park.
Head to Gnoll Park Cafe, conveniently located at the visitor centre and with beautiful lakeside views. It’s the ideal place to refuel before another round of exploring. With hot and cold options including jacket potatoes, toasties, sandwiches and delicious, sweet treats, there’s something for everyone, even picky eaters.
Back to base: Pool time
After a day of exploring, it’s time to swap your wellies for swimming costumes. Head back to Crynant Cottages and jump in for some down time in the indoor swimming pool. With a hot tub at the corner of the pool, parents can relax while children wear themselves out in the pool – a great source of fun if it’s drizzly outside but the children still have energy to burn! There’s even a sauna for parents looking to take their relaxation to the next level.
Crynant Cottages also has its own outdoor play area for a last bit of fresh air before bed.
Day 2
Castles, countryside & a golden beach
Do: Visit Margam Country Park
After breakfast, make your way to Margam Country Park for a day of family adventure on a grand scale. And we mean grand!
Set across around 1,000 acres of parkland, Margam combines spectacular countryside with one of Wales’ most impressive historic estates.
At the heart of it all is Margam Castle, the enormous Tudor-Gothic mansion that looks as though it has stepped straight out of a storybook. But don’t expect the kids to spend the day quietly admiring architecture. Margam is built for family adventures.
Start your day at Fairytale Land, where miniature cottages and a castle give younger visitors their own little kingdom to explore. After this, explore the Adventure Playground, where climbing, swinging, sliding and scrambling provide plenty of opportunities to burn off some energy.
Animal lovers can follow the Farm Trail, while the park’s deer roam across the estate – including fallow, red and the endangered Père David deer.
And if your family likes exploring on foot, there are waymarked trails taking in woodland, gardens, historic remains and spectacular views.
For the more adventurous, Margam also offers activities through Margam Park Adventure, which includes mountain biking, bushcraft, canoeing, raft building and kart hire, while Go Ape provides a much bigger challenge for older children and adults.
There’s a reason Margam is regarded as one of the area’s ultimate family days out.
Do: Let’s Go to the Beach
After all that exploring, take the short drive to the coast and explore Aberavon Beach. This three mile stretch of golden sands is a firm favourite with families, all year round.
Explore the shoreline and make sandcastles before exploring the many attractions in the area.
Pirate Cove Adventure Golf is great fun for the whole family. Put your putting skills to the test in this pirate-themed 12 hole mini golf course when the weather is on your side. Follow it with a stop at the adventure and toddler play areas right on the prom, or bring your skateboard or scooter for a drop in to Aberavon’s skate park.
If the rain comes in then head to shelter at the Reel Cinema, just across the road from the beach. This six screen cinema shows the latest family-friendly blockbusters and is a welcome retreat from a cold, windy or rainy day.
Eat: The Front
Finish your family adventure at The Front, right on Aberavon seafront.
It’s the perfect place to end a busy day: good food, a vibrant atmosphere and the beach right on the doorstep.
Order one of their signature smashed burgers or the cow pie – think big portions and big flavours. There’s also a children’s menu that includes kid-friendly favourites like burgers, pasta and fish goujons. Make sure you leave room for one of their indulgent desserts too!
And after two days of running, climbing, exploring, swimming, playing and generally making the most of the Dramatic Heart of Wales, you’ll have definitely earned it.
And, if there’s still enough energy left, head back onto the beach afterwards for a final walk along the sand. There’s something rather special about watching the sun go down after a day spent exploring.
Core Family Memories Made in the Dramatic Heart of Wales
There are family holidays where you spend most of your time getting from A to B. And then there are weekends like this.
Where the children can run wild in ancient parkland, discover strange and wonderful trees, scramble around playgrounds, spot deer, swim, splash, play mini golf and race along the beach, while the grown-ups get their fair share of beautiful scenery, good food and a very welcome hot tub.
Clear the weekend diary and book a visit to the Dramatic Heart of Wales.
