Wales is small but mountainous, and the main routes run east to west, not north to south. Getting from Cardiff to the north coast takes the best part of a day by road or rail, and the quickest train goes via England.
Trains. Transport for Wales runs the network, and some of its lines are journeys in themselves. The Cambrian Coast line runs around Cardigan Bay from Machynlleth to Pwllheli. The Heart of Wales line crosses empty hill country from Swansea to Shrewsbury. The Conwy Valley line climbs to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Heritage steam railways such as the Ffestiniog, the Welsh Highland and the Vale of Rheidol are tourist rides that also get you somewhere.
Buses. The TrawsCymru long-distance buses link towns that the railway misses, such as Aberystwyth to Carmarthen, Bangor to Aberystwyth, and Newtown to Cardiff. In Eryri, the Sherpa'r Wyddfa buses connect the trailheads around Yr Wyddfa, which saves fighting for a parking space.
Driving. A car makes it far easier to see the countryside, the coast and the national parks. Roads are narrow and winding, and the single-track lanes with passing places are slower than they look on a map. The default speed limit in built-up areas is 20 mph.
Walking. The Wales Coast Path follows the entire coastline, about 870 miles. Offa's Dyke Path runs along the English border.