Weather
August is one of the hottest months of the year in Wales, but we’re talking warm, not tropical, with average temperatures fluctuating between lows of 53°F (12°C) and highs of 68°F (20°C). In a heatwave, temperatures might rise to 86°F (30°C) but it rarely lasts long. Cardiff is one of the warmest places in the country, regularly seeing highs of 71°F (22°C), while it’s a touch cooler and breezier on the coast and in the mountains. Rain-wise, it can be fairly wet, with up to 15 days of drizzle in the month, so be sure to pack that waterproof.
This is one of the best months for beach days and watersports as the sea has had all summer to warm up to around 62.5°F (17°C).
Crowds & Costs
August is as busy as Wales gets, but if you’re prepared to go the extra mile, walk rather than drive, and sidestep the bigger towns and resorts, you can still find your own little patch of calm on the coast or in the mountains. Advance planning pays off as if you rock up now you might not be able to get a room (or even find a site to pitch your tent) last minute. Roads are busy, rooms are booked solid and restaurants require reservations.
Prices leap massively in August: flights and hotels can be double or even triple what they are in the low season. But if you want to see the cities and coastal resorts at their vibrant, festival-throwing best, it might be worth the extra expense.
Where to Go
The Welsh coast is tempting in August, and not just for days spent flopping on golden sands. With more sunshine and the sea at its warmest, this is a terrific time for watersports, coastal hikes, and wildlife-watching boat trips. If popular coastal resorts like Tenby, Gower, and Barry Island in the south and Llandudno in the north are jam-packed, give the throngs the slip and head elsewhere. You can always find a quieter cove in North Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, and on the Llŷn Peninsula and Anglesey if you’re prepared to walk a bit.
Everyone goes crazy for the coast in summer, so if you like things more peaceful, dip inland instead to the more remote valleys and peaks of Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons, and the Cambrian Mountains instead. Now’s a great time for long-distance hiking and camping.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
What to Do
On the coast, activities ramp up a notch in August. You can cool off coasteering Pembrokeshire with an exploration of the coast that involves bouldering, jumping from rocks and swimming into sea caves, kayaking around the cliffs of Gower, or with a breezy boat ride to spot dolphins in Ceredigion.
The mountains beg to be explored, too, whether on multi-day hikes through the heather-draped moors of the Brecon Beacons (the Beacons Way is a favorite) or an ascent of the country’s highest peak, Snowdon (3,559 ft / 1,085 m), in Snowdonia. Adventure seekers will also find thrills zip-lining, mountain biking, and wild swimming in these regions.
Festivals, you say? This is the month. Even in the most forgotten corners of the country, you’ll find something happening in August.
Events in August
National Eisteddfod of Wales. Held over the last weekend in July and the first week in August, this is Wales’ biggest celebration of Welsh music and poetry, with plenty of pageantry and history thrown in. In 2022, it’s held in Tregaron.
The Green Gathering, Chepstow. On the first week of August, this intimate festival brings together like-minded folk for four days of low-impact living in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty near Chepstow, with solar stages hosting up-and-coming bands, DJs, poets, and storytellers.
Summer Cider Cycle, Llanwrtyd Wells. Promising cider (and maybe sunshine), this fun bike ride on the second weekend in August whizzes through forests, hills, and valleys near Llanwrtyd Wells in Mid Wales.
Castell Roc Festival, Chepstow. Chepstow Castle is the backdrop for live music and entertainment at this nicely chilled festival in mid-August. There’s wild camping if you fancy it.
Green Man Festival. The Green Man rocks the Glanusk Estate in the Brecon Beacons National Park on the third week in August, with gigs, comedy, talks, relaxation zones, food stands, and gardens to explore.
Solarsphere, Builth Wells. This starry-eyed festival brings live music as well as talks and workshops with astronomers and scientists to the town on the third weekend in August.
Race the Train, Tywyn. Can you outrun a steam train? You can give it your best shot at this race through a remote valley in the Meirionydd mountains on the third Saturday in August. It’s mad and muddy.
Victorian Festival, Llandrindod Wells. The spa town rewinds to the Victorian era with plays, balls tea dance parties, a torchlit parade, and fireworks at this festival on the fourth week in August.
Between the Trees, Merthyr Mawr National Nature Reserve. This back-to-nature, family-friendly festival brings folk music, art, poetry, and natural science on the last weekend in August.
Bog Snorkelling World Championship, Llanwrtyd Wells. If your idea of fun is slapping on a snorkel and throwing yourself into a muddy bog in the wilds of Llanwrtyd Wells, this wacky championship on the last Sunday in August is unmissable. It’s a blast to just watch, too.
Pride Cymru, Cardiff. Wales waves the rainbow flag with parades and parties at this LGBT+ event in late August.
Traveling to Wales in August? Check out these great itineraries
Outdoor Adventures & Gourmet Experiences in Wales - 9 Days. Beginning in the picturesque Welsh Borders, you'll sample beer at a historic brewery, visit medieval castles and Snowdonia National Park, and dine on foraged and freshly caught foods before visiting the Pembrokeshire coast and driving through Brecon Beacons National Park.
Nature & History in Wales - 7 Days. See Wales' historical and recreational highlights where you'll hike through Brecon Beacons National Park, go coasteering along the Pembrokeshire coast, and explore ancient Roman ruins. End the trip in the north in Snowdonia, where jagged peaks, whitewater rafting, and the iconic Caernarfon Castle await.
More Helpful Information
Wales in July
Wales in September
Best Time of Year to Visit Wales
How Many Days to Spend in Wales