Cycling UK Forum

I have booked a cycling holiday in Ireland that starts with a ferry crossing to Cork from Swansea. I want to use my car to get to Swansea, but I am wondering where to park for a week. Could anyone offer any suggestions?

Hopefully someone with local knowledge will advise you, but in any case I've never had a problem leaving the car for a week or more in a large town. I just find a residential area with an "anonymous" feel to the on-street parking. The best spot is near the end of a street where the car is left alongside a blank wall rather than somebody's house frontage. Unloading the bike attracts attention,so I offload well away from the chosen parking spot then drive to the parking spot, park and walk away as though I'm a local. Google streetview is useful for researching likely streets.

This may be a silly question, but wouldn't parking in Ireland be better?

I live in maesteg, 10 miles from swansea with a good cycle route to swansea docks. There is free parking in maesteg centre.

There are websites where you can rent parking spaces on peoples' driveways. Handy for the day if you're going somewhere where the parking is extortionate for the day, not too sure if anybody would rent for the week though.

Thanks for the Google streetview suggestion and general advice. I have given the matter some thought and reckon that parking in a quiet residential street after locking the bike elsewhere would be safer than leaving it in a commercial car park for a whole week (and less expensive too).

As for leaving my car in Cork - why would I want to pay for a ferry crossing both ways for a car that isn't going to be used? It's only £24 to take the bike on the ferry.

I dont know Swansea that well but I have left my car there while doing some 200k Audaxes.
So only for a day rather than a week, which does make a difference as does the fact that it is a boring 15 year old estate car.
Rather than parking to the East of the river, where my start point and the ferry sails from, I went to the more pleasant, wealthier studenty area around St James's crescent just off the A4118 where it is called Walter Road.
This is a tiny bike ride from the ferry port. It was suggested by friends who do live in Swansea. However I am not suggesting that it is a safe place for your car, just the safest place that I could think of in Swansea.

A big thank you to those who posted on this topic: I even have an area to check out! That is just so helpful.

I live in Gower near Swansea and cycle right past the ferryport every day.

Parking in the immediate area is not that easy as there are loads of restricted areas. There are some unrestricted places just over the Barrage near the marina. When are you going? I'll check them out in the next few days if you like.

Hamish

I'm a Jack. I lived in Swansea for the first 38 years of my life. I had a nostalgic little look at Google maps and I can't think of anywhere better than Meic's suggestion. St James's gardens just off the Crescent is ideal. From Meic's description the area hasn't changed too much, it's all solicitors' offices and the like. My ex wife worked in one </cold shiver>

Just down Walter Road is Humphrey Street which leads to Constitution hill. Extremely steep and cobbles. It once hosted a stage finish on the Pru tour. If anyone can point me to a video of that I'd be greatful.

I am not going until September; there's nothing like being prepared early though which is why I posted. Thanks so much to Meic, Hamish & Robert. It is so good to have such recommendations. I didn't want to turn up in a strange city, possibly running against the clock, having to run around like a headless chicken looking for somewhere to park.

I live in Swansea about 2 miles from the ferry port.

You are welcome to park your car on my drive if that is of any help?

@ Simon - you are indeed a scholar & a gent. If you have room on your drive, that would be superb. I would be happy to make a donation to your favourite charity for such a kind offer. The time in question is 7th to 13th September, if that's suitable. PM me if it's OK.