Wales
Wales is one of those places which seems to be quite unknown among international tourists. However, it is an absolutely stunning country which has plenty of lovely corners to explore. It is a hiker’s paradise with countless mountains to climb and also the Wales Coast Path which is an uninterrupted 870-mile route along the country’s coast.
Castles are an inescapable part of the Welsh landscape – if you visited one Welsh castle for every day of the year, you still wouldn’t have visited them all! It also has some superb beaches and is a popular holiday destination for English tourists who love building sandcastles, playing cricket on the beach and going rock pooling.
Cardiff
Cardiff is the Welsh capital and has plenty to see and do. Go to Cardiff Castle and walk along the battlements of this 11th century great stone fortress. Originally a Norman keep, its bomb shelters were used as late as World War II.
You also have to visit Cardiff Central Market which has been selling fresh produce since the 1700s. Some of the best Welsh food to try while you’re there is Welsh cakes, lamb, cockles and leeks!
Snowdonia National Park
In North Wales lies the country’s highest mountain, Mount Snowdon. At 1,085 metres above sea level, you can either walk up or take the Snowdon Mountain Railway to the top to get incredible views across Snowdonia National Park.
You don’t just have to be on top of a mountain to enjoy the scenery – you can also explore the park’s historic lakes and tarns or even zip line down some of the slate quarries which were once a huge industry for the area.
Portmeirion
Portmeirion is a beautiful town on the North Welsh coastline. It is hugely influenced by Italian architecture with brightly coloured buildings, ornate turrets, interesting gardens and exotic plant life. It was designed by the Welsh architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis and built between 1925 and 1975. You can walk around this gorgeous little town, have lunch in one of its cafes, pootle around its art galleries and shops, and even buy some of its famous Portmeirion pottery.
Ffestiniog Railway
Just along the coast from Portmeirion is Porthmadog where you can jump on the world’s oldest narrow gauge railway, the Ffestiniog Railway, which is nearly 200 years old. Travel from the harbour town of Porthmadog to the slate-quarry town of Blaenau, high up in the mountains, and soak up the fantastic views along the way.
Conwy Castle
Conwy Castle is one of the prettiest of the four UNESCO World Heritage castles in Wales. Explore its nooks and crannies, head to the battlements for panoramic views over Conwy and enjoy learning about its history. King Edward I built the castle between 1283 and 1287 and it was his most expensive Welsh stronghold, costing him £15,000 to build – which is an eye-watering £45 million today!
Hay on Wye
The little town of Hay on Wye is known worldwide for its secondhand and antiquarian bookshops. It resembles one giant library and holds the Festival of Literature each year – a must visit for any book lovers out there!
Tenby
Tenby is a historic fishing town on the rugged Pembrokeshire Coast with winding cobbled streets, lots of little fishing boats in the harbour and brightly coloured buildings on its shoreline. It’s a very quaint coastal town and a perfect place to get an ice cream, watch the sea birds and just relax!
