|
 |
|
Wales is a small country of only 3 million people which lies to the central-west of England, approximately 2 hours from London. It is one of the four regions that comprise the United Kingdom and borders England on its eastern boundary with the remainder of the country being surrounded by sea. It is an ancient land, home of myths and legends, medieval towns and castles, awesome cliff and mountain scenery, song filled pubs and a lyrical language which is one of the oldest in Europe and almost unpronounceable by most outsiders!!
The country is dotted with over 400 castles and medieval ruins, earthworks and Neolithic stone structures, all of which contribute to a complex history spanning thousands of years. This history can be traced from the stone-age sites of Holy Island and Anglesey, which is also known for its connections with ancient Druid activity, Bronze Age menhirs (standing stones) such as Arthur’s stone on the Gower Peninsula, Iron-age hill forts to the Roman ruins of Caerleon, the giant earthworks of Offa’s Dyke to the magnificent ruins of Tintern Abbey and the medieval castles of Pembroke and the impressive Caernarfon Castle, the ceremonial capital of Wales. This is all wrapped up in a picturesque countryside of green rolling hills and quiet valleys, market towns and small traditional Welsh farms and their old stone long-houses. The scenic highlights are contained by three fantastic National Parks and five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. These parks and areas cover a diverse range of natural wonders which are maintained for the benefit of all to enjoy and include Mount Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons and the magnificent Pembrokeshire Coast, and offer great walking trails and time to think in the wide open spaces!!
Cardiff is the busy, bustling capital of the country whose prosperity was generated through its proximity to the south Wales coalfields and its port facilities, which serviced the needs of the industrial revolution. The valleys of Ebbw Vale and Merthyr Tydfil which lie north of the city are classic coal mining areas and worth seeing to appreciated the difference between the scars of industrialization and the natural untouched beauty of the Brecon Beacon National Park that is located just to the north!! To enjoy this diversity take a ride on the Brecon Mountain Railway, which is a delightful narrow-gauge steam railway and runs from a point just north of Merthyr Tydfil, into the heart of the National Park.
For an introduction to Wales, why not attempt to see the traditional list of notable landmarks located in north Wales and made famous in the rhyme:-
Pistyll Rhaeadr and Wrexham steeple
Snowdon’s mountain without its people
Overton Yew trees, St Winifred’s Wells,
Llangollen Bridge and Gresford bells.
In such a small area it’s surprising how much there is to see and by the time you spend in many of the small local pubs having a quiet drink and chatting with the talkative locals, it’s difficult to fit everything into a short holiday – but you will have an enjoyable time!!
|
| |
|
| |
| |
| Locations | Regions |  |
| Bangor |
 Bangor lies on the mainland side of the Menai Strait which separates North Wales from Anglesey Island. It is said to derive its name from the protective fence or ‘bangor’ of a monastic settlement built in the 6th century on the site of the present Bangor Cathedral. The much re-built and modified C... |
| Betws-y-Coed |
 Betws-y-Coed is a small village of approximately 1200 inhabitants, which lies in north-western Wales within the boundaries of the Snowdonia National Park. Much of it was built in Victorian times and it is the principle village within the National Park. It nestles in the densely wooded hills of the... |
| Caerleon |
 Caerleon is a suburban village that lies on the River Usk and is located in south-eastern Wales, within close proximity to the city of Newport. It is best known as a major archaeological site of the Roman fortress city of Isca, having extensive and well preserved remains of major buildings, amphith... |
| Caernarfon |
 Caernarfon is located on the Menai Strait of north-western Wales and is one of Wales’ popular tourist destinations. The town was established by King Edward I of England in the 13th century at the mouth of the Seiont River with the building of Caernarfon Castle, which today is possibly the most famo... |
| Cardiff |
 Cardiff, the largest and capital city of Wales is located on the southern coast straddling the River Taff and facing the Severn Estuary and the Bristol Channel. It is the busy and bustling commercial heart of Wales, a University city and above all the centre of the major urban area of Wales which i... |
| Conway |
 Conway is a town on the north coast of Wales, overlooking the River Conwy, unforgettable for the massive dominating castle which was built on a huge rocky outcrop by King Edward I in the 13th century. Its construction was part of his conquest of Wales, and is the third of the great Welsh fortresses... |
| Holyhead |
 Holyhead is the town on Holy Island, so named due to the large number of pre-historic burial and religious sites on the island. Holy Island lies off the far north-western coast of Wales on the west coast of Anglesey Island, which it is joined to by a causeway. It is the largest town in the County ... |
| Llandrindod Wells |
 Llandrindod Wells is located in the rural heart of Wales and was once the largest and most popular spa town in the country. It first became famous for its water in the reign of King Charles II in the 17th century, and increased in popularity until it reached a peak in the 19th century, drawing 80,0... |
| Llandudno |
 Llandudno, known as the ‘Queen of Welsh Resorts’ is located on the north coast of Wales and is the largest holiday resort in the country. It is set along a three kilometre beach formed by a graceful curve of sand and shingle, known as the North Shore.
The town lies on an area of flat land between ... |
| Llangollen |
 Llangollen is a small town of only 3000 people and is located in the borderlands of Wales in the north-eastern part of the country, lying on the southern side of the River Dee and surrounded by beautiful, unspoilt rolling mountains. It is probably best known as the scene of the International Musica... |
| Pembroke |
 Pembroke is a small town of 7000 inhabitants and is located in the southern regions of the beautiful Pembroke Peninsula, the most westerly area of Wales. The peninsula is home to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park which is an area of outstanding coastal scenery comprised of rocky cliffs, gloriou... |
| Tintern |
 Tintern, known worldwide as the home of the spectacular ruins of Tintern Abbey, was originally a Romano-Celtic settlement which was built at a fording point on the River Wye. In the 11th century this Cistercian Abbey was built on the earlier Roman site, and the small village of Tintern developed to... |
| Mid Wales |
| The region of Mid Wales is one of the four tourist regions of Wales. It is dominated by the windblown Cambrian Mountains which form a backbone down the centre of the country. Primarily formed by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys, the region stretches from the River Dyfi in the north and runs al... |
| North Wales |
| The region of North Wales is one of the four tourist regions of Wales. It is a mostly rural region and is comprised of a diverse landscape with many mountains and valleys, and is dominated by the visually stunning mass of the Snowdonia Mountain Range. The region stretches from the north coast of t... |
| South Wales |
| The region of South Wales is one of the four tourist regions of Wales. It is the most heavily populated region although it still boasts large areas of beautiful wind-blown mountains, steep wooded valleys, rolling hills and open farmland. Located in the extreme south-east and running from the coast... |
| South West Wales |
| The region of South West Wales is one of the four tourist region of Wales. It is a magnificent and unspoilt region and is comprised of the counties of Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire, and includes the spectacular Gower Peninsula and Swansea Bay. This South West region extends from the mouth of t... |
|
|
|
|
| |