Wales has so much more to offer than its daffodils, it is a country with very divergent and often dramatic landscapes. Choose any one of the charming holiday cottages in wales and you will never be far from a mountain or the sea and it is of little surprise to find Wales as a favourite short break destination for walkers, cyclists, surfers and sailors.
Even though Wales is a small country of just over 6000 square miles, it has 750 miles of coastline and a wealth of local delicacies waiting to be enjoyed. Wales is well on its way to becoming an important destination for foodies, which will only add to it’s allure as a holiday destination, which already has a rich culture and is steeped in history.
In this article we explore the most popular attractions and things to do in Wales. Starting with the country’s capital.
Cardiff
The capital city of Wales, Cardiff is home to a population of 300,000 and its civic buildings are amongst the finest in the UK. Made from Portland Stone, these buildings also include the National Museum of Wales.
The nearby Cardiff Castle, some of which dates back to Roman and Norman times, was largely rebuilt in the 19th Century by the Marquis of Bute. Two hundred yards away from the castle stands a more modern architectural icon, the famed Millennium Stadium, which is the venue for important and international soccer and rugby matches.
To the west of Cardiff, at St Fagan’s, there is the Welsh Folk Museum. All aspects of Welsh history and culture can be found here. Even complete historic buildings have been transported here brick-by-brick from all over Wales and then rebuilt.
The Wales Millennium Centre, another unusual architectural icon, provides the home to the Welsh National Opera and the Urdd, Welsh for Youth, and is a much-needed venue for other cultural events.
To the north are the famed “Valleys” of Wales. With more than eighteen river valleys and crammed with towns and villages, comprising row upon row of stone-built terraced housing, these were the South Wakes coalfields. Nearly all the coal-mines are now closed and the old heaps have grassed over. If you are in this area you should pay a visit to the Big Pit Mining Museum, a reminder to all of the area’s coal-mining tradition.
Powys
The large county of Powys stretches for over 70 miles north-south along the border with England. It is an area of outstanding natural beauty and the location of the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Indeed, the Powys is a region of small country towns and villages separated by rolling hills and green pastures, that are home to a great number of sheep, probably more than people. The Royal Welsh Agricultural Show, one of the finest shows in Britain, is held at Builth Wells, Powys, every July.
Powys also has several old spa towns where the Victorians used to go to “take the waters”. The three most well-known spa towns are Builth Wells, Llanwrtyd Wells and Llandrindod Wells, which still has a very Victorian air to them. Llandrindod Wells is a great base for exploring the relaxed and uncrowded county of Powys.
Swansea
Swansea, the second city of Wales, lies 40 miles to the west of Cardiff, and is the birth-place of the poet, Dylan Thomas.
Swansea has a covered market that sells local food delicacies such as cockles and laver bread, which is well worth exploring. Lavar bread is edible seaweed which is often fried with bacon. It is meant as a breakfast dish though its appearance and odour often puts some people off eating it, but aficionados swear by its health-giving properties.
Swansea Marina is popular with visitors and locals alike and the National Waterfront Museum features the maritime history of Wales.
Swansea curves around Swansea Bay; culminating in the west at the little resort village of Mumbles, the birthplace of Sir Harry Secombe, of Goon fame. Catherine Zeta Jones and her husband, Michael Douglas also have a home here.
Carmarthen
Carmarthenshire; Sir Gar, in Welsh, is the main dairy-farming area in Wales, and is known as the Garden of Wales. The National Botanic Garden of Wales (The Great Glasshouse) houses plants from all over the world and is well worth a visit, while the areas main shopping centre continues to attract shoppers and tourists and all over West Wales.
Carmarthenshire also has several wonderful historic castles including those of Kidwelly, Laugharne and Castell Carreg Cennen, which make ideal day trips, promising countless photo opportunities and superb views.
The wild Cambrian Mountains, of north Carmarthenshire, stretch for miles to the north and into the neighbouring counties of Ceredigion and Powys. This great wilderness is known as the “Great Desert of Wales” due to its emptiness.
North Wales
The Snowdonia National Park dominates North Wales with its outstanding beauty. It is the most mountainous area in Wales and is a popular tourism area during the summer offering an ideal retreat for cycling, hikers and those who enjoy walking in the countryside.
North Wales also offers a number of impressive castles throughout the region, notably at Caernarfon and Conwy, however a place on every visitor’s itinerary to North Wales has to be Portmeirion, this village, designed by Clough Williams-Ellis, is blessed with unusual ornate architecture.
Fine architecture and a superb beach can also be found on the north coast in the town of Llandudno.
If you would like to share your own favourite places and things to do in Wales with fellow holidaymakers, why not submit a Travel Tip? Alternatively, why not browse the range of holiday accommodation in Wales which you can book direct with the owners.