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Some Locales to Explore
For those considering a visit, I have to say that Wales has much to offer. I haven't made sections for every part of Wales where I have been but these are the ones that I know best. North and mid Wales has been the recipient of the bulk of my attention thus far but sections are in place for Pembrokeshire, Monmouthshire as well as Swansea and the Gower. The intention is that these will grow.
Wales plays host to a few national parks with the most famous of these being in the northwest of the principality. That's Snowdonia in English or Eryri in Welsh and the park is shared between Conwy and Gwynedd. Powys has the possibly oddly named Brecon Beacons National Park looking after the numerous mountain ranges within its boundaries (the Brecon Beacons are just one of these). The proximity of this park to the cities in the south of Wales doesn't mean that there aren't any quieter parts though you can expect to meet a fair few folk around the highest hill in southern Britain on a sunny day. After those, there's the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park with its National Trail facilitating the exploration of the stunning coastline to be found around there.
There is more to Welsh countryside than what you find in its National Parks and the number of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty serve to prove that point. One that comes to mind is the Clwydian Range in Denbighshire but it too is not alone. With Wales being as hilly as it is, there are plenty of peaceful spots for those liking to wander through isolated hill country.
All of this should tell you that I have much to add yet. Hopefully, more visits to Wales are in the pipeline for me so that I can build on what already is to be found here already.
Visit Planning: Cardiff & Vale of Glamorgan
The Welsh capital city is another city a castle and it has its fair share of history too, even extending up to shelters from the time of World War 2. On the site, there's a Norman keep, a Gothic mansion house and a bit more. The entry price looked steep when I last looked but locals can apply for free entry; for outsiders, it sounds like spending a day there would be best for getting value for money from the site. The high prices come as a surprise given that it is owned by the local council nowadays after the then Marquess of Bute handed it over in 1947.
The area around the most southerly point in Wales may not come up that high on my list of visitor destinations but that can be advantageous too. Cardiff isn't far away though so I wouldn't be surprised to find that the coastline and the area's towns and villages aren't enjoyed by residents of the Welsh capital too.
Both of these websites extend their remit beyond Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan so they are a good starting point for looking at visiting options that include the aforementioned areas along with those such as the Valleys (to the north of Cardiff) and those of the Wye and the Usk towards the east.
Visit Planning: Cardiganshire
Cardiganshire Coast and Country
It was Twitter that drew my attention to this visitor guide and it is populated with plenty of alluring photos too. That I only can claimed to have passed through this area on the way back from Pembrokeshire means that I should that balance on the basis of what's featured on this website. It might might even make for easier trip planning too, especially with the sensible of places to stay and what to see and do.
Visit Planning: Conwy, Gwynedd & Anglesey
This visitor-oriented site is hosted by Gwynedd Council who are the local authority responsible for the area around the Snowdonia National Park.
Another tourism-related site with the added attraction of a photo gallery containing pictures by locally based photographer Dave Newbould.
Found by accident when looking for Welsh walking websites, this bilingual offering is a worthwhile source of ideas.
A website of the Betws-y-Coed and District Tourism Association containing useful information on this picturesque village.
It never seems to amaze me why a village so pretty needs a tasteless myth in order to draw the visitor. Is it a poor reflection on us that such fripperies have to be created? After all, the village is in the heart of fine hill country and that should be enough reason to go there and enjoy what's on offer. That the local tourist association has gone to the bother of creating this website should make the task of planning a visit so much easier.
The little village is blessed by being in the middle of rugged countryside even if that does mean that wet days are made common by this situation. Nevertheless, that should make the occasional fine day all the more memorable if spent around there and it's handy to have somewhere on the web where you can get the information needed to organise and enjoy a stay.
This long peninsula has long been outshone by its near neighbours, the mountains of Snowdonia, in awareness if nothing else. Now it is trying to emerge from those shadows and here is the website to prove it.
Anglesey, the Island of Choice
For many, Anglesey is that place through which you pass on your way to/from the ferry port of Holyhead. These days, it is trying to promote itself as a destination in its own right. Nevertheless, a reference on the website to Ireland's capital, Dublin, proved unavoidable. After all, it is probably Anglesey's nearest city.
Each of these is part of the Beautiful North Wales stable of website and they complement their parent with their focus on their individual areas.
A personal site introducing the charms of the area around Llandudno.
Visit Planning: Denbighshire
Part of the Beatiful North Wales, this website introduces you to the northeast corner of Wales.
This is the website of the Llangollen Tourism Association and very comprehensive it is too.
Not just a museum but a useful repository of the town's history too.
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod
Unless you are heading to this international celebration of music and culture, it is better to give Llangollen a wide berth when this takes place in early July. Apparently nominated for the 2004 Nobel Peace prize by none other than Terry Waite.
Not a one festival town, Llangollen, and this is the website for another of its July festivals. At time of writing, it has still to be updated for 2006.
If you are going to host international festivals, then you need venues to host them. This venue is year-round facility but it is a major boon to the Eisteddfod.
Another of Llangollen's many attractions is its canal. This site is dedicated to hire of horse-drawn and self-propelled canal boats. Also featured is a virtual tour of Llangollen itself.
Llangollen used to be a stop on the Ruabon to Barmouth railway line but the line was mothballed in 1968 following withdrawal of passenger services in 1964. Clearly, it was another casualty of the drift towards the private car and is a major loss to this part of Wales; it would be very useful in July when the festivals are running. However, in 1975, a group of enthusiasts began to restore the line starting from Llangollen and continuing west. Progress has been slow but they have gone beyond Carrog and hope to reach Corwen. Steam and diesel services run most weekends and on weekdays from late spring to early autumn.
The Llangollen Railway not only plays host to its own steam locomotives and associated carriages, but it also is home to a group of railcar (or DMU) enthusiasts. This is their site and some of the rail services are run using their restored railcars.
As if to prove that Wales is far more than its better known spots, heres an area to the west of Ruthin that looks enticing in its own right. Now, all that needs doing is figuring out how to get there.
Visit Planning: Monmouthshire
This is the introduction to this southeastern part of Wales by Monmouthsire's local authority. Given that the scenic lower reaches of the Wye valley ( Tintern Abbey of the Wordsworth poem is to be found hereabouts) are to be found here and that it is on the doorstep of the Brecon Beacons National Park, then it should be a surprise that there is something to be promoted to any interested visitors. For those interested in walking through alluring countryside, there's the Offa's Dyke Path and the Wye Valley Way trails too.
Visit Planning: Pembrokeshire
This is the official visitor website from the area's county council and it looks fairly comprehensive too. Unsurprisingly for an area with a coastal National Trail, there's information for walkers too but there are more activities featured than that one. Quite a few land and water based ones get a look in too, particularly on the council's activity and cycling subsites above. Of course, information of places to stay is part of the offer too as is a listing of events for those fancying the idea of attending one or more of these.
Pembrokeshire has some impressive coastline so that's why there's a national park for its preservation for future generations. The Preseli Hills near Newport and Ceredigion (or Cardigan) in the north also fall within its sway so its not all about the coast either. Antiquities such as Carew Castle (& Tidal Mill) and a fort dating from the Iron Age period are under its care too. Also, it offers information for those wanting to enjoy the scenery in a more active way (walking, cycling, surfing) and has a subsite specifically for this purpose.
This is a privately owned antiquity that is open to the public from spring to autumn and is very well preserved from any photos that I have seen. It was the birthplace of the scholar and chronicler Gerald of Wales or Gerald de Barri. There are Irish connections too and I am left wondering if this is linked to the Barry family name that pervades parts of Ireland today.
It today is owned by a charitable trust and is open throughout the year but this was the birthplace of the Tudor King Henry VII. The latter fact guarantees its historic appeal and it looks to be well preserved too. That's not to say that additional effort hasn't been put into extras for luring visitors. After all, events are hosted, tours are given and displays have been installed to add to the sense of history that is here.
Visit Planning: Powys
A site of the Brecon Beacons trust that provides useful visitor information.
Wales is home to more than one national park and this is the website of the authority that looks after the Brecon Beacons.
Brecon Beacons National Park Online Guide
In spite of the name, this is an independent guide to the national park and one stuffed full of useful information.
Covering mid Wales rather than just the Brecon Beacons, this is another useful port of call.
This is a website dedicated to the town after which the Brecon Beacons are named. From what I hear it is a place well worth visiting in its own right.
While Manchester turned to the moors to its east for its water supply, Birmingham seems to have looked towards hill country in the heart of Wales instead. Though it's a pity to see steep-sided valleys getting flooded as a result of the construction of substantial dams, it has provided its compensations in the form of an estate of 70 square miles in size that welcomes walkers, cyclists and other recreational users keen on enjoying the delights of the countryside that is to be found there.
This is the primary urban centre near the Elan Valley but that is not the only attraction of the place. Its name in Welsh is Rhaedr Gwr: the Cataract on the Wye. Sadly, that waterfall was destroyed in 1780 during the building of a bridge. However, looking at the photos on the website gives a good impression of the place so it might be worth a visit and there's the surrounding area to be explored too.
Visit Planning: Swansea & Gower
Swansea hasn't ever been a destination that has come into my mind before but it does have the attractive Gower peninsula nearby. It's the coastline that is the main attraction for the latter and there's Worm's Head for anyone partial to a spot of landscape photography too.
Everywhere need its attractions so here's a heritage centre drawing upon the framing heritage of the area. It's open all year round too though seeing pictures of Santa Claus in a brochure that's available in the middle of the summer is more than strange. Nevertheless, there seems to a good deal to see and Three Cliffs Bay isn't that far away either.
With a dramatic coastline that plays host to a good deal of bird life, taking up the offer of a boat trip sounds appropriate and this seasonal operation is based in Port Eynon on the south coast of the Gower. Last year's prices didn't make it cheap but it's quality assured by the Wales Tourist Board so I suppose that quality has its cost.
