Wales Holiday - What tourists should see in Wales

Crossing the border into Wales you'll see the sign “Croeso I Gymru” (welcome to Wales)and you realise you are entering another country. Wales is an ancient land, a mysterious place of legends and dragons, full of castles and princes. The countryside is full of secrets and surprises, while its modern, cosmopolitan city centres, full of places of entertainment.

It doesn’t matter what type of holiday experience you are seeking you are guaranteed Wales can provide it. Outdoor enthusiasts will love the wide outdoors, surfing along the Pembrokeshire coast, hang gliding in the Brecon Beacons or hiking across Snowdonia. The fast flowing rapid canoeing in North Wales and underground exploration at the Dan y Ogof caves near Swansea.

Wales excels with historic sites; it has more castles per capita than any other country in Europe, Caerphilly with the largest Norman Keep, the beautiful fairy tale folly, Castle Coch outside Cardiff and the grand majesty of Caernarfon Castle. The ancient roots of the country are also well preserved Caerleon boasts the largest Roman amphitheatre outside Italy and at Henllys in West Wales they have recreated an ancient hill fort. Many old samples of Welsh life are beautifully preserved at the St Fagan’s Museum in Cardiff, while little treasures like the coracle museum at Cenarth Falls and the narrow gauge railway at Blaenau Festiniog are definitely worth a visit.

Cardiff and Swansea are both exciting, vibrant cities, packed with bars, pubs and offering world cuisine, from Caroline Street’s Dirty Dots Chip Bar in Cardiff to the gastronomic delights of the Walnut Tree in Abergavenny. Welsh dishes regularly found on the menu. Rarebit, lava bread, bara brith and a pint of Brains SA to quench your thirst. Those with more exotic tastes are also catered for and Thai, Japanese, Mexican and French along with some excellent examples of the ubiquitous Italian, Indian and Chinese establishments can be found.

If you want nothing more than peace and quiet, take a gentle boat cruise along the Monmouthshire canal. Here you can travel through the now tranquil landscape that gave birth to the Industrial Revolution, still celebrated at the Big Pit Museum and the World Heritage site at Blaenavon. You can see the remains of the watermill at Aberdulais Falls, painted by Turner or the engineering marvel, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct in Clwyd.

Wales’ religious sites are also well represented; with St David’s Monastery, Tintern Abbey and Strata Florida fine examples of secular tourism. From the austere tabernacles of the Valleys Baptists, to the historic cathedrals around the country or the perfect calm of the Bardsey Island monks, the spiritual well being of Wales is kept in tact.

The cultural events too such as the Eisteddfod at Llangollen, Brecon Jazz festival and the Cardiff Singer of the World competition are well known internationally, as is Ross-on-Wye, the little market town in Mid Wales famous for its bookshops and literary festival. Sporting aficionados will surely be moved by the power and passion of a rugby match when watched in the Millennium Stadium or the pageantry at the crowning of the Bard at the Urdd arts and culture festival.

Wales isn’t a place that time forgot; it is magnificently preserved and remembered, here the legends still live. Beautifully packaged in rolling hills, craggy mountains and verdant forests. Perfectly left for you to discover and enjoy.