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Think magnificent medieval castles & old mining towns...
Think Wales, one of the last
undiscovered corners of Europe. Surrounded by the sea on three sides,
Wales occupies an area of 20,764 square kilometres and is home to 3
million people. It is one of the oldest countries in the world with
evidence of human habitation going back almost 200,000 years. Despite
coming under English rule for centuries, the Welsh culture and
language still survive and its people are fiercely proud of their
heritage. In a 1997 referendum, the people of Wales voted to be
governed by a Welsh Assembly based in Cardiff rather than from the
House of Commons in London.
The Welsh countryside is simply beautiful. Hire a car, rent a
bicycle or find a willing horse and get exploring! Northern Wales
is dominated by the stunning Snowdonia mountain range looming
spectacularly over the coastline. Snowdonia is the second-largest
national park in Britain as well as being home to the highest
mountain in Britain south of the Scottish Highlands. Mount Snowdon
provided the training ground for the climbers who made the first
successful attempt on Mt Everest. As well as the mountains, the park
boasts a wide variety of other natural features – forests, glacial
valleys, moorlands, waterfalls and an attractive coastline.
Visit the medieval castles at Caernarfon, Conwy,
Beaumaris and Harlech and take the narrow-gauge Ffestiniog Railway
from Blaenau Ffestiniog along the coast to Porthmadog. Visit Cardiff,
Wales’ lively capital city and the town of Swansea - birthplace
of poet and writer Dylan Thomas. Don’t miss the charming town
of St. David’s whose 12th century cathedral earns it the right to
call itself a city. The relics of Wales’ patron saint are kept here.
Tintern Abbey, immortalized by the poet William Wordsworth, lies on
the bank of the River Wye near the town of Monmouth. This 14th century
Cistercian Abbey is one of the most beautiful ruins in the United
Kingdom and should not be missed. Round off your trip to Wales with a
stroll along part of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path which takes you past
beautiful sandy beaches, towering cliffs and rocky coves.
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