Next to England and facing Ireland is Wales. Certainly not the first place you would think of when you’re planning an adventure holiday of hiking, surfing, diving, and perhaps visiting some cultural heritage. However, Wales has long been a favourite holiday destination for many British people as it offers superb seaside resort towns, many imposing and stunningly preserved castles, and probably more activities than any other part of the United Kingdom. Get your travel insurance for Wales sorted and go discover the 'land of song’.
Travel Highlights Wales
Cardiff is the capital of Wales and is quickly becoming a hot spot for tourism. It’s not difficult to see why when you get there, as Cardiff is a great city with a hugely diverse offering of attractions. Known as the city of castles, you can explore some wonderfully preserved castles pretty much everywhere. In the city center is Cardiff Castle, which also houses the Welsh regimental museum as well as excavated Roman ruins. The 'Red Castle', or Castell Coch, is another beautiful place you can visit which also offers some spectacular views of the area. It is a reconstruction, but nonetheless a gorgeous fairytale castle.
Cardiff also has some wonderful museums to visit. The National Museum of Cardiff has some excellent exhibits focusing on the history of Wales as well as a very good art collection. However hands down the best museum is probably St Fagans National History Museum. Located in the village of St Fagan, it was built on the ground of St Fagans Castle and is a wonderful open air museum that has absolutely spectacular gardens. This is one of Wales's most popular attractions and really should not be missed.
But it's not all culture and history in Cardiff. You can take a cruise along the Bristol Channel, which is absolutely breathtaking in summer, or enjoy a boat ride in Cardiff Bay followed by watching the sunset in one of the many restaurants there. While you’re in Cardiff, keep an eye out for any musical events as Wales is known for its love of music. There are also many smaller venues where you can still discover new artists.
Swansea is further west along the coast and is another great town to visit. It was the first in the UK to be designated an 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty', and the Gower Peninsular that Swansea is located on is truly spectacular. The city itself has lots to offer, from the famous Swansea Castle to Oystermouth Castle and the infamous murals at The Guildhall. You’ll also find a lot of references to the famous poet Dylan Thomas, as this was his birthplace and you can visit the Dylan Thomas Centre.
The Gower Peninsula is home to the UK’s most beautiful beach (Oxwich Bay), as well as some great hidden coves that are fun to explore. Another nice trip is to Mumbles, which is a charming fishing village with its own 12th century castle and a great promenade that offers exceptional views of the area. There are many nice driving routes in the area, so if you are motorised do explore them! Before going on any drive, sort out your travel insurance for Wales.
The north of Wales is less developed than the area around Cardiff and Swansea, but nonetheless offers some great sites for visitors. The amount of well-preserved 12th and 13th century castles in this area is staggering. Most famous are probably the castles around the town of Gwynedd. Many historical railways also operate in this area offering beautiful rides through the countryside on old locomotives. This area is also known for its microbreweries focusing on traditional ales, especially Purple Moose, which is fun to visit.
Just off the coast from Gwynedd is the island of Anglesey. While not a huge tourism destination, it does have some very nice towns as well as the famous Beaumaris Castle, which is one of the largest castles in Wales but remains unfinished. However, the real claim to fame of this region is that it is home to the town with the longest name in Europe, and the second longest one-word place name in the world: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
Wales is truly a great destination for families with kids, or for adventure travellers who wish to explore the rugged countryside. All you need to explore this beautiful country is some good rain gear and travel insurance for Wales.
For more information on Wales, visit the Wales Tourism Website.
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