Wales holidays

A top thing to do in Wales is to visit its ancient castles. There are roughly 600 spread across the country, some pristine and others in ruins. Find them in town centres, on hillsides and along waterfronts. Several, like Chepstow Castle, date back to the 11th-century Norman invasion. And Caernarfon Castle and Conwy Castle are among the finest examples of European medieval military architecture.

Exploring the 1,400-kilometre-long Wales Coastal Path is a first-rate introduction to the country. Walking it in sections is a journey into Welsh nature, culture and history. It passes breathtaking beaches and wildlife-rich countryside, charming fishing villages, bustling cities and majestic castles. Much of the route is also suitable for bikes, buggies and wheelchairs.

Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park is a land of dizzying peaks, dazzling lakes and atmospheric castles. See some of its highlights by car in a couple of hours, though you’ll want to stop for photos. Or try the Pembrokeshire coast for glittering coastlines. In Cardiff, historic castle walls now echo with live music, outdoor cinema and cultural festivals.

Craggy bays, golden sand and rolling surf make up the Welsh coastline. Rhossili Bay, on the Gower Peninsula, has long been one of the UK’s must-see beaches. Families love Llandudno’s North Shore Beach for its vibrant Victorian promenade and pier. Ride the waves at Freshwater West and Porthcawl’s Rest Bay. Part of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, Barafundle Beach and Marloes Sands feel like hidden paradises.

The natural beauty here extends from the dramatic shores to windswept mountain peaks. Spot puffins and razorbills at Skomer Island and bottlenose dolphins on a boat trip around Cardigan Bay. In the Cambrian Mountains, the Elan Valley is full of rolling hills and Celtic rainforests. And in Brecon Beacons National Park’s Waterfall Country, rivers spill over gorges to create magical cascades like Sgwd yr Eira.

Some of the country’s favourite dishes originated in family kitchens before appearing on the menus of restaurants in Wales. Try ‘cawl’ (meat and vegetable stew) and ‘Welsh rarebit’(mustard-infused cheese on toast). In Anglesey, you’ll find steaming bowls of mussels served fresh from the Menai Strait. ‘Bara brith’ (dried fruit loaf soaked in tea) is a staple at many cafes and coffee shops.

The capital city of Cardiff hosts some of the best museums in Wales, celebrating everything from art to national history. See displays of Impressionist art and Welsh pottery at the National Museum Cardiff. Then tour the reconstructed traditional buildings at St Fagans National Museum of History. Big Pit National Coal Museum in ​​Blaenavon offers an interactive glimpse into the nation’s mining history.