Guide to Wales

Wales (Welsh: Cymru) has a distinctive language and culture. Most tourists in Wales are attracted to the scenic mountains, impressive coasts, magnificent national parks, imposing castles, and elements of Britain's industrial heritage.

Wales is here divided geographically and culturally into three regions:

Those most notable towns and cities are listed below:

Cities

• Cardiff (Welsh: Caerdydd) — the capital of Wales, the seat of the Welsh government, and a major tourist destination.
• Bangor — A small, picturesque university city with about 18,000 residents. Home to landmarks such as Bangor Cathedral and Garth Pier, the second-longest pier in Wales.
• Swansea (Abertawe) — Wales' second largest city is famous for its beaches and coastal walks. It is the gateway to the stunning Gower Peninsular.
• Wrexham (Wrecsam) — The largest town in North Wales was made a city in 2022.

Towns

• Aberystwyth — A coastal town with large student population.
• Caernarfon — The site of Caernarfon Castle, one of Wales' largest and best preserved castles.
• Conwy — A medieval, fortified town with impressive castle and quaint shops.
• Hay-on-Wye (Y Gelli Gandryll) — The "book capital" of the UK, home to the annual literary festival.
• Tenby (Dinbych-y-pysgod) — A medieval walled town and elegant seaside resort.

• Anglesey (Ynys Môn) – large island, home to the town with the UK's longest placename
• Brecon Beacons National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog) - a range of low mountains, with mining history, market towns, caves, and waterfalls
• Gower Peninsula (Penrhyn Gŵyr) - Wales's most beautiful beaches offer surfing and riding, while the peninsula's villages are picturesque
• Llŷn (Penrhyn Llŷn) - a bastion of the Welsh language thrusting into the Irish Sea
• Pembrokeshire Coast National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro) - rugged cliffs and peaceful coves, home to internationally-important seabird colonies
• Snowdonia National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri) – popular mountaineering destination, with its pinnacle Mount Snowdon being the highest point in southern Britain

History

Wales was once an independent, though rarely unified nation, with a strong Celtic and Druidical tradition. The word "Wales" is an exonym going back to a Germanic term meaning "foreign" which can also be found in words like "Cornwall" or "walnut". When King Edward I defeated Llywelyn the Last in 1282, the nation fell under the jurisdiction of England. At first, it was ruled as a separate country, but rebellion by Prince Owain Glyndŵr (considered in modern times as the 'Father of Welsh nationalism') led to incremental incorporation into England, and Wales was annexed through the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542. Since the Act of Union in 1801, Wales has been part of the United Kingdom which includes England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland too.

Prior to the industrial revolution, Wales was a sparsely populated country dependent on local agricultural and pastoral trade. However, due to the abundance of coal in the South Wales valleys, there was a phenomenal growth in population and a dynamic shift in the economy of South Wales during the 18th and 19th centuries (see Industrial Britain). The area of central Glamorgan, in particular, became a national focus for coal mining and steel production, while the ports of Cardiff and Swansea established themselves as commercial centres, offering banking, shopping and insurance facilities. Moreover, places on the north coast, such as Rhyl and Llandudno, developed into fun-fair type resorts serving the expanding populations of the major industrial cities of Lancashire.

Coal mining has all but ceased and heavy industry declined. However, Wales' attractive scenery and rich history has lent itself to the development of tourism, while at the same time, Cardiff and Swansea have retained their rankings as centres of commerce and cutting-edge industry. Cardiff, which was designated as capital of Wales in 1955, has seen a huge amount of investment in institutions through 'devolution', also giving rise to a significant amount of political power being passed down from Westminster. Since 1999, Wales has had its own legislature separate from Westminster.

Politics

Wales is governed by a combination of local, Wales-, and UK-wide institutions. Many important matters are decided on a UK level, and Wales is represented by 40 MPs in the House of Commons. One of the greatest British statesmen of the 20th century was the Welshman David Lloyd George, who is the only Prime Minister whose first language was not English (it was Welsh).

Since 1999, Wales has had its own devolved government and bilingual legislature. The Senedd Cymru - Welsh Parliament sits in Cardiff Bay, in an eco-friendly building designed by Richard Rogers. The Senedd has a single chamber with 60 members, known as MSs, who are elected every five years. All residents of Wales aged 16 or over on election day are eligible to vote. Each elector casts two votes: one for the candidate they wish to be their local MS, and one for a party as a whole from a regional list. The resulting composition is 40 MSs who each represent a constituency directly, and 20 who are invested based on a form of proportional representation. The leader of the largest party in the Senedd typically becomes the First Minister (Prif Weinidog), who is head of the government. Since 2024, the First Minister has been Vaughan Gething (Labour), the first Black leader of a European nation.

The powers of the Welsh Government (Llywodraeth Cymru) have been expanded over time to cover matters such as agriculture, education, the environment, healthcare, housing, tourism, transport, and the Welsh language. This can lead to visible differences from the rest of the UK; for instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Welsh Government has imposed different restrictions at different times to those imposed by the UK Government in England.

Wales has long been generally more left-wing in its politics than the UK as a whole. The Labour Party has led each government since 1999, though it hasn't always been the sole party of government. Labour's strongholds are in the densely-populated south and north-east of the country. The pro-independence Plaid Cymru, which is ideologically social-democratic, is strongly supported in majority-Welsh-speaking areas in the north and west. The Conservative Party is most popular in rural areas near the border and in the south west, which tend to have fewer Welsh speakers.

There is wide support for increasing the powers of the devolved government still further, but support for full independence is limited and certainly lower than in Scotland. In the 2016 Brexit referendum, 53% of the electorate in Wales voted to leave the European Union but some areas were majority remain-voting; in January 2020, Wales left the EU along with the rest of the UK.

Culture

Wales is part of Britain and so part of the UK, but is not part of England. It is correct to call Welsh people British, but incorrect and even offensive to call them English. Over the centuries, there have been minor revolts aimed at gaining independence, but in general Wales has accepted its place in the UK, and has made notable contributions to its politics and culture. Nevertheless, the Welsh language continues to be a topic of pride and is widely spoken, especially in rural areas. It is now taught in all Welsh schools. As of 2020, around 29% of the population are able to speak Welsh.

The Prince of Wales (Tywysog Cymru) has been, since the 13th century, the eldest son of the sitting monarch, and is therefore usually the next in line to the British throne. It is for this reason that Wales is often referred to as a principality, even though the prince has no constitutional status in Wales, and doesn't even reside in the country. On 9 September 2022, King Charles III named HRH Prince William as the new Prince of Wales.

The prince's heraldic badge of feathers is sometimes used to symbolise Wales, though the daffodil flower, the leek and, above all, the red dragon tend to be more popular symbols. The origins of the leek can be traced to the 16th century, while the daffodil became popular in the 19th century, encouraged by David Lloyd-George. Both the leek and daffodil are commonly worn on the lapels of people celebrating St David's Day, which is Wales's national day, celebrating the country's patron saint. Dragons have been associated with Wales since the early Middle Ages, and the red dragon (y ddraig goch) in particular has been used as a symbol of Wales throughout the centuries, and is now featured on the country's flag. According to legend, the red [Welsh] dragon drove the white [Anglo-Saxon] dragon away from its lair at Dinas Emrys in the Snowdonia National Park.

Rugby union is hugely popular in Wales and is considered the national sport. Attending a Wales international game in a packed-out Principality Stadium in Cardiff is a most electrifying experience, and a great opportunity to hear the country's national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (The Land Of My Fathers), belted out by 50,000 or more Welsh fans.

Indeed, the country is celebrated for its singing, with the ballads Calon Lân, Cwm Rhondda (Bread of Heaven) and Men of Harlech fundamental parts of the repertoire of any respectable Welsh choir. The country's long tradition of folk music and literature is celebrated annually at the National Eisteddfod, while famous musicians in the contemporary era include Sir Tom Jones, Dame Shirley Bassey, Katherine Jenkins and Bonnie Tyler, plus the rock bands, Stereophonics and Manic Street Preachers.

Other famous Welsh people include Henry VII (the first of the Tudors, the famous dynasty of 15th and 16th century monarchs); Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Sheen (actors); Aneurin Bevan (politician, father of the National Health Service); Gareth Edwards and Alun Wyn Jones (captains of the Welsh national rugby team); Ryan Giggs (footballer and coach), Gareth Bale (footballer); Bertrand Russell (philosopher); Dylan Thomas (poet and author) and Richard Burton (poet and actor, married Elizabeth Taylor twice, and linked to Thomas forever by Under Milk Wood).

Climate

Wales has an oceanic climate just like the rest of the UK. If it is not raining at the moment, it is certainly about to rain. Summer average temperature is around 20 °C while spring and autumn is about 14 °C. The weather varies substantially depending on the location and landscape, the coastal area being much milder than in the mountains. Cardiff is the wettest city in Wales. Snow is common on mountains in the winter. It can be bitterly cold up in the mountains and the valleys so make sure you wrap up warm before going on your adventure.

Tourist information

Visit Wales is the Welsh tourist bureau.

The two official languages of Wales are English and Welsh (Cymraeg).

Welsh is a Celtic language most closely related to Cornish and Breton, and more distantly to Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Manx. Speakers live all over Wales, but it is most commonly spoken in the north and west; you are most likely to find native Welsh-speaking individuals in Carmarthenshire, Northern Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Gwynedd, and the Isle of Anglesey. An increasing number of people around the country are learning Welsh as a second language, and it is believed that, as of 2020, 29% of the population knows the language. The Welsh government has plans to increase the number of speakers to one million by 2050.

Bilingual signs are the norm in Wales, including on the roads, in shops, and at tourist attractions. Locals who are not fluent in Welsh usually know how to pronounce Welsh words, especially place names. There is lots of Welsh-language media including the TV channel S4C and BBC Radio Cymru.

Learning Welsh is not necessary or expected from visitors, but Welsh people will react well if you show interest in their language. Using phrases like bore da (good morning), iechyd da (cheers), and diolch (thank you) will be greatly appreciated in most of the country; even non-Welsh-speakers are usually supportive and welcoming if you try a few words.

There are several regional accents of English spoken in Wales. That spoken in the South Wales Valleys and further west is perhaps closest to the 'stereotypical' Welsh accent, while in the North, where the greatest number of native Welsh speakers live, the accent is noticeably distinct and more nasal, blending in north-east Wales to something similar to Scouse (the accent and dialect of Liverpool). Cardiff has a distinct accent all of its own - the name is sometimes jokingly spelt 'Kairdiff' as an indication of this. However, no Welsh accent should present much difficulty to anyone with a decent command of English. There are a few colloquialisms that may take you a moment to work out what is meant, but don't worry about asking someone to repeat something. 'Aye' is commonly used to indicate 'yes' and 'ta-ra' can be said instead of 'goodbye'. 'Tidy' is often used but has a wide meaning ranging from fine/splendid or large (quantity), as in 'a tidy amount'. 'Butty'/'butt' is sometimes used for friend/buddy.

Wales has the same immigration and visa requirements as the rest of the UK. All passengers travelling to the UK from outside Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man go through systematic passport/identity card and selective customs checks carried out by the UK Border Agency on arrival in the UK.

There is no internal border control between Wales and England. The road and train networks are fully integrated between England and Wales, meaning travel between the two nations should be stress-free.

By plane

Cardiff Airport (CWL) is the only international airport in Wales. It is 9 mile west of the city, near Rhoose. Anglesey Airport (VLY) is the only other commercial airport in Wales, with weekday services to and from Cardiff.

• Eastern Airways operate flights to Aberdeen and Newcastle.

• KLM operates services to Amsterdam 4 to 5 times a day.

There are also many seasonal flights catering to packaged holidays with companies such as Cosmos Holidays, Ryanair and TUI Airways flying to many destinations in Greece, Spain and North Africa.

There are regular bus services from Cardiff city centre to the airport. You can also get to the airport using a bus service from Barry Station, which is closer to the airport and on local rail lines. A nearby railway line has a station at Rhoose, where there are shuttle buses to the airport.

Bristol Airport is also gaining popularity, and there are dedicated coach services between Bristol Airport and central Cardiff.

Birmingham Airport is well served by long-haul destinations and is in easy driving distance to Wales. Liverpool John Lennon Airport is smaller, having flights mainly to continental Europe, but is in striking distance of North Wales.

It could be easier to fly to an airport in England such as one of the London airports when visiting South Wales, as a greater range of airlines and cities flown from are available from there to destinations around the world, with services from many airlines. However London is over 2 hours from Cardiff, and longer from many other places in Wales. If you do choose to fly into London, then Heathrow Airport is by far the closest to Wales in terms of travel time (around 2 hours to Cardiff, subject to traffic); Gatwick, Luton and Stansted airports are around an hour further away. Other cities served by international airports in England which offer reasonable access to parts of Wales include Birmingham (BHX) for mid Wales, Liverpool (LPL) and Manchester (MAN) for north Wales.

By car

South Wales enjoys good motorway connections with the rest of the UK:

• The M4 links southern England, including London and Bristol, to South Wales via the Severn Bridge. It serves Newport, Cardiff, Swansea, and Carmarthen.
• The M50 links the West Midlands with Monmouth, the Brecon Beacons and all of South and West Wales.

North Wales has no motorway connections. However there are still good road connections with the rest of the UK:

• The A5 runs from the end of the M54 near Shrewsbury and takes you into Wales through the spectacular Snowdonia National Park
• The A55, which is of motorway standard for most of its length, runs along the entire north coast from the English motorway network near Chester to the island of Anglesey. It is much quicker than the A5 although also less scenic.

Mid Wales only has single carriageway roads:

• The A456 Shrewsbury to Welshpool being the main route
• The A44 from Worcester can be a slow route, but scenic and with quite a few nice places to stop in both countries

There are no internal border controls within Great Britain and you may not notice the border if entering Wales from England via a minor road. You will usually see the Croeso i Gymru ("Welcome to Wales") sign crossing the border.

By train

See also Rail travel in Great Britain

The three railway companies serving Wales are Transport for Wales, Avanti West Coast, and Great Western Railway (GWR).

South Wales

Main line rail services connect south Wales (especially Newport, Cardiff and Swansea) with all parts of the UK, via Avanti West Coast (to Birmingham and the North East, including Scotland), Transport for Wales (to the rest of Wales) and GWR (to London Paddington).

North Wales

• The North Wales Coast Line links Chester (and other parts of England) with the northern seaside resorts of Rhyl and Prestatyn, the city of Bangor, the isle of Anglesey and the port of Holyhead. Through tickets to Dublin (Rep. of Ireland) are available, which include the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin Port. Services are run by Transport for Wales (from Manchester and Cardiff) and Avanti West Coast (from London and Crewe).
• The Conwy Valley Line stretches from Llandudno Junction along the Conwy Valley via Betws y Coed to Blaenau Ffestiniog, and connects with trains on both the North Wales Coast line and the Ffestiniog Railway. Services are run by Transport for Wales.
• The beautiful Cambrian Coast Line runs from Shrewsbury (in England), across Mid-Wales through Machynlleth, and through the coastal towns of Tywyn and Barmouth, through the south part of Snowdonia, Harlech and Porthmadog, and along the south coast of the Lleyn Peninsula to Pwllheli. Services are run by Transport for Wales.
• The Shrewsbury-Chester Line runs from Shrewsbury to Chester, across the Wales-England border and the river Dee, passing Gobowen (in England, near Oswestry, also in England), Chirk (near the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct), Ruabon, Wrexham (General) and Chester. Services are run by Transport for Wales and Avanti West Coast (from Wrexham General to Chester and beyond only).
• The Borderlands Line runs between Wrexham (Central) and Bidston, linking various Flintshire towns and villages with the Wirral, and Wrexham. Services are run by Transport for Wales. Merseyrail services are available to Bidston, from the rest of the Wirral and Liverpool.

Mid Wales

Mid Wales is very sparsely populated and does not have extensive rail services. Nevertheless a few routes exist that show the beauty of the country:

• Transport for Wales also run the famous Heart of Wales Line from Swansea to Shrewsbury. As the name suggests, this service runs through very scenic areas in the middle of the country. The train takes almost 4 hours to make the 120 mile journey due to the many gradients and turns. It is popular with tourists but also provides an essential service to rural communities along the route.
• The Cambrian Line takes the same route as the Cambrian Coast Line as far as Machynlleth, where it goes southwards along the coast through Borth to the university town of Aberystwyth.

By coach

National Express operates coach services around the UK including to and from many parts of Wales. There are direct National Express coaches from London Heathrow Airport that go directly to Cardiff and Swansea.

By boat

See also: Ferry routes to British Mainland

It's possible to take several ferry routes from Ireland to Wales, the main routes are Holyhead (which is on Holy Island, linked to the island of Anglesey by a causeway, and Anglesey is linked by bridge to mainland Wales) and Fishguard on the south-west coast. These tend to be the cheapest and fastest, if you hunt around between the different ferry companies. Stenaline and Irish Ferries offer multiple daily services for passengers and vehicles. Bookings can be made through their websites. Stena operate the route to Fishguard, Irish Ferries operate the route to Pembroke Dock, and both operate to Holyhead.

• Fishguard - Rosslare in South Eastern Ireland
• Holyhead - Dublin
• Pembroke - Rosslare

General

Due to Wales' topography and historic development, most travelling in Wales is done east-west rather than north-south. Rail and road links between centres in South Wales and along the North Wales coast are usually quick and efficient, especially along the M4 and A55. An important exception to this is M4, J32 (the interchange with the A470), during peak morning rush hour, which gets congested with Cardiff commuter traffic. The roundabout at J32 is the largest in Europe. Most places in South Wales are within a 90-min drive of each other.

Travelling between Cardiff and the other main population centres, Swansea and Newport, is very straightforward.

Although only approximately 170 mi from coast to coast, the topography makes north-south links more difficult in terms of time. By land, journey times are comparable to flight times across North America! However, the journey itself is something a visitor may wish to do to see the scenery.

• Traveline Cymru - bus, coach and rail journey planning and timetable information

By plane

Wales is a small country and flying is not a common mode of internal transport. The only domestic route, Cardiff International Airport to Anglesey Airport ceased in 2022.

By car

It is much easier to drive from east to west across Wales (via the M4 or A55, for instance) than from north to south, due to the lack of fast roads across the sparsely-populated interior. You should allow 5 or 6 hours to tackle this. But that is time well spent, as the journey takes in some spectacular scenery. The two main north-south roads are the A470 (Cardiff to Llandudno) and the A483 (Swansea to Chester). However, neither is a fast road: the A470, for instance, has only a 25-mile (40-km) dual-carriageway stretch, from Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil; while much of the rest of the route has been improved, there are still many places where the road is narrow and winding, and where trucks or agricultural vehicles can slow traffic considerably. Those travelling from the north-east to the south-east may find it quicker to use the English motorway network (M6 and M5), or the A49 road through Shropshire and Herefordshire.

Roads are generally well-maintained and signposted, although flooding is a risk after heavy rain - particularly in the wetter west and north - and the higher mountain passes can become icy and treacherous in winter. In rural areas, minor roads are usually very narrow, just wide enough for a single tractor, while high hedges on either side can obstruct your view of oncoming traffic. A sensible speed and liberal beeps of your horn when tackling corners are essential. When — not if — you meet an oncoming vehicle, one of you will have to reverse to the nearest passing place, which should be no more than a couple of hundred metres away. Beware of livestock on the roads: sheep often graze on roadside verges, including alongside main roads in rural areas, and can stray onto the carriageway seemingly oblivious to passing traffic. It is also quite common for farmers to have to herd sheep or cattle along or across a road from one field to another. If you come across this, remember that the farmer is just doing his or her job, and be patient: sounding your horn or revving your engine will only alarm the livestock and annoy the farmer, causing even greater delays.

Unlike the rest of the UK, the default speed limit in Wales in built-up areas is 20 mph (32 km/h) on all residential streets. Default speed limits on motorways, single carriageways and dual carriageways are the same as in the rest of the country.

Bilingual road signs

Road signage is bilingual, as much for instructions as for place names. There is no colour or font differentiation between English and Welsh, but since 2016 all new road signs have placed Welsh before English. Prior to then, the order varied, so older signs may show English first.

A few examples are given below:

By train

Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

Due to various closures in the 1960s there is no true "Welsh railway system". Basically there are three separate Welsh limbs which are part of the British system although there have been moves to improve intra-Wales railway services. The limbs are a North Wales line to Holyhead, a line to Aberystwyth in the centre, and a main line in South Wales, forming an extension of the London Paddington to West of England main line.

Transport for Wales provides most train services within Wales.

Two cross-border train companies may also be of use for internal train journeys within Wales. Great Western Railway provide the bulk of cross border services between England and South Wales. Their flagship High Speed Service generally goes as far west as Swansea, and there are even a limited number to destinations further West. Their "local" services to Bristol Temple Meads and the South West of England go no further west than Cardiff. Arriva Trains Cross Country provide services as far west as Cardiff to Birmingham and onwards to Nottingham.

Regular train services connect the South Wales' three main cities, Cardiff, Swansea and Newport. Services between Cardiff and Swansea are usually every 20 minutes, and even more frequent between Cardiff and Newport.

Cardiff is also the hub of the Valley Line network which serves a number of former coal mining towns. This railway system was built to carry coal; it is now mainly a commuter network and is useful to visitors to the Valleys, or indeed for local travel within Cardiff.

Swansea and Llanelli in the West are linked to Mid Wales via the Heart of Wales railway, whilst not a quick journey it is well worth considering for its scenery.

Rail connections between North and South Wales in fact cross into neighbouring England, although there are a number of direct services between Cardiff and North Wales along the Marches line via several places in England. There are two high speed services each day between Holyhead and Cardiff, which only stop at a limited number of stations in England.

• Transport for Wales (Trafnidiaeth Cymru) operates most local rail services in Wales
• Great Western Railway operates cross border services between South Wales and Bristol, Reading, Portsmouth, and London Paddington.
• Avanti West Coast operates services from North Wales to Crewe, Birmingham, and London Euston.
• Crosscountry operates an hourly service between Nottingham and Cardiff, going through Birmingham.

By bus and coach

The First Cymru Shuttle coach service is usually quicker than the train for journeys between Swansea and Cardiff, but at peak times, the train does not get stuck in traffic!

Government-funded Traws Cambria services connect North, Mid and South Wales.

• Arriva operates a large amount of bus services in North Wales
• Stagecoach operates services in South Wales
• Cardiff Bus operates services in Cardiff

Traveline Cymru has a search facility for all Welsh public transport routes.

By bike

National Cycle Route 5 follows the Wales Coast Path, National Cycle Route 8 runs from Cardiff to Holyhead and National Cycle Route 47 is also known as the Celtic Trail.

Wales has many significant attractions, and listed below are a few of the most notable. For more details about these attractions plus information on other places of interest, check under regional sections.

To protect the environment certain parts of Wales have been designated as "National Parks" or as "National Landscapes" (formerly Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty). An area with either of these designation will have a high degree of protection from inappropriate development. Whilst these rules exist for environmental reasons, rather than to promote tourism, because "National Parks" and "National Landscapes" have this protection, a visitor to these areas can be confident that they will see some unspoiled scenery. These areas offer some of Wales' most attractive scenery, and a visitor would be well advised to visit at least one of these areas. That is not to say that there aren't other attractive places in Wales, but the "National Parks" and "Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty" are the "jewels in the outdoor crown".

Wales has three National Parks: Brecon Beacons National Park (Mid Wales), spectacular mountain scenery and castles, pretty highlands turned into a national park with weaving streams, waterfalls and canals; Pembrokeshire Coast National Park (South Wales) with dramatic coastal scenery; and Snowdonia National Park (North Wales) covering Wales' highest mountains, and considered by some to be the most beautiful and poetic in Britain.

National Park status offers the highest level of environmental and planning protection in Wales. National Parks tend to cover some very large areas. It should therefore come as no surprise, that some of Wales' most important scenery can be found within its National Parks. Each "National Park" is administered by a special-purpose local authority, called a "National Park Authority".

Wales's National Landscapes are smaller, and some are less well-known, than the National Parks. The Isle of Anglesey is predominantly coastal, covering most of the island's 125-mile coastline. Gower Peninsula (Swansea), the UK's first designated area of outstanding natural beauty, covers most of the peninsula. Llŷn is the peninsula sticking out westwards beyond Snowdonia, in the north-west of the country. Clwydian Range and Dee Valley is a range of hills running southwards from the coast at Prestatyn, Denbighshire in the north-east of the country, close to the border with England, now extended to include the spectacular hills around the river Dee near Llangollen. The Wye Valley straddles the southern end of the England/Wales border between Hereford and Chepstow

A number of UNESCO World Heritage sites can be visited, including the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct - near Chirk and of course the North Wales Castles built in the decades after the invasion or conquest of Wales by England in the 13th century, representing the most advanced military technology of the time, being compared with the Crusader Castles of the Middle East. Castles of note being Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech.

Key listed historic building worth visiting include Caerphilly castle, the second largest in the UK, Pembroke castle, Raglan castle, the ruins of Tintern abbey and the incredibly preserved and restored Elizabethan house Plas Mawr in Conwy.

There is a good selection of national museums and galleries to visit. These are: The National Museum (collection of paintings, archaeological finds and geological exhibits ), Cardiff; St Fagans National History Museum (many historic buildings, relocated from their original site), near Cardiff; The National Slate Museum, Llanberis; Big Pit (The National Coal Museum),Blaenafon; The National Woollen Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, near Llandysul; The National Roman Legionary Museum, Caerleon, Newport; The National Waterfront Museum (maritime and industrial past), Swansea. Entry to national museums are free, although expect a charge for car parking.

There are also many stately homes, gardens and estate parks to visit. One of the most visited being the National Botanic Garden of Wales near Carmarthen.

Heritage railways are more generally thought of as pleasurable attractions rather than ways to get around, although the Ffestiniog Railway, initially depended on gravity and horse power, from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog can be used to link places on main rail lines, and the opening of the Welsh Highland Railway has created a useful link between Caernarfon, Beddgelert and Porthmadog.

The Vale of Rheidol Railway provides a novel way from Aberystwyth to Devil's Bridge. They are all historic lines that have been either preserved or restored with steam a major feature on these lines. Others include Bala Lake Railway, Brecon Mountain Railway, Gwili Railway, Llanberis Lake Railway, Welshpool and Llanfair Railway, Talyllyn Railway the World's first heritage railway, and perhaps the best known of all the Snowdon Mountain Railway.

Wales' offers some spectacular coastal and mountainous scenery. Which offers the opportunity for various activity holidays.

Hiking

Good paths to walk on are the Wales Coast Path or Offa's Dyke Path near the border of Wales and England.

For the more experienced Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales at 1,085 m and Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, is the highest mountain in South Wales at 886 m. Cadair Idris, close to the Mid-Wales coast, overlooking Dolgellau to the north and Bro Dysynni to the south-west is another very popular mountain. It has good rail access on both North and South sides from the Cambrian Coast Line, but this is virtually at sea level. The actual summit is 893 m above sea level. This makes for a strenuous walk which takes most of the day.

Golf

Wales has a long golfing history, with many top-quality courses, however it offers golf courses which tend to be less crowded, and less expensive than the other Western European destinations. As a very rough rule North Wales tends to have the better links courses, and the South the better parkland courses, although it is well worth playing both sorts of courses in both parts of Wales just to find out! There is a relatively high density of courses in the Vale of Glamorgan, between Cardiff and Bridgend, due to the proliferation of courses in the last fifteen years serving the Cardiff Commuter Belt. There is also a high density of courses in the Conwy and Llandudno area. Wales' most prestigious courses include: The Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Monmouthshire, it has three courses, and is the venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup; Conwy (Caernarvonshire), Conwy, Caernarvonshire - this Links hosted a final qualifying round for the 2006 Open Championship; Machynys Golf and Country Club, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire - Links, opened in 2005 Wales' first and so far only Nicklaus-designed course.

Scuba diving

Scuba diving, exploration beneath its surrounding seas, is an activity not many tourists think of when visiting Wales. Although weather conditions are not always perfect, water temperatures are quite chilly, scuba diving in Wales is one of the best experiences for divers around Europe. You can find whales, dolphins, plenty of seals but also superb coral formations including seahorses and several coral fish. The Isle of Anglesey has been encircled by shipping routes for centuries resulting in striking shipwrecks of all sizes. Pembrokeshire with its scenic islands Skomer Island, Skokholm Island and the isolated rocks called the Smalls are known for their colonies of seals and many shipwrecks.

Birdwatching

Wales is a great destination for birdwatching. The long coastline provides excellent habitats for seabirds, and the hinterland is home to many birds of prey. Notable destinations are Bwlch Nant yr Arian Forest Visitor Centre for red kites, Cors Dyfi Reserve for Osprey, while for seabird must-visits are the South Stack Cliffs RSPB reserve and the Conwy RSPB reserve.

Agritourism

Wales has a fantastic agricultural scene and travellers are encouraged to experience it. You can see the Royal Welsh agricultural show, you can go to a small town sheep auction, or a sheep dog trail.

Music

Wales is often referred to as "the land of song", and is notable for its harpists, male voice choirs, and plethora of solo artists, such as Katherine Jenkins and Charlotte Church. Cardiff has a big rock scene and has produced some of the biggest acts in the UK today. The Welsh Folk Song Society has published a number of collections of songs and tunes. Check the web sites of local male voice choirs for dates of concerts.

The principal Welsh festival of music and poetry is the annual

The Llangollen International Eisteddfod echoes the National Eisteddfod but provides an opportunity for the singers and musicians of the world to perform. Traditional music and dance in Wales is supported by a myriad of societies.

Notable musical events include the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, the Brecon Jazz Festival (August) and the Swansea Festival of Music and the Arts an annual (October) three-week bash of culture at various locations in Swansea, and the second largest such festival in the UK. Others of note include the Faenol Festival organised by the internationally renowned opera singer Bryn Terfel, (August Bank Holiday weekend every year at Y Felinheli) and Sesiwn Fawr a World Music Festival which takes place every July in Dolgellau.

Literary events

The famous Hay Festival literary festival, which Bill Clinton aptly described as 'The Woodstock for the Mind.' takes place end of May beginning of June.

The Dylan Thomas Festival in Swansea is an annual event held between 27 October and 9 November (the dates of the poet's birth and death) to commemorate the works of Thomas. In addition, the festival hosts the awards' ceremony for the winner of the Dylan Thomas Prize - a biannual writing competition for most outstanding literary talent in English, aged under 30. Complementing the main events at the Dylan Thomas Festival the Dylan Thomas Fringe is held at various venues throughout the city.

Sports

• Rugby Union (15-a-side) is the national sport of Wales; rugby league (13-a-side) is not played here. The men's national team play at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff: the premier tournament is the Six Nations versus England, Scotland, Ireland, France and Italy. Teams play each other once over six weeks each February / March, so Wales have either two or three home games each year. These sell out weeks in advance, and Cardiff is mobbed when they're on. The women's Six Nations are played in April / May.

Four men's rugby clubs are professional: Cardiff Rugby, Dragons (Newport), Ospreys (Swansea), and Scarlets (Llanelli) play in the United Rugby Championship, which also features teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and South Africa. The domestic amateur leagues have 12 teams in the Premiership and 14 in the Championship: they're effectively development teams for the URC clubs. Below those are a myriad village teams, where gnarly thick-set men play against a backdrop of mining spoil heaps.

• Football: Four soccer clubs are professional and play in the English leagues: Cardiff, Swansea, Wrexham and Newport. With that exception, Welsh soccer is separate: the men's national team usually play at Cardiff Millennium Stadium. The top domestic tier is Cymru Premier, with 16 teams: The New Saints of Oswestry usually win it. Below that are Cymru South and Cymru North.

• Wales Rally GB is usually the final round of the FIA World Rally Championship, held near the end of each year in many locations around Wales.

• Cricket: Wales is part of the England & Wales national cricket structure. Glamorgan CCC is one of the First Class Counties, playing at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff. The other counties field a combined Wales NC team in the lower tier, the National Counties Cricket Championship, formerly known as "Minor Counties".

Like the rest of the United Kingdom, Wales uses the pound sterling (£). Unlike Scotland and Northern Ireland, there are no separate banknotes in Wales, only those issued by the Bank of England. Indeed, Scottish and Northern Ireland banknotes may not be easy to spend, although they can be exchanged at any bank. Most banks and travel agents will also change foreign currency, although it is worth shopping around for the best rates.

ATMs are widespread, even in small towns: they can be found in many post offices, convenience stores and petrol stations as well as in banks. However, many banks in small towns have closed, and ATMs in other locations often charge you (maybe £1-2) for withdrawing cash.

As in the rest of the UK, beware of ATM fraud, which is becoming increasingly common. The fraud works either by 'skimming' your card (reading the details on it with a device attached to the ATM) or trapping it in the machine, and using a hidden camera to record your PIN as you enter it. Never use an ATM with a card slot which appears to have been tampered with, and always cover the key pad with your hand, wallet or purse when entering your PIN. If you find an ATM which seems to have been tampered with, or if it retains your card, report this at once to the bank which owns it and to the police.

Costs

Costs are broadly comparable with the rest of the UK; hotels, bars and restaurants in Cardiff are relatively expensive, while the rest of the country is perhaps slightly cheaper. Petrol and diesel is often much more expensive in rural Wales than in the main towns and cities.

See also: Welsh cheese

Wales is associated with many particular dishes, and there are a number of unique foods that you might like to try. The quality of local ingredients is often very high, with a drive towards locally sourced, organic produce in many restaurants.

Several of the above dishes are now rarely eaten and may not be found on restaurant menus. Many cuisines are now represented in Welsh towns and cities, with even small towns and villages usually having takeaways, with Chinese, Indian, pizza and kebab being most common as well as the traditional fish and chips. Cardiff and Swansea have a much wider range of restaurants and cuisines represented including a number of star-rated restaurants. The country and village pubs have their own distinctive style of cuisine.

Vegetarianism and veganism is popular in Wales like its neighbour England. It is easy to find vegetarian meals in the big cities and towns. Even small towns or villages usually have a few vegetarian options in pubs and cafes. For vegans, Swansea and Cardiff offer the most options. Veganism is rare or non existent in rural areas.

For more information, see the general article on eating in the UK.

As with the rest of the United Kingdom, smoking in enclosed public areas, which includes restaurants and cafes, is illegal in Wales, and there is an on-the-spot fine of £50 for those who violate the ban.

Although the temperance movement was strong in Wales; beer was and still is a popular drink. There are a large number of small independent breweries in Wales, of which one well-known brand is Double Dragon from Felinfoel Brewery near Llanelli (Wales' oldest) is a must to taste. Wrexham Lager, after an absence of over a decade, Wrexham has its famous lager back and also back to its former glory. The owners are focusing on and giving a boost to the local pubs. One of the largest breweries in Glamorgan, Brains brews a decent range of ales

After an absence of over 100 years, Wales, like England, has started to produce whisky in 2004 with the launch of the Welsh Whisky Company. This distillery is based out of the village of Penderyn, on the edge of the Brecon Beacons near Aberdare in South Wales. Penderyn whisky has received a number of awards and makes an interesting addition to the world of whisky. The distillery visitor centre opened in June 2008.

The other major beverage produce is, not surprisingly, bottled water. See the more general article on drinking in the UK, with information on pubs and real ale. Be careful on Friday and Saturday nights especially in the big cities and towns. You could encounter drunks anywhere but mostly outside pubs and bars and very poor areas. If you're unsafe around drunk people, get to a safe area.

Wales is very tourist-friendly, so finding hotel accommodation, a self-catering holiday cottage or a place to pitch a tent should not be a problem. However, you might need to make prior reservations during the summer season in tourist areas such as Anglesey, Llandudno, Llangollen, Lleyn, Rhyl, Swansea/Mumbles and Tenby, or around the time of major sporting or cultural events in Cardiff.

The Welsh education system is similar to the educational system in England, with a few differences here and there. The most notable feature of the Welsh educational system is compulsory Welsh-language lessons in all state schools until the age of 16. The Welsh language is an important cultural part of the Welsh nation.

The country is home to eight universities and one conservatoire, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Perhaps the most prestigious institute of higher education in Wales is Cardiff University, which is often regarded as one of the top universities in the United Kingdom and the world.

If there's one thing that attracts many students to Wales, it's the low cost of living. Costs in Wales are much lower compared to other parts of the United Kingdom. Cardiff is remarkably cheaper to live in than say, London.

Wales is a great place to learn Welsh and Welsh people love it if you show interest in their language. If you want to learn the language, there are a few options to choose from, as shown below.

The major cities of Swansea and Cardiff have a growing number of white collar office jobs. The more rural areas, and especially the former mining communities in the Valleys are extremely impoverished and unlikely to offer many opportunities.

In any emergency call 999 or 112 and ask for Ambulance, Fire, Police or Coast Guard when connected. For non-urgent Police matters, dial 101 to be connected to the nearest police station anywhere in Wales.

Crime

Wales is one of the safest parts of the United Kingdom and crime rates continue to fall. Nonetheless, criminal activity including violent crime is not uncommon, especially alcohol-related violence in towns and cities. Indeed, it may be wise to avoid the centres of large towns and cities on weekend nights and after large sporting events. Despite this, it is unlikely that tourists would be targeted in such a situation. Pickpocketing and mugging is rare.

Driving

It is perfectly safe to drive on Welsh roads. However, care should be taken on rural and minor roads, some of which are extremely narrow and poorly marked. In addition, colliding with a sheep or (even worse) a cow can severely damage your car, not to mention the unfortunate animal. Many of these roads pass through some of the most beautiful parts of Wales, but just ensure that at least as much attention is paid to the road as to the scenery! Some areas of Wales are not suitable for learner drivers due to extreme terrain. If you're a learner, wait till you're more experienced for winter driving or going through the mountains. Like the rest of the UK, Wales drives on the left.

Natural hazards

While generally escaping extreme weather, it should not be forgotten that the British Isles enjoy a famously changeable climate and few places more so than Wales. As such, it is extremely important to be prepared when venturing into the countryside and especially onto the mountains. Here, what starts as a sunny day can rapidly turn into a blizzard, storm-force gale or a disorienting, chilling fog. Every year, many have to be rescued from Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons and some lives are lost due to falls and exposure. Ensure you have suitable clothing, a map and a fully-charged mobile phone before setting off.

Thunderstorms aren't common in Wales, but if there is a thunderstorm warning, get yourself to safety. On the coast, tides can cut you off on rapidly disappearing sea-level land. On the cliff tops be aware that the land can overhang the cliff edge being very thin and unstable.

There is little danger from animals, with only a small chance of coming across the adder snake which is venomous. Bites are painful but rarely fatal; stay calm but get to a doctor if bitten. The most dangerous animals are cattle and the occasional aggressive sheep. It is very rare to come across a live dragon.

Welsh society is generally warm, informal, and welcoming. Refer to people from Wales as "Welsh", and not "English". Using the latter term is a crass error and it could get people to think that you're trying to start an argument. Most Welsh people don't object to being called "British", but as always, follow the locals' lead.

The relationship between Wales and England is quite complex. The geopolitical ties between England and Wales are strong, though some light-hearted anti-English sentiment is common. Despite this, English people in Wales are unlikely to face any issues. Attempts to speak Welsh will be welcomed and will most certainly endear you to the locals. Everyone in Wales has heard the tired old canards about the language having no vowels or room-fulls of people instantly switching from English to Welsh when a tourist walks in; if these are in your repertoire of "jokes", keep them to yourself.

The issue of Welsh independence is certainly much debated and has been seeing a rise in support in the 21st century. In some areas, there are high levels of support for independence. Whilst nowhere near as sensitive or divisive as in other parts of the world, it's best to steer clear of discussing this topic altogether.

Welsh culture is often liberal. Generally speaking, the most liberal laidback areas are big cities and tourist places. Outside these places, Welsh culture is more conservative particularly in rural areas with locals following traditional procedures.

Wales is much like the rest of the UK regarding attitudes towards homosexuality. Displays of homosexuality are not always commonplace, possibly due to the rural nature of some parts of the country, although outward displays of same-sex affection are unlikely to cause a problem. Larger towns and cities are also friendly and open minded, but issues are not unheard of. The most accepting places for LGBT are Cardiff and Swansea. Outside major towns and cities, some locals may be offended by your sexuality, but that's their problem. Homophobic attacks are extremely rare but possible, and all discrimination based on sexuality is illegal in Wales, as it is in the rest of the UK.

See Connect entry in our United Kingdom article for information on telephone, internet and postal services. Some rural areas do not have mobile phone reception. Few areas, including towns, have high-speed internet. See Connect entries in individual city articles for local information.

• To the east the English border counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire are a quiet arera covered in green countryside and landscapes, before you move in to the higher population areas of the West Midlands and Merseyside for vibrant urban centres. Or if you are looking for the quintessential England try the Cotswolds or English market towns.
• Ireland, if you have not had enough of wet landscapes then this is the direction to go. Reachable by ferry from a number of places on the west coast.