Wales is like a fairy tale land come alive. With hundreds of castles, charming inns and rustic fishing villages, how could it not seem like something out of a storybook? Cardiff, the capital of Wales is only a two hour train ride from London and a one hour journey from Manchester, making it an easy jaunt if you’re already in the U.K. In addition to those aforementioned castles, and a vibrant capital city, there are three national parks to explore, one of which is home to Snowdon, the tallest peak in England and Wales.
Give castle-hopping a try
Since Wales is small, about the size of Massachusetts, you can see a lot of it in a fairly short time, but if you want to focus your attention on something specific, you can do that, too. One popular itinerary is castle-hopping. Start with Cardiff Castle in the capital, then move on to Caerphilly Castle, the second largest in Britain. You might meet some ghosts in Bodelwyddan Castle, known to be haunted by quite a few, and Caernarfon Castle is where Prince Charles was invested as the Prince of Wales in 1969.
Enjoy the great outdoors
If you love the great outdoors, you’ll be right at home in Wales. There are three national parks to explore, more than 800 kilometres of trails to hike, and 18 regional walking routes. Conveniently, walking routes in Wales are often near lodgings so it’s easy to plan a walking trip by booking inns and bed and breakfasts in advance along your route.
Climb a mountain
If you feel like climbing, you can hike up Snowdon, which is where Sir Edmund Hilary practiced his climbing skills before tackling Mount Everest. You can also get to the top via the historic steam railway if you’d rather not hike (the views are excellent either way).
A royal experience – and so much more
You can also get the royal experience in Wales by exploring castles with royal connections, sleeping in a castle once owned by Henry VIII, and visiting the island of Anglesey, which happens to be the present home Prince William. In addition to putting a royal spin on your vacation, Wales also boasts beaches, golf courses, adventure sports, gardens, family-friendly activities, and museums and galleries – so basically something for everyone!
Getting around Wales is easy – you can rent a car if you feel confident driving on the other side of the road, or if not, you can travel around by train which offers beautiful views of the countryside. In terms of accommodation, there are many options (yes, including castles). Wales boasts a host of cozy inns, bed and breakfasts, campsites, cottages and hotels, depending on the type of accommodation you’re looking for.
Lead photo: Les Haines
