Destination: Wales
The little country with a lot of allure.
By Linda McClain, CTA
Great Britain consists of three countries: England, Scotland and Wales. Although Wales is the smallest of the three, it is a country packed with a well-preserved heritage, diverse attractions and beautiful scenery.
Capital City: Cardiff.
Language: English and Welsh
Currency: Pound Sterling (GBP)
Best Time To Visit: May-August with daytime temperatures averaging 59F-67F High
Historic Significance
Evidence of life in Wales dates back to at least 12,000 years ago. The Romans built castles and cathedrals throughout Wales. The most significant architecture is a 6,000–seat amphitheatre in Caerleon. Celtic invaders conquered Wales about 600 B.C.
How do I get there?
Fly into Cardiff, the capital city. Other options include arrival to London, England and taking the train (about 1 hour and 45 minutes) or driving a car (roughly 4 hours)
What can I do there?
Choose from an abundance of cultural attractions by day, and a wide range of entertainment and dining options by night.
• A hiker’s and mountain climber’s delight!
• Explore! From white sand beaches to rocky cliffs, discover the sights, scenery and solitude of Wales. Walking tours, golfing, paragliding and bicycle excursions are just a few wonderful ways to enjoy your days.
• Experience early European architecture with Wales’ castles and historic ruins.
• Visit Carmarthen on the River Towy. Ancient coracles are still seen on the river. These are basket-shaped boats made of cloth which has been stretched over a wooden frame. Their use dates back 2,000 years ago.
• Ferry over to Ireland from Pembroke, Holyhead or Fishguard.
• Do a self-drive vacation or train journey.
Interesting facts:
• Statistics confirm that Wales has more castles per square mile than anywhere else in the world. There are over 400 of them!
• Most Welsh castles were built along the coast.
• Wales is slightly larger than the state of New Jersey, but if its hills and mountains were flattened out, it would be at least as large as Texas.
• Since the year, 1301 the heir to the British throne has been recognized as Prince of Wales.
• Prince Charles, Prince of Wales holds the recent title.
• Sir Edmund Hillary trained for his climbing expeditions in Wales.
• The rocks used to form Stonehenge were transported from Wales
• The Welch language does not use the letters j,k,q,v,x and z. Longest name of a place in Wales:
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.
• Wales has the only coastal national park in Great Britain, The Pembrokeshire, with miles of beaches.
• Two thirds of Wales consists of the Cambrian Mountains.
• Snowdonia National Park is home to some of the most spectacular scenery in the British Isles.
Snowdon is the highest peak at 3,560 feet
Famous native Welsh personalities include:
William Wordsworth, poet
Catherine Zeta-Jones, actress
Anthony Hopkins, actor
Richard Burton, actor
Tom Jones, singer
Charlotte Church, singer
Linda McClain, CTA, is owner of Capital Region based Linda McClain Travel Services “From The Islands To The Highlands, No Dream Is Too Far From Here!” For more information call 372.7657 or visit www.lindamcclaintravel.com.