Wales may not be the most common choice of vacation destination, but it has plenty to offer. Tourists in the UK are usually more likely to head for the vibrant capital city of London, the sunny Cornish coast, or even the awe-inspiring Scottish Highlands, and Wales can be easily overlooked. However, there are many reasons to visit this part of the world for your next family vacation!
In this guide, we will explore just five of the reasons to vacation in Wales.
- Scenery
Wales is not just home to the dramatic Mount Snowdon, but it is also home to no fewer than five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. No mean feat for a country so small! Driving through the rolling hills can be breathtaking, and there is no shortage of scenic walks if you want to stretch your legs. Many people even end up consulting a mortgage broker for holiday lets in scenic spots in Wales!
- Beaches
It is not just the hills and fields that are gorgeous – the Welsh coastline is stunning, and you can drive along most of it and see hundreds of beaches. Many of the beaches and coastal towns are very popular with tourists, and you can get fish and chips and ice cream while looking out at the sea. If you prefer more peaceful, relaxing walks along the beach, you are never too far from a quiet spot that isn’t too far out of the way!
- Wildlife
One of the most popular pastimes for tourists in Wales is dolphin-spotting. At most places along the Welsh coastline, you can look out to sea and see dolphins and porpoises leaping in the distance. Further inland, there are over 70 nature reserves in the country, which are teeming with wildlife from cute squirrels to majestic birds of prey like the red kite.
- Food and Drink
Alongside other European countries like France, Wales is prized for its cheeses. In fact, the delicious soft Caerphilly cheese is named after the town Caerphilly in the south of the country. Welsh cakes, tasty snacks similar to scones which include sugar and dried fruits, are another staple of the country’s cuisine. If you enjoy beers, cider, and ales, you are also in luck. Wales has a huge number of breweries that are world-renowned and produce some of the tastiest beverages in Europe. The pubs that they serve are also usually picturesque and inviting, and perfect to settle down in after a long nature walk.
- Culture
The culture in Wales, just like the nature, is astonishingly diverse and rich for a country so small. From Arthurian legends through to the modern Welsh language (spoken alongside English by many Welsh people), the country’s history is fascinating. The Welsh are also famed for their love of music and of sports. The Welsh rugby team is first class, and even the smallest Welsh villages are likely to have their own rugby team as well as their own choir, as love of singing runs deep in Welsh culture. It is no wonder that world-famous entertainers like Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey grew up in Wales!
Welsh people can be some of the friendliest in the world, and you are likely to welcomed into joining in with any of these traditions.
