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| ⇒ Country Profile: Wales |
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 Introduction
Wales is a charming collage of rugged greenery and pretty beaches; the landscape is speckled with ancient castles and quaint villages, and a proud national identity is laced with deep traditions and enchanting folklore.
Natural beauty
Sheep-strewn mountains and leafy conservation areas make up a large portion of the country, with national parks Snowdonia, the Pembrokeshire Coast and the Brecon Beacons offering beautiful rambling trails and mountain biking routes.
Striking coastline
The Welsh coastline is some of the most attractive in the UK. Cardigan Bay is a popular choice for sandy spots, while up and down the Welsh shore, deserted coves and secluded stretches are just around the corner for those willing to explore.
Urban buzz
While strong tradition rings proud in the valleys and villages, the buzzing capital city Cardiff is a thoroughly modern affair. Visitors can enjoy electric nightlife, world-class cuisine and a thriving music scene, and then take a breather in one of the city's wide green spaces.
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Contact Information
Keys Facts
Location
Western Great Britain.
Area
20,732 sq km (8,004 sq miles).
Population
3 million (2008).
Population Density
144.7 per sq km.
Capital
Cardiff. Population: 324,800 (2008).
Geography
Wales is a country of great geographical variation with many long stretches of attractive and often rugged coastline. South Wales is mainly known for its industrial heritage but the western part of the coast between Carmarthen Bay and St David's is similar to that of the more pastoral west country of England, and backed by some equally beautiful countryside. The scenery of Mid Wales includes rich farming valleys, the broad sandy sweep of Cardigan Bay and rolling hill country. North Wales is one of the most popular tourist areas in the British Isles, with many lively coastal resorts. Inland, the region of Snowdonia has long been popular with walkers and climbers. Much of the central inland area of the country is mountainous, with some breathtaking scenery.
Head of State
HM Queen Elizabeth II.
Head of Government
First Minister Rhodri Morgan since 2000.
History
Wales was granted its own assembly in 1999 which was given general control over the central government budget.
In 2006, the Government of Wales Act gave the Welsh Assembly similar legislative powers to the Scottish Parliament.
Since 2007, a coalition between Plaid Cymru (The Party of Wales) and the Welsh Labour Party has been working towards achieving full law-making powers.
Language
English and Welsh are the official languages. Welsh is taught in all schools, and at least one-fifth of the population speaks it.
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Public Holidays
Below are listed Public Holidays for the January 2010-December 2011 period.
Holidays
2010
1 Jan New Year's Day.
2 Apr Good Friday.
5 Apr Easter Monday (except Scotland).
3 May Early May Bank Holiday.
31 May Spring Bank Holiday.
30 Aug Summer Bank Holiday (except Scotland).
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.
2011
1 Jan New Year's Day.
22 Apr Good Friday.
25 Apr Easter Monday (except Scotland).
2 May Early May Bank Holiday.
30 May Spring Bank Holiday.
29 Aug Summer Bank Holiday (except Scotland).
25 Dec Christmas Day.
26 Dec Boxing Day.
Note
Public holidays are usually referred to as 'bank holidays' in the UK.
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Accommodation
Hotels
For a selection of Wales' finest hotels, contact Welsh Rarebits (see Accommodation Information below).
Grading: VisitWales, VisitScotland, VisitBritain, the AA and RAC have now agreed common standards for quality assessment. Hotels and guest houses are classified by from 1 to 5 stars.
Bed and Breakfast
Bed & breakfasts are available throughout Wales. VisitWales provides listings.
Self Catering
There is a wide variety of self-catering accommodation, ranging from holiday villages in or near popular coastal resorts to remote cottages in the mountains of Snowdonia.
Camping/Caravanning
There are hundreds of campsites and caravan parks in the country, and all sites referred to in accommodation lists or brochures supplied by tourist offices will meet certain minimum requirements.
Accommodation Information
Welsh Rarebits
Prince's Square, Montgomery SY15 6PZ, UK
Tel: (01686) 668 030.
Website: www.rarebits.co.uk
VisitWales has a brochure and a comprehensive online accommodation search facility (website: www.visitwales.com).
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Communication
Press
- The Western Mail is a daily tabloid newspaper published in Cardiff and circulated in North Wales.
- The Daily Post is the Welsh edition of the Liverpool daily.
- Wales on Sunday is a popular tabloid.
- South Wales Echo is a Cardiff-based evening paper.
- South Wales Evening Post is a Swansea-based evening paper.
- All the UK national papers are generally available, as are numerous local papers.
TV
- All the national UK channels are available throughout Wales.
- BBC Wales.
- BBC 2W is a varied evening schedule of Welsh interest.
- ITV Wales & West (previously known as HTV) is commercial.
- S4/C is a mainly Welsh-language channel.
- S4/C Digidol is a 24-hour Welsh-language digital service.
Radio
- BBC Radio Wales caters for the English-speaking sector.
- BBC Cymru is BBC Wales' Welsh Language station.
- All national stations are also available.
- A number of local commercial stations offer output in both languages.
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Entertainment
Food and Drink
Regional specialities:
- Welsh rarebit (cheese on toast).
- Bara brith (a type of tea bread).
- Laver bread, which is made with seaweed.
- Welsh cakes (made with sultanas or currants).
- Welsh cawl (a meat and vegetable broth).
Regional drinks:
Nightlife
Bars, restaurants, night clubs and cinemas are common in the cities and towns. Smoking is banned in all enclosed public spaces, including pubs, clubs and restaurants.
Shopping
While Wales has not escaped the infiltration of high street chains, independent shops certainly hold their ground more here than in England. Local artists and craftsmen sell their works and other handmade goods in many of the tourist-friendly shops; of particular high quality are wool blankets and woodwork.
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Getting There
Main Airports
Cardiff International Airport (CWL) (www.cwlfly.com) is 19km (12 miles) from Cardiff. To/from the airport: A rail link connects the airport with Cardiff Central station. A bus runs between Cardiff city centre and the airport. Taxis are available outside the terminal building. Car hire is available. Facilities: Restaurants, shops, bureaux de change, ATMs, children's play area and executive lounge.
Departure Tax
None.
Getting There by Water
Main ports: Fishguard, Holyhead (Anglesey) (www.holyheadport.com), Pembroke (www.mhpa.co.uk) and Swansea (www.abports.co.uk), all of which have ferry connections to the Republic of Ireland, with companies including Irish Ferries (tel: 0818 300 400; www.irishferries.com) and Stena Line (tel: 01776 802 165; www.stenaline.com).
Getting There by Rail
There are two mainline routes into Wales. One runs from London Paddington to Fishguard along the south Wales coast (branching at Whitland to serve Haverford West and Milford Haven), while the other links Holyhead with Chester and northwest England. In addition, the line from Cardiff to Chester (via Newport, Hereford and Shrewsbury) links the south Wales cities with Abergavenny in Gwent and Wrexham in Clwyd. There are also two smaller cross-country lines: these run from Shrewsbury to Welshpool, Barmouth, Harlech, Porthmadog and Pwllheli; from Shrewsbury via Welshpool to Aberystwyth; and from Craven Arms (on the Shrewsbury-Ludlow line) through Llandrindod Wells and Llandovery down to Swansea. For details, contact National Rail Enquiries (tel: 0845 748 4950; www.nationalrail.co.uk).
Getting There by Road
The best road approach to Wales from southern England is via the M4 motorway, which runs from west London to Newport, Cardiff and Swansea, almost to Carmarthen. The A5 links London and the Midlands with the ferry port of Holyhead, and the A55 links Holyhead with Chester. The best cross-country road is probably the A44/A470 from Oxford to Aberystwyth.
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Sightseeing
Cardiff Castle
Mighty Cardiff Castle (www.cardiffcastle.com) is top tourist attraction. The castle was vastly smartened up by a renovation project in the Victorian times, but parts of the structure date back to the Middle Ages. Nearby, Bute Park, Sophia Gardens and Pontcanna Fields are ideal for a post-castle stroll.
Cardiff Bay
Investigate this area with a boat trip from Mermaid Quay to the impressive Barrage - a barrier which cuts off the bay from the sea and so creating a freshwater lake. As well as watery activities, the area offers many onshore leisure activities including great kids entertainment at the Techniquest Science Discovery Centre ( www.techniquest.org), which is great for the kids.
The National History Museum
Get to grips with the roots of Welsh culture at St Fagans' popular open-air National History Museum (www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/stfagans).
Pit Mines
See Wales' days as an industrial powerhouse in the former coal-producing valleys inland from Cardiff. Blaenafon (a UNESCO World Heritage site) offers industrial heritage attractions in the shape of Big Pit Mining Museum and the Ironworks (www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/bigpit).
Harlech Castle
Venture to the northern tip of Cardigan Bay to Harlech, famous for both its castle that overlooks the peaks of Snowdonia, and for the stirring song, Men of Harlech, referring to the 15th-century defence of the castle.
Anglesey
Cross the Menai Strait to the island of Anglesey, notable for the remarkable Menai Bridge, and the UK's longest place name: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (commonly called Llanfair PG).
Machynlleth
Learn Celtic heritage at Celtica in Machynlleth. This interesting town also boasts the Centre for Alternative Technology (www.cat.org.uk), which highlights environmental issues and sustainable energy use, and Senedd-Dy Owain Glyndwr (the 15th-century Welsh parliament building).
Portmeirion
See the filming location of the cult 1960s TV series The Prisoner at the Italianate village of Portmeirion (www.portmeirion-village.com), near Porthmadog in north Wales.
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Things To Do
Cardiff shopping spree
A morning's shop in Cardiff's attractive Victorian arcades is an easy way to lighten your pockets; grab some yummy titbits from Wally's Delicatessen in Royal Arcade, delve into the eclectic clothes shops in Castle Arcade and pick up some funky footwear in Buzz & Co in High Street Arcade.
Explore the Beacons
Breathe in the fresh air and green environs of south Wales' biggest inland draw: Brecon Beacons National Park (www.breconbeacons.org). Popular bases within the park are lively Brecon and market town of Abergavenny; the narrow-gauge Brecon Mountain Railway runs through the hills from Merthyr Tydfil.
Bask at the beach
While away some sunny days on the beach at one of the numerous resorts lining the coast between Cardiff and Swansea, including Aberavon, Barry and Porthcawl. Others, further west along the Gower Peninsula, include Oxwich and Port Eynon.
Take a literary stroll
Follow a Dylan Thomas-themed walking trail through Swansea. The trail begins at the Dylan Thomas Centre (www.dylanthomas.com), and leads visitors around sites associated with the late Welsh poet and playwright.
Hop on a train
Ride on a narrow-gauge steam railway (www.greatlittletrainsofwales.co.uk). The Ffestiniog Railway passes through glorious scenery in the Snowdonia National Park, while the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway passes through gentler countryside close to the English border. Another, the Snowdon Mountain Railway (www.snowdonrailway.co.uk), climbs to the summit of Wales' highest peak.
Give it a try
There are hundreds of clubs around the country to try the Welsh national sport of Rugby Union (www.wru.co.uk). Take a tour of the home of Welsh Rugby Union, the imposing Millennium Stadium.
Boost your adrenaline
Wales' rocky landscape and tumbling waters are the ideal setting for high-thrill outdoor activities such as white-water rafting, abseiling, caving and rock-climbing. For something a lot muddier try bog snorkeling: a unique event where participants race each other as they snorkel through swamps (www.bogsnorkelling.com).
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Transport
Getting Around by Rail
There are a large number of local steam railways, rescued by railway enthusiasts during the Beeching era, known collectively as The Great Little Trains of Wales. The most famous of these is the one at Ffestiniog, Porthmadog in Snowdonia, which has lovingly restored locomotives and carriages from the last century. Others include the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway (in north Powys), the Talyllyn Railway (near Barmouth in Cardigan Bay) and the Bala Lake Railway. Passport tickets are available, giving access to all the railways for the whole season. For further information, contact The Great Little Trains of Wales (tel: (01286) 870 549; www.greatlittletrainsofwales.co.uk).
Getting Around by Road
Many of the smaller roads are slow, and in upland areas may become impassable during bad weather. The latest traffic information is available from Traffic Wales (tel: 0845 602 6020; www.traffic-wales.com).
Getting Around Towns and Cities
All the main centres have local bus services. There is a good network of local train services radiating from Cardiff.
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Weather
Wales tends to be wetter than England, with slightly less sunshine. The coastal areas, however, can be very warm in summer. Conditions in upland areas can be dangerous and changeable at all times of the year.
Required Clothing
Similar to the rest of the UK, according to season. Waterproofing advised throughout the year, and warm clothes are required for upland areas.
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