In my Top 10 I’ve mixed tourist staples with lesser known attractions and activities to give you a rounded out Welsh experience.
- Spend the afternoon at an unspoiled beach
Wales has 870 mile (1,400km) of coastline so it’s probably not surprising that we have a beach or two. Machroes Beach near Abersoch in Gwynedd is a beaut with great views. Rhossili Bay, on the Gower peninsula near Swansea, with its dramatic views and three miles of sandy beach gets an honourable mention. But, for me, the more compact Barafundle Bay in Pembrokeshire (pictured) is just perfection. While summer in Wales can be unpredictable and winter is often wet, these beaches offer up their scenic charm whatever the weather.
- Watch a Rugby Match
Rugby is arguably Wales’ national sport and it seems like every village in Wales has its own rugby club. If you want to experience a piece of real Welsh culture, going to watch a game of rugby should certainly be high on your list. While rugby purists may disagree (arguing that a local amateur or semi-professional match is the “real thing”) I suggest visitors go and see a game at one of the professional regional clubs. These teams (Dragons, Blues, Ospreys and Scarlets) play their games in or near large towns or cities and sell print-at-home tickets online.
- Castles, hundreds of them!
Wales has over 600 castles, it’s often said that we have more per square mile that anywhere else in Europe. Some are little more than rock piles these days but many others are magnificently well preserved.
- Eat Some Welsh Cakes
As a child I knew them as bakestones (often called this because of the way they’re cooked).