In collaboration with
Rough Guides
Wales Tourist Attractions
Wales sightseeing
1. Conwy
One of the country’s finest medieval towns, with more than two hundred listed buildings and a superb castle, Conwy is full of old-world charm. Once you’ve had your fill of fascinating historical sites, you can visit the town’s thriving restaurant and shopping scene, or explore the picturesque Conwy Valley and surrounding coast.
Don’t miss: Conwy’s grandest residence – the splendid Plas Mawr, or ‘great mansion’, is one of the best-preserved Elizabethan townhouses in Britain.
2. Adventure Parc Snowdonia
No, we’re not messing with you – you really can go surfing in Snowdonia! Founded on the site of a former aluminium smelting plant, Adventure Parc Snowdonia offers visitors the chance to surf on the mountainside. Generated by a sort of underwater snowplough, the waves in the 1000ft-pool range from waist-high for beginners to head-high for advanced surfers.
Don’t miss: Crash & Splash – an aquatic adventure playground (it isn’t half as menacing as it sounds).
3. Ffestiniog Railway
Of Wales’ many ‘great little trains’, the Ffestiniog Railway , winding down through the Snowdonia mountains, is one of the very best. The gutsy little engines chug through the stunning scenery, from broad estuarine expanses to the deep greens of the Vale of Ffestiniog, before arriving into the slate-shattered slopes of the upper terminus.
Don’t miss: The short nature trails that spur off from the fourth station, like the unforgettable Vale of Ffestiniog walk.
4. St Davids Cathedral
The heart of Welsh spirituality, St Davids Cathedral is at Wales’ westernmost extremity and has drawn pilgrims for a millennium and a half. With its gold-and-purple tower and elaborate oak-ceilinged interior, the cathedral is a must-see attraction for any visitor to Wales.
Don’t miss:The cathedral hosts a superb classical music festival in late May/early June.
5. Pembrokeshire Coast
If you don’t want to tackle the full 187 miles of amazing coast path in one big push, break it up into a series of day-walks or explore some of the beautiful beaches accessible by car. One thing is for certain: this beguiling coastline will leave you feeling refreshed and alive.
Don’t miss:The cliffs and coves either side of Fishguard – where there are close up views of thousands of sea birds and basking seals.
6. Snowdon
Hike to the top of Wales’ highest mountain – or take the train and sip a beer at the summit café. There are many tracks and paths up to the top, each with their own unique sights and experiences. Make sure you study the map before tackling Wales’ most mighty mountain.
Don’t miss: One of the UK’s finest ridge walks, the Snowdon Horseshoe - a full anticlockwise circuit around the three glacier-graven cwms of Upper Glaslyn. It’s not to be taken lightly.
7. Cardiff
The official capital since 1955, Cardiff has evolved from a large town to a thriving international city. With its brilliant mishmash of old and new architecture, rugby, rollicking nightlife – and, of course, a castle – this enticing capital couldn’t be more Welsh.
Don’t miss:Cardiff Bay - the recent regeneration of the bay has resulted in a remarkable transformation of the derelict old docks into a bona fide tourist attraction.
8. The Wye Valley
Soak up the pastoral beauty of this wonderful valley and the spectacular ruins of Tintern Abbey. Located on one of the most scenic stretches of the River Wye, the abbey and its valley have inspired writers and painters for centuries. Monmouth is also worth exploring – a spruce, old-fashioned town with the lingering air of an ancient seat of authority.
Don’t miss:Chepstow - the first stone castle to be built in Britain, with its first Norman incarnation, the Great Tower keep, rising in 1067, just one year after William the Conqueror’s victory at Hastings.
9. Big Pit National Coal Museum
Occupying a former colliery that opened in 1880 and closed exactly a century later, Big Pit was one of the largest coal-mining sites in the region, employing some 1300 men at its peak. Of all the mining museums in south Wales, Big Pit brings you closest to the experience of a miner’s work and life, as you descend 300ft into the pit, kitted out with a lamp, helmet and heavy battery pack into a labyrinth of shafts and coal faces.
Don’t miss:The pithead baths – these mining houses offer a compelling and moving insight into the lives and times of the workers and their families.
10. Abergavenny
Sample some of the best dishes Wales has to offer in this gastronomic hotspot. The combination of urban amenities and countrified setting also makes it an ideal jumping-off point for forays into the central and eastern sections of the Brecon Beacons.
Don’t miss:Time your visit to coincide with September’s food festival, among the best in Britain.
