Wales Travel Guide and Snowdon Holidays<<>> This Wales tourist travel guide and Walk Snowdonia Wales holidays will give you a glimpse of this ancient land of mountains, valleys, castles and sea. A country which gives you a warm welcome. A small country only 274 km (170 miles) from north to south and 97 km (60 miles) east to west. The highest mountain is Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa), at 1085 m (3,560 ft) in the north. Snowdon is part of the outstandingly beautiful Snowdonia range which is paticulary
popular for walkers, cyclists and outdoor pursuits.
In mid section are the remote Cambrian Mountains and then further south are The Brecon Beacons whos’ highest point is Pen-y-Fan at 886m (2,907ft). This National Park covers 519 square miles and is ideal for walking. In the industrial area of the South are steep-sided valleys carved out over ages by the rivers Cynon, Rhondda, Rhymney and Taff.
This land boasts a wonderful coastline of over 1,200km (750 miles) with beautiful, clean beaches and a variety of marine life. Such as Atlantic grey seals, dolphins, porpoises, basking sharks and leatherback turtles. The Gower Peninsula in the south was the first area, in 1956, in the whole of Britain to be designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
There are also several islands off the mainland. In the northwest is the largest called Anglesey (Ynys Môn) which is separated from the rest of wales by the Menai Strait. Here you will find the town of – ‘Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch’ which translates as "The church of St. Mary in the hollow of white hazel trees near the rapid whirlpool by St. Tysilio's of the red cave". The locals simply refer to their village as "Llanfair"
Many castles adorn the welsh countryside such as Beaumaris, Caernarfon, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Carreg Cennen, Conwy, Harlech, Kidwelly, Manorbier and Pembroke are just a few.
The Welsh are rightly proud of their language and it widely used. It is one of Europe’s oldest living languages. National TV and radio stations broadcast in Welsh and road signs are written in Welsh and English This is what it looks like;
croeso i Gymru (Croesoh ee Gum-reeh): Welcome to Wales. Bore da (Pronounced: Boh-reh dah): Good morning Prynhawn da (Prin-houn dah): Good afternoon Nos da (nohs dah): Good night Iechyd da! (Yeh-chid dah): Cheers! Tafarn (Tav-arn): Pub Diolch (Dee-olch): Thanks Da iawn (Dah ee-aw-n): Very good
The monarchy of the UK bestows the title of the PRINCE OF WALES to one of it’s sons but the last true welshman to hold the title was Owain Glyndwr who was born in 1350 A.D. Glyndwr studied law at the Inns of Court and was a solider in the English army. In 1400 A.D he led a revolt against the English and set up a Welsh parliament in Machynlleth. Initially it was successful but the uprising was eventually quashed by the English. Glyndwr was last seen in 1412 but was never captured. Shakespeare’s Henry IV portrays him as a fanatical leader. When he was born, he states, "the front of heaven was full of fiery shapes" and "the frame and huge foundation of the earth shak'd." He claims to be so mystically gifted, that he can "command the devil" and "call spirits from the vasty deep." He remains an important figure to the Welsh.
An ancient earthwork called Offa’s Dyke more or less defines the border with England and is a popular walking route. Offa was the King of Mercia, a huge area of old England, from 757 to 796 AD. He ordered a dyke to be built – from sea to sea as a defence and boundry mark. Some of the remains can still be found especially the 80 miles from the Wye valley to Wrexham.
One of the great festivals of the world is the National Eisteddfod, which promots the Welsh language and culture. It celebrates a mix of culture, music, and arts during the first week of August every year. However long your visit, you will enjoy it. From Snowdonia holidays and Anglesy in the north to the Pembrokeshire coast in the south.
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