wales
Wales essentials The charming houses of Portmeirion
Man V Horse Marathon This annual 22-mile race sees runners compete against riders on horseback in the mid-Wales town of Llanwrtyd Wells. 12 June Pembrokeshire Fish Week This fishy event is held for nine days, attracting seafood lovers for a host of activities from fishing competitions to cooking demos. 26 June-4 July Wales Airshow A spectacular show along the entire five-mile stretch of Swansea Bay. At ground level are children's entertainments and a funfair. 3-4 July World Bog Snorkelling Championships This quirky event held in Llanwrtyd Wells attracts visitors from far and wide. 29 August Abergavenny Food Festival Chefs, farmers and food writers feature at this culinary celebration in Monmouthshire. 18-19 September
HIGHLIGHTS PORTMEIRION With stunning views, colourful gardens and amazing architecture, this Italian-inspired village built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis in the 20th century is a sight to behold. The village's quirky buildings in ice-cream colours are now heritage-listed. CARDIFF Wales’ capital is fast becoming one of the UK's top cities for shopping, food and entertainment. With fifteen castles within an hour's drive, it's the perfect base for a tour of Wales's famous fortresses, starting with the medieval Cardiff Castle. CAERNARFON CASTLE Built by Edward I as part of his 'Iron Ring', mighty Caernarfon, with its sturdy walls and polygonal towers, is one of Wales’s most impressive castles.
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TENBY This picture-perfect seaside town in Pembrokeshire has glorious beaches and a charming medieval core. CONWY From a colossal 13th-century castle to the smallest house in Britain, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is bursting with things to see. The scenic medieval town boasts a stunning harbour and suspension bridge. It is close to some of Wales’ prettiest beaches and surrounded by gorgeous countryside. SNOWDONIA Wales’s largest national park, Snowdonia covers 823 square miles of spectacular landscapes. As well as Wales’s highest mountain, Mount Snowdon, there are some lovely, scenic villages to visit, including Betws-y-Coed and Beddgelert.
BRECON BEACONS NATIONAL PARK Whether it’s climbing the highest peak at Pen-y-Fan, wandering through the cave system at Dan-yr-Ogof or stargazing at this Dark Sky Reserve, there are few better places for exploring the great outdoors than South Wales's Brecon Beacons National Park. THE GOWER The Gower Peninsula holds some of Britain's most spectacular coastal scenery, culminating in the quaint town of Mumbles and dazzling Rhossili Bay, beloved of the poet Dylan Thomas. HIDDEN GEM For a blast of nostalgia, head to Llandudno, a genteel Victorian seaside resort which retains its old-fashioned feel with a period pier, pastel-coloured houses and a vintage tramway.
The Pembrokeshire Coast Path follows cliff-top pathways through stunning coastal scenery, with magnificent views at every turn
BRITAIN 2021
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