When considering a Wales vacation, there’s a lot to be said for the adage that good things — or in this case, great things — come in small packages. After all, this petite country, which shares a border with England and is caressed by the Irish Sea, is only about the size of Massachusetts. But it’s also majestic, dotted with lofty mountains and dramatic castles, and rimmed by a coastline of pristine beaches.
Wales is packed with so many treasures that it will easily enchant travelers with a wide range of interests. Whether you’re an art aficionado, bird-watcher, history buff, thrill-seeker or botanical enthusiast, you’ll find something to satisfy your curiosity and tantalize your senses. These 10 things to see in Wales represent just a small sampling of this country’s many noteworthy sights that are all worth exploring.
Trek Along Conwy’s Town Walls
Soaring some 50 feet high, the well-preserved 13th-century walls of Conwy make for a dramatic stroll through the ancient battlements and multiple towers. Among the picturesque views are boats anchored in the harbor, the River Conwy, entrance to the Irish Sea and, on a clear day, the peaks of Eryri National Park (Snowdonia). Built by the English King Edward I along with Conwy Castle when he conquered Wales, these well-preserved walls can provide an extra thrill with the sometimes vertigo-inducing sheer drops along the less-than-a-mile walk.
Explore Blooming Gardens
You could easily spend a full, leisurely day ambling along the winding trails that network the expansive, tiered Bodnant Garden, set in the foothills of Eryri. For horticulturists, there’s plenty to love, including the waterlilies that cover the picturesque ponds in the Italianate Terrace area, wildflower meadows speckled with colorful native specimens and the woodland valley (The Dell) alive with the sounds of cascading water. In late May/early June, the Laburnum Arch attracts the most attention, with its brilliant yellow blooms that drape a 180-foot-long pergola.
Prowl Around an Elizabethan Mansion
Plas Mawr, a lavish 16th-century town house, opens a window into the life of the Tudor gentry. Owned and rebuilt by Robert Wynn, a wealthy, well-traveled gentleman, this grand mansion is noted for its rich plasterwork, colorful heraldry and ornately carved wood elements, all showing off his status. As you roam inside and outside this
multi-story dwelling with audio guide in hand, you’ll spot a fireplace painted to resemble marble, Wynn’s wife’s Dorothy’s chamber bedecked with a luxurious four-poster bed and a small garden planted with flora once popular in the 17th century.
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Book NowTraverse a Unique Aqueduct
Whether you paddle by canoe or kayak, walk the adjacent tow path or take a narrow boat ride across the
1,000-foot-long Pontcysyllite Aqueduct, you’ll feel like you’re floating (125 feet) above the swiftly flowing River Dee and its surrounding Bucolic Valley. The world’s highest navigable aqueduct, it is barely 12 feet wide with no protective railing on the non-towpath side, this makes for a dramatic but serene crossing. On a guided boat tour, you’ll learn why the aqueduct’s design was considered innovative when its construction was completed in the early 19th century.
Examine a Neolithic Burial Chamber
Wandering past the gate into this remote, verdant field, you’ll be awestruck by an impressive megalithic monument that appears precariously placed. With a flat, 16-ton capstone hovering eight feet off the ground, balanced atop three giant boulders, Pentre Ifan is thought to be a Neolithic communal burial chamber dating back 5,500 years. These stones and other nearby features would originally have been covered by a mound of boulders and turf. Curiously, these rocks are composed of the same local bluestone found at Stonehenge.
Participate in a Salt Tasting
A 45-minute tour of the Halen Mon Sea Salt Company may entirely change your views on this seasoning. Their handmade salt production removes the calcium that can lend a bitterness to typical salts. This is readily apparent at their tastings, which include sampling their specialty products such as oak-smoked salt and salt flavored with cumin and turmeric. Their award-winning salt was even served at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Don’t miss the spa experience: a local seaweed hot soak using water from the salt processing.
Descend to a Cliffside Chapel
Navigate down a series of steep stone steps to find the entrance to the wee, 13th-century St. Govan’s Chapel, perched under the limestone Pembrokeshire cliffs. According to legend, St. Govan, a 6th-century hermit monk, fled from pirates by slipping through a fissure that transformed into a cave. The chapel honors Govan, who lived his life in this windswept landscape. In the main chamber, you’ll notice a simple stone altar and benches; in the second, his original hiding spot — a wall which bears ripples — is said to be his rib impressions as the cave wrapped around him.
Bird Watch in a Historic Landscape
With myriad narrow paths and footbridges allowing easy access to the placid Bosherston Lily Ponds, birders and non-birders alike will find plenty to enjoy at Stackpole Estate. Dating from the 18th century, this trio of man-made ponds is coated with a carpet of blossoming lily pads, especially in June. Colorful dragonflies can be seen flitting about. No matter what route you take, you may spy moorhens, and maybe even a kingfisher. Veer away from the ponds to visit Broad Haven South, a stellar beach backed by sandy dunes and coastal cliffs.
Watch Artists at Work
Ensconced in a converted 19th-century chapel, the Goat Street Gallery is brimming with a diverse array of creative works: collages made from repurposed book covers, furniture crafted from reclaimed wood and decorative cutlery fashioned from found objects. You may even catch the married owners — textile artist, Amanda Wright and ceramicist, Daniel Wright — working. Amanda’s hand-stitched embroidery often embraces nature-based themes, whether it’s a curlew sandpiper or an Atlantic salmon. Dan’s hand-thrown earthenware combines traditional techniques with modern screen printing to produce pottery bearing images of local landmarks.
Tour a Family-Owned Woolen Mill
Depending on their production schedule, you’ll observe different timeless patterns being woven on numerous looms in Melin Tregwynt, a renowned woolen mill that’s been around since the mid-1800s. Snuggled on a secluded, foliage-draped property, this white-washed factory manufactures wool bedspreads and throw blankets found in top-tier hotels all over the UK and across Europe. Stop in their gift shop that’s also stocked with wool cushions, apparel and accessories. And, in fine weather, sit at a picnic table beside a small stream and nibble on a grilled Welsh cheddar sandwich with onion marmalade from their restaurant.
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