There is more to see in Wales besides Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobewllllantysiliogogogoch. Yes, that is the real name of a town. The literal translation is “The church of St. Mary in the hollow of white hazel trees near the rapid whirlpool by St. Tysilio’s of the red cave”. Locals refer to the town as Llanfair to save time and trouble.
Wales is often overlooked as a good place to travel when you are in the United Kingdom. This is partly due to the historical animosity between Wales and England, but don’t be put off. The Welsh are very friendly, just don’t tease them about the British.
Get Some Fresh Air
The primary reason to go to Wales is the country side and coastline. North Wales is considered to be the most beautiful part of Wales, although the South still has sites to offer. The landscape is breathtaking, with mountains and green, rolling hills, dozens of lakes and rivers that lead to the beautiful coastline, dotted with clean beaches. Check out these sites to help plan your trip:
- Snowdonia National Park
- Country Side Council for Wales
- National Showcaves Centre for Wales
- The Garden of Wales
Also, because the landscape is so valued and varied, outdoor activities are extremely popular: walking/hiking, waters sports (including abseiling, canoeing, and diving), mountain biking - the list goes on. Activity centers are dotted all over the place. It’s perfect for activity holidays and especially good if you have young children.
The Welsh Language
Another reason to visit Wales is the Welsh language. A Celtic language, Welsh has been on the decline for decades. The Welsh Language Act of 1993 created a push for the language to survive and Welsh now has an equal foothold in the public sector in Wales. All public writing, from road signs to menus, are provided in both Welsh and English.
Expect to see and hear it and have people speak to you in Welsh. But you don’t necessarily need to go prepared with some key phrases and a Welsh/English dictionary. Monoglot Welsh speakers are a rare breed and almost everyone speaks English. Locals aren’t offended if you don’t strike up conversation in Welsh. The pronunciation is one of the hardest I’ve ever tried and I’m pretty skilled with the French rolling ‘r’!
If you want to learn, get a Welsh speaker to talk you through the different sounds. It will save you a lot of time and trouble. If you are interested in learning a bit of Welsh before you travel there, the BBC website has some good beginners lessons that can get you started.
Costs
Generally speaking, Wales is cheaper than England. While travelling in England can cost you dearly, you’ll be pleasantly surprised at how the cost of hotels/holiday cottages drops when you enter Wales. And, yes, it does use the British pound, so don’t go and change your money to Euros.