An Advertising Feature
A Walking Overview of Wales
Wales is well known for its fantastic walks and climbs. People from outside the country find can easily find last minute holiday deals, by doing a bit of planning and they’re off. The lush green countryside and ancient folklore make walks here some of the most invigorating in the world.
A lot of serious hikers choose areas of Wales such as the Breacon Beacons, with their steep hills. But for the rest, there are some more gentle walks that can be easily incorporated into a holiday here.
You can choose Mid Wales, South Wales or North Wales and there’s a wealth of information online to help you plan your walking holiday. There are several walking tour companies in each area of the country, so it’s not difficult to find one that suits you. There are guided walks on the Ceredigon and Pembrokeshire coasts that last between three and six hours. There are also more ‘themed’ walks. For example, you can have a walk with a tour guide who can explore the folklore and history of the places you walk through as you go.
There are also websites that have information for those who want to go on self guided walks. These sites not only advise on the best places to stay but mention the easiest way to get from those places to the start of the walks nearby. In the south of Wales there are walks organised by the Gower Heritage Centre which take you off the beaten track in the Gower Peninsula and Swansea Valley.
You will find that almost all of the names of places in Wales – that were named by the Welsh people – have meaning. Some will translate from the Welsh to tell of fairies and other mythical creatures but the Welsh language is very practical so many names are purely descriptive. You will find places in Wales with names that translate into things like ‘old bridge over the river,’ because, you guessed it, when the place was named, there was an old bridge over the river. Interestingly, this is something the Welsh language has in common with Chinese languages, which use pictures to describe things.
There are also walks that combine more adventurous activities with walks. You can go canoeing, kayaking, cycling and climbing amongst other things. For those of you really serious about walking, there are numerous rambler clubs in Wales. One of these is the West Glamorgan Ramblers.
In South Wales, probably the most popular part of Wales, most people flock to the Pembrokeshire coast, which has 200 miles of unspoilt sandy beaches. The area has been named as a national park and is characterized by jutting cliffs and small seaside villages. The national park is in a region which locals refer to as west Wales. There are boat trips to the islands of Grassholm, Ramsey Skomer and Skokholm to see the seabird colonies there. On the North coast, it is possible to see bottlenosed dolphins (the highest number in the UK) and porpoises as well as seals. On the south coast there are a great number of castles.
BIO
Sophie Collard (@QunoSpotter) writes about fascinating places to visit and people she’s met while on her travels. She’s travelled in the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia and loves the sense of distance and changing landscapes.
