Wales General Information Area: 20,779 sq km (7987 sq miles). Population: 2,937,000 (1999). Population Density: 141.3 per sq km. Capital: Cardiff. Population: 324,400 (1999). GEOGRAPHY: Wales is a country of great geographical variation with many long stretches of attractive and often rugged coastline. South Wales is mainly known for its industrial heritage but the western part of the coast between Carmarthen Bay and St David’s is similar to that of the more pastoral west country of England, and backed by some equally beautiful countryside. The scenery of mid-Wales includes rich farming valleys, the broad sandy sweep of Cardigan Bay and rolling hill country. North Wales is one of the most popular tourist areas in the British Isles, with many lively coastal resorts. Inland, the region of Snowdonia has long been popular with walkers and climbers. Much of the central inland area of the country is mountainous, with some breathtaking scenery. Government: Following a referendum in May 1999, Wales was granted its own assembly with a considerable degree of autonomy. The Welsh Assembly does not have a similar level of power and responsibility as that enjoyed by the Scottish Parliament. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II. Head of Government: First Secretary Rhodri Morgan since 2000. Language: English and Welsh are the official languages. Welsh is taught in all schools, and at least a fifth of the population speaks it. Note: For information on time, electricity and communications, see the main United Kingdom section. Public Holidays Note: Public holidays observed in Wales are the same as those observed in the rest of the UK (see the main United Kingdom section) with the addition of: Aug 25 2003 Summer Bank Holiday. Aug 23 2004 Summer Bank Holiday. Travel - International AIR: Wales’ international airport is Cardiff International Airport (CWL) (website: www.cardiffairportonline.com). Airport information: (01446) 711 111. Facilities include buffets, snack bar, two bars, two bureaux de change (one in arrivals, one in departures), ATMs, duty- and tax-free shops, numerous other shops, travel agency, children’s play area, executive lounge and facilities for the disabled. Train: Local buses link the airport with Cardiff Central station, which is 19km (12 miles) away. The station is served by the Intercity network and regional lines, including a fast service to London Paddington. There are also bus connections to Barry Town Station, 8km (5 miles) from the airport. Coach: Regular coach services operate to Cardiff Central Bus Station from London Victoria and other major destinations with connections to the rest of the country. Local bus: Bus no. X91 runs from Cardiff bus station to the airport on an hourly basis (Mon-Sat). Service X45 from The Hayes, Cardiff, operates Mon-Sat hourly. Service X5 runs from Cardiff bus station every 2 hours on a Sunday. Taxi: Available through local operator Cardiff Airport Taxis (tel: (01446) 710 693). Car hire: Europcar has an office at the airport (tel: (01446) 711 924); Hertz (tel: (01446) 711 722) and Avis (tel: (01446) 719 569) also provide services. Private car: Cardiff is reached on the M4 from London, exiting at Junction 33 and following the signs. Car-parking facilities are available at the airport for short- and long-term stays. SEA: The main ports are Fishguard and Holyhead (Anglesey), both of which have ferry connections to the Republic of Ireland. RAIL: There are two main-line routes into Wales. One runs from London Paddington to Fishguard along the south Wales coast (branching at Whitland to serve Haverford West and Milford Haven), while the other links Holyhead with Chester and northwest England. In addition, the line from Cardiff to Chester (via Newport, Hereford and Shrewsbury) links the south Wales cities with Abergavenny in Gwent and Wrexham in Clwyd. There are also two smaller cross-country lines: these run from Shrewsbury to Welshpool, Barmouth, Harlech, Porthmadog and Pwllheli; from Shrewsbury via Welshpool to Aberystwyth; and from Craven Arms (on the Shrewsbury–Ludlow line) through Llandrindod Wells and Llandovery down to Swansea. There are also a large number of local steam railways, rescued by railway enthusiasts during the Beeching era, known collectively as The Great Little Trains of Wales. The most famous of these is the one at Ffestiniog, Porthmadog in Snowdonia, which has lovingly restored locomotives and carriages from the last century. Others include the Welshpool and Llanfair Railway (in north Powys), the Fairbourne and Talyllyn Railways (both near Barmouth in Cardigan Bay) and the Bala Lake Railway. Wanderers’ Tickets are available, giving access to all the railways for a specific period. For further information, contact The Great Little Trains of Wales, c/o Talyllyn Railway, Wharf Station, Tywyn, Gwynedd, LL36 9EY (tel: (01654) 710 472; fax: (01654) 711 755; e-mail: enquiries@talyllyn.co.uk; website: www.talyllyn.co.uk). ROAD: The best road approach to Wales from southern England is via the M4 motorway, which runs from west London to Newport, Cardiff and Swansea, almost to Carmarthen. The A5 links London and the Midlands with the ferry port of Holyhead, and the A55 links Holyhead with Chester. The best cross-country road is probably the A44/A470 from Oxford to Aberystwyth. Many of the smaller roads are slow, and in upland areas may become impassable during bad weather. The bilingual Mantais Cymru information line, operated on behalf of the National Assembly for Wales (NAW) offers primary access to the very latest traffic and road user information for travel to, from and within Wales (info line tel: 0845 602 6020; e-mail: info@traffic-wales.com; website: www.traffic-wales.com.) Distances: From London to Cardiff is 249km (155 miles), to Fishguard is 425km (264 miles), to Holyhead is 476km (296 miles) and to Aberystwyth is 394km (245 miles). URBAN: All the main cities have local bus services. There is a good network of local train services radiating from Cardiff. Accommodation HOTELS: Hotels in Wales are subject to the Wales Tourist Board’s ‘star’ classification scheme. The higher the star rating, the greater the range of quality, comfort, equipment, facilities and services on offer. Grading: 1-star: Fair to good quality in standards of service, furnishings and guest care. 2-star: Good quality. 3-star: Very good quality. 4-star: Excellent quality. 5-star: Exceptional quality. The star grading classification scheme also applies to guest-houses, farmhouses, inns and hostels. The star ratings for these types of accommodation reflect the nature of the accommodation and guest expectations (eg inns can achieve 5 stars, as long as the standards of service, facilities and comfort are of the highest quality). Further information may be obtained from the brochures produced by the Wales Tourist Board (see Contact Addresses section). In addition, the Board’s north, mid- and south Wales regional tourist companies have lists of accommodation available in their areas. For north Wales, tel: (01492) 531 731; mid-Wales, tel: (01654) 702 653; and south and west Wales, tel: (01792) 781 212. SELF-CATERING: There is a very wide variety of self-catering accommodation, ranging from holiday villages in or near popular coastal resorts to remote cottages in the mountains of Snowdonia. Contact the regional offices referred to above for an up-to-date list. Grading: Accommodation is graded on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, as follows: 1 – Standard. 2 – Approved. 3 – Good. 4 – Very good. 5 – Excellent. CAMPING/CARAVANNING: There are over 300 caravan parks in the country, both permanent and touring parks, and all sites referred to in accommodation lists or brochures supplied by tourist offices will meet certain minimum requirements. There are many campsites throughout the country. Grading: Sites are graded on a scale of 1 to 5 stars reflecting quality, neatness and cleanliness but not necessarily facilities. Introduction Populous South Wales incorporates the capital Cardiff, the cities of Swansea and Newport, Carmarthen Bay and two national parks, Pembrokeshire Coast and Brecon Beacons. The Cambrian Mountains and the attractive coastal resorts of Cardigan Bay are highlights of mid-Wales, while the North has popular seaside resorts like Llandudno and Rhyl, the island of Anglesey and the scenic delights of Snowdonia National Park. Wales is an historic land of castles and mountains, sweeping beaches and strong national identity dating back to pre-Norman times. There is an industrial heritage, primarily in the Valleys of the south. It is also famous for its narrow-gauge railways (see Rail in the Travel section). South Wales CARDIFF (CAERDYDD): The modern city has two parts: the original centre and Cardiff Bay, which is now the focus of much leisure and tourism development as well as home of the Welsh National Assembly. In the city centre, parts of Cardiff Castle, despite extensive rebuilding in the 19th century, date back to the Middle Ages. The National Museum and Gallery, with Welsh archaeology, arts and crafts as well as European paintings, is another highlight, as are the many attractive Victorian shopping arcades. The Millennium Stadium, new home of Welsh Rugby Union, is an imposing attraction open for guided tours on non-matchdays. The Cardiff Bay area, about 2km (1.5 miles) south of the centre, offers diverse interest ranging from boat trips to the impressive Barrage (which now seals the Bay off from the open sea), to the Techniquest Science Discovery Centre. About 8km (5 miles) west of Cardiff is St Fagans with its open-air Museum of Welsh Life. SWANSEA (ABERTAWE): The country’s second city has over 45 parks, is a popular seaside resort, and is conveniently close to the Gower Peninsula. However, it is probably best known as the birthplace of Dylan Thomas (1914-1953). A city centre walking trail begins at the Dylan Thomas Centre, and leads visitors around sites associated with the poet and playwright. Elsewhere in the city, the Swansea Museum dates from the 1830s. The Egypt Centre Museum specialises, as its name suggests, in Egyptology, while pottery, porcelain and modern art feature at the Glynn Vivian Art Gallery. At Parc Tawe, Plantasia is a high-tech tropical hothouse with plants from all over the world. A new Arts Wing was recently opened in Swansea’s Grand Theatre, the city’s main show venue. Mumbles, a suburb of Swansea, is also an important resort. ELSEWHERE: Chepstow, whose castle and town walls date from medieval times, straddles the English/Welsh border. Nearby Caerwent is rich in Roman remains. Between Cardiff and the English border is Newport, Wales’ third-largest town, which has a 15th-century cathedral. South Wales’ biggest inland draw is the Brecon Beacons National Park, whose main touring bases are Brecon and Abergavenny. The narrow-gauge Brecon Mountain Railway runs through the hills from Merthyr Tydfil. In the Valleys, Blaenafon (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) offers industrial heritage attractions in the shape of Big Pit Mining Museum and the Ironworks. Caerphilly has a massive castle, and at nearby Treharris is Llancaiach Fawr Living History Museum. Numerous resorts line the coast between Cardiff and Swansea, including Barry, Porthcawl and Aberavon. Others, along the Gower Peninsula, include Oxwich and Port Eynon. The former county of Pembrokeshire, in the west, has many castles as well as the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. The best-known religious building in the area is the cathedral of St David’s, Britain’s smallest city. Mid-Wales ABERYSTWYTH: A university town midway round Cardigan Bay, and a popular resort. It is the base for visits to Devil’s Bridge Waterfalls, one of Britain’s most notable beauty spots, linked to the town by the Vale of Rheidol narrow-gauge steam railway. There are two other similar railways close by; the Tal-y-Llyn Railway, which runs for about 10km (16 miles) from Abergynolwyn through beautiful countryside to Tywyn; and the Fairbourne Railway linking Fairbourne with the Barmouth Ferry. Aberystwyth also has Britain’s longest electric cliff railway, and the Ceredigion Local History Museum. MACHYNLLETH: Celtica is a major visitor attraction here, focusing on Wales’ Celtic heritage, while underground boat trips and spectacular showcaves feature at King Arthur’s Labyrinth. The town also boasts the Centre for Alternative Technology, which highlights environmental issues and sustainable energy use; Senedd-Dy Owain Glyndwr (the 15th-century Welsh parliament building) and the Y Tabernael modern art gallery. WELSHPOOL: To the east of the region, near the English border, this is an attractive town with many Georgian buildings and the Welshpool and Llanfair narrow-gauge railway. The Andrew Logan Museum of Sculpture is popular, as are cruises on the Montgomery Canal. South of the town is the splendid Powis Castle, built in the 13th century and modernised 300 years later. ELSEWHERE: Cardigan, at the southern end of Cardigan Bay (Bae Ceredigion) is a pleasant market town, and a good starting point for exploring western parts of Mid-Wales. Along the bay there are many small resort towns and villages, rocky coves and sandy beaches. Barmouth was once one of the most popular resorts in the British Isles, frequented by such luminaries as Darwin and Tennyson. There are good beaches, both in the town and near Dyffryn Ardudwy to the north. Towns of interest inland include Builth Wells, an important cattle-trading town; Strata Florida Abbey; Lampeter and Tregaron on the River Teifi, and Llandrindod Wells, Wales’ foremost spa resort in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. On the northern tip of Cardigan Bay is Harlech, famous both for its castle which overlooks the peaks of Snowdonia and for the stirring song, ‘Men of Harlech’, referring to the 15th-century defence of the castle. South of Harlech is Llanbedr, a popular yachting centre. North Wales CAERNARFON: Facing the Isle of Anglesey across the Menai Strait is Caernarfon, whose 13th-century castle and walls dominate the town. Prince Charles’ investiture as Prince of Wales took place here in 1969. Segontium Roman Fort is another attraction. Work is currently under way on a 40km (25-mile) extension to the narrow-gauge Welsh Highland Railway, which will ultimately connect Caernarfon with Porthmadog. CONWY: With its mighty castle and complete medieval town walls, Conwy is an important historic centre. It also offers the tropical Butterfly Jungle and riverbus cruises along the Conwy River. The Royal Cambrian Academy of Art is also in the town, whose Visitor Centre presents a multimedia show about the area. Nearby are the superb Bodnant Gardens. LLANDUDNO: Beneath Great Orme Head lies one of the country’s busiest resorts. It has almost every possible amenity as well as being within striking distance of the beautiful hinterland, which includes the Snowdonia National Park. The town’s attractions include the Great Orme Mines, the world’s largest prehistoric site of its type, the Llandudno Cable Car, which climbs to the summit of Great Orme, and the North Wales Theatre, a major arts venue. RHYL: A town with a 5km (3-mile) promenade and extensive leisure and recreation facilities. It is a good base for excursions to St Asaph, a city with the smallest medieval cathedral in Britain. Major attractions in Rhyl include the Sea Life Aquarium, the Rhyl Museum and Art Gallery as well as the Pavilion Theatre. WREXHAM: Close to the English border, Wrexham is the largest town in north Wales. Attractions such as the Arts Centre, the nearby Minera Lead Mines and Bersham Ironworks Heritage Centre are the main points of interest in an otherwise industrial town. A kilometre south lies Erddig, a 17th-century squire’s house containing much of the traditional furniture and with many of the outbuildings still in their original condition and in working order. ELSEWHERE: One of the longest established tourist areas in the British Isles, north coast beach resorts like Llandudno, Prestatyn and Rhyl still remain popular with holidaymakers. The chain of resorts continues almost unbroken for miles; Rhos-on-Sea, Colwyn Bay (location of the Welsh Mountain Zoo), Abergele and Prestatyn all have good beaches. Further east lie Bagillt and Flint, once capital of a tiny county bearing the same name. Porthmadog, on Tremadog Bay, is another resort town – close to here is the village of Portmeirion, location for the 1960s ‘Prisoner’ TV series and home of Portmeirion china. The world’s oldest independent narrow-gauge railway, the Ffestiniog Railway, carries thousands of visitors from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog each year, many of whom go to see the Llechwedd Slate Caverns. West from Porthmadog is the Lleyn Peninsula, with its many good beaches, particularly on the south coast, at towns such as Criccieth (home of the Lloyd George Museum), Pwllheli, Abersoch, Aberdaron, and, on the northern coast, Nefyn and Clynnog-Fawr. Anglesey, known as Ynys Môn locally, is notable for the remarkable Menai Bridge, the Anglesey Sea Zoo at Brynsiencyn, and Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (commonly called Llanfair PG), which boasts the UK’s longest place name. The island’s main town, Beaumaris, has a castle built by Edward I and the Museum of Childhood Memories. Back on the mainland is the university and cathedral city of Bangor; its attractions include a huge doll collection housed in Penrhyn Castle. Snowdonia National Park is 2200 sq km (840 sq miles) containing some of Britain’s finest scenery, and 14 peaks over 915m (3000ft), the highest of which is Mount Snowdon (1085m, 3556ft). The Snowdon Mountain Railway climbs from Llanberis to the summit. Other attractions in the region include Betws-y-Coed, in the Gwydyr Forest; Bethesda, southeast of Bangor; Bala Lake, which also has a narrow-gauge railway; and Beddgelert, location of the Sygun Copper Mine. In the east of the region is Chirk Castle, a 14th-century Marcher fortress built to guard the frontier, which it straddles. It stands in an area of great natural beauty, including the forests of Dyfnant, Ceiriog and Penllyn. Llangollen, set in forested landscape, overlooks the salmon-rich River Dee and a masterpiece of medieval bridge building. Nearby are the 13th-century Vale Crucis Abbey and the spectacular road across the Horseshoe Pass. Sport & Activities Rugby Union: This is the national sport, and is played to the very highest level of skill. There are a huge number of local clubs and the international team plays matches at the national stadium, Cardiff Arms Park. Walking: Wales is a beautiful and mountainous country, ideal for walkers and hikers. There are three national parks: the Brecon Beacons, Snowdonia and the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Park. The highest peaks are in the north, where the mountains are also more rugged. This area is very popular with climbers, who will find many climbs, scrambles and chimneys of varying degrees of difficulty. There are a lot of outdoor centres and shops where equipment can be hired or bought, and expeditions and tuition for all levels of ability can be arranged. Apart from Mount Snowdon itself (Wales’s highest peak at 1085m/3556ft), northern Snowdonia contains the ranges of the Glyders, the Carnedds, the Nantlle Hills and Moel Hebog. In southern Snowdonia are the Moelwyns, the Rhinogs, the Arans and Cadair Idris. A classic walk is the ‘Snowdon Horseshoe’, a 9.5 mile- (15 km-) circuit of three glacier-carved valleys near Snowdon. Taking in the knife-edge ridge of Crib Goch on the way to Snowdon’s summit, it provides stunning views, but is only suitable for experienced walkers. It is often started at Pen-y-pass, six miles from Llanberis. The Brecon Beacons offer easier, though still quite challenging, walking while the nearby Wye Valley offers gentle beauty. In the west of the country is the 189 mile- (304km-) ‘Pembrokeshire Coast Path’, which runs along the coast from Amroth near Tenby to St Dogmaels near Cardigan. The area is of particular interest to birdwatchers, owing to the variety and number of seabirds living on the cliffs there. Other long-distance walks include ‘Offa’s Dyke Path’ (177 miles/285km) which follows the original border between England and Wales. It is strenuous in parts with continual ascents and descents. Cycling: This can be done all over Wales, though the mountainous terrain can make it strenuous. There are plenty of off-road trails for mountain bikers; the tourist board can provide details of way-marked routes. A new route, the ‘Celtic Trail’, opened in south Wales in 2000. Covering 186 miles, 70 per cent of which is off-road, the trail runs between Newport in the east and Kedwelly in the west. It consists of disused railway lines, canal towpaths and quiet roads, which makes it suitable for all levels of ability. A new high-level route between Pontypridd and Neath also opened in summer 2000. Watersports: Both the coastal and the inland waters offer endless opportunities for all types of watersports, and there are excellent facilities throughout the country. Wales’s three coastlines have no shortage of harbours and marinas, many of them newly developed. Mountain scenery, cliffs, islands and small secluded beaches are some of the attractions for sailors here. Seals, dolphins, basking sharks and porpoise can be seen in offshore waters. West Wales offers some of the best sea-kayaking in the world. Windsurfing can be done from beaches in the west (many of which have won European Blue Flag awards – see Resorts & Excursions section for further details). The fast tidal streams of the Menai Straits, the narrow passage between Angelsey and the mainland, are popular with sailors wishing to test their skills. Boats and tuition are available if necessary from numerous watersports centres. Inland, lakes and rivers offer opportunities for canoeing, sailing and dinghy sailing. Bala Lake is a major centre for these activities, as well as for fishing. White water suitable for canoeing and rafting can be found nearby. In south Wales, major watersports centres include Llangorse (for windsurfing, canoeing and waterskiing) and Llandegfydd (for windsurfing and sailing). Other: There are many golf courses, tennis courts and sports centres throughout the country. Sea fishing is good off all coasts and there are also many opportunities for coarse and game fishing inland; Snowdonia, Brecon and the River Teifi (Cardigan) are among the most popular. Social Profile Food & Drink: In most major centres, British and continental food is available. Welsh cooking is, in general, simple with abundant fresh local produce, particularly meat and fish. Near the coast, seafood is also widely available. Local dishes include Welsh rarebit (cheese on toast), leek soup, bara brith (a type of tea bread) and laver bread, which is made with seaweed. Nightlife: In general, it is similar to that in an English town of comparable size, with bars, restaurants and cinemas being common in the cities and large towns. Special Events: St David’s Day (Mar 1) is dedicated to the patron saint of Wales. Although it is not a public holiday, schoolchildren celebrate and learn about their culture through music, poetry and cookery on this day. Many Welsh villages hold an Eisteddfod once a year – a contest for local poets, singers and musicians. All but the largest ones are generally only advertised inside the town itself but visitors are welcome to attend. Other special events celebrated during 2003 include: Jan 1 Mari Llwyd Torchlit Walk (procession and events starting at 2300 on Dec 31 2002), Llanwrtyd. Mar 7-9 Folk and Ale Festival, Llanwrtyd Wells. May/Jun Hay Festival (literary festival), Hay-On-Wye. Jul Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod, Llangollen; Royal Welsh Show (agricultural show), Builth Wells; Fishguard International Music Festival, Fishguard; Welsh Proms, Cardiff; The Big Cheese (summer festival in celebration of cheese), Caerphilly. Jul/Aug Cardiff International Festival, Cardiff. Aug National Eisteddfod of Wales, St Davids; Herb Festival, Carew; Brecon Jazz Festival, Brecon; Bog Snorkelling Competition, Llanwrtyd Wells; Cardiff Pride (gay and lesbian parade), Cardiff. Oct Swansea Festival of Music and the Arts, Swansea. Nov Mid-Wales Beer Festival, Llanwrtyd Wells. Nov 1 Cardiff Round Table Firework Display, Cardiff. Dec 6 A Tudor Advent (themed Christmas event with costume competition), National Botanic Gardens, Llanarthne. Note: Accommodation at festival times should be booked well in advance. Business Profile Business: See main United Kingdom section. Conferences/Conventions: The Wales Tourist Board/Bwrdd Croeso Cymru publishes two brochures on conferences and incentives as well as a group directory. For information contact the Business Travel Department, Wales Tourist Board, Tenth Floor, Brunel House, 2 Fitzalan Road, Cardiff, CF2 0UY (tel: (02920) 499 909; fax: (02920) 485 031). Climate Wales tends to be wetter than England, with slightly less sunshine. The coastal areas, however, can be very warm in summer. Conditions in upland areas can be dangerous and changeable at all times of the year. Required clothing: Similar to the rest of the UK, according to season. Waterproofing advised throughout the year, and warm clothes are required for upland areas. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.