Top ten reasons to visit Wales

 

After two weeks in Wales…here are our ten top reasons to visit.

 

1. Wales is an ambler’s paradise. From quiet country lanes to national parks, mountain challenges, the coastal path and tramping through farmlands. Wales offers walks for every age and level of fitness. We were blessed with the extra benefit of glorious spring weather.

 

2. Welsh Rarebit. Toast covered in a delicious melted cheese sauce which can include combinations of beer, mustard, Worcestershire Sauce or wine enhanced by a sprinkle of paprika. So much more than your average grilled cheese on toast.

 

3. The traffic in Wales is generally fairly light. The roads are good and hooray for driving on the left. There are many narrow roads where overtaking is never going to happen, and simply passing an oncoming vehicle is challenging, but somehow it works. Patience is the key.

 

4. The Welsh don’t take themselves too seriously, they are proud to be a little quirky, they love a chat, they are very welcoming and their economic challenges seem to result in humble contentment.

 

5. Wales has 2700 kms of stunning, diverse and sometimes wild coastline with a surprising number of beautiful sandy beaches. Sunsets over the ocean are extra special. Anglesey, an island joined to the

mainland by two bridges is an unexpected treasure.

 

6. Fish and chips in Wales exceeds expectations by more than a furlong (look it up if you were born after 1974). Cod definitely tastes better than shark and the chips (shock horror) often appear to be hand cut rather than taken straight from the freezer.

 

7. The Welsh language is a pleasant

surprise. Welsh is widely spoken everywhere, but especially in the north. Every sign is bi-lingual, a challenge when most Welsh words contain very few vowels. By the mid 1960s the language was almost extinct, but the fightback to save it is a symbol of a proud people determined to maintain their own unique and historic culture. Da iawn ti! (Well done you!)

 

8. Welsh cakes ‘round and flat with sugar on the top’- sort of a cross between a pikelet and scone. They are traditionally made from flour, lard, sugar, and dried currants with just a hint of spice. Eaten warm with melted butter. Delicious.

 

9. The small town with a big name; Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

Wendy’s mum could pronounce it, but sadly that skill was not passed on.

 

10. Layers of history at every turn dating all the way back to the Bronze Age. If Lord Byron was correct when he said ‘The best prophet of the future is the past’, then Wales has much to teach us!