Introducing Wales
The Welsh spirit is the country’s defining feature. Indeed, for its entire history Wales has struggled against waves of invaders who have sought to subjugate its people; but, as the invaders found out, it’s a country that just won’t lie down. Today the spirit of Wales is stronger than ever. Welsh arts, film and, above all, rock music have taken the world stage by storm and killed off the hackneyed old stereotypes of desolate pit villages, lovespoons (spoons with an elaborate handle that are a traditional artisan craft) and teashops.
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The new Wales is a vibrant place where history is alive and Welsh culture finds new forms of expression. The mix of defiant tradition and New-World sophistication is one of Wales’ greatest assets today. The male voice choirs may still keep a welcome in the valleys, but an alternative culture flourishes in urban hubs, like Cardiff a healthy dose of hedonism oozes from gourmet kitchens and hip hotels, and a strong motif of environmental awareness underpins the country’s forward-looking perspective. Wales remains a superb outdoors location: grab your hiking boots or a mountain bike and head to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park with its stunning scenery and coastal trail, or lose yourself in the pounding surf, sweeping beaches and limestone cliffs of the Gower Peninsula. You can tour villages with tongue-twisting names before settling down in a cosy pub with a pint of local ale in Brecon Beacons, or join the adrenaline junkies in a quest for the ultimate adventure in Llandudno – Welsh style.
Wales is a place that becomes an obsession, beckoning back its visitors year after year with its friendly locals, fine food, remarkable landscapes, white-knuckle adventures and admirably green credentials. These are the marks of a country looking firmly towards a rosy future.
Last updated: Mar 2, 2009
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Recent posts
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RE: Scotland should be independent
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Wales
Things to do
- All things to do (672)
- Activities (101)
- Entertainment (115)
- Restaurants (210)
- Shopping (81)
- Sights (165)
- Tours (0)
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Our Top Picks For Wales
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1 Machynlleth
The capital of green Wales and home to the superb Centre for Alternative Technology
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2 Cardiff
Cosmopolitan capital with colourful, eccentric castle, dynamic waterfront development and unmissable St Fagans National History Museum
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3 Gower Peninsula
Gorgeous sandy beaches, flower-fringed limestone cliffs and easy-going coastal walks, near Swansea and its superb National Waterfront Museum
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4 Brecon Beacons
Rugged hillls and wild moors beloved of hikers and mountain-bikers, with great pubs and restaurants
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5 Builth Wells
The best of the spa towns and home to the Royal Welsh Agricultural Show
Fast Facts about Wales
- Rate of house price inflation
10.5%
- Sheep population
10.2 million
- Unemployment rate
4.5%
- Inflation
2.4%
- Population
2.9 million
- GDP per capita
£12, 000
- Size
20, 000 sq km
Our favourite Wales Blogs (beta)
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Solo Travel Destination: Anglesey, Wales
Blog: Solo Traveler - 22 May 2012
Ancient castles, seaside villages, beautiful views and stunning sunsets are just some of the reasons that Anglesey, Wales is recommended by this Solo Travel Society member.
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Devil’s Bridge
Blog: Sophie's World - 21 March 2012
Devil's Bridge (Welsh: Pontafyrnach, 'the bridge over the Mynach') is enchanting and eerie, and an absolute must if you’re in Aberystwyth. Devil’s Bridge is a post from Sophie's World
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music from Wales: Fernhill
Blog: Music Road - 1 March 2012
1 March is Saint David's Day. Saint David is the patron saint of the country of Wales.With the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, you might have heard more about the country of Wales than you usually do. The Duke’s father is titled the Prince of Wales, for one thing. The Duke is serving with a rescue unit of the Royal Air Force based in Anglesey, for another, and the couple have chosen to live near there. There is more to Wales than its recent royal highlighting, of course.
