Holiday apartment in Wales – coastal path, routes and castles

The Wales Way is a group of three national routes leading into the heart of Wales. Together, the three routes showcase 420 miles of landscapes and attractions. Another notable route across the country is the 870-mile Wales Coast Path: it runs from the area near Chester to Chepstow and can be walked in its entirety or in shorter sections. It is also the first path in the world to follow the coast of an entire country in full.

Routes and dramatic landscapes

Several major routes run alongside one another, offering different ways to explore Wales. A large part of the Wales Coast Path is suitable for wheelchairs, bicycles, tricycles and pushchairs. Hikes for different levels of difficulty begin at the stations along the Cambrian Coast Railway Line. The long-distance cycle route Lôn Las Cymru (NCR 4/5/8) also passes through Ynys Môn (Anglesey), Eryri, Bannau Brycheiniog, Cardiff and Chepstow.

Around Yr Wyddfa, the Sherpa’r Wyddfa bus service stops at the starting points of all six routes to the summit. The Snowdon Mountain Railway opened in 1896 and uses a rack-and-pinion system to tackle the ascent to the summit.

Nature and dark skies

Waterfall Country encompasses deep, tree-lined gorges and a series of impressive waterfalls. The area offers opportunities for hiking, photography, climbing, caving and canoeing. Its wildlife is of international importance; Waterfall Country is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The sky is also one of the area’s natural highlights. Dark Sky Discovery Sites in Wales are suitable for observing the night sky with the naked eye. They are designed to be accessible and are suitable for beginners, families and people who are new to stargazing. Wales’s national parks protect some of the country’s best dark-sky areas, making visits at night just as rewarding as exploring during the day.

Culture and history

Wales has 427 castles. Among its outstanding historic sites is the World Heritage Site Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd, regarded as one of the finest examples of late 13th- and early 14th-century European military architecture. The castle and town wall complex was designed and overseen by James of St George, Edward I of England’s chief architect. Its medieval defensive features include barbicans, drawbridges, fortified gateways, dungeons, towers and curtain walls. Cardiff Castle is open to the public.

Another aspect of history is preserved at Blaenafon Ironworks. Visible furnace ruins and the remains of a foundry, a casting house and a counterbalanced water tower survive there. At Blaenafon Ironworks, visitors can view authentically furnished workers’ houses and a reconstructed truck shop. The interpretation places the history of the workers at the centre of an industrial World Heritage landscape.

City, museum and regional cuisine

National Museum Cardiff presents art and natural history and offers an extensive programme of exhibitions and events. Admission is free; however, a fee may apply to some exhibitions, events and activities. Traditional Welsh foods include cawl, Welsh rarebit, laverbread and bara brith.

Holiday apartment in Wales

When comparing a holiday apartment in Wales, you can check the exact location, the stated accommodation type and the specified occupancy on the relevant listing page before booking. Included services, the individual price components and the applicable booking or cancellation conditions are also relevant. This keeps the specific features of each listing separate from the destination’s diverse landscapes, routes and attractions.

Regional destinations

Bridgend, Blaenau Gwent, Wrexham, Conwy, Neath Port Talbot, Monmouthshire, Ceredigion, Gwynedd, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Isle of Anglesey, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Powys, Merthyr Tydfil, Vale of Glamorgan, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Pembrokeshire, Abertawe, Newport, Swansea, Caerphilly, Torfaen

For the higher-level travel overview: United Kingdom.