Things to do in Wales

It is the peaks of Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon itself that draw the crowds, helped by the easy ascent offered by an obliging train. Around 600,000 people walk, climb or take the train to the 1085m summit each year to take in the splendid views and clear those cobwebs once and for all. Despite the crowds, Yr Wyddfa is the highest mountain in Wales and needs to be treated seriously! Many are caught out by not preparing for the difficulty and the elements in this remote part of the world. The ascent of Snowdon may seem more like a beano than a serious walker’s solitary struggle against the elements, but that is all part of its allure and charm.

Opened in June 1999 complete with the first fully retractable roof in the UK, it has hosted some of the world’s most famous sporting events as well as concerts featuring the biggest entertainers in show business, from Take That, One Direction and Oasis to Madonna, Rihanna and Beyoncé.

While all of these beaches are worth exploring, it’s Harbour Beach, at the rear of the harbour, which offers the best protection from the wind and must be considered one of the most child-friendly beach destinations in Pembrokeshire. Recently named the finest beach in Europe, Harbour won out over competitors from Portugal, Croatia and Italy. Considered the jewel in the crown of Pembrokeshire’s tourism portfolio, it’s postcard-perfect, if a little crowded during peak season.

The park is made up of 519 square miles of mountain ranges, river valleys, rolling hills, forests, lakes, waterfalls and hidden caves. In among this stunning natural beauty, you will also find some of Wales’ most colourful towns, pubs, farmers’ markets and Michelin-starred restaurants. The quaint village of Llanddewi Skirrid near Abergavenny is particularly worth a visit.

Sun worshippers have been flocking here since Victorian times to what is essentially a small island, though joined now to the mainland since 1896 by a small pier. The site of a Butlins holiday camp during the 1960’s, Barry Beach is perfect for families, with its signature calling card being Barry Island Pleasure Park. Come here for crowds, candy floss and sticks of rock, the scream of the rollercoaster and the thump of the dodgems.

A 12-sided medieval keep offering panoramic views across the city from a platform at its top is at the castle’s heart, but the site is also full of later additions that capture the imagination. Fabulous mock-Gothic features, including an extravagant banqueting hall and clock tower, were added during the Victorian era.

Established in 1952 and covering 240 square miles of spectacular landscape, it is Britain’s only predominantly sea-based national park. Dolphins, porpoises, whales and seals are a common sight in the crystal blue coastal waters, while the cliffs and islands are home to vitally important breeding populations of sea birds.

Standing proudly overlooking the historic town of Conwy on the North Wales coast, the dark stoned fortress is in remarkably good condition considering the military action it has seen over the centuries and visitors can still walk along its impressive walls today.