Wales: Coast, Castles and the Brecon Beacons

Snowdonia National Park is a rugged mountain landscape, dominated by the 1085-meter-high Yr Wyddfa, the highest peak in Wales and England. The picturesque Llanberis Pass cuts deep through the mountain massif, where glacial valleys flow into lakes such as Llyn Padarn. Hiking trails lead to the mountain peaks, with panoramic views. Around Llanberis, you can enjoy adventurous water sports on the lakes. The silence of the mountains surrounds you here.

The Coastal Way showcases the rugged coast of Wales, where you can spot bottlenose dolphins along Cardigan Bay. The bay is home to the largest population of bottlenose dolphins in Great Britain. At the thirteenth-century Harlech Castle, you stand on a prominent rock high above the Irish Sea. In Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, you walk along cliff paths past sandy beaches and sheltered bays. The tranquil coastline here offers expansive views over the Irish Sea.

St Davids is the smallest city in the United Kingdom, a charming place on the Pembrokeshire coast. In its centre stands the imposing St Davids Cathedral, a twelfth-century structure on the site of a sixth-century monastery. You can walk along the rugged coast on the Pembrokeshire Coast Path or take a boat to Ramsey Island. The city combines a rich history with the rugged beauty of the coast, where you can observe grey seals from Ramsey Island.

At low tide, Rhossili Bay reveals the wooden remains of the Helvetia, a Norwegian ship that was wrecked here in 1887. From the 193-meter high Rhossili Down, you can look out over the Atlantic Ocean and the rocky island of Worm's Head, accessible at low tide via a natural causeway. Along the cliffs, you can take picturesque coastal walks. The sunset paints the bay in warm hues, a picturesque spectacle above the wild surf.

Swansea is a port city on the south coast of Wales and forms the gateway to the Gower Peninsula. In the covered Swansea Market, you can taste local specialties such as laverbread and cockles, while the Marina forms the redeveloped harbour area. From Mumbles Pier, you have views of the bay and the eighteenth-century lighthouse, while in Clyne Gardens, you can walk among exotic plants and rhododendrons.

Brecon Beacons National Park, officially Bannau Brycheiniog, includes the highest mountain in South Wales, the 886-meter-high Pen y Fan. You hike in Waterfall Country along the rivers Mellte and Hepste to waterfalls such as Sgwd yr Eira, where you walk behind the curtain of water. The park has the status of International Dark Sky Reserve, allowing you to see thousands of stars and the Milky Way in clear weather.

Abergavenny is a vibrant market town that forms the gateway to the Brecon Beacons National Park. You can discover the ruins of Abergavenny Castle, a Norman castle dating from around 1087 with surrounding gardens. The 596-meter-high Sugar Loaf offers panoramic views over the Usk Valley. In the Market Hall, you'll find regional products, or you can climb the steep paths of Skirrid Fawr. The town is known as a culinary hotspot, where you can taste the local flavors.

Portmeirion is a village in Gwynedd, designed by architect Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975 in a Mediterranean style. The settlement on the Dwyryd estuary served as the backdrop for the television series The Prisoner and features buildings reminiscent of the Italian Portofino. Here you can stroll through the central piazza and past exotic gardens with rhododendrons and azaleas overlooking the coast of North Wales.

Snowdonia National Park is a rugged mountain landscape, dominated by the 1085-meter-high Yr Wyddfa, the highest peak in Wales and England. The picturesque Llanberis Pass cuts deep through the mountain massif, where glacial valleys flow into lakes such as Llyn Padarn. Hiking trails lead to the mountain peaks, with panoramic views. Around Llanberis, you can enjoy adventurous water sports on the lakes. The silence of the mountains surrounds you here.