SOMETIMES THE BEST holidays happen a little closer to home.
Coming as we do from such a stunning country, the Irish often take for granted the natural beauty on our doorstep. Like over the pond in our next-door neighbour, the beautiful and often overlooked country of Wales.
Here’s just a few reasons you might want to consider Wales for your next break…
Wales is a seriously beautiful place. Snowdonia, in the northwest, is just one of three designated national parks, with over 100 lakes and the country’s highest peak, the aptly named Mt. Snowdon. It’s a famous beauty spot and it’s easy to see why. It’s a must-do for active, outdoorsy or hiking types.
Just look at this snap from the Brecon Beacons National Park. Boasting the Fforest Fawr (or Great Forest), the Brecon Beacons and the Black Mountains, the area is perfect for short walks and long hikes. Fishing is another popular activity here in the many well-stocked reservoirs and lates, with some of the finest brown trout in the UK to be found in the River Usk.
Like us, Wales has lots of interesting prehistoric origins. Not only are they Celtic like us, but in fact the area has been inhabited by modern humans for about 29,000 years. So, as you can imagine, there’s plenty of history to soak up.
Wales is a bilingual country, with over 560,000 Welsh speakers, and the language is spoken by a majority of the population in the north or west. It’s a fascinating language to see written or hear spoken. Did you know that the Welsh for microwave is “poptyping”? Try saying it out loud – satisfying, right? Here’s a further list of some of the best Welsh words.
For those who enjoy nightlife, there’s plenty of craic to be found in capital city Cardiff or even a smaller university town like Bangor. It’s also just a hop and skip over the border into England from Cardiff to cities such as Bristol if you fancy a road trip. Welsh people are known for being friendly and warm, so you’re bound to have a razz to remember no matter where you end up.
It’s close and it won’t break the bank. And let’s face it – for any new or seasoned parents, the advantages of being able to bring the car, replete with baby seat and extra toys, along for a holiday is almost too tempting to ignore. (Plus all that culture and outdoorsy stuff, of course…).
Right now, Irish Ferries is offering 25% of all their routes to Wales, so it’s a good time to book. And because you can bring your own car and as much luggage as you like, without the stress of flying, it’s a great way for families to travel to Wales together.
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