Beachcombers, adrenaline junkies, wildlife watchers and knights in shining armour: head west. Over a quarter of Wales is dedicated either to national parks or areas of outstanding natural beauty, and they’re not there just to look pretty either. You’ve got award winning Blue Flag beaches to sunbathe on or go rock pooling; what feels like endless trails for hiking, horse riding and mountain biking; more than 600 historic castles dotting the scenery; and vast swathes of picturesque coastline off which surfers and kayakers can share the waves with dolphins, whales and seals.
There’s a welsh word,
‘hiraeth’, that loosely translates to nostalgia or homesickness. It’s easy to see how its hills, valleys and coastline might evoke such feelings, even if you’re not from these parts yourself.
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Another reason to recommend Wales is the Goldilocks-weather. Most of the year it’s not too hot, not too cold, but just right. And of course, scenery like this becomes even more dramatic when it’s overcast. Crossing the Severn Bridge from England into Wales there is a toll to pay and, believe us, it’s worth every penny. Simply put: it’s a nature lover’s dream.