82. Wales Coast Path

What is the Wales Coast Path?

In 2012, Wales became the first country in the world to have a walking trail along the entirety of its coastline. The 870-mile Wales Coast Path joined up a number of other trails that had existed previously, such as the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, which is the bit I did (and I managed a rather pathetic 2.5 miles of it). 

What is the Wales Coast Path like?

It's stunningly beautiful. It offers cliff tops, beaches, castles, Dylan Thomas and more. 

Where is the Wales Coast Path? 

Wales

When did we go?

September 2020

How did we get there?

I got a train to Carmarthen and then hired a car so I could drive around Pembrokeshire easily. I stayed in Freshwater East for a week and travelled around from there. I also visited St David's Cathedral (396).

Worth noting

Wales has 400 castles and 13 of them are along the Coast Path, including Harlech and Caernarfon.

Where was the Wales Coast Path in 2015 edition of the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travelist?

It was not included.

Does the Wales Coast Path deserve its place in the Lonely Planet Top 500?

I'm surprised it's so high but it deserves a place.

153. Brecon Beacons

What are the Brecon Beacons?

The Brecon Beacons are a mountain range and national park in Wales. The range itself comprises of six main peaks, one of which is Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in South Wales. The Brecon Beacons National Park, which is 42 miles wide, was created in 1957. 

What are the Brecon Beacons like?

They're fantastic if you like walking - you get around 520 square miles of mountain, moorland, waterfalls, castles and other sights. The air is clean and the scenery is breathtaking. I only covered a very small area to the west of the park - I stayed in Llandeilo and visited Dinefwr, a National Trust property that I was covering for my National Trust scone project.

Where are the Brecon Beacons?

Wales

When did we go?

November 2022

How did we get there? 

I got the train to Llandeilo and stayed in an Airbnb in the town for two nights.

Worth noting 

The Brecon Beacons are one of only three national parks in Wales, the others being Snowdonia (161) and the Pembrokeshire Coast, which is included in the Wales Coast Path (82).  

Where were the Brecon Beacons in the 2015 edition of the Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?

They were at 365. They moved up 212 places in the 2020 edition. 

Do the Brecon Beacons deserve a place in the 2020 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List?

Yes - I'm not 100% sure they deserve to be quite so high up but it's a beautiful area.

161. Snowdonia

What is Snowdonia?

Snowdonia is the largest national park in Wales. Known as Eryri in Welsh, it covers 823 square miles of mountains, valleys, lakes, castles and more. Every year 600,000 people hike up Mount Snowdon (or Yr Wyddfa). 

What is Snowdonia like? 

It's an absolutely stunning place. Even on a rainy day, it has a sense of immense upward vastness that you don't find very often. 

Where is Snowdonia? 

Wales

When did we go? 

June 2022

How did we get to Snowdonia? 

It was part of a weekend road trip. I went by train from London to Bangor, then hired a car to drive around the area with my friends SJ and Steph. I also went to the Ffestinog & Welsh Highland Railway (369) and Portmeirion (476).

Worth noting

If you don't want to hike up the 3500 feet to the top of Snowdon, you can use the Snowdon Mountain Railway, which has been ferrying people to the summit since 1896.

Where was Snowdonia on the 2015 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travelist? 

It was at 181 - it moved up 20 places. 

Does Snowdonia deserve its place in the 2020 Lonely Planet Top 500? 

Yes, without a doubt. 

369. Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways

What are the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways?

The Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways are heritage railway lines in Snowdonia in North Wales. The Ffestiniog Railway runs 13.5 miles through woodlands from Porthmadog to Blaenau-Ffestiniog. The Welsh Highland Railway runs for 25 miles from Porthmadog to Caernarfon, passing the foot of Mount Snowdon.

 

What are the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways like? 

We went on the Woodland Wanderer, which took us on a 30-minute journey with a short break at Tan-y-Bwlch before coming back again. It was really enjoyable - you book a compartment and have great views of the climb into the woods.

Where are the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways? 

Wales, UK

When did we go? 

June 2022

How did we get to the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways? 

They were part of a little weekend road trip. I went by train to Bangor, then hired a car to drive around Snowdonia (161) with my friends SJ and Steph. I also went to Portmeirion (476). 

Worth noting

The Welsh Highland Railway is the longest heritage railway in the world. The Festiniog Railway Company (with one F) is the world's oldest surviving railway company, having been created in 1832. 

Where were the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways on the 2015 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travel List? 

They were a new entry for 2020.

Do the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways deserve its place in the 2020 Lonely Planet Top 500? 

I'm a bit surprised they're on there ahead of the Statue of Liberty and other places, but it's a great experience so I would say yes.

396. St David's Cathedral

What is St David's Cathedral?

The cathedral that stands today was begun in 1181. However, it is said to be located on the site of a monastery created by St David, patron saint of Wales. who died in 589. The original shrine to St David was lost in the Viking raid of 1089 and a new one was built in 1275. A body was kept in the shrine, believed to be David, but those bones were lost during the Reformation. The shrine has been restored and you can visit it inside the Cathedral today.

 

What's St David's Cathedral like?

It's very impressive. The ruined Bishop's Palace behind it makes it look even bigger than it is.

Where is St David's Cathedral?

St Davids, Wales - interestingly, St Davids is the smallest city in the UK, with fewer than 2000 inhabitants.

When did we go? 

October 2020

How did we get to St David's Cathedral?

I got a train to Carmarthen and then hired a car so I could drive around Pembrokeshire easily. I also walked a bit of the Wales Coast Path (82).

Worth noting 

In 1123, the Pope granted the Cathedral a privilege; two pilgrimages to St David's were equal to one to Rome and three were equal to one to Jerusalem. It became an important destination for pilgrims, attracting kings and queens as well as ordinary folk, until the pilgrimages were stopped during the Reformation.

Place in the 2015 edition

294. It dropped 102 places.

Does it deserve its place in the 2020 top 500?

It probably deserves a place.

476. Portmeirion

What is Portmeirion?

Portmeirion is a coastal village in North Wales that was created by the architect Clough Williams-Ellis. He acquired the land in 1925 and created Italian-style buildings on the steep cliffs overlooking a wide sandy estuary. 

What is Portmeirion like? 

It's completely bonkers. The quirky houses in their bright colours give the impression of something that is halfway between a model village (albeit a life-sized one) and a film set for a slightly sinister movie. 

Where is Portmeirion? 

Wales

When did we go? 

June 2022

How did we get to Portmeirion? 

It was part of a weekend road trip with my friends SJ and Steph. I went by train from London to Bangor, then hired a car to drive around Snowdonia (161). I also went to the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway (369). 

Worth noting

In 1966-67, a TV show called The Prisoner was filmed in Portmeirion. It starred Patrick McGoohan as a retired intelligence agent who gets kidnapped and held in a mystery village where everyone is known by a number. Portmeirion was never actually named in the series, to prevent hordes of tourists descending on the place but even 50 years later the location is still remembered for its role in the production (and there's a bust of McGoohan). Portmeirion is also famous for its pottery. Portmeirion Pottery began in 1960 when Susan Williams-Ellis (daughter of Sir Clough Williams-Ellis) took over two pottery companies in Stoke-on-Trent and produced several distinctive ranges.

Where was Portmeirion on the 2015 Lonely Planet Ultimate Travelist? 

It was at 207 in the 2015 list. It dropped 269 places.

Does Portmeirion deserve its place in the 2020 Lonely Planet Top 500? 

Yes.