Harlech is 32 km. north from Dolgellau along the A496 via Barmouth.

Harlech formed part of a bold military strategy and its power and might are unquestioned even today, 700 years after the castle was built. Set on its towering rock above Tremadog bay, Harlech is the most dramatically sited of all the castles raised by Edward I to overawe Wales. Its soaring walls and towers are challenged for supremacy only by the purple mass of distant Snowdon Mountain. These rugged peaks played a large part in determining Harlech’s siting as one of the so-called ‘Iron Ring’ of fortresses, built to contain the Welsh in their mountain fastness.

The castle was designed by the brillant James of St.George, it was raised between 1283 and 1290 by an army of craftsmen and labourers: at one stage nearly a thousand men were hard at work here. They came from far and wide: masons from Savoy and Ireland, carpenters and blacksmiths from all over England. Between them they created a seemingly impregnable fortress, naturally protected on three sides by cliffs and defended by concentric lines of mutually supporting fortifications. The castle’s great glory is the massive, twin towered gatehouse: attackers who reach it, a stronghold in itself, must penetrate its devilish complex of gates, portcullies and loopholes.

No wonder Harlech became the castle of lost causes, where diehard garrisons could defy thousands of besiegers. But it’s one of history ironies that this castle, built to subdue the Welsh by an English king, was captured in 1404 by Owain Glyndwr. It was the final refuge of his Welsh patriots and later of Welsh Lancastrians. Owever, Harlech was the very last Royalist stronghold to fall during the Civil War.

Despite the assault of war and time, this masterpiece of medieval fortification has survived remarkably intact. Views from the battlements and wall-walks are truly panoramic with the high peaks of Snowdonia that are just one ingredient in a scene which extends across the waters of Tremadog bay, to the long Lleyn Penisula. The castle is now a World Heritage Site and in the care of CADW.

The town of Hay-on-Wye lies on three borders. The national boundary with England, and the county boundaries of Brecknockshire and Radnorshire run through the town. Typically of Hay, the county boundary is marked by the famous River Wye, while the national boundary is hidden away, marked by the Dulais Brook which trickles down the valley a hundred yards or so away from the remains of the old Town Wall. The third boundary is that with the Brecon Beacons National Park, in whose corner Hay sits.

The town has always held an important place in the region, being on the road to Brecon, once the most important town for miles around. Because of this it has a history of coaching inns and pubs, and the tradition of offering food and lodging to travellers continues with accommodation and cuisine being among the best on offer in Britain.

Because of its position the town has seen many battles through the ages. The castle has been attacked several times in its history from both sides of the border. It was destroyed by the English King John in 1216, and soon after the Welsh Prince Llywelyn set fire to it. The most recent fire, which destroyed a great part of the castle, occurred in 1977. Its history of being tussled over by Welsh and English has given Hay a unique duality. It also gives its inhabitants a very practical attitude to survival. King Offa of Mercia built an enormous earth wall in the second half of the eight century to protect himself from the Welsh. This now forms the line of the Offa’s Dyke Footpath, which runs from South to North Wales along the border. The town has a second and older castle hidden away and unmarked, next to the church.

It has a second and Welsh name, Y Gelli, and this appears on signposts around the district. The historian can research the evidence for months, as much has been written about the town. These include parish records of the many churches, including non-conformist chapels. Records also exist of the Almshouses, still in use, where women of good character over a certain age have economically priced accommodation. Several local writers have chronicled the history of the town, of which the definitive is probably Annals of a Parish by local historian Geoffrey L Fairs. This was published in 1994, written to mark the 1050th anniversary of the earliest known mention of the town. A slimmer volume is The Book of Hay, written by Kate Clark in 1990. Other guide books are readily available in the Tourist Information Office.

It is a national park along the Pembrokeshire coast in West Wales.

It was established as a National Park in 1952, and is the only one in the United Kingdom to have been designated primarily because of its spectacular coastline. It is one of three National Parks in Wales, the others being the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia (Eryri).

Is small, but there are high cliffs along the coastline, long sections of beaches that are open, coves and harbours that are sheltered, and dunes and mud flats. Primarily coastal but with great diversity and natural beauty, Pembrokeshire Coast attracts a lot of people each year no matter what the occasion, the season, or the weather. Brecon Beacons is another great national park to attend, and you should also take the time to go to St. David’s, which is Britain’s smallest city with a population of only fifteen hundred people. Wales’ patron saint was born there.

The National Park has a varied landscape of rugged cliffs, sandy beaches, wooded estuaries and wild inland hills, covering a total area of 629 km² (240 square miles). It falls into four distinct sections. Running clockwise around the coast, these are the south Pembrokeshire coast, including Caldey Island; the Daugleddau estuary; the St Bride’s Bay coast, including the coastal islands; and the Preseli Hills. However, not all of the park is coastal, and there are even forests and marshes on the edges of the park.

It is the highest mountain in Wales. It has been described as “probably the busiest mountain in Britain.” It is located in Snowdonia National Park (Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri) in Gwynedd. The summit is known as Yr Wyddfa (“the tumulus”) and lies at an altitude of 1,085 metres (3,560 ft) above sea level. As the highest peak in Wales, Snowdon is one of three mountains climbed as part of the National Three Peaks Challenge.

The English name “Snowdon” comes from the Old English Snow Dun, meaning “snow hill” as Snowdon can offer significant falls of snow each winter from October to April, but in the past, rare fresh late-seasonal snow has been reported to fall on Snowdon, well into the months of May and June. Although the amount of snow on Snowdon in winter has varied significantly recently, 55% less snow had fallen in 2004 than in 1994.

Snowdon has one of the wettest climates in Great Britain, receiving an annual average of more than 4,500 millimetres (180 in) of precipitation. The annual average temperature is estimated to be around +2.5 degrees Celsius.

If you’re ready to experience a beautiful part of Wales, then Cardiff should be high on your list of places of places to visit. This is the capital city and it has a long and rich history, as well. Home to many cultural and sporting events, this city is one of the most popular tourism spots in Wales. Over 11.6 million people choose Cardiff as their destination in 2006.

A Short History Lesson

With the archeological evidence available throughout the area, it’s possible to date this great city to the Neolithic period, around 6,000 BC, which was 1500 years before Stonehenge. Eventually, the Romans would conqueor this area around 75 CE and it became an important military outpost. Abandoned by the Romans towards the end of the 4th century, In 1080, William I of England began to work on the castle within the city the Romans had built. However, some of the original Roman work is still visible in one area of the castle.

In 1404, the city was burned to the ground by Owain Glyndwr. It was quickly rebuilt and became a Free Borough in 1542. In 1581, Elizabeth I granted the city its first royal charter and in 1905, King Edward VII granted its city status. From there, the city grew quickly and coal was it’s number one industry. After a decline following the first World War, the industrial areas of the city began to boom. Eventually, the city would house the National Musuem of Wales, the University of Wales, and the National Assembly of Wales.

With the construction of Cardiff Bay in 1999, the city’s bay area has quickly grown, both in industrial means and as a tourist location. This area includes the Wales Millenium Centre, which hosts many cultural events throughout the year.

Visiting the City

Cardiff City Centre offers over a wonderful shopping and culstural experience for tourists, including the ever popular Cardiff Castle. With over 9,000 hotel rooms throughout the city, it’s quickly become “the” place to visit when in Wales. A temperate climate for most of the year, the area actually receives less rainfall than most other locations in Wales.

Most of the tourists visit the City Centre, the Bay area, historical sites, and of course, the musuems, art galleries, and sporting arenas to catch a match. You can easily spend weeks within this city and still feel as though you haven’t seen everything it has to offer.

A Final Thought

Cardiff is one city that should be high on your list of places to visit. It’s beautifully designed with plenty to keep you occupied. Come see why this city is the number tourist destination in Wales.