Have a family holiday in Wales and it’s hard to believe you’re in one of the smallest countries in Europe.
Even visitors from other parts of the UK are amazed by the Welsh coastline, sprawling national parks and magnificent towns and cities.
It is no exaggeration to say almost any type of adventure is captured here from traditional seaside fun to bouncing about on cave trampolines, navigating immense rivers on rafts, scaling mountains and experiencing an entire world of myth and legend as part of an incredible living heritage.
Wales calls itself epic and it’s impossible to disagree.
Three wildly different national parks: Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons and the Pembrokeshire Coast.
Cardiff Bay is Europe’s largest waterfront leisure development.
Outdoor fun is incredibly accessible – Snowdon, the second highest mountain in the UK, has a railway that goes right to the top.
Welsh zip-lining beats all, with the world’s largest zip-zone and Europe’s longest line at Zip World in Snowdonia.
Hundreds of outdoor activity centres and experiences across the country are AALA approved to provide safe, well managed adventure for under 18s.
From chalets on a working hill farm to camping by the beach, seafront guesthouses to harbour side 5-star luxury hotels, Wales has family-friendly and fun places to stay in every corner of the country.
Direct trains from London to Cardiff take two hours and the journey is under three hours by road.
White water rafting is just one of the strange and wonderful things you can get up to in the Welsh capital, Cardiff. When you’re not surfing and sailing, pick up a city bike and pedal round museums and castles, parks, gardens, stadiums and attractions like the Dr Who Experience and Techniquest.
Brecon Beacons National Park is a Dark Skies Reserve, UNESCO World Heritage site and a Global Geo-park, all just 88km from the centre of Cardiff. You can easily visit for the day but staying and exploring this incredible natural playground for longer is almost irresistible.
In the far north of Wales, Snowdonia is the country’s largest national park. Conveniently divided into six different regions it lets you tailor any holiday experience you want. And you can mix it up to your heart’s content with everything from vast beaches to mighty castles, immense moors, mountains, lakes, charming towns and fable strewn villages.
This area of south west Wales is one of the main reasons the country can honestly claim to have some of the most beautiful beaches and coastline in Europe.
Wales has an excellent road network and driving is the best way to see as much as possible – including all the national parks. There are stunning scenic rail journeys and regular train and bus services on the coast and in the country. Several cities have bike schemes and all have good public transport.
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