International travelers have selected touring castles in Wales as the most popular of 18 travel experiences that can only be found in Britain.
Latest Visit Wales Blog Posts
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Explore Wales in Summer.
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Explore Wales in Spring.
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Explore Wales in Autumn.
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Looking for a European vacation where value and freedom of choice go hand-in-hand? Look to Wales.
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Explore Wales in Winter.
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More insider tips.
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...But it’s over, I survived the Ryder Cup course, and the weather turned out to be lovely (despite the dire predictions and a bit of wind that kicked up at the end). Now, what about the layout... Posted by Jim Frank, August 18, 2010
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My near circumnavigation of the country is almost done: I’ve made it to the Celtic Manor, site of the Ryder Cup Matches in little more than six weeks, and I’m scheduled to play the 2010 course tomorrow morning. But today, no golf. There is much, much more to Wales, and while the courses are terrific, so too are the sights, the sounds, the tastes, the people. Posted by Jim Frank, August 17, 2010
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My Wales excursion is nearing its end, with a grand finish planned for the next few days. …Today as I just played the Pyle and Kenfig Golf Club, all of three miles from Porthcawl. Nearly every description of the course starts with the proviso that P&K would be much better known and appreciated were it not for its royal neighbor. Posted by Jim Frank, August 16, 2010
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...That said, Royal Porthcawl is exceptional links golf. And it is big, feeling as if it could easily contain two or three of the courses I toured earlier in the week. Porthcawl is also a true seaside course, with the lack of big dunes meaning that the water is in view from nearly every hole. Posted by Jim Frank, August 16, 2010
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In some ways, this could be the easiest post of my trip. In its entirety it could easily read: “Pennard. Go.” About eight miles west of Swansea, Pennard is as true a links course as you will find... Posted by Jim Frank, August 15, 2010
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Ashburnham is a challenging links with big dunes and long rough. The wind was blowing and even the silky-swinged youngsters were working hard. While I was happy not to be playing in those conditions, I was sorry to not have played what looks like a terrific course. About 15 minutes away is Wales’ newest course, Machynys Peninsula, which also is the only Nicklaus design in the country. Posted by Jim Frank, August 14, 2010
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If someone held a gun to my head and told me I had to move to Wales, the place I’d choose, based on my experiences so far, would be Tenby, on Carmarthen Bay on the country’s southern shore. The town is a lovely seaside resort, filled right now with families enjoying the school holiday. Look past South Beach, over a thick copse of trees and gorse, and you might espy a quiet patch of green: That’s Tenby Golf Club... Posted by Jim Frank, August 12, 2010
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The drive south from Harlech was the longest on the itinerary, just 100 miles but more than 2 ½ hours since the roads were often small and windy, steeply uphill and down, and slowed by trucks (lorries) and tractors. Posted by Jim Frank, August 11, 2010
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As promised, or maybe as forecast, the rain passed through this morning and by early afternoon I was able to play Royal St. David’s Golf Club in Harlech. Posted by Jim Frank, August 9, 2010
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Rounding the tip of northern Wales, I just played two rounds—but three very different courses. On Saturday, I played Nefyn & District, now one of my favorite courses in the world... Posted by Jim Frank, August 8, 2010
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Conwy Golf Club is the perfect place to begin a Welsh golf trip. Or any golf trip. It’s the kind of course that eases one gently into the quirks of playing overseas: challenging but not hard, wide fairways ending at big greens, most of its trouble visible from the tee. It is also very scenic, even in the damp conditions evident in my photos. Posted by Jim Frank, August 6, 2010
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I’m sitting in my lovely hotel room in the Castle Hotel in the middle of downtown Conwy. It’s the perfect place to stroll, especially right off the plane when I’m too awake to sleep but too sleepy to do anything really constructive such as play golf. Posted by Jim Frank, August 5, 2010
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Take inspiration from BBC America's 'The Choir' and discover the real 'land of song.' Posted by Alexandra, August 2, 2010
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Wales is arguably one of the most haunted countries in the world. Visit its monuments, or stand on the battlements of its war-torn castles. Wherever you find yourself in Wales, north or south, you'll never be far away from a stone-age site.
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In my last blog on paranormal Wales, I wrote about “the cave of death.” My last ghostly encounter, however, was of a more traditional variety – the haunted hotel. Posted by Gretchen Kelly, July 30, 2010
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American golf writer Jim Frank is all set for his trip to Wales, arriving on August 5th. He'll be flying into Manchester Airport before driving around Wales from North to South. Posted by Jim Frank, July 27, 2010
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Find out what's behind the most intriguing doors in Wales this September as Open Doors days invite you to tour nearly three hundred historic, architectural sites for FREE. Posted by Lauren, August 16, 2010
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American golf travel writer, Jim Frank, presents a series of guest blog posts live from Wales.
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Traveling food lovers: Stop dreaming of your next meal and start packing for a Welsh fall feast-ival!. Posted by Lauren, July 20, 2010
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Two Welsh festivals take place in Portland this October. You can help one of them win a grant of $20,000 just by voting! Posted by Lauren, July 9, 2010
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The ghostly world of Wales is diverse and more than a little inclined to the pagan side of the spirit world. Posted by Gretchen Kelly, July 1, 2010
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The weather in Wales, if you’re not lucky enough to have experienced it first-hand, has been fabulous. We’ve had at least two weeks of glorious sun and all Wales has that amazing summer ‘green glow’ that I haven’t been able to find anywhere else in the world. Guest blog post by Alexandra, June 29, 2010
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It's no secret that Catherine Zeta-Jones grew up eating that puzzling Welsh delicacy --laverbread. A specialty in Swansea where Jones famously grew up, laverbread is made from kelp and is rich in skin-loving, anti-aging vitamins. Posted by Gretchen Kelly, June 21, 2010
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In our second guest blog post from the Roberts family, they tell us what they've been up to during the second half of their visit to Wales, filming for their television series... June 19, 2010
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As the Roberts family looks forward to spending the last few days of their trip in Wales, we asked them to let us know what they've been up to in this guest blog post... June 16, 2010
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My first journey to Wales coincided with the publication of one of Morris' books, “A Writer’s House in Wales” in 2002. The slim little volume was tucked away in my suitcase like a talisman. I was now a working travel writer and thought of her as something of a patron saint. Posted by Gretchen Kelly, June 12, 2010
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Film lovers are celebrating the release of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland on DVD this week just as Alice lovers in the Welsh seaside town of Llandudno were celebrating their annual Victorian Extravaganza—a three day celebration of the era that gave birth to the White Rabbit, The Cheshire Cat, The Mad Hatter and Alice herself. Posted by Gretchen Kelly, June 4, 2010
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Next Monday (June 7th) the Roberts family will arrive in Wales to film their television series Travel With Kids. Posted by Paul, June 2, 2010
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What is food foraging and why is it so popular in Wales these days? Posted by Gretchen Kelly, May 30, 2010
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One of the best ways to get to know a place is to drink its beer. In Wales, the beer-making tradition was said to have begun with the Goddess Cerridwen, who brewed up both inspiration and intoxication in a giant iron cauldron. Posted by Gretchen Kelly, May 24, 2010
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"Your father drank with Dylan Thomas at the White Horse Tavern," my mother used to tell me. I thought that this possibly apocryphal pub tale and the fact that my nephew is named Dylan, too, were my family’s only connection with Wales—that is until this weekend. Posted by Gretchen Kelly, May 13, 2010
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Just a few upcoming events and exhibitions which caught my eye here in the ‘States and back across the Atlantic too! Posted by Paul, May 12, 2010
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Winners of the facebook fan photo contest. Posted by Alexandra, May,11 2010.
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Aer Lingus’ new flights to Cardiff make golf in Wales even more tempting. They’ve made it accessible enough for a quick long weekend break playing golf, particularly when you’ve flown in a comfortable seat! Take advantage of discounted, business class fares...
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As the child growing up in New York, my first taste of Welsh Rarebit was a fast, frozen dinner. Years later when I had my first real Welsh Rarebit, the cheese was nuanced, nutty and baked to perfection with a lovely crusty top. Posted by Gretchen Kelly, May 6, 2010
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That legendary law-buster Robin Hood gets a chance to dust off his green tights and have another go at the Sheriff of Nottingham in the new Ridley Scott/Russell Crowe/Cate Blanchett blockbuster. Some of the most stunning scenes were filmed on Freshwater West Beach in Pembrokeshire. Posted by Gretchen Kelly, April 29, 2010
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Flights are slowly resuming all over the world this week after the Icelandic volcano travel fiasco. As the dust settles and the media frenzy continues, an unlikely star has arisen from the ashes in Wales... Posted by Gretchen Kelly, April 23, 2010
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Almost every aspect of the king’s life and loves has been explored. Everything except the fact that this most English of kings had Welsh roots. Posted by Gretchen Kelly, April 15, 2010
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Question: What do Helen Mirren, Helena Bonham Carter and Barbra Streisand have in common? Answer: Wales-based fashion designers, Charles and Patricia Lester. Posted by Gretchen Kelly, April 8, 2010
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Storming the Castles. By Thomas Dunne, April 8, 2010
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As movie lovers flock to see Dreamworks’ new blockbuster, “How to Train Your Dragon,” Wales gets to boast that it is one of two countries in the world with a dragon on its flag. Posted by Gretchen Kelly, April 1, 2010
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Dinorwig Quarry and Anglesey star among set locations. Posted by Paul, March 30, 2010
More Insider Tips
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