Experience Wales

To the hardened outdoor adventurer, thrills have to be sought in extreme geographical or meteorological conditions. Whether it’s climbing without ropes up a sheer cliff-face or trekking across an Arctic landscape with nothing but a pair of skis for company, full on adrenaline junkies are truly a breed apart from normal holidaymakers.

But a fair few of the rest of us less hazardous people still appreciate the outdoors and fresh air; just because we like to remain within our comfort zones a bit doesn’t mean we can’t get our walking boots on. And there are few better places in the British Isles in which to make this happen than in Wales.

Traditionally perceived as a magical area of Druidic mystery and the hub of Arthurian folklore, Wales’ beauty is practically impossible to put into words. Picture book views and woody corners pepper the landscape, creating a sense of calm and quietude which is practically impossible to find in the heavily urbanised majority of England.

Of course, the historical reality of Anglo-Welsh relations is slightly more uneasy than the comparative calm of the folkloric perception, and waves of invasion and subjugation scarred the country for centuries. Thankfully, those tensions have almost completely subsided, and the positive heritage that we are left with is the numerous hill forts crowning vistas all over Wales.

The Welsh used the landscape to their advantage when building defences, particularly the high crests and plummeting depths of valleys; indeed, the fact that very little of Wales is actually flat will probably become apparent as soon as you head out for a walk. While it may make for a bit of burn in your legs at the end of the day, it’s one of Wales’ finest and most distinctive attributes.

If, however, you’d like a bit of a change from the rolling valleys and hills, the country’s coastal paths are equally staggering (although still far from flat!). A largely undiscovered gem is St Govan’s Chapel, hewn out of the rock in a cleft in the Pembrokeshire coast. A former site for hermitages, the sense of calm and solitude is palpable.

Although you probably wouldn’t want to think about it, it might be worth taking out some insurance, especially if you’re going to be spending some time in the more precarious coastal regions. There are plenty of companies, such as AA Travel Insurance, who offer cheap travel insurance, leaving you with peace of mind without too much of a hole in your pocket.

Wales is an astonishing place, and comparatively unexploited by tourists, even though its walking routes and astounding views leave nothing to be desired. If it’s peace and quiet you’re after, without having to get on board a plane or leave the UK, you’ll get this and so much more from Wales.