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Why you should choose Wales for your spring holiday

From epic mountains and biking trails to cities steeped in rich history, there's plenty to fit in on a short break to this beautiful country

Friday 01 March 2019 12:03 GMT
Brecon Beacons
Brecon Beacons

With the warmer days now already with us, it’s hard to resist the pull of a fun-packed short break away from the nine to five for a chance to refresh, relax and recharge.

But we tend to apply adventure and discovery to distant destinations. It is something we associate with polar icescapes, tropical rainforests and places off the beaten track. And yet, discovery is also a travel pleasure that we can enjoy on our own doorsteps.

Look to the west, and you do not need to let your gaze wander as far as the broad horizons of the United States, nor the snow-capped peaks of Canada. You can find treasures to uncover much nearer to home – in Wales.

Close neighbour

Picture epic mountains laced with hiking routes and biking trails; winding paths along majestic arcs of coastline; alluring cities packed with attractions; small towns with inviting hotels; gourmet delights in high-end restaurants and family-run eateries; and wonderful shards of the past, from medieval castles to preserved steam railways.

Better still, 2019 is the Year of Discovery in Wales – 12 months when the focus will be on encountering elements of this familiar friend with which you may not already be acquainted.

Lots to experience

This could be a morning on foot in the Cambrian Mountains – the bluffs at the heart of the country which are sometimes less appreciated than their siblings in the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia, but which are no less spectacular.

It may involve a trip to Swansea, where the beaches of the Gower Peninsula are a short hop away and the food scene is a rival to Cardiff, home to famous Victorian shopping arcades, right. You may find yourself heading north, strapping in and speeding along at Zip World Penrhyn Quarry (zipworld.co.uk). This thrilling attraction, over a former quarry by Bethesda, near Bangor, ranks as the world’s fastest zip-line.

For more mini-break ideas, all of them possible in the approaching warmer days of spring and early summer, jump to the official Wales tourism site (visitwales.com) for further inspiration...

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