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INTRODUCTION: WHY WE GO TO WALES—
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Probably the most overlooked British travel destination,
Wales offers some of the best food in the U.K. as well as its own
distinct music, art, history, and language. Rarely noted is the superb
variety of unspoiled scenery of Wales, including three distinct regions
worthy of national park status, the highest mountains south of Scotland,
and cozy, undiscovered villages.
Wales is
closest to England geographically. Perhaps because of this proximity the
Welsh are the most nationalistic and culturally separatist of all the
British. The Welsh identity is tied to its history as a Celtic
population under siege by their neighbors in England. These original
Britons were forced into hiding by invading waves of Angles, Saxons,
Vikings, and Normans. They retreated into the rugged, mystical mountains
and vales that dominate the Welsh landscape.
Today the Welsh
variety of Gaelic is alive and growing while most other Gaelic languages
are disappearing. Welsh cuisine, custom, religion, music,
and mentality all can be said to be more than just |
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AUTUMN IN SNOWDONIA:
THE LLANRWST BRIDGE
OVER THE RIVER CONWY. |
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dialectical versions of their English,
Scottish and Irish relatives, and each is maintained with the prideful
caring due national treasures. |
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"We received a number of
'strange but interested' looks and comments from people when we
mentioned Wales as our vacation destination. We have certainly
been touting its superior vacation qualities since our return.
There is so much to do and see —
we still have a list
— but, by the same token, it
was very relaxing. Most days we were out of our lodgings at a
leisurely 10AM and back around 6PM. It was a pleasant pace"
—K. & D. Attenborough, Massachusetts
"Wales was beautiful with masses of
daffodils everywhere. The roads were narrow and twisty but
surfaces were good. Very different from when I was last there
just after the war when it was looking very run down and uncared
for!"
—M. Still,
Virginia
"One lady was giving us directions and we had to
go through a little toll bridge. She offered to give us 50 pence
for the toll if we didn't have it. What friendly people!"
—B.
Crandall, Ohio
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(CLICK
ON EACH DESTINATION TITLE TO GET FULL TRAVEL PROGRAM DETAILS & PRICES)
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— NORTHWESTERN WALES —
Home At First's northwestern
Wales cottages are in or near Snowdonia National Park, where Britain's
highest mountains south of Scotland rise sharply from the sea.
Snowdonia's folded landscape offers rugged hiking, expansive beaches,
great little steam trains, challenging seaside golf courses, impregnable
medieval castles (like Caernarfon,
pictured here), and friendly villages with unpronounceable names.
GO TO: SNOWDONIA
(NORTHWESTERN WALES)
TRAVEL PROGRAM
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Several great castles — including all
four of the U.N. listed World Heritage
Site — are within easy day-trip reach
of Home At First's cottages in
Snowdonia, Northwestern Wales.
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Hay-on-Wye is home to more than two
dozen second-hand book shops. Like all
our Mid-Wales villages, Hay-on-Wye is
just minutes from the rugged mountain
and white water streams of Wales as
well as much of Western England.
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— NEAR THE ENGLISH BORDER —
Home
At First's Mid-Wales cottages are in the midst
of superb scenery between the mountains of Brecon Beacons National Park
and the English border. Nearby is scenic wilderness inviting discovery
on foot, on horseback, or by car. Search for King Arthur and Merlin
here. Cross the border into Shakespeare country and the Cotswolds
— easy days away. Another secret
— the Welsh may be the friendliest
people in Britain.
GO TO: MID-WALES
TRAVEL PROGRAM PAGE
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