Sunday, April 8, 2018

TRAVEL SPECIAL...... Wonderful Wales!


TRAVEL  Wonderful Wales!

Wales, a country in southwest Great Britain known for its rugged coastline, mountainous national parks, distinctive Welsh language and Celtic culture, is gaining grounds as a top tourist destination

There is no other beauty better than natural beauty and nothing soothes the eyes more than the actual sight of nature. Amongst the many beautiful and scenic locations across the globe, there are a few that stand out for their extraordinary natural beauty, and Wales is certainly one of them. Wales is one of the countries that comprise the United Kingdom. With its rich history and natural beauty, Wales has a living Celtic culture distinct to the rest of the UK. Wales attracts hordes of travellers because of its beautiful landscape, including the mountains and coast of its stunning national parks, the wealth of history and large number of imposing castles.
Lying on a mountainous western peninsula of the island of Great Britain, Wales is bordered to the east by England, the Republic of Ireland sits to the west across the Irish Sea, while the West Country of Devon and Cornwall is directly south across the Bristol Channel/Celtic Sea. Wales is now amongst the top destinations to visit because of all that it has to offer. In fact, North Wales recently made it on to Lonely Planet's Best in Travel 2017 list - the only destination in the UK to do so. A playground for thrill seekers, a haven for foodies, a hideout for stargazers and a goldmine for heritage seekers, North Wales has a holiday for every kind of traveller.
In Wales, there is a lot to explore besides just the natural beauty. The culture, the people and the traditions are also worth exploring. Leek soup (cawl cennin in Welsh) is a popular dish, as is ‘Rarebit’, Welsh cheese on toast. Other things worth tasting include laverbread (made from an edible seaweed); bara brith (fruit bread); Cawl (a lamb stew); (leek soup); Welsh (bakestone) cakes; and roast minted lamb, Wales is considered to produce arguably the finest sheep meat in the world.
Other than these, Wales is often referred to as ‘the land of song’, and is notable for its harpists, male voice choirs, and plethora of solo artists like Charlotte Church. Cardiff has a big rock scene and has produced some of the biggest acts in the UK today. The principal Welsh festival of music and poetry is the annual National Eisteddfod.
DISCOVER WELSH WILDLIFE
Wales is one of the world's best places to watch wildlife, if you know where - and when - to look. One must explore its amazing ospreys, a feeding frenzy of red kites, the world's largest Manx shearwater colony, or the best place in Britain to see puffins and porpoises. Why not go for a relaxing stroll through an enchanting Welsh rainforest carpeted in bluebells and daffodils? Or simply sit in a field full of orchids, or by a brilliant waterfall, and admire the view? The magic isn't just restricted to spring and summer - there are amazing wildlife displays in autumn and winter with seal pups aplenty, the return of thousands of birds to our estuaries, and wonderful autumnal woodland colours with golds, bronzes and foxy reds.
Wales has an abundance of wildlife hot-spots, including 216 Wildlife Trust nature reserves, 11 RSPB sanctuaries, over 2,485sq miles (4,000sq km) of National Park, and an 870-mile (1400 km) Wales Coast Path for wildlife to, well, go wild in. Wales has it all - but knowing where to go is the key to unlocking its secrets.
So why wait when Wales is welcoming you with open arms!
Yasmin.Taj@timesgroup.com
ET30MAR18

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