In 2018 we’re celebrating Wales’ outstanding coastline, and inviting visitors to discover new epic experiences all around our shores, with special events and attractions throughout the year.
Sponsored by: www.visitwales.com
This is our Year of the Sea. The 870-mile Wales Coast Path runs the whole length of our coastline: the first continuous coastal path of any country in the world. It passes through seascapes of breath-taking variety, from flat wetlands to towering cliffs, featuring hundreds of harbours, coves, inlets and islands – and around 230 beaches.
We’ve got more Blue Flag beaches – the international standard of excellence – per mile than anywhere in Britain. Every cove and clifftop comes with legends of pirates and smugglers, wreckers and saints. There are classic harbour towns, modern marinas, ancient castles and elegant Victorian and Edwardian resorts with promenades and piers.
It’s stunningly beautiful, of course. Pembrokeshire has Britain’s only coastal National Park, while the Gower Peninsula was Britain’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – an award that’s since been given to other coastal gems on Anglesey and the Llŷn Peninsula. There are 50 magical islands which are among the world’s most important wildlife sanctuaries, set in seas that are home to seals, porpoises and Britain’s largest population of bottlenose dolphins. There are natural marvels like the whistling sands of Porthor, and man-made ones like the Blue Lagoon, a flooded slate quarry that’s perfect for our home-grown adventure sport, coasteering.
It’s just one of dozens of activities to try: sailing, scuba diving, kayaking, kitesurfing, stand-up paddleboarding, rib-rides and surfing – which you can also do, by the way, miles inland on a perfect man-made wave at Surf Snowdonia. Or follow the rivers upstream to the inland shores of our lakes and reservoirs, there’s boating and fishing, or canyoning and white water rafting in the river gorges of the Snowdonia and Brecon Beacons National Parks.
Wherever you are in Wales, you’re never more than just over an hour from the sea. So wherever you stay – rural cottage or boutique hotel, yurt or medieval castle –there’ll be an epic shore nearby. With, a language and culture that’s the oldest in Britain, a warm Welsh welcome and food and drink made with skill by passionate people… this is the greatest coastal experience of 2018. Welcome to our epic shores.
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