Wales

Snowdonia National Park

Snowdonia National park is found in the Northeast of Wales, and encompasses more than 2500 square kilometers and many kinds of landscapes from seashore to mountains. It is also home to Snowdon, one of the highest mountains in Britain. The region of Snowdonia is also predominately Welsh speaking, with 76% of the population using the language on a daily basis, in addition to English.


The park is accesible by train and by bus to any number of small towns or villages. Much of the land around Snowdon, the area of the park that I visited, was used for livestock. There are a number of hiking trails, of varying length and difficulty, that exist in the land surrounding the mountain. Snowdon itself is a well developed attraction to the park with a railcar running to the top for those who would like to visit the summit without having to walk, and a cafe and giftshop at the summitt, open to anyone reaching the summit.

 

The Brecon Beacons

The Brecon Beacons is a unique area that also includes a Geopark on the Western side of the park. As such the Beacons hold a special conservation interest as well as provide a unique area for outdoor recreation. Famous for its waterfalls, the Brecon Beacons has some fantastic opportunites for hiking, in both hill walking and low level hikes. 

The Beacons are largely traversable by bus, and you can reach the general area by train. however to reach certain areas within the park, it is necessary to have some other means of personal transportation. 

In what is know as Waterfall Country, the area near Pontneddfechan, there exist clearly marked and well maintained trails that explore both the waterfalls and surrounding area, and include pathways to other tourist attractions such as the Penderyn Distillery. Many of these hikes are suitable for beginners or inexpereinced walkers.