Rugby UnionThis is the national sport and is played to the very highest level of skill. There are a huge number of local clubs and the international team plays matches at the national venue, the
Millennium Stadium.
WalkingWales is a beautiful and mountainous country, ideal for walkers and hikers. There are three national parks: the
Brecon Beacons, the
Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Park and
Snowdonia. The highest peaks are in the north, where the mountains are also more rugged. This area is very popular with climbers, who will find many
climbs, scrambles and chimneys of varying degrees of difficulty. There are a lot of outdoor centers and shops where equipment can be hired or bought, and expeditions and tuition for all levels of ability can be arranged. Apart from Mount Snowdon itself (Wales’s highest peak at 1085m/3556ft), northern Snowdonia contains the ranges of the
Carnedds, the
Glyders,
Moel Hebog and the
Nantlle Hills. In southern Snowdonia are the Moelwyns, the Rhinogs, the Arans and Cadair Idris. A classic walk is the ‘Snowdon Horseshoe’, a 9.5 mile- (15km-) circuit of three glacier-carved valleys near Snowdon. Taking in the knife-edge ridge of Crib Goch on the way to Snowdon’s summit, it provides stunning views, but is only suitable for experienced walkers. It is often started at Pen-y-pass, six miles from Llanberis.
The Brecon Beacons offer easier, though still quite challenging, walking while the nearby Wye Valley offers gentle beauty. In the west of the country is the 189 mile- (304km-) ‘Pembrokeshire Coast Path’, which runs along the coast from Amroth near Tenby to St Dogmaels near Cardigan. The area is of particular interest to birdwatchers, owing to the variety and number of seabirds living on the cliffs there. Other long-distance walks include ‘Offa’s Dyke Path’ (177 miles/285km), which follows the original border between England and Wales. It is strenuous in parts with continual ascents and descents.
CyclingThis can be done all over Wales, though the mountainous terrain can make it strenuous. There are plenty of off-road trails for mountain bikers; the tourist board can provide details of way-marked routes. A new route, the ‘Celtic Trail’, covers 186 miles, 70 per cent of which is off-road; the trail runs between Newport in the east and Kedwelly in the west. It consists of disused railway lines, canal towpaths and quiet roads, which makes it suitable for all levels of ability. There is also a new high-level route between Pontypridd and Neath.
WatersportsBoth the coastal and the inland waters offer endless opportunities for all types of watersports, and there are excellent facilities throughout the country. Wales’s three coastlines have no shortage of harbors and marinas, many of them newly developed. Mountain scenery, cliffs, islands and small secluded beaches are some of the attractions for sailors here. Seals, dolphins, basking sharks and porpoise can be seen in offshore waters. West Wales offers some of the best sea-kayaking in the world. Windsurfing can be done from beaches in the west (many of which have won European Blue Flag awards – see
Where to Go section for further details). The fast tidal streams of the
Menai Straits, the narrow passage between Angelsey and the mainland, are popular with sailors wishing to test their skills. Boats and tuition are available if necessary from numerous watersports centers. Inland, lakes and rivers offer opportunities for canoeing, sailing and dinghy sailing. Bala Lake is a major center for these activities, as well as for fishing. White water suitable for canoeing and rafting can be found nearby. In south Wales, major watersports centers include Llangorse (for windsurfing, canoeing and waterskiing) and Llandegfydd (for windsurfing and sailing).
OtherThere are many golf courses, tennis courts and sports centers throughout the country. Sea fishing is good off all coasts and there are also many opportunities for coarse and game fishing inland; Brecon, Snowdonia and the River Teifi (Cardigan) are among the most popular.
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