Wales

Although rightly famous for its outstanding natural beauty, Wales offers a lot more to visitors, including compelling culture and medieval castles. In fact, there are over 600 castles in Wales, more per square mile than any other country in the world! Several of Wales’ castles were built by Edward I as part of his attempts to capture the country in the 13th and 14th centuries.   

Wales is known for its patron saint, St David, who the country celebrates annually on March 1st. The daffodil is Wales’ national flower and rugby union is by far the country’s most popular sport. Imagine a typical Welsh countryside scene and it will probably include sheep, and with good reason too – sheep outnumber people in Wales by around three to one! 

BEST TIME TO VISIT

One thing Wales isn’t famous for is good weather. The country tends to experience more than its fair share of rainfall, which is actually why the countryside is so green. The driest time of the year to visit is between April and August, but just don’t expect glorious sunshine! Go in spring to see the flowers – including the iconic daffodil – in colourful bloom.