Yes, Wales is a country. It forms part of the island of Great Britain alongside neighbours England and Scotland. And it is one of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom!
Wales is the 24th country that George had visited. And Lulu’s 4th!
This time, our Welsh adventure with Fiona and Missy took us to Brecon Beacon. We stayed at The Felin Fach Griffin, a dining pub with rooms nestling near the book town of Hay-on-Wye between The Black Mountains and The Brecon Beacons.
We came to see a bit of what Wales stands for … stunning landscapes, rich history to its ancient language and vibrant cultural traditions. It boasts a plethora of fascinating facts.
Wales is often referred to as the “Land of Castles” due to its abundance of medieval fortresses. With over 600 castles scattered across the country, Wales has one of the highest concentrations of castles per square mile in the world. Some notable examples include Caernarfon Castle, Conwy Castle, and Cardiff Castle. We saw two of them at Hay-on-Wye and the Raglan Castle.
Hay Castle is a medieval fortification and 17th-century mansion house in the small town of Hay-on-Wye in Powys, Wales. For a thousand years, this remarkable structure has been part of the landscape. Part Norman, part Jacobean and part Victorian, Hay Castle has been a home to invaders, patriots’ citadel, country manor and a world-famous bookshop.
The remains of the castle include a four-storey keep and a beautiful arched gateway.
The castle is in the heart of Hay-on-Wye – sometimes called the Town of Books – site of the Hay Literary Festival, which for ten days every year attracts writers, thinkers, artists and entertains hundreds of thousands of visitors.
The second castle that we visited was Raglan Castle, an unmistakable silhouette of crowning a ridge amid glorious countryside. It is the grandest ever built by a Welshman!
But Raglan came 150 years later than the turbulent heyday of castle-building. It was designed to impress as much as to intimidate.
Wales is also a country carved by glaciers and therefore has some of the best Great British waterfalls amidst its hills, mountains and valleys. There are more than twenty of them. We saw a few small ones on our way to the Henrhyd Falls. At 90 feet (27m) it is the highest waterfall in South Wales and it was a breathtaking sight to behold.
It is possible to walk behind the waterfall but take care as the rocks can be slippery.
The red dragon, known as “Y Ddraig Goch,” is the national symbol of Wales and holds significant cultural significance. Legend has it that a red dragon was seen by early Welsh tribes, representing their strength and unity. Today, the red dragon is prominently featured on the Welsh flag and is a symbol of Welsh identity. We didn’t see a dragon but I needed to get one for Lulu!
As for the Welsh Language, known as “Cymraeg,” is one of Europe’s oldest living languages. It is a Celtic language closely related to Cornish and Breton. Wales is bilingual, with both English and Welsh being official languages.
Wales has also produced numerous influential literary figures, including the renowned poet and writer Dylan Thomas born in Swansea. Thomas is celebrated for his evocative poetry and prose, including works such as “Under Milk Wood” and “Do not go gentle into that good night.”
And today is Saint David’s Day! Celebrated on the first day of March, it is the national day of Wales. It honours Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, who was a sixth-century Welsh bishop known for his piety and miracles. Traditional festivities include wearing daffodils and leeks, two national emblems of Wales … we left out the leek. LOL!
DYDD GŴYL DEWI SANT HAPUS
The first and last time I visited Wales was in January 2014 with Darcy and the Tykes, before George came on the scene.
We stayed at The Grove of Narbeth. Darcy hailed from Jandaz in Wales and I had planned on going back with her on her 10th birthday in 2021. But the second national lockdown took place that January.
4 Responses
What a wonderful travel journal. I throughly enjoyed reading about your travels to Wales, I had no idea Wales had that many castles! I have learned so much through your travels.
Be well, give George and Lulu a hug from me.
Thank you so much for sharing your travel journeys! And delighted with your travel companions!!!
You encourage me to begin to travel with my 7. month old Cockapoo. What is the breed of these dogs you have and what do they weigh approx?
Hi Lynda,
I am so glad to hear that.
George is a terror cross of sorts, he was a street dog in Hungary. He weighs about 5.8kg.
Lulu is a toy poodle rescued from dog meat trade in China and she weight 3.75kg.
When I travel with the both of them together I travel by train, ferry or car.
When I fly I can only take one of them in-cabin. Each dog has to weigh below 8kg including carrier to be in-cabin.
And we can only fly out of Heathrow but we cannot fly into the UK in-cabin.
Do reach out if you need more information.
May x