The 20 Most Beautiful Places To Visit in Wales

While mountaineers tend to descend (before quickly ascending again) on the peaks of North Wales, you shouldn’t overlook the spectacular beauty of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (also known as the Brecon Beacons). Its highest peak, and indeed South Wales’ tallest point, is Pen y Fan, at 886m (2,906ft). The trig point here stands atop a dramatic clifftop, offering stunning panoramas of Bannau Brycheiniog, the rolling Welsh hills seemingly endless, with untouched moorland interrupted only by the occasional lake or reservoir. On a clear day it’s possible to see as far as the Bristol Channel to the south, the Gower Peninsula to the west, and sometimes even the tallest mountains in Wales to the north. Many hikers enjoy setting off early in the morning – the alarm is brutal, but the sunrise views are worth it.

The Gower peninsula, immediately to the northwest of Swansea, is one of several high-points along Wales’ west coast. A little like England’s Cornwall without the overwhelming hordes of tourists, this peninsula is dotted with charming villages and stunning beaches, but none take the breath away quite like Three Cliffs Bay. A short woodland stroll from the car park eventually opens up to reveal a spectacular stretch of pristine sands and epic limestone cliffs. If you can drag yourself away from the sand, do tackle the walk up to Pennard Castle, a 12th-century ruin with the best view of Three Cliffs Bay.

The northernmost point of Wales can be found off the northwestern coast on Ynys Môn, known in English as the island of Anglesey. The island is one of the most popular countryside retreats in Wales, with more than enough exploring to fill a week-long getaway. After crossing the striking Menai Suspension Bridge to reach Ynys Môn, you’ll find plenty to keep the eyes occupied, from the epic fortress of Beaumaris Castle – one of the country’s most impressive – to one of the longest place-names in the world, Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch. You can’t really go wrong with simply tracing the island’s amazing coastal paths, highlights along which include Llanddwyn Beach, South Stack Lighthouse and Plas Newydd House and Gardens, home to an extremely rare population of UK red squirrels.

The Pembrokeshire Coast is another famous stretch of seaside in West Wales, and a highlight in recent years has been Abereiddy, a tiny hamlet on Pembrokeshire’s rugged northwest coast, known for its remarkable blue lagoon and black sand beach. The watersports-friendly lagoon is set in a grey slate quarry, the same material that gives Abereiddy Beach its extraordinary dark hue. The area is popular with coasteering groups and kayakers, but equally lends itself to a relaxing coastal walk.

Eryri National Park (also known in English as Snowdonia) is home to the tallest mountains and greatest lakes in Wales. The highest peak here is Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon), rising to 1,085m (3,560ft), from where you can take in sweeping, dramatic views of the Welsh countryside. There are multiple routes up to the UK’s highest point south of Scotland, with a cafe waiting on top and a mountain railway for those unable to tackle it on foot. The mountain is best seen outside of school holidays and weekends, when a queue forms for photos atop the mountain, or you can opt to go further off the beaten path by tackling another mountain, such as the equally beautiful Cadair Idris.

Few places to a better job of capturing the essence of Wales in a single image. Sitting at the foot of Wales’ tallest mountain, Yr Wyddfa, the jagged edges of Dinorwig Quarry, which look like a staircase carved for the giants, are a striking remnant of Wales’ industrial past. Once the second largest slate quarry in the world, it now forms the base of the National Slate Museum. The abandoned remains of the quarry bring a strange sense of atmosphere to a patch of land which looks over the beautiful Llyn Padarn (Padarn Lake), and the town of Llanberis, which is the starting point of the most common route up Yr Wyddfa.

Barafundle Bay is a small curved beach in Pembrokeshire, backed by dunes and pine trees. On a sunny day, the golden sands and azure waters look more like the Caribbean than Wales. The walk to the beach is spectacular, taking you along a stretch of the Pembrokeshire coastline where grassy hills meet the sea cliffs directly. In the same region are the Bosherston Lily Ponds, three flooded limestone valleys that, in the summer months, are covered in a carpet of lilies. The beauty of Barafundle was enough to inspire an entire album by ’90s Welsh psychedelic folk band, Gorky’s Zygotic Mynci.

In the northeast of Wales, near Wrexham and the border with England, lies this luscious green landscape, designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The region is synonymous with dense green forestry and sweeping valleys that carve through the mountains alongside the Dee River itself. There are plenty of walks to embark on, but we recommend hitting the waters of Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a remarkable UNESCO-listed structure. Many tourists – including Harrison Ford, have spent days on canal boats along the scenic 17km stretch of canal, but for an afternoon activity we recommend paddling down the aqueduct on a canoe.

If there’s one contender challenging Three Cliffs Bay as the best beach in the Gower, it has to be the peninsula’s westernmost stretch of sand, Rhossili. And what a stretch of sand it is, stretching for 2.8 miles (4.5 km) and looking out onto the endless horizon. It’s one of those rare places that gives you the feeling of being at the edge of the world. It’s no wonder than numerous publications have named it not just one of Wales’ best beaches, but indeed one of the best in Europe and the whole world. We recommend pairing your visit with an intrepid trek across to the tidal headland of Worm’s Head (check tide times in advance), followed by a well-earned pint at The Worms Head Hotel, which overlooks both the headland and the beach.

The charming town of Caernarfon lies on the mainland-side of the Menai Strait, opposite Ynys Môn. The cobbled streets, colourful houses and quaint harbour are all reason enough to visit, but the real reason Caernarfon should be on your list is for its epic castle. This towering medieval fortress is considered as one of the great structures of the Middle Ages, and is considered as a UNESCO World Heritage Site alongside the other North Walian castles of Beaumaris, Harlech and Conwy. The fort took almost 50 years to be built at a cost of around £25,000, translating to well over £15m in today’s money. A beautiful irony is that, while this castle was built by King Edward I of England to subjugate the people of Wales, the town is now arguably the capital of Welsh language culture in Wales, with around 85% of locals speaking the mother tongue, proving that cultures can survive just as well as stone structures.

The largest lake in Wales, at 3.7mi (6km) long and 0.5mi (0.8km) wide, can also be found in Eryri National Park. The town of Bala – another Welsh language hotspot – can be found on the northern shores of the lake and acts as the main visiting point. The lake has an abundance of fish, making it a popular spot for anglers, but it’s most popularly used as a watersports haven – think sailing, canoeing, wild swimming and windsurfing.

Most tourists land either in the north or south, but Mid Wales rarely gets the love it deserves. So if you fancy somewhere a little less known, consider the Elan Valley, which is pretty much the geographical centre-point of Wales – quite literally Mid Wales. The valley lies in the Cambrian Mountains, and is largely a private estate accessible to the public, consisting of a series of scenic dams and reservoirs, nestled amid the rolling green hills. A series of excellent hiking and cycling trails ties the valley’s six dams together, making this place a perfect outdoorsy day trip from Aberystwyth. However, we recommend staying overnight to do a spot of stargazing, since the estate was given International Dark Sky Park status in 2015.

Back in northeast Wales, between Bala and the English border town of Oswestry, is this rather magical waterfall, tumbling steep down a luscious ravine and into the River Rhaeadr. At 240ft (73m) it is the seventh tallest waterfall in the UK. Many claim it is the single tallest “single-drop” waterfall and, while this isn’t technically true, the sudden steepness of the falls definitely gives them an edge over some of their taller rivals. Found in the Berwyn Mountains, this is another lesser-trodden gem, but within easy reach of Eryri National Park.

This gorgeous secluded bay in south Ceredigion is a real favourite summer spot among locals in West Wales. The beach is quaint but super easy on the eye, nestled into a little cove in Cardigan Bay. Be sure to stroll past the adorable old Holy Cross Church en route down to the beach, and in summer keep an eye out for dolphins and seals in the bay. The nearby town of Aberteifi (Cardigan) is a great base from which to explore West Wales. Head north to enjoy the beaches of Llangrannog and New Quay, or journey south to being exploring the Pembrokeshire coast.

Not to be mistaken for its Scottish namesake, this sheltered gorge along the river Conwy is an equally spellbinding combination of rapids and cascades channelled into a narrow ravine in North Wales. Wooded banks and mossy rock walls add to the charm of this dramatic scene, which can be found nearby the villages of Betws-y-Coed and Llanrwst, two of the best bases from which to explore Eryri.

The valleys of South Wales are home to some spectacular waterfalls, and near the village of Pontneddfechan are some of Wales’s finest. In the heart of Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, the aptly named Waterfall Country is home to falls such as Sgwd Gwladys (Lady Falls), a 10m (33ft) high waterfall that spills into a natural pool popular with wild swimmers, as well as Henrhyd Falls – the highest in South Wales – and Sgwd Clun Gwyn (Fall of the White Meadow).

Translated as “Red Castle”, this Gothic building overlooks the village of Tongwynlais and the River Taff, and looks quite literally like something out of a fairytale. It was first built in the 11th century, and after years of abandonment and destruction was revived in the late 19th century. The woods surrounding the castle are among the most westerly natural beech woodlands in the British Isles. They provide a spectacular backdrop to the castle, particularly during the autumn months. It’s located on the outskirts of Cardiff, making it an ideal day trip from the capital.

Also known as Lake Vyrnwy, this great expanse of water in Powys, Mid Wales, is in fact a reservoir propped up by a stone dam that dates back to the 1880s. The lake is surrounded by woodland and filled with a rustling abundance of wildlife, as well as a sculpture trail, cafés and crafts shops. A Gothic, castle-like water tower sits in the centre of the lake. While serene in its beauty today, there is an element of controversy to the reservoir, which was created by the Liverpool Corporation Waterworks to supply England with water. This involved the drowning of a village, Llanwddyn, without the consultation or consent of its residents, who were moved away from their homes in order to construct the reservoir. A similar story can found at Llyn Celyn, where the remains of Capel Celyn can occasionally reappear when waters are low.

Tenby is a picturesque, historic harbour town, enclosed in centuries-old stone walls and notable for its colourful harbourfront buildings and sandy beaches. From Tenby, take the ferry over to Caldey Island, a holy island with a 1,500-year-old history, with its Celtic monastery first established in the 6th century, and currently home to just 40 residents.

A viral sensation multiple times over in the social media age, the curious case of Portmeirion in North Wales has long attracted tourists from far and wide. This “village”, found on the estuary of the River Dwyryd, was the brainchild of Welsh architect Clough Williams-Ellis, who wanted to make a settlement as pretty as its surroundings. The Baroque style buildings, with a distinct Mediterranean influence, make this unlike anywhere else in the UK. While there is a strange feeling of fakeness to the grounds, Portmeirion is inarguably easy on the eye, so much so than visitors over the years include the Beatles, Ingrid Bergman and H.G. Wells.