15 Things To Do In Wales, United Kingdom

I always like the smaller countries I visit. The underdog countries. I think that’s because I come from Wales – the smallest country in the British Isles. A country most people think is just a small part of England. However, even though it is small in size there are many reasons to visit Wales. If you love the outdoors you’ll love Wales, with its extensive network of hiking trails and bicycle routes. If you like culture you can get lost in Welsh folklore. It has a language so old Tolkien used it to base one of his Elvish languages on. It is the original Land of Dragons, sorry Daenerys we were here first. And it has so many castles it is called the castle capital of the world. But best of all, very few visitors to the UK make it across the border from England, so you’ll likely have these places all to yourself. There are many things to do in Wales but I have narrowed it down to just 15 Things to do in Wales, United Kingdom.

In this post, I have included some of the lesser-known sights along with several of the more famous places. I look forward to seeing you soon in the land of ‘hiraeth’ and dragons.

15 Things To Do In Wales, United Kingdom

1. Bounce below @ Zip World Slate Caverns

Ever wonder what it would be like to bounce around on trampolines in a dimly lit slate cavern?! It might not be the first thought for a bucket list activity but it doesn’t make it any less fun. Welcome to Bounce below! It’s like a big adventure playground for adults as well as kids. The first Zip World opened in 2013 to make use of disused quarries in the area. Now they have three different Zip Worlds in North Wales.

For £20 you can bounce around the six giant net trampolines and switch between levels on the net slides. This charge buys you one hour on the nets but honestly, that is more than enough. We were huffing and puffing after just five minutes! There are minimum age and height requirements and a maximum weight limit so it’s worth checking on their website before visiting. Other activities at Slate Caverns include the Titan zip line and Caverns, an underground obstacle course.

2. Velocity 2 @ Zip World Penrhyn Quarry

Opened in 2018, Velocity 2 is the daddy of all zip lines. Traveling at speeds of over 100mph, Velocity 2 is the world’s fastest zip line and the longest line in Europe. So, if like me you’re an adrenalin junkie looking for a fix, then this is the place for you.

Prices start from £65 depending on which day you visit. Places fill up fast so I’d definitely recommend booking in advance. Height, weight and age restrictions also apply, all of which can be found on their website. More activities at Zip World Penrhyn Quarry include quarry go-karts and a quarry tour in big red trucks.

3. Bike Park Wales

Bike Park Wales is tucked away in Gethin Woods on the edge of Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales. It is the UK’s first full-scale mountain bike park. There are over forty trails to choose from and the team is constantly building more. The trails vary in difficulty and are graded by color, much like a European ski hill. Uplifts are provided by a minibus, at an extra cost. If you prefer to use your own muscle power to get to the top, there is a dedicated trail for that also. The park provides hours of fun as you sweep and swoosh your way down the tracks, taking advantage of one of Wales’ greatest natural resources – mountains.

4. Explore Cyfarthfa Castle  

Like most of the UK, there are a lot of castles to visit in Wales. They vary in age and size but all have their special uniqueness. Cyfarthfa Castle, in the former Industrial town of Merthyr Tydfil, was once home to the Crawshay family. In the 1800s Merthyr Tydfil was the biggest exporter of Iron Ore in the world. The iron ore extracted from the ironworks was transported via, first canals, then steam trains to the port of Cardiff. From Cardiff, the iron ore was shipped all over the world. This booming business made the owner of the ironworks, William Crawshay, a very wealthy man. In his wealth, he built a castle on the grounds of a beautiful park, from which he could enjoy views over the valleys.

In 1908 the Crawshay family sold the castle and in 1913 it opened as a secondary school. It continued to run as a school for 100 years, so I spent the first two years of High School taking lessons in this grand castellated mansion. Today the castle houses a museum containing artefacts linked to Merthyr’s past and an art gallery. There are audio tours available in a variety of languages or guided tours can be arranged on request. The Castle is situated in a park with formal gardens, a lake, and a model railway line.

5. See a Chapel built into a cliff  

St Govan’s is a small chapel built into the side of a limestone cliff in Pembrokeshire, West Wales. I first discovered St Govans purely by accident, whilst doing a hike from Bosherton. This circular route took us along beautiful bays and past pretty lily ponds, but the highlight for me was this remarkable little chapel. It was founded in the 6th century and the only access is via a long flight of stairs. Legend has it that if you count the stairs down and then again on the way up, the number is never the same! I think it is worth a visit just to find out!

There is a car park just a few hundred meters from the stairs that lead down to the chapel if hiking from Bosherton is not an option.

6. Visit a Church on Llangorse lake  

Situated in the Brecon Beacons National Park, Llangorse Lake is the largest natural lake in South Wales. On the central southern shore, you can find a small Victorian church called St Gastyn’s. The church is named after a hermit who lived in the area in the 5th century. St Gastyn’s is open all year round and it is free to enter. The church has a personal significance for me as it is the church where my maternal grandparents got married. I timed my visit to include a sunset over the lake but there are other activities to enjoy such as fishing, hiking or water skiing.

7. Watch wildlife at Strumble Head Lighthouse  

Strumble Head is a tiny island not far from Fishguard, West Wales. Strumble head lighthouse, built in 1908, was one of the last lighthouses to be built in the UK. There is a suspension bridge leading to the lighthouse but access is no longer possible, as the lighthouse is now fully automated. Just a few hundred meters from the Lighthouse is a wildlife lookout. Strumble is one of the best places in Wales to see migrating seabirds and it is also a popular spot for dolphins and porpoise watching. A visit to Strumble Head could be included as part of a walk along the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path.

8. Get lost in the book town of Wales: Hay-on-Wye

When I was young my mum used to make regular visits to Hay-on-Wye and occasionally I would join her to see what unusual books I could find. Hay-on-Wye is a small market town in the County of Powys, close to the English border. Today Hay-on-Wye has over twenty bookstores to keep literary lovers enthralled. But it’s not just about the books themselves. Part of the attraction is about the buildings that house them, as they vary from castles to boutique stores to simple bookshelves on the streets.

If you plan your visit for a Thursday you can also enjoy Market Day, a tradition that has been running in the town for hundreds of years. In the market, you can find books (of course), antiques and locally produced food.

9. Hike to the top of Pen y fan  

Pen y Fan is the highest mountain in the Brecon Beacons National Park and in Southern Britain. The Brecon Beacons refer to a mountain range and the wider protected area located in South Wales. As the highest mountain in the area, Pen y Fan is quite a popular hike with locals and tourists alike. There are several routes to the 886m summit but in good weather all provide a great mountain experience.

The easiest route is 4 miles return and has 440 meters elevation gain. This route is a well-maintained path and navigation is straight forward in clear weather. For more information on this and other hikes to the summit, you can see this post – A guide to hiking Pen Y Fan – 3 routes up Southern Britain’s highest peak.

10. Take a train to the summit of the UK’s most visited mountain

Located in Snowdonia National Park, North Wales, Mount Snowdon is the highest peak in England and Wales. At 1085m there are six main hiking routes to the summit and one other unique route – a railway line.

Snowdon Mountain Railway was completed in 1896 and has been transporting people to the top ever since. For £30 you can purchase a return ticket to the summit from the town of Llanberis. The train runs every 30 minutes or as numbers demand from March to October. The weather can be pretty unpleasant in the Winter months so for that reason the train doesn’t operate.

11. Hang out at the UK’s best beach

In 2019 Castle Beach in Tenby was voted the UK’s best beach by the Sunday Times. Quite an accolade.  This beautiful sandy beach is the smallest of Tenby’s three beaches and changes dramatically with the movement of the tides. On one side is Castle Hill which houses the remains of Tenby Castle and on the other sits St Catherine’s Island. Spend your time relaxing on the beach like I did as a child or take a boat out to the holy island of Cadley.

12. Venture out along the causeway to Worms Head (A view of Llangennith beach with worm’s head in the distance)

When the tide is out, it is possible to walk along the rocks to the most westerly point in the Gower, aptly named Worm’s Head. Worm’s Head is a headland situated in Rhosili, a beautiful bay in the Gower, South Wales. The name comes from the Viking word ‘wurm’ which means dragon. When the tide is out its easy to see why this name was given.

The rocky causeway is only exposed for two and a half hours before and after low tide, so a little planning is required. The headland is one mile long and a great spot for birdwatching. Just remember to keep one eye on the tide!

13. Walk a section of the Pembrokeshire coastal path (Near St Davids)

The Pembrokeshire Coastal Path has been voted the world’s second-best coastal path. There are 186 miles on this coastal path, so there are many section hikes to choose from. I was camping at St David’s so I chose to do the route from Whitesand’s Bay, around St David’s Head and on to Porthgain. This section has 10 miles of undulating coastline to enjoy. Along the way, we stopped to watch porpoises play in the sea and seals lazing on the rocks. In the summer months, a shuttle bus runs between various points on the coastal path to take you back to where you started.

14. Take a surf lesson in the Gower

Sure the waters off the Welsh coast are not the warmest waters to be surfing in but we don’t let that stop us! Simply grab a wetsuit and off you go. There are many spots all around Wales that are great for surfing but I took a lesson off the long sandy beach of Llangennith, in the heart of the Gower. There are several surf schools that operate on this beach so it’s a case of choosing which one is right for you.

Llangennith is the mecca for surfing in the Gower and the three-mile beach is roughly split into three sections, with Rhosilli at one end and Three Peaks at the other. The ideal section for beginners is the middle section. The beach at Llangennith is easily accessed on a path through the sand dunes. There is a cafe and a campsite if you want to make a trip of it, as I did. Camping breaks in Llangennith could also include coastal hikes such as walking out to Worm’s Head and getting wet whilst coasteering, both in nearby Rhosili.

15. Try your hand at coasteering

Coasteering is an activity that involves traveling along, up, off and sometimes through coastal cliffs. It’s an action-packed adventure that involves swimming, cliff jumping, cave exploration, and rock traversing. I first tried this activity on the Gower where, if you’re lucky, you’ll also be able to see marine life such as otters, seals, and porpoises.

All the equipment needed, such as a wetsuit, life jacket and helmet will be included by the provider. They will have a minimum age but it’s not necessary to be a strong swimmer. The guides will build you up to tackle the various challenges but if you’re not up for it you can always sit it out. It is definitely a chance to challenge your comfort zone!

Wales Tourism

How to Reach Wales in UK

Book cheap flights through Skyscanner or Cleartrip to reach Wales and Wales hotels through TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or Hotels.com here.

Where To Stay In Wales, United Kingdom, Europe

For the best hotels in Wales or the best place to stay in Wales, we suggest checking out our favorite sites to book here. We always use these sites to book our stay. Wales hotel booking can be done through TripAdvisor or Cleartrip or Hotels.com or Makemytrip or Expedia to save huge and get the best deals on booking your stay in Wales.

Tours/Activities available in Wales – Things To Do In Wales

Wales points of interest are many and if you are wondering what to see in Wales or what to do in Wales, then look no further. Wales attractions pass are available for the best Wales tours. You can now book tours in Wales as well as activities in Wales. Plan the best places to visit in Wales, UK, and experience Wales.

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