Wales climate
Expect a fair amount of rain. Wales enjoys a temperate climate, similar to the rest of the UK and Ireland and as it is on the Irish Sea, the coastal areas get the rain first. A rain jacket/umbrella is an essential part of tourists’ kit.
When to fly to Wales
Peak Season:
The summer months, when tourists take to the caravan parks and holiday cottages of the country.
Shoulder season takes in spring and autumn, both are pleasant times to book a flight to Wales.
Off Season:
It never gets very cold in Wales due to the proximity to the sea. Winter months are more wet than cold.
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Getting around Wales
There is a good public transport system with trains and buses offering comprehensive links throughout the country.
Road quality is very good for rental cars, and if you feel like travelling with the local postie you can hop on the Postbus. The Postbus is a scheme run by the Royal Mail that uses the distinctive red vans to pick up passengers as well as post. Short journeys cost up to £1, longer journeys between £2 and £4.
Wales insider information
- Wales has three national parks and five areas of outstanding natural beauty. Snowdonia covers 2,171 sq km (about 830 sq mi) in north-west Wales and Snowdon, at 1,085m, is the highest mountain in England and Wales. Tourists can take a train (March-November) almost to the summit.
- On the coast of Snowdonia is Portmeirion, the Italianate village built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975.
- The Brecon Beacons in south Wales is 500 miles of beautiful peaks, valleys, waterfalls and caves. The tallest peak here is Pen-y-Fan. It is a day’s walk to the summit, but there is a railway - Brecon Mountain Railway.
- Wales has no shortage of castles, four of which are World Heritage sites: Caernarfon, Conwy, Beaumaris on the Island of Anglesey and Harlech.
- The town of Blaenavon has also achieved World Heritage status. It is the best-preserved example of a traditional South Wales iron-making town and is home to the National Mining Museum of Wales, where visitors, with a real miner for a guide, can descend 91 metres of underground to see the conditions in which thousands of men worked at the coal face.
- Fancy a spot of bog snorkelling? Llanwrtyd Wells is the smallest town in the UK, but it is the capital of festivals. Not only does the town host the World Bog Snorkelling championship each August, but it is also home to the Real Ale Wobble festival, which combines mountain biking with drinking beer, and the Man Versus Horse Marathon (June).
- Visit Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, known in English as “St Mary's Church in a hollow of the white hazel near to the rapid whirlpool and St Tysil's Church of the red cave”. It’s the longest place name and the longest railway station name in Europe.