Cruise Wales Brochure
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Cruise Wales Wales – what will you discover? Amlwch Welsh Llandudno Mountain Prestatyn Holyhead Zoo Rhyl Llangefni Beaumaris Conwy A55 Colwyn A55 Bay St Asaph Anglesey Cathedral Flint Sea Zoo Bangor Connah’s Quay Adventure Bodnant Garden Mold Parc A470 Caernarfon Snowdonia Zip World Zip World Fforest Penrhyn A5 Quarry Betws-y-coed Snowdon A494 A487 Llechwedd A5 Wrexham Slate Caverns Blaenau Erddig Welsh Highland Ffestiniog Llangollen A483 Railway A5 Pontcysyllte Aqueduct Bala Chirk Castle Pwllheli Portmeirion Italianate Village Plas yn Rhiw SNOWDONIA Harlech NATIONAL PARK Castle A470 A494 Rhaeadr Nantcol Dolgellau Waterfalls A483 A458 A487 Welshpool Powis Castle Cruise Port Motorway A489 and Garden A470 A483 Airport Trunk Road Newtown Castle Museum Llanidloes Zip Wire Zoo Abbey Aberystwyth A44 Devils Bridge Vale of Falls A483 Gardens Distillery Rheidol Railway A470 Hafod Estate Cathedral Historic House Llandrindod Caves Wells A487 Builth Wells A483 Cardigan Fishguard Fort Cilgerran Castle National Wool Fishguard Museum Llandovery A470 A40 Aberglasney Dinefwr A40 Brecon Gardens Castle A479 St Davids St Davids Cathedral National Botanic Llandeilo A470 Garden of Wales A40 BRECON BEACONS PEMBROKESHIRE COAST NATIONAL PARK A465 NATIONAL PARK Brecon A40 A483 Carreg Mountain Haverfordwest Carmarthen Cennen Abergavenny Picton A48 National Showcaves Railway Monmouth A477 Castle A4076 Castle Llanstean Centre for Wales A465 Carew Castle Castle A40 Laugharne Merthyr Big Pit Milford Haven Castle A465 Penderyn A4042 A449 Aberdulais Whisky Llanelli Falls Tydfil Tenby M4 Distillery PembPerokemb Dockroke Manor A470 Caerleon Chepstow Freshwater West Wildlife Neath Caerphilly Tintern Park Pontypridd Abbey Swansea M4 Gower Area of Royal Mint Castell Caldicot Castle Pembroke Outstanding Beauty Port Talbot Experience Coch Three Newport Clis Bay M4 Bridgend A4232 Porthcawl St Fagans Museum of History Penarth 030 Barry kilometres Mae’r prosiect hwn wedi derbyn cyllid drwy'r Gronfa This project has received funding via the Regional Tourism Ymgysylltu Twristiaeth Ranbarthol ac yn derbyn Engagement Fund (RTEF) and supported through © Crown copyrigh t 2 020 Based upon digital info rma tion supplied by Lovell John s Lt d. Ox ford Cartograp hics : Welsh Asse mbly Gove rnment : ML /34/03.04/general cefnogaeth y Rhaglen Datblygu Gwledig 2014–2020 the Welsh GovernmentAddition alRural Cartograp Communitieshics: Cruise Wales 2020 – Rural – Cymunedau Gwledig Llywodraeth Cymru sy'n cael Development Programme 2014–2020, which is funded ei ariannu gan Gronfa Amaethyddol Ewrop ar gyfer by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development datblygu gwledig (EAFRD ) a Llywodraeth Cymru. (EAFRD) and the Welsh Government, the Fund to improve Nod y Gronfa yw gwella profiadau ymwelwyr a chreu the visitor experience and create stronger destinations by cyrchfannau cryfach drwy gydweithio. working together. Cruise Wales Croeso i Gymru! Welcome to Wales! View from Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales WHY WALES? Wales is a country like no other. offers unique experiences, such as share the best of Wales with your Its natural beauty is second to none; exploring the sites of some of the passengers and leaving them with a fifth of the land is within one 600+ castles built in the country, memories of a lifetime. Wales has of three National Parks (namely hearing a live male voice choir, six unique cruise ports that provide Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons and following in the footsteps of world- access to North, South and Mid Wales Pembrokeshire), a third is protected famous Welsh poets and tasting and the endless opportunities that because its flora and fauna are the sweet delights of a Welsh cake. lie within them. From ziplining above of special scientific interest and The people of Wales are friendly, rolling hills at over 100 miles an hour there are five Areas of Outstanding inviting and proud of their home to relaxing on a steam railway to the Natural Beauty, not to mention nation, leaving visitors with lasting top of Snowdon mountain, there is 870 miles of walkable coastline. impressions besides the dramatic something unforgettable for all ages scenery. and abilities. Within the spectacular mountains, valleys, rivers, sand dunes, forests and At Cruise Wales, we aim to offer your seas, there is a whole lot of adventure passengers a wonderful time in this to be had. The rich cultural heritage outstanding country, helping you to 3 Wales – what will you discover? Culture & Heritage In Wales, patriotism, culture and heritage are held in high esteem. The three things overlap in many of the ways the country distinguishes itself. For example, a Welsh artist’s love of his country inspires his artwork (as was the case for painter Kyffin Williams and poet R S Thomas). Wales is often referred to as the ‘land of song’. It has many choirs, a lively theatre and drama scene, a love of live music and an annual National Eisteddfod (a major eight-day event where the public perform in music and poetry competitions). A large part of the Welsh culture and heritage is the language, which is spoken widely across Wales. St Fagans National Museum of History, Cardiff MYTHS & LEGENDS Storytelling is a big part of Welsh culture. Myths and legends have been passed down through the generations from as far back as the first millennium, both orally and through written tales and medieval manuscripts. From place names and landmarks to people and animals, many things in Wales have links to words of the past. Even the flag, Y Ddraig Goch (the red dragon), is steeped in legend. Owain Glyndwˆr, the last native Prince of Wales 4 Cruise Wales INDUSTRIAL The modern history of Wales is one of industrialisation. The demand for iron, coal and steel – and the availability of raw materials in the mineral-packed Welsh valleys and countryside – brought money, fame and modernity to the country. Enthusiasts can explore a disused coal mine at Big Pit. Manufacturing, fishing and agriculture have always played their part too, with Wales’ island status making it ideal for importing and exporting goods. Big Pit National Coal Museum, Blaenavon N AT U R E & WILDLIFE Wales’ terrain caters to millions of creatures and plants. In the skies fly red kites, ospreys, puffins, the world’s greatest concentration of Manx shearwaters, terns, waders, falcons and more, while the waters house many animals including dolphins, seals, otters, porpoises and turtles. Wales has some of the largest areas of flower-rich grassland, thousands of rare plants, Europe’s largest active sand dunes and some of the continent’s best temperate forests. Skomer Island, Pembrokeshire ACTIVITIES For thrillseekers and big kids, Wales is one giant adventure playground. Activity providers make the most of the undulating terrain, accessible coastline and varied weather. Popular activities include coasteering (jumping, climbing, scrambling and paddling along the coastline), caving, gorge walking, mountain biking, hiking, surfing, ziplining and sailing. There are quirky indoor activities too, such as trampolining in a cave at Bounce Below or watching busy bees at the National Beekeeping Centre Wales. Adventure Parc Snowdonia, Conwy 5 South Wales Cardiff Wales’ vibrant capital city balances history with modernity, compactness with grand ambition and cosmopolitan architecture with parks and gardens. There’s lots to explore in the city, plus the countryside, beaches, mountains and former mines are within easy reach. As an easily-navigable city, visitors Capital castles shows and permanent exhibitions can walk from one point of interest to Cardiff Castle, a medieval castle and on zoology, archeology and more. another while enjoying the sights. a Victorian Gothic Revival mansion, On The Hayes, a central shopping is located in the heart of the city. street, the Cardiff Story tells the Treats galore The interior is extravagant: gold leaf, city’s history. Its fast-paced food and drink scene marble and intricate wood carvings. has pop-up eateries, specialty coffee Boat tours run along the River The fairytale-like sibling, Castell Coch, shops, established restaurants and Taff from Bute Park to Cardiff Bay, can be seen from the top of the keep. cocktail bars. Big brands fill St David’s passing the 76,000-seat Principality shopping centre, while the Victorian Cultural cornerstones Stadium. Cardiff Bay is the result of and Edwardian arcades house The white-stoned civic centre the regeneration of the docklands independent boutiques and quirky buildings sit on wide avenues near that were central in the country’s shops. Cardiff‘s indoor market sells parkland. There you’ll find National industrial past. It is culturally rich, with Welsh cheese, freshly-caught fish, Museum Cardiff. It is home to the the Wales Millennium Centre hosting souvenirs and other things. best collection of Impressionist theatre shows, the Norwegian church paintings outside of Paris, displays of where Roald Dahl was baptised and Welsh art through the ages, touring seasonal events. Cardiff city centre, including Principality Stadium and Cardiff Castle 6 Cruise Wales TOURS Caerphilly Castle Experience Tours The National Trust Tour Discover the largest castle in Wales, Go 300 metres underground at Big Wander around two fine mansions with a tower that leans more than Pit National Coal Museum or watch and their grounds: Dyffryn Gardens the Tower of Pisa millions of coins being made at The and Tredegar House Royal Mint Experience Cardiff Walking Tour Tintern Abbey and Monmouth Take a historical stroll from Cardiff Millennium