WALES is a nation criss-crossed with stunning historic and natural attractions including more than 600 castles, like the UNESCO world heritage site Castell Conwy, an ideal day out for culture lovers.
Add to that three national parks, the “Welsh Wonder” of Mount Snowdon and stunning bays galore, and nature fans will also be hard pressed to pick which to visit first.
We’ve spoken to Welsh locals and Sun readers who have spent £9.50 Holidays in Wales, asking for their top tips on the historic and natural attractions that are worth visiting.
They include some lesser-known options, with top tips for when you get there.
From submerged forests to thundering waterfalls, here’s what they recommend for a day out on your £9.50 Holiday…
Fall for Devil’s Bridge
Ian Peabody, 67, took a day trip to Devil’s Bridge Waterfalls in the Cambrian Mountains, around a half-hour drive from his base at Parkdean Resorts Brynowen.
His top tip is to take the ten-minute Punchbowl trail, instead of the longer, circular walk into the gorge.
It’s also the cheapest option (£2pp instead of £4.75 in peak season).
He said: “It had been raining a lot when we visited, so the waterfalls were spectacular. The path is very steep in places so you do need some level of fitness and decent footwear.
“We did both sides, including the Punchbowl, which was easier to navigate and also provided better views of the Three Bridges.”
Take a walk – and a play – in the park
Chantelle Hawkins, Guest Experience Manager at Trecco Bay, has a great option for exploring further afield, particularly for dog walkers and families.
She said: “At Margam Country Park, all you need to pay for is parking (around £7.70 all day) and then you have the whole thing for free.
“There are adventure playgrounds, wildlife, walking trails, you can take your dogs and they’ve even got a little cafe.
“They also do pop-up events, like Christmas workshops and entertainment shows.”
Other payable activities in the park include paddleboarding, kayaking and a Go Ape Treetop Challenge.
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Borth’s Bronze Age forest underneath your feet
Sun travel writer Ellie Ross recommends: “There are many reasons to visit Borth beach, adjacent to Parkdean Resorts Brynowen Holiday Park.
“Its three miles of golden sands are popular with families, with shallow waters that are perfect for everything from swimming to surfing.
“But there’s another reason – in 2014, storms revealed a sunken Bronze Age woodland, with oak trees dating back 6,000 years.
“Visible at low tide, the ancient remains are said to be the origins of the legend of Cantre’r Gwaelod, a mythical kingdom now submerged under the waters of Cardigan Bay.”
See the I’m A Celebrity castle
If you’re staying near Abergele in North Wales, at a park like Parkdean Ty Mawr or Lyons Robin Hood take June Williams’ advice and visit Gwrych Castle, a 19th-century country house overlooking the Irish Sea.
The 74-year-old, from Knighton in Radnorshire, said: “We saw it when we were playing golf at Abergele during our £9.50 Holiday at Ty Mawr and it’s magnificent.
“They filmed I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here there, too.”
As well as being made famous by Ant and Dec, the castle played an important role in World War II, as the Government used it to house Jewish refugees.
Tip: to keep costs down, take a self-guided tour scanning the QR codes around the castle as you go (look out for the props used on the TV show).
Admission costs £11.50 for adults, £6.50 for children and free for under-threes – plus £2 for parking.
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Step back in time at St Fagans
Chantelle Hawkins, Guest Experience Manager at Trecco Bay recommends the National History Museum at St Fagans.
More than 40 buildings have been resurrected in the 100-acre grounds, including a traditional Welsh farmhouse, a tannery, old-fashioned shops and a church that took 20 years to be moved stone by stone from its original parish.
Chantelle said: “It takes you back to the olden days as you walk through all the houses.
“You can get hands-on with crafts, like making bread the traditional way, which is really fun.”
Tip: although the museum is free to enter, you’ll need £6 for the car park.
Go wild swimming in waterfalls and lakes
Daniel Start, author of Wild Guide Wales, reckons North Wales has some of the UK’s best waterfalls – including some you can swim in.
He said: “Many people have heard of the Swallow Falls near Betws-y-Coed but the Miner’s Bridge just upstream is actually more fun.
“An unusual stepped bridge leads down to the river and a series of deep pools beneath a high cascade with some good jumps possible.”
Meanwhile in South Wales, you could dip in Keeper’s Pond, Blaenavon, a lake that was built in 1817 to power an iron forge.
Daniel said: “It’s perfect for a summer swim with a car park adjacent and Wales’ highest pub, the Lamb and Fox, is just a mile further along the road.”
HOW TO GET A HOLS FROM 9.50
Hols from £9.50 is back on Saturday, January 4!
Choose from over 350 holiday parks across the UK and Europe.
To book your break all you need to do is collect FIVE codewords, Sun Savers codes or tokens.
Find out more here.
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