Looking for information on Wales -- sites, castles, museums, events, inexpensive guest houses. We will be there for about 7 days this summer. We'll be flying into London but don't need any information about it. Would appreciate any ideas or information anyone has about visiting Wales. Thanks.

Oh, you will love this country. The north is SOOOO beautiful. (I didn't make it to the south so I cannot say, but I understand it is all quite pretty). <BR> <BR>Go to Snowdonia. Try to take the little train in Llanberis up to the top of the mountain, and walk back down (or walk both ways if you like). <BR> <BR>I stayed in a B&B in Betwys-y-Coed, not far from Llanberis. It is quite near the old church - actually the driveway goes up the hill behind it. (you will know what I mean when you get there - small town, one really old church). If I can find my info on it I will repost (if you are interested). <BR> <BR>have fun! <BR> <BR>Beth

Lizz, I just started a little planning for Wales in May of 2002. Go to the website www.visitwales.com There is lots of info there, but even better, a way to order free brochures. I did an order and within three days started receiving a wealth of information; each region publishes their own travel catalog with pictures and information of virtually every hotel and B&B in their area, attractions, and lots of pictures, maps, and suggestions. I have received about 7 of those so far, but no other "junk mailings". <BR>To Beth, Betwys-y-Coed looks wonderful. Do you think that is the best place to settle for four or five days to do the whole north part of Wales?

Hi Liz, <BR>I went to Northern Wales (solo) a long time ago (1982) but liked the town of Carnafon (stayed in the Black Boy Inn- don't know if it still called that) and I think the Carnafon Castle is the best one in Wales. Lots to see in Northern Wales, Portmerion looks interesting (article in Conde Naste or NG Traveler this month). There are several web sites about castles in Wales when I investigated for a trip in 1997. You can find lots on info. <BR> <BR>Three years ago I went with the family (husband and two teens) to the south because I wanted to take the kids to Bath. We stayed in the Wye Valley for two nights. Stayed at a place called "The Crown at White Bridge" advertized as a resturant with rooms. Really Great food, rooms OK. They were with a group called best loved hotels, whose web site no longer seems to be working. From our base in the Wye Valley we saw Tinturn Abby and the roman town of Car"something" which had a nice ampitheater (for GB) and a decent museum. Also saw a few castles in the south too whose names escape me. <BR>Farther to the west, Pembrokeshire looked very interesting, but we went on to Bath instead. Seven days is a long enough time to see a whole lot of Wales. Have fun! <BR> <BR>http://www.castlewales.com/home.html <BR>http://www.a1tourism.com/uk/

Brings back memories of childhood holidays!! There are several places that would make good centres for touring North Wales (the landscape is much more dramatic in North and central Wales than in the South though there are some lovely beaches all around the coast. I'd recommend Llandudno- it's on the coast with good roads and planty of accommodation or Conway where there's a great castle. Bangor is just opposite the Island of Anglesey and near Menai Bridge (Bangor is a small but lively University town). Caernarfon has the largest (?)castle and isn't far from Porthmadog (small trains of Wales) and Portmeirion which is a replica of an Italian town designed by architect Clough Williams Ellis. Enjoy your trip

I spent all my childhood holidays in Harlech which is a great base for exploring North Wales. Harlech town and castle are on a cliff overlooking the sea. The sea used to be right up against the cliff but over the last few hundred years has slipped back revealing a flat plain with sand dunes and 8 miles of glorious beach. Portmeirion is very close to Harlech and is a must see - it was the brainchild of a mad englishman who bought various unusual houses in Italy, dismantled them and rebuilt on a little patch of land overlooking an estuary. They're all painted mad colours and the whole place is like a fantasy world. You can actually rent some of the houses in the village which I've always wanted to do but never got round to it. <BR> <BR>Visit http://www.virtualportmeirion.com/ <BR> <BR>Also from Harlech you can easily reach Snowdonia and climb Mount Snowdon, Wales' highest mountain (not as bad as it sounds). Beautiful unspoilt countryside. You'll love it. <BR> <BR>If you're thinking of venturing south, I would suggest Swansea - Wales' second city is a pretty seaside town with great beaches, shopping and a lively surfing community.

Wales is beautiful. Our favorite castles were Raglan and Harlech, but all of them were good. <BR> <BR>Don't know if anyone in your family is a fan of the old TV show "The Prisoner", but it was filmed in Portmeiron, which is why we went there. My husband loved it. <BR> <BR>I highly recommend the Museum of Welsh Life, outside of Cardiff. It's really a fascinating place. Its an open air musuem about the types of places the Welsh have lived through history. Some are replicas, some are originals moved into the museum grounds. It starts with some early bronze age huts, is on the ground of an 18th century manor house, and goes all the way up to 20th century laborers quarters. Most of the places one visits on tour are homes for the upper classes (castles, manor houses, mansions). The cool thing about this museum is that it was a showcase for how normal people lived. My favorite exhibit was a set of 6 tiny row houses where iron workers might have lived. They showed the changes for each decade from 1910-1960. It was fascinating to see the addition of indoor plumbing, stoves, even the different uses of the small garden plots. Its a great museum and very different.

Many thanks to all who have responded. This is great! I'm investigating all the various websites etc. that have been suggested. I've met a few people who have visited Wales but getting information from them was like pulling teeth. As most of you mentioned, we plan to spend the majority of our time in central and northern Wales. If you think of anything else, please post it. I am humbled by everyone's generosity in sharing your experiences. This is a great site! Again, my thanks to all.

Hi Liz: <BR>Just wanted to say that I agree with Kate! I spent a week this past Sept. in LLanbedr(nr. Harlech)renting a beautiful stone cottage(www.premiercottages.co.uk if you'd like to check)that overlooked Cardigan Bay. The castle in Harlech has a spectacular view of the bay as well as Royal St. Davids Golf Course. Love the little towns! So much to do and see. We rented a car and it was very easy to get to many places, Portmeirion, Porthmadog where we rode the FFestiniog(sp) Railway, Caernarfon Castle, Swallow Falls(I think it was somewhere between Llanberis and Betwys-y-Coed). You could also do Conwy, Llangollen(sp?), Llanberis Mountain Rail up Snowden, Horseshow Pass(spectacular drive from Llangollen(sp?)),all of which I did on earlier trip but definitely worth it. Bodnant Garden is someplace I have wanted to go but have not. Also, we visited one of many Wool Mills in Wales in the town of Trefriw, on road between Betwys-y-Coed and Conwy. The Mill itself is powered from the waters of Cravnant(sp?) Lake and the drive up the mountain to the lake as well as sitting and having lunch along side the lake on a spring day was incredible. Just a sort of 0ff-the-beaten-path kind of thing!

May I put in a word for Pembrokeshire? <BR>If you stay somewhere like Saundersfoot you will have access to a beautiful coastline much of it owned by the National Trust, so it is quite unspoiled. There are lovely areas like the lily ponds at Bosherton.

Everything above is well worth a visit. But I'd like to put in a pitch for Anglesey Abbey (gorgeous, Beaumaris Castle, and, if it is on your route, a quick stop at Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwytrndrowbwllllantysil iogogogoch, the town with the longets name in Great Britain (maybe the world?). And then try to pronounce it! Worth a laugh, besides all the castles and fantastic views, one of my favorite memories of Wales.