2016-05-21

Wales is packed with brilliant things to see and do – but how many of the things that make it such a unique place have you done?

We think this is the definitive list of 100 things for us all to try and tick off before we die.

We’ve scoured the length and breadth of Wales to pick out the most beautiful locations, the most exhilarating activities, the tastiest food and the finest culture.

So what are you waiting for?

1. Have a pint at the stunning Ty Coch Inn, right on the beach at Porthdinllaen

There aren’t many pubs you can walk out of and straight onto the beach, complete with a view of one of the nation’s most spectacular coastlines

2. Walk to the very end of Worm’s Head, in the Gower

Just be careful of the curse – if you spend a night on there, you’ll go mad (allegedly)

3. Try your hand at bog snorkelling in Llanwrtyd Wells

You could even qualify for the World Bog Snorkelling Championships, held in the bogs near this Powys town every August

4. Run the Cardiff Half Marathon

The Cardiff Half Marathon is now the second biggest in the UK, after the Great North Run, and takes in some of the capital’s most famous landmarks

5. Cross the historic Barmouth toll bridge

Preferably at sunset. Crossing is now free, but cost 70p for an adult when charges were abolished in 2013

6. Spend a summer’s day at beautiful Barafundle Bay

Beautiful golden sands, turquoise waters… does it get any better?

7. Hit the surf at Whitesands Bay, in Pembrokeshire

You could even try climbing neighbouring Carn Llidi if you get bored (which you probably won’t)

Read more: The 45 best beaches in Wales

8. Watch a match at the historic Racecourse, Wrexham

It’s been home to Wrexham FC since 1864, and Wales’ first ever home international was played there in 1877

9. Brave the chill of wild swimming in Snowdonia

Let the incredible scenery take your mind of the chilly water temperatures

10. Watch Wales play rugby at the Millennium Stadium

And if they’re beating England at the time, all the better

11. Sample the fantastic local produce at Swansea Indoor Market

Make sure you get your hands on some cockles and laverbread for a truly authentic experience

12. Brave the elements in the New Year swim at Saundersfoot

Fancy dress is optional… but recommended – as are warm clothes and a towel!

13. Have a flutter on the Welsh National at Chepstow

It’s just after Christmas, so you might just recoup some of that present money

14. Stand on the battlements at Caernarfon Castle

This medieval fortress was started by Edward I in 1283 and has stood watch over the neighbouring town ever since

15. Kick the bar on Aberystwyth promenade

Kicking the railings at the foot of Constitution Hill has been a tradition since the late 1800s – but no-one’s sure why

16. Take in decades of history at St Fagans

Buildings and artefacts from across Wales – all in one place in this amazing open-air museum on the outskirts of Cardiff

17. See Tintern Abbey from a distance – then get up close

The Cistercian abbey, originally dating from the 12th century, is a striking site from either vantage point

18. Make a romantic gesture at Llanddwyn Island

The magical island on Anglesey’s west coast is home to the church of St Dwynwen – the Welsh patron saint of lovers

19. Step inside St David’s Cathedral

…and follow the footsteps of pilgrims who’ve made the journey to the Pembrokeshire site since the 6th century

20. Drive one of the Wales’ highest (and steepest) roads at Bwlch Y Groes

If you’re feeling extra brave, give it a go on your bike – it gains 385 metres in just 3.5km, with stretches as steep as 25%

21. Find your inner impressionist at Bosherston Lily Ponds

Monet would have been right at home at this Pembrokeshire beauty spot

22. Take the boat out to idyllic Caldey Island

It’s been home to a monastery since the 6th century, and still houses a community of Cistercian monks

23. Go underground at Dan Yr Ogof caves

The national showcaves, at the top of the Swansea Valley, are part of a huge network of caves in this part of the Brecon Beacons

24. Go wild at the National Botanic Gardens

It covers 568 acres of Carmarthenshire, and the Great Glasshouse at its heart was designed by Lord Foster

25. Go dolphin spotting in Cardigan Bay

Best to choose a calm day for your best chance of seeing these amazing mammals off the Welsh coast

26. Go back to the Iron Age at Tre’r Ceiri, on the Llyn Peninsula

The views are incredible, and the history is all around you

27. Catch a show at the Wales Millennium Centre

And marvel at one of Wales’ most amazing pieces of architecture while you’re there

28. Feel on top of the world on the Brecon Horseshoe

Starting near the Lower Neuadd reservoir, the path follows the spectacular Craig Fan Ddu ridge over Corn Du, Pen y Fan and Cribyn

29. Sample one of Wales’ brilliant artisan cheeses

You’ll find plenty of the stuff at the Big Cheese Festival in Caerphilly, if you need a starting point

30. Play golf on the hallowed links of Royal Porthcawl Golf Club

The beautiful seaside course was home to the Senior Open Championship in 2014

31. While away a day canoeing down the River Wye

The stretch between Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye is idyllic

32. See the carpet of bluebells in the spring on the Wenallt, Cardiff

It’s best to visit in early or mid-May for the most spectacular showing

33. Watch the sun come up – or go down – at the Folly Tower, Pontypool

You can see for absolutely miles from this 18th century landmark

34. Have a foodie weekend in Monmouthshire

Whether it’s dinner at the Michelin-starred Walnut Tree or The Whitebrook, lunch at the Hardwick or afternoon tea at the Angel, the choices are incredible. And that’s without mentioning September’s Abergavenny Food Festival

35. Discover the total unspoilt tranquility of the Elan Valley

Beautiful reservoirs, rivers and mountain scenery – this really is one of Wales’ best-kept secrets

36. See for miles from the top of Moel Famau

It’s the highest hill within Flintshire’s Clwydian Range, and has been classed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty since 1985. Look out for the Iron Age hill-forts

37. Get spoilt for choice at the Albion, Conwy

Four local breweries have joined forces to run this classic 1920s pub near Conwy Castle

38. Have a Cadwaladers ice cream in Criccieth

Cone in hand, sitting on the beach in the shadow of the castle, looking out at the sea. Sounds idyllic, doesn’t it?

39. Go coasteering in Pembrokeshire

One of the most invigorating ways to see the stunning Pembrokeshire Coast National Park – and get up close with the wildlife

40. Discover Wales’ industrial past at Big Pit

Head down into the pits at this amazing interactive museum, located inside a former working coal mine that was operational until 1980

41. Roll out the barrel on Boxing Day in Denbigh

The unique competition has been run on December 26 for more than 50 years, and raises money for local charities

42. Find your groove at Brecon Jazz or chill right out at Green Man

These laid-back festivals both take place in the Brecon Beacons and attract some of the biggest names in the music world

43. Get on the Dylan Thomas trail in Laugharne

The star attraction is the boathouse where the literary great wrote many of his finest works

44. See as many bands as you can at Cardiff’s Sŵn Festival

You chance to see some of tomorrow’s biggest bands as they take over venues across Cardiff for a weekend of new music

45. Sit and absorb the majesty of Three Cliffs Bay, in the Gower

From any vantage point and in any weather, this beach looks almost too good to be true

46. Taste Wales’ finest cuisine at Tyddyn Llan in Llandrillo

The finest local produce, cooked in an unfussy but immaculate way by Michelin-starred chef Bryan Webb. Come hungry

47. Watch the birds at Anglesey’s stunning South Stack lighthouse

The breathtaking RSPB reserve is home to puffins, choughs and a range of other wildlife

48. Take every possible route up Snowdon

There are six main routes – the Watkin Path, the Llanberis Path, the Pyg Track, the Miners’ Track, the Snowdon Ranger Path and Rhyd Ddu, each of varying length and steepness

49. Cycle up both the Bwlch and the Rhigos in one day

Conveniently, these two epic and beautiful climbs are situated either side of Treorchy

50. Buy mackerel off the boats at Little Haven

…preferably as the sun goes down on a summer evening at the end of a day spent on the beach

51. See the dazzling colour of Llangollen International Eisteddfod

Performers from across the world visit Llangollen in early July for this festival of music and dance

52. Watch the red kites being fed at Nant Yr Arian in Ceredigion’s Cambrian Mountains

Watch the skies above the mountains fill with these once-endangered birds as they’re fed each afternoon

53. Be Lawrence of Arabia at Merthyr Mawr sand dunes

They’re not quite the Sahara, but the huge Merthyr Mawr dunes, near Bridgend, were used to film parts of the classic film

54. Race the train at Tywyn

This annual 14 mile race sees competitors on foot attempt to beat the steam-powered Talyllyn Railway from Tywyn to Abergynolwyn and back

55. Take a barge over the Pontcysyllte aqueduct

This remarkable piece of engineering is one of the Wales’ few UNESCO World Heritage Sites

56. Sample the atmosphere at Parc Y Scarlets

Things have changed since the Stradey Park days, but this is still one of Welsh rugby’s great grounds

57. Ride the rollercoasters at Oakwood

Megafobia is the centrepiece of the theme park, near Narberth, with the newer Speed ride hits speeds of 95kph

58. See the spring blossoms at Clyne Gardens, Swansea

Go in early summer to see the dazzling azaleas and rhododendrons at their most impressive

59. Go fossil hunting on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast

This striking stretch of coastline reaches from Ogmore to the edge of Cardiff

60. Try mountain biking at Coed y Brenin, Dolgellau

There are also amazing facilities in the Afan Valley and the new Bike Park Wales, near Merthyr Tydfil

61. Take the tram up the Great Orme, Llandudno

Keep your eyes out for the resident goats – and the great views down to the town of Llandudno below you

62. Unearth the past at the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth

Home to more than 6.5 millions books and periodicals, and a number of rare and historic artefacts including the Black Book of Carmarthen – the earliest surviving manuscript entirely in Welsh

63. Sink a wee dram at Penderyn Distillery

It’s only been open since 2004, but the spirits you can try here are already sold across the world

64. Eat a full Welsh breakfast – with laverbread

The squeamish might like to forget the fact it’s seaweed and concentrate on the unique and strangely delicious flavour – perfect with eggs and bacon

65. Pick a winner at Rasus Tregaron

The track at Dolrychain hosts harness racing throughout the summer, and is regarded as one of the best sites in the UK

66. Escape from the real world at Portmeirion

This amazing Italianate village on the North Wales coast was started in 1925 and remains one of Wales’ most remarkable landmarks

67. Trace the origins of Stonehenge in the Preseli mountains

Take a walk through this stunning mountain scenery – and then wander how huge stones from here were transported to Wiltshire 5,000 years ago

68. Scare yourself on the huge zipwire at Penrhyn Quarry

It’s the longest zip line in Europe and those riding it can reach speeds of around 100mph

69. Watch a film at Wales’ oldest cinema in Brynmawr

The Market Hall cinema seats 350 people and was first opened in 1894

70. Eat honey ice cream on the quay in Aberaeron

Made on the quayside premises, we’d advise you not to head too far from the waterfront before indulging in this deliciously creamy treat

71. Do as the Romans did in Caerleon

Standing just outside Newport is the National Roman Legion Museum – and some of the nation’s best preserved Roman remains

72. Dive the wrecks off Dale, Pembrokeshire

The colourful wildlife under the waters of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park are a match for anything in the world

73. Check out the wildlife at the Royal Welsh Show

There’s something for everyone at this colossal agricultural fair, held every July at the National Showground at Llanelwedd, Builth Wells

74. Discover Blaenau Ffestiniog’s slate heritage

Start at Llechwedd Slate Caverns (home to the exhilarating Bounce Below), before taking a trip through slate country on the beautiful Ffestiniog Railway

75. Visit the waterfalls of the Neath Valley

Whether they’re frozen in winter or cooling you down in summer, these falls look amazing all year round

76. Walk as much of our lovely coastline as you can

The entire coastline of Wales is covered by the Wales Coast Path – so there’s no excuse not to get out and see it

77. Take in this perfect view of Lake Vyrnwy

Once voted the best view in the country, this incredible vista seems almost too good to be true

78. Search for Twm Sion Cati’s cave in the hills above Llandovery

Legend has it that his highwayman hid out in a cave in the wilds of Carmarthenshire, not far from Rhandirmwyn

79. Think big in St Asaph – one of the UK’s tiniest cities

Historically regarded as a city because of its cathedral, St Asaph was officially given the status in 2012 as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations

80. Spend a day on the Maes at the National Eisteddfod

Whether you’re a fluent Welsh speaker or a total beginner, a visit to the National Eisteddfod is always a brilliant experience

81. Marvel at the engineering of Newport’s Transporter Bridge

Only eight bridges of this type remain in use in the world. This Grade I listed example was built in 1906

82. Get nautical at the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea

Sitting next to Swansea’s marina, the museum guides visitors through 300 years of innovation and industry in Wales

83. Watch a South Wales derby between Cardiff City and Swansea City

Something of a rarity at the moment, with the sides in different leagues – which makes this even more of a prized occasion

84. See the beautiful Swallow Falls, near Betws y Coed

A hugely popular tourist attraction in Victorian times – and still looking beautiful today

85. Visit the evocative St Winifride’s Well, in Holywell

The Flintshire well was once said to have miraculous curing properties and is the oldest continually visited pilgrimage site in Britain

86. Go green at the Centre for Alternative Technology

Located in the beautiful hills above Machynlleth, the centre has been promoting sustainable and environmentally-friendly living since it was founded in 1973

87. Eat fish and chips in the sun at Barry Island

Nothing quite says summer in South Wales like fish and chips by the sea at Barry Island

88. See a show at the Blackwood Miners’ Institute

If you’ve already ticked this off by seeing local boys the Manic Street Preachers there in January 2011, you win

89. Crane your neck at Pistyll Rhaeadr, Wales’ highest waterfall

An 80m spectacle plunging down a rock face in the beautiful Berwyn Mountains, close to the English border

90. Walk as much of the Offa’s Dyke path as you can

The route follows the 8th century Offa’s Dyke for 177 miles along the border between England and Wales, from Chepstow to Prestatyn

91. Educate yourself with some classic Welsh films – like Solomon a Gaenor

Solomon a Gaenor was nominated for an Oscar in 2000. See also: Twin Town, Grand Slam and How Green Was My Valley

92. Stand on the cliffs at Mwnt and see the incredible coastal vista

A perfect crescent of golden sand, overlooked by a craggy cliff with views around Cardigan Bay and a beautiful white chapel on the hillside. Special

93. Have a North Pole at Joe’s in the Mumbles

Sure, they make other things, but this combination of classic vanilla ice cream, wafer and sauce – served in a little plastic boat – is perfection

94. Go to Nant Gwrtheyrn – to learn Welsh, or just for the scenery

They run amazing Welsh language classes in this isolated, evocative old mining village in a rugged coastal cove – and the setting is magnificent

95. Go on an adventure at Carreg Cennen Castle, Llandeilo

Climb the walls, head into the cave, explore the hillside… and admire the spectacular scenery

96. Follow the ancient drovers’ route along the Abergwesyn Pass – and over the Devil’s Staircase

This remote mountain pass nearly the village of Abergwesyn is one of the wildest and most isolated parts of Wales

97. Be a bookworm in Hay-on-Wye

The literary festival – famously called the Woodstock of the mind by Bill Clinton – takes place in May each year, but the town is a haven for book lovers all year round

98. Visit Harlech Castle – fascinating inside, beautiful outside

There are a few castles in Wales in spectacular locations, but this one – with views across to the sea and north to Snowdonia – is among the very best

99. Have your photo taken next to this sign

It’s not just for tourists… honest. The pronunciation is right there for you too.

100. Take a trip to Powis Castle – one of Wales’ best stately homes

Beautiful gardens, and an immaculate interior – this beautiful National Trust property near Welshpool really is a gem

credit: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/welsh-bucket-list-100-things-9656322

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