Spend the year by the sea in Wales

Monday 23 April 2018

Throughout 2018, Wales is celebrating the 'Year of the Sea' by highlighting the huge range of activities and ways to enjoy its white-sand beaches, endless sea views and 870 miles of picturesque coastline. So why not make this the year to indulge in some coastal Welsh adventures?

 

Outdoor pursuits

Wales is the birthplace of coasteering, a way of navigating the coastline without a boat or boards. There are numerous adrenaline-pumping adventures on offer such as rock-scrambling, seal-spotting, sea cave exploring and cliff jumping. The experienced guides at Celtic Quest Coasteering in Pembrokeshire will tailor your experience to be as mild or as wild as you like it.

As a playground for water sports, Wales also offers everything from kitesurfing and paragliding to paddleboarding and wild swimming. Or why not take a boat trip to one of the 50 Welsh islands that lie off the coastline?

 

Nature and conservation

Get to know the local wildlife with a Seacoast Safaris cruise where sightings include the distinctive residents of Puffin Island; keep your eyes peeled and you might also spot seals, porpoises and dolphins along the way.

Visit the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, managed by The Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales, to learn more about Welsh marine life. Join one of their dolphin survey research trips, and you can even listen to these sociable mammals via an underwater microphone.

Gaze at the Stack Rocks and Green Bridge of Wales where centuries of crashing sea water has carved the dramatic rock arch and pillars. Access is via an army tank range, so check it's open before you visit. 

For an equestrian fix, enjoy a scenic horse ride along Druidston Haven beach with Nolton Stables; the secluded sandy stretch is bordered by cliff formations and rock caves.

 

Soft adventures on land

Walk, jog or cycle the 870-mile Wales Coast Path, the world’s first uninterrupted route along a national coast. Admire the beaches, estuaries, cliffs, and woodlands; wander the urban waterfronts and docks, or explore coastal fortresses such as Manorbier Castle in Tenby.

At the National Waterfront Museum in Swansea, you can also find out about the country's industrial history and the pirates who famously roamed the Welsh seas.

 

Where to relax

Head to Portmeirion, made famous in quirky 1960s drama The Prisoner. Set in a designated conservation area, this charming Italianate-style village on the coast of Snowdonia National Park in north Wales overlooks the River Dwyryd estuary, and is home to numerous independent cafés, shops and Snowdonia’s only spa.

Soak up the sun or enjoy a windswept walk along some of Wales’ 230 beaches. The National Trust look after 157 miles of it; visit the website for their pick of the top shorelines to explore.

 

Savour the sea

If you like your food with a view, book a table at Coast restaurant on Coppet Hall beach near the village of Saundersfoot in Pembrokeshire, which serves up fresh fish and seafood alongside uninterrupted views over Carmarthen Bay.

Langland’s Brasserie in Swansea is nestled right on the seafront and is home to delicious locally sourced food with stunning views of the bay. The fish and seafood platter is a favourite with diners.

For modern bistro food with a side order of sea views, dine at AA Restaurant of the Year for 2017-18 Beach House Restaurant, overlooking Swansea’s Oxwich Bay. 

 

Coastal events

Set up 21 years ago by a group of fisherman who wanted to highlight the local seafood, Cardigan Bay Seafood Festival, which takes place this year on Sunday 8 July, is the perfect event to sample fresh Welsh fare.

On Friday 13 July, join the annual Wales Swim at Tenby’s North Beach, where swimmers tackle a 1.2 or a 2.4-mile course in one of the country’s biggest open water swimming events.

For more information contact:

VisitBritain Media Team

pressandpr@visitbritain.com

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Celtic Quest Coasteering
Celtic Quest Coasteering
Dudley Paella at Cardigan Bay Seafood Festival
Mussels at Cardigan Bay Seafood Festival
Lifeboat at Cardigan Bay Seafood Festival
Jump with Celtic Quest Coasteering
Jump off with Celtic Quest Coasteering
Langland's Brasserie by the sea exterior
Jump with Celtic Quest Coasteering
Jump with Celtic Quest Coasteering
Crabbing at Cardigan Bay Seafood Festival
Hywel Jones at Cardigan Bay Seafood Festival
Gareth Johns at Cardigan Bay Seafood Festival
Celtic Quest Coasteering
Cardigan Bay Seafood Festival
Beach views from Langland's Brasserie by the sea
Beach riding with Nolton Stables
Celtic Quest Coasteering
Celtic Quest Coasteering
Langland's Brasserie by the sea Interior
National Waterfront Museum Exterior
Pembrokeshire Coast - Wales Coast Path
Portmeirion, Wales
Tenby (featuring Castle Hill & lifeboat stations)
Conwy Castle
Conwy Castle, Wales
Bottlenose dolphin
Sealife spotting
North Beach, Tenby, Wales
Surfer on the beach at Rhosneigr in Anglesey, North Wales