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UNITED KINGDOM - Wales
Location - Western Europe; Capital - Wales - Cardiff; Population - Wales - 3 million; Currency - Pound Sterling MORE UK - WALES
I was born and brought up on the north Wales coast. And at last, in 2012, I visited the capital. About time! I've now added more photos from a trip to mid and south Wales in the summer of 2016.
20 Pounds Sterling
Elvis is alive and well and living in Cardiff Bay - Cardiff
The fantastic looking Wales Millenium Centre is at Cardiff Bay - Cardiff
The Centre hosts arts and culture events - Cardiff
Next to the Centre is the red-brick Pierhead Building (which houses a history of the Bay), and also the Welsh Assembly (right) - Cardiff
Inside the National Assembly for Wales, or Y Senedd in Welsh. The Assembly has the power to make legislation for Wales - Cardiff
Roath Basin is one of a few former ports at Cardiff Bay - Cardiff
The Norwegian Church Arts Centre overlooks Cardiff Bay - Cardiff
Cardiff Bay Barrage seals the bay from the Bristol Channel and the Atlantic. The built-up area opposite is the town of Penarth - Cardiff
Mermaid Quay is a multi-million pound development on the waterfront - Cardiff
There's plenty of bars, restaurants and shops to entertain - Cardiff
A sculpture at Mermaid Quay, Cardiff Bay - Cardiff
A homage to the BBC TV series Torchwood, much of which was filmed around the Bay - Cardiff
A short walk inland is the area called Butetown, the centre of the city's coal trade in years gone by - Cardiff
Take a water taxi from Mermaid Quay to the city centre - Cardiff
The boat ride goes up the River Taff, past the Principality Stadium (formerly the Millenium Stadium) - Cardiff
In addition to being the home of the Welsh rugby and football teams, the Principality Stadium hosts many concerts - Cardiff
The home shirts of the Wales rugby team (WRU = Welsh Rugby Union) on a stadium tour - Cardiff
A Welsh dragon mural near the entrance to the Principality Stadium - Cardiff
It may be sacrilegious but I'm more a football man, and I was lucky enough to be in Cardiff when Wales played Moldova in a World Cup qualifier at the Cardiff City Stadium. It was the first match since the Euro 2016 heroics, and we won 4-0!
Take a short bus ride from the centre to visit Llandaff Cathedral - Cardiff
Some sections of Llandaff Cathedral date back to the 12th century - Cardiff
Cardiff Market is set in a Victorian building selling food and knick-knacks - Cardiff
The Animal Wall is a series of wildlife sculptures next to Cardiff Castle - Cardiff
Clambering up Animal Wall - Cardiff
Cardiff Castle's Clock Tower rises above the Animal Wall - Cardiff
The 11th century Norman Keep is at the centre of the grounds of Cardiff Castle - Cardiff
Past the moat and keep is the Clock Tower (left) and the Victorian Mansion - Cardiff
The Clock Tower and Victorian Mansion, as seen from the Norman Keep - Cardiff
Climb the steps of the Norman Keep for views of the Law Courts, City Hall and the National Museum of Cardiff - Cardiff
Monument to the Abandoned Soldier - Cardiff Castle
The Wartime Tunnels were built into the castle walls for shelter during World War II - Cardiff
Bute Park lies behind the castle - Cardiff
Bute Park used to form part of the castle grounds - Cardiff
Bute Park lies on the banks of the River Taff - Cardiff
A creative sculpture in Bute Park - Cardiff
Feeling hungry in Sophia Gardens, on the opposite side of the river from Bute Park - Cardiff
Brains is the local Cardiff brewery
Welsh flags fly along St Mary Street, the heart of the city's shopping and nightlife - Cardiff- Cardiff
Several Victorian shopping arcades dot the city, this one being Morgan Arcade - Cardiff
Opposite the castle is the aptly named Castle Arcade - Cardiff
Wyndham Arcade - Cardiff
Only 30mins from Cardiff is Barry Island, a traditional seaside escape with a decent beach at Whitmore Bay
Brightly painted beach huts at Whitmore Bay - Barry Island
Barry Island is best known as the setting for British comedy series Gavin & Stacey starring James Corden, Ruth Jones and Rob Brydon. Stacey worked at Marco's Cafe, right.
Island Leisure is the amusement arcade where Nessa worked, and there's several souvenir shops selling tacky Gavin & Stacey memorabilia - Barry Island
Also close to Cardiff is Caerphilly, a town famous for three things: its castle, Caerphilly cheese and the birthplace of the legendary blundering magician-turned-comedian Tommy Cooper
The Tommy Cooper statue stands outside Caerphilly Castle - Caerphilly
The moated 13th century Caerphilly Castle - Caerphilly
The castle was built by Gilbert de Clare as a defence from Welsh king Llywelyn the Last - Caerphilly
Looking at green of the Valleys from a castle tower. The Valleys is the name given to a large area of South Wales synonymous with coal mining and industrialisation. The post World War II decline of the coal industry hit the economies of The Valleys hard - Caerphilly
The castle was eventually taken over by the Bute family, and in 1958 the moat was flooded with water again - Caerphilly
A wooden sculpture of the 4th Marquess of Bute 'holds up' the leaning tower - Caerphilly
The city of Newport doesn't have a great reputation but it looked fine from the train..
Website and content Copyright © 2008-2017 Mark Wilkinson. All rights reserved.
LINKS
www.visitwales.com - Wales tourist board
www.northwales.co.uk - guide to north Wales
www.snowdonrailway.co.uk - take a train up Snowdon, Wales' highest mountain
www.snowdon.com - more info on Snowdon
www.visitmidwales.co.uk - guide to mid Wales
www.tourism.powys.gov.uk - another site focussed on mid Wales
www.southernwales.com - guide to south Wales
www.visitbritain.com - Britain's official tourism website
www.thetrainline.com - train information across Britain
www.traveline.cymru - Wales public transport journey planner
www.nationalexpress.com - National Express coaches cover Britain
I am not responsible for the content of external websites.
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