Last Updated: January 12, 2022
What Is Wales Known For?
Wales is a great country tucked away on the west of Great Britain and whether you’re in North Wales or South Wales you’ll be surrounded by stunning landscapes and very friendly people.
Wales has literally got it all from mountains and national parks to stunning beaches, a deep Welsh history and lots more that is just waiting to be discovered. Before you visit Wales, make sure you know what Wales is known and famous for so you don’t miss a thing while you’re there.
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The Prince of Wales
If there is one thing Wales is known for around the world it’s the Prince of Wales, who today is Prince Charles. But, this so-called Prince has been among Welsh culture for a long time, since the 1300s in fact, and the title has been passed down through many Kings and Queens, much to the dismay of the Welsh people.
The Welsh were historically against the British Royal Family and the supposed Prince of their country, especially since a lot of the Princes never even stepped foot in Wales. It’s a shame they didn’t get to see the outstanding natural beauty of Wales or get to meet the lovely Welsh people.
But this contention is now a thing of the past and the Welsh welcome Prince Charles who has a home in Wales and visits every year for at least a week.
Welsh Flag
Another thing Wales is known for is the Welsh flag and while their official flag is the Union Jack as it’s part of the United Kingdom, we’re talking about the national flag.
The national Welsh flag has a red dragon on it and it has a great story beyond it. The dragon has been a symbol of Welsh pride for around a thousand years and it’s based on a prophecy that was given by Merlin.
The story goes that the Welsh Dragon would appear and defeat the white dragon of the Saxons and free Wales from the Saxons and give the country back to the Welsh. While this never happened and probably still won’t, the dragon became a symbol of national pride for Wales.
Rugby
Image courtesy of Wikimedia
Ruby is the national sport of Wales and if you’re in Wales you would do well to go to the principality stadium in Cardiff to see the Welsh Rugby team play in a match or two.
If you’re not sure what Rugby is, it’s more of a free-flowing version of American football but you can only pass the ball backward and no protective gear is worn. It makes American football look quite tame in comparison.
While Rugby is actually an English game, the Welsh take it very seriously and they have one of the best teams in Europe and the world. Whenever they play rugby matches the stands are filled with the red shirts of their loyal supporters cheering them on, especially when they play in Cardiff.
Snowdonia National Park
Snowdonia National Park is tucked in north Wales and it covers most of north Wales from the north wales coast to the west and quite far south. The national park is around 823 miles squared in size, home to quite a few Welsh speakers, and to some of the most beautiful Welsh mountains one of which is Mount Snowdon.
Mount Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales and the second-highest mountain in the UK sitting at 1085 meters above sea level. Climbing to the top of Snowdon is something you kind of have to do if you’re in Wales but if you’re not you can always hop on the Snowdon Mountain Railway to get to the top and then walk back down.
The views from the top of Snowdon are to die for and the valleys, rivers, streams, lakes, quaint villages, and pubs are a delight to explore.
Welsh Rarebit
Image courtesy of Wikimedia
Welsh Rarebit, often referred to as Welsh Rabbit mistakenly, is a traditional Welsh food that has nothing to do with cute rabbits, you’ll be pleased to hear. Welsh Rarebit is a famous national dish and it is pretty much just cheese on toast but a fancier version.
The cheese can be sprinkled with a bit of paprika or some mustard, and you can even find it with some Worcestershire Sauce on there too. Another Welsh dish worth trying is Bara Brith which is a rich Welsh fruit cake that you traditionally eat with afternoon tea.
Welsh Lamb
Welsh Lamb is another famous welsh food and when you’re in Wales you’ll realize why. There are sheep everywhere in Wales and the sheep raised on the coast have quite a unique diet that gives them a unique taste.
The Welsh sheep graze on grass and samphire and it’s the samphire that gives the meat its unique flavor. You’ll find Welsh lamb being served all over the UK and if you want to eat it like the Welsh do make sure to have a roast lamb with all the trimmings at a pub on a Sunday afternoon.
Make sure to wash the lamb down with a few Welsh cakes afterward as Welsh cakes are also notoriously deciduous.
Welsh Coast
The Welsh coast is another thing that Wales is known for and something you have to see while you’re in Wales. All of the Welsh coast is stunning, starting from Cardiff bay and the Bristol channel all the way around south wales and into Pembrokeshire, one of the three national parks in Wales, and around to the northwest coast where you’ll be in Snowdonia again.
But, when one talks about the Welsh coast one really means Wales’ West Coast which sits within Pembrokeshire. You’ll find beautiful cliffs, white sand beaches, clear blue seas, castles, ruins, and of course some lovely Welsh villages.
While on the Welsh west coast you can surf, fish, go kayaking, SUP-ing and the coastal walks are absolutely beautiful. You’ll wander past coves, hidden beaches, and lots more.
Castles
Wales is a land that is full of castles, in fact, it has the most castles per person than anywhere in Europe with a total of 427. No matter where you go in Wales, chances are you’ll drive past a castle or two to get there.
One of the most famous castles in Wales is Cardiff castle which has been standing in the Welsh capital before it was even a capital city and has been there for over two thousand years.
Another famous castle in Wales is Conwy castle which has been excellently preserved since the 13th century. It sits on the estuary of the River Conwy in north Wales in Snowdonia and it served as a battlement to protect the north of the country from invaders.
Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale is one of the most famous Welsh people in the world and it might surprise you to hear that he is a sports player, but it’s not rugby, it’s actually football aka soccer in the USA.
Gareth Bale is the top welsh goal scorer and he became the most expensive football player in the world when he signed to play for Real Madrid in September 2013 for a whopping 85.3 million British Pounds.
He still plays for Real Madrid and for Wales during any European Cups or World Cups. If you ever ask anyone in the world what they know about Wales, they will probably say Gareth Bales before they say anything else, he is that famous.
Cardiff
If there is something Wales is known or famous for, it has to be its capital city, Cardiff. Cardiff sits just across the Welsh border with England on the other side of the Bristol Channel and Cardiff bay.
Cardiff is the smallest and one of the newest capitals in Europe and it’s home to some of the best things Wales has to offer. You’ll find the Millenium stadium where you can watch a rugby match and the stadium actually has one of the largest sliding roofs in the world.
You’ll also find the Cardiff castle which we spoke about before and is certainly worth a visit. It’s also the ideal place to try all the delicious Welsh foods we discussed earlier and there is a deep history of coal mining in Cardiff too which is worth exploring.
Welsh Pubs
Image courtesy of Flickr
Welsh Pubs are as much a part of Welsh culture as pubs are a part of English, Scottish, and Irish culture. This is nothing more Welsh to do than call into the local pub for a pint of beer after a long day of work or to wind down on the weekend.
Welsh Pubs are super cozy and usually feature large wooden interiors with a fire going in the corner during the winter. It’s the perfect place to escape the cold, try some delicious beer, and eat some Welsh or English traditional dishes. Think Rarebit, lamb, roast dinners, steak and ale pies, and lots more.
If you’re visiting Wales in the summer, the cozy inside atmosphere moves to the beer gardens where you can sit on benches and soak up the ray while enjoying a refreshing pint.
Royal Gold
Wales is also famous for supplying the Royal Family with gold for their wedding rings. This is quite a new tradition and it only started in 1923 when the late Queen Mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon started using Welsh mines to provide gold for the royals.
Ever since then, every wedding ring for the Royal Family has been made from Welsh gold, Wales’ most precious resource and this includes Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles and Camilla, Prince William and Catherine Middleton, and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
As you can see, Wales has an ancient connection to England and to the Royals from having their heirs to the throne as their Prince and providing gold for the rings of the Royal Family.
Daffodils and Leeks
I’m guessing you wouldn’t have thought that Wales is known for daffodils and leeks, their affiliation with this flower and vegetable goes way back in history. It all actually started with the leeks as a leek was the national symbol of Wales way back in the 7th century.
It’s said that Saint David told the people of Wales to wear a leek on their hats while they were in battle in order to distinguish themselves from the enemy, who were usually Saxons.
Daffodils became a part of Wales’ symbolism quite by mistake. The word for leek in Welsh is Cenhinen Pedr, and the word for daffodil is Cenhinen. One day in the 1800s, someone forgot to say or write Cenhinen Pedr, and just wrote Cenhinen and so daffodils became a part of Wales.
Famous Welsh Waterfalls
With such beautiful countryside comes some beautiful waterfalls and you’ll find them all around the country from the Brecon Beacons to Snowdonia.
One of the most famous waterfalls in Wales is Swallow Falls in Conwy near to the North Coast but they are literally everywhere. It’s highly recommended to take your hiking gear when in Wales so you can explore the rugged beauty of the country and you should also pack a towel and some swimming trunks.
There is nothing more refreshing than jumping into the chilly but ever-so-fresh waters below the waterfalls in Wales. Make sure there hasn’t been too much rain though and that the current isn’t too strong as we’d hate to lose you.
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau is the national anthem of Wales and it’s sung in the Welsh language that over half the country’s population speaks, which is quite an achievement.
Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau means “The Land of My Fathers” in English words and when the national anthem is sung by a whole stadium of Welsh supporters, say at a rugby match at the Millenium Stadium, it’s quite moving.
You can hear and feel just how much the Welsh love their beautiful country and see just how lovely the locals really are. Then you can get stuck into enjoying an awesome rugby match and cheer on the reds.
About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
