coast TRAVEL
The postcard-perfect villages clinging to Wales’ 1,680-mile-long coastline are known for their rainbow-coloured townhouses, adrenaline-filled coastal pursuits, ancient histories, and slow-paced lifestyles, discovers
Despite being a teeny country, Wales is titanic in stature for its copious number of serene and alluring coastal villages and towns. These are secreted by single-track lanes, bands of ancient woodlands rising in harmony with undulating fields, and storm-smashed sea cliffs that look fit to stand the test of time.
The villages and towns positioned here are admired for their slow-paced, pastoral lifestyles, where locals rise with the sun to plough fields, trawl the sea for fish, and stretch their legs along Victorian piers, coastal paths, and swathes of sandy beaches touched with palm trees and pastel-striped deckchairs. The local shops, surfing waves, and coastal castles are attractive daytime activities, while burgeoning food scenes occupy the evenings, especially at weathered-stone pubs filled with merry voices.
What’s more, at the tips of the nation are a “little Italy” and a Welsh version of the French Riviera, which beg the question: do you really need to go abroad when Wales is before you?
BEST FOR VICTORIAN ARCHITECTURE
Dedicated to making happy memories – that’s how we’d describe Mumbles. Its five-mile-long promenade wraps around the horseshoe-shaped Swansea Bay and is backed by a sheltered beach, an 18th -century lighthouse, a Victorian pier, and Oystermouth Castle.
The latter is an imposing 12th -century Anglo-Norman fortress, where we enjoy “searching” for the lady in white haunting the dungeon. The castle’s name hints at Mumbles’ historic oyster industry, as does the multi-million-pound Oyster Wharf, featuring The Oyster House, where the smell of seafood is intoxicating (oysterhousemumbles.com/). For a quiet evening, stay at Langland Cove Guesthouse. Double occupancy from £75 (langlandcove.co.uk/).
BEST FOR DYLAN THOMAS’ POETRY
Laugharne, Carmarthenshire Unlike Wales’ other coastal communities, Laugharne is consumed by the everlasting presence of its most famous resident, Dylan Thomas. The poet lived here for four years, fondly dubbing it ‘the strangest town in Wales’ and suggesting it’ll ‘be the same in a hundred years’ time.’
Laugharne Castle has stood overlooking the Taf e
