Wales, situated on the western end of Great Britain Island, boasts castles, National Parks and spectacular natural landscapes. Home to devolved government with an elected parliament known as Senedd, Wales offers plenty for visitors.
Wales is home to three National Parks and five Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where mountain ranges such as Snowdonia (Yr Wyddfa) dominate its landscape.
History
Wales has always been an amalgamation of cultures. From its Celtic roots and medieval kingdoms to industrialisation in the 19th century and modern economic success today, its many inhabitants have always maintained strong national identities while being part of British Empire. But Welsh national pride and identity has never felt completely at home in England and there remains strong sense of national pride today.
People in Wales tend to identify themselves as modern Celts, with roots going back 230,000 years to pre-Roman tribes that once populated the region. Pontnewydd Cave near St Asaph has shown evidence of human settlement dating back to 230,000 BCE as early humans migrated south from north-west Europe via Pontnewydd Cave near St Asaph near Pontnewydd River near Pontypridd Cave near St Asaph near Pontnewydd River near Pontnewydd Cave near St Asaph where early humans arrived from north west Europe via Pontnewydd River before spreading culture during Iron Age battles for territory and resources before Middle Age saw some areas consolidate under single ruler while others became part of larger British kingdoms until finally in 16th century new waves of Welsh identity began emerging through political freedom movement from across Wales itself.
Religious reforms created a distinct Nonconformist tradition in Wales following the Reformation, reinforcing its distinction from Englishness. This translated to political movements for Welsh autonomy which eventually resulted in Owain Glyndwr’s rebellion of 1400; though unsuccessful, his uprising left deep-seated resentments against British monarchy and their “race laws”.
The Industrial Revolution gave Wales access to new resources. Copper, lead and zinc mining was conducted. Meanwhile, coal production brought wealth and employment opportunities for Wales’ towns and cities; yet industrialisation created a cultural divide within Wales as traditional communities developed separate cultures; in towns and villages they focused more heavily on class politics than pastimes, while traditional culture in rural areas became obscured beneath layers of British patriotism.
Since World War II, interest in Welsh independence has steadily grown. Although Wales joined the UK during that era, in 1999 they created their National Assembly for Wales whose parliamentary system is based around Westminster but many decisions still take place at Cardiff.
Culture
No matter your interest in Wales – rugby or the annual Eisteddfod competition – Wales stands out with its distinct culture. From language, customs, festivals, cuisine, art music architecture mythology – Wales stands alone as an experience worth experiencing and is widely considered an ideal location to study the arts.
Over much of its history, Wales was more concerned with day-to-day challenges than nationalist aspirations. Still, among literate classes there was a strong commitment to Wales which manifested in literature and church development in Wales. Industrialisation quickly transformed Wales during the 19th century; urbanisation led to population explosion. After World War One nationalist sentiments rose up again which helped spark renewed interest in Welsh identity.
There was never any direct oppression of Welsh people due to being Welsh; they merely lived on the periphery. Although the British state didn’t discourage the use of Welsh as a language; indeed they even sponsored an edition of the Bible translated into Welsh so as to support Protestantism in Wales; nonetheless this language remained inferior compared to English and therefore could never fully replace its use in its place.
Welsh culture continues to flourish in the 21st century. More people recognize its value while an increased interest in its language increases; now a compulsory subject in schools and increasingly used in public documents, its influence continues to spread and flourish. Due to declining mining activity and increased competition from other nations, Wales’ economy is moving away from manufacturing towards service industries – leaving many rural Wales communities feeling threatened by changes that threaten their traditional way of life. As Wales navigates this transition period, much remains unknown about whether its cultural and linguistic identity will survive the transition. At present, opinions vary among Welsh nationalists over whether devolution to an assembly will enable preservation of unique culture while others focus more on economic stability in Wales.
Weather
Wales is best visited during spring or autumn when temperatures are milder and its vibrant flora at its most vibrant. However, weather changes quickly at any time of year, so layering up should always be included when packing for Wales trips regardless of its season.
Peak tourist season in Wales runs from June to August, when accommodation costs and crowds peak. To enjoy more peaceful experiences, consider traveling during spring or autumn when shoulder seasons offer seasonal attractions without high crowds.
Wales enjoys a subtropical climate and experiences moderate rainfall year-round. November typically experiences the highest precipitation, yet temperatures still allow visitors to go hiking or enjoying time at the beach.
From April to June, Wales experiences generally warm and sunny weather, with daytime temperatures hovering in the mid-80s on average. Upland areas such as Snowdonia or Brecon Beacons can experience more unpredictable conditions at any given time of the year.
Fall in Wales can be glorious and sunny with temperatures dropping down into the low 70s – an ideal time for witnessing nature’s transition from green foliage to vibrant hues of yellow, orange and red scattered all across parks and roads. Furthermore, autumn offers great opportunities for water sports activities as well as festivals and events to attend.
Winter in Wales spans from December to February, when its climate remains frosty yet not too severe for outdoor activity. Thick snow covers tend to be rare at lower levels; however, north-facing cwms of Snowdonia often accumulate significant snowfall through March or April.
Wales is situated near a large body of water, so temperatures of the sea can change considerably throughout the year. On average, Wales sees surface temperatures range between 27.5 degC to 29.8 degC; highest temperatures were seen during September while lowest were recorded during January.
Population
On 28 June, the initial results from the 2021 Census for Wales were made public. They show that on 21 March the usual resident population stood at 3,107,500 – an increase of 44,000 (1.4%) since 2011. This increase can largely be attributed to an increase in households containing at least one person born outside the UK, and further details including Welsh language usage and sexual orientation/gender identity will be released later in 2018. The figures also demonstrate how Wales’ ethnic composition has evolved over time, possibly reflecting different ageing, fertility and mortality patterns as well as changes to how people self-identify their ethnicities on questionnaires from one census to another – for instance a lower proportion of usual residents selected “Caribbean” ethnic group as their own ethnic group in 2021 than did so in 2011.
On census day, 90.6% of Welsh residents identified themselves as White: Welsh, English, Scottish, Northern Irish or British – representing 90 million individuals or 90.6% of Wales overall and marking a decline since 2011.
Wales was home to 2,429,100 Catholics as of 2017. Muslim respondents made up the second-largest religious grouping with another 177,000 Hindus and 92,500 Jews also reported belonging. Most residents claimed English as their main home language with 96.7 percent claiming fluency or very fluency and 0.2% declaring non-existent English abilities.
Additionally, the 2021 Census included questions that inquired into an individual’s national identity and relations to other nations. As a result, a small proportion of population were classified as having multiple combinations of ethnic groups; the following stacked bar chart illustrates these variations by local authority in 2021.
A further stacked bar chart depicts how the proportion of residents who identify exclusively Welsh or British has changed in each local authority between 2001 and 2021. According to this chart, Merthyr Tydfil and Rhondda Cynon Taf had the highest proportions of residents who identified exclusively Welsh while Cardiff and Newport saw those identifying predominantly British.