Kick off your bank holidays with the cheery Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza between May 3rd – 5th. The seaside town’s sweeping Victorian architecture lends and air of authenticity, while a programme of events ranging from town crier competitions to circus workshops will keep you on your toes – check it out here www.victorian-extravaganza.co.uk. Keeping to the North Wales coast, there’s also the nearby Bay of Colwyn Promenade Day on May 5th. There’ll be a fun fair, helicopter pleasure rides, live music, kid’s entertainment, displays and market stalls – have a look on here www.visitconwy.org.uk.

Spend the weekend bird watching at the Elan Valley Estate

Further down in Mid Wales, how about spending the first May bank holiday in Wales’ very own ‘Lake District’ at the Elan Valley Estate near Rhayader. The estate is holding a double whammy of events, with the Birdwatching Safaris and the Dawn Chorus both on May 4th. Hop into the Landover and grab your binoculars for the safari as you’ll be keeping your eyes peeled for the typical breeding birds of the area. The International Dawn Chorus day also takes place on the Sunday, so set those alarm clocks early! . If you still need a big dose of fresh air and nature, then head south-west to the Newport Bay Spring Festival for four days (May 2nd - 5th)and a whole host of activities including walking, cycling, kayaking, music and dance and bungee jumping!

In South Wales, the Bank Holiday fun starts at Cardiff Bay (May 5th but also 26th) with a slew of free amusement including street entertainment, live music and of course the bay’s buzzing atmosphere. But for a bit of nature, head to the Newport Wetlands Reserve, which is holding two separate family events on May 3rd and 5th, the first a sensory exploration of the reserve led by community officers and the second a May Day Bug Hunt, with a chance to get your hands on a prize. Enjoy x

For information on accommodation and general holidaying in Wales, log on to www.visitwales.co.uk

With this in mind we have put together a list of some of the highlights, the not to be missed walking trails, and have come up with five fantastic locations for walking holidays in Wales:

1. Snowdonia: Mount Snowdon

For the adventurous, Mount Snowdon in Snowdonia is a fantastic challenge. Stand at the highest point in England and Wales and behold a view of beauty.

There are numerous routes to the summit of the mountain, some more challenging than others, from the Pyg Track to the more adventurous southern side of Crib Goch, the mountain offers a route for all levels of expertise.

2. Pembrokeshire

Walking the full 186 mile Pembrokeshire coastal path is a big ask, but it is easy to understand why you would want to give this walking trail your best shot. The coastal path takes you through rugged coastal cliffs and past tranquil sandy coves and through some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in the UK.

3. Offa’s Dyke

One of 12 designated National Trails , Offa’s Dyke was built by Offa, King of Mercia from 757 to 796 AD and formed the boundary between England and Wales.

The path, opened in 1971, passes through eight different counties and through the beautiful Brecon Beacons National Park - a truly spectacular walking location.

4. Brecon Beacons

Mid Wales is also blessed with some stunning walking country, no more so than in the Brecon Beacons National Park, a 519-square mile landscape of mountains, forests and gorges.

Pen y Fan is the park’s highest peak, at 886 metres, and links with Corn Du, Cribyn and Fan y Big to form the challenging Brecons Horseshoe walk.

There are also numerous less strenuous and well-marked trails for all abilities throughout the park, and the countryside boasts many castles, Roman remains and ancient earthworks, plus truly beautiful waterfalls.

5. Swansea Bay

Boasting beautiful scenery, fresh sea breezes, sedate sandy bays and craggy cliff faces, Swansea Bay on Wales’ scenic south coast is a fantastic walking location.

Swansea Bay provides the perfect setting for a coastal walk, and visitors will love the Gower Peninsular, the first areas in the UK to be designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

More information about the best walks in Wales

So much choice, it is hard to know where to go first! If you need some more help deciding, see our pages all about walking in Wales.

There is also the excellent Walking Brochure available free from the Visit Wales Web site - it has more details on some of the best walks in Wales including ‘The Ramblers Top Ten’ and walking trails broken down by region and difficulty.

Check it out here http://www.itv.com/Lifestyle/ThisMorning/features/FamilygetawaysPembrokeshire/

That’s No Easter Bunny !

Welsh Llama Trekking offers walks around the Welsh countryside (monmouthshire) accompanied by a llama who carries any essentials for the journey. You are guided by a member of staff at all times who will tell you a little about the Llamas and guide you around this area of outstanding natural beauty.

Easter Egg Hunt

There are a selection of different, seasonally themed treks to choose from including: The Easter Egg Hunt, Summer Trek and Christmas Trek,

You can even host your very own Llama party which is based in the main building (with disabled access), holding up to 30 guests. This option can be fully catered for with an indoor buffet.

We think this would be an ideal day out for families, keen walkers, corporate teams or animal lovers.

Price and Details

Standard trek £20.00 an adult and £10.00 each child (under 14). This price includes the picnic which is eaten within private woodland during the trek.

Contact - Laura Prichard

www.WelshLlamaTrekking.com
contact@WelshLlamaTrekking.com
07812 410718

Easter Railway Events

Another way to find those Easter Eggs is to use the many scenic railways around Wales, here are a few ideas….

Easter Egg Hunt
Llanberis Lake Railway, Llanberis
March 21 - 25
Hunt for the Easter Eggs cunningly hidden around the railway and stations and look out for the White Rabbit! Click here for details.

Easter Bunnies
Welsh Highland Railway, Porthmadog
March 23
Win a prize in our engine shed Easter Egg hunt, with Rufus the Rabbit. Click here for details.

Easter weekend Vintage Shuttles
Ffestiniog Railway, Porthmadog
March 21 - 24
The railways will run vintage trains between Porthmadog and Minffordd, including original carriages that date back as far as the 1860s. Click here for details.

Easter Special
Brecon Mountain Railway
March 23 - 24
Meet Harvey the walking talking bunny, with fun and games for all children.
Click here for details.

Easter Bunny Special
Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway
March 23 - 24
Join the Easter Bunny on the train. Adults get an Easter egg from the Bunny, and children receive a surprise treat when they complete their quizzes. Call 01495 792263 for details.

Easter Trails

The traditional easter egg hunt is always a great favourite with families, take yours to Wales this year, here are some suggestions to get you started…..

Easter Trail
Powis Castle & Garden, Welshpool
March 21 - 24
Have some great family fun, with the annual Easter trail in the garden. Click here for details.

Easter Weekend
National Wool Museum, Drefach
March 21 - 24
Follow our Easter trail and enjoy craft activities. Click here for details.

Easter Trails
National Slate Museum, Llanberis
March 21 - 24
Complete the Easter Trail around the museum to win a prize. Click here for details.

Celtic Fun Activities for Children
Castell Henllys, nr. Crymych
March 21, 24 & 25, 27
Learn about daily life in an Iron Age Hillfort over 2,000 years ago with fun activities. Click here for details

Easter Egg Hunt
Greenfield Valley Heritage Park, Holywell, March 23
Have fun making an Easter card and joining an Easter egg hunt? Click here for details.

Community Egg Hunt
Cwmaman Theatre Institute, Cwmaman March 20
An easter egg hunt through the village, with chicks and bunny’s giving you clues to the hidden treasure. Click here for details.

Easter Fun
Dyffryn Gardens, St. Nicholas
March 21 - 2
Easter activities and entertainment for all the family including face painting, storytelling, bouncy castles and the history camp. Click here for details.

Tudors Easter
Greenfield Valley Heritage Park
March 24
The Tudors have taken over the whole Museum, so come and see what they got up to at Easter time. Click here for details.

Easter in the Bay
Cardiff Bay
March 23 - 24
Take part in the animated easter trail and enjoy family entertainment from street theatre performers and musicians. Click here for details.

Easter Egg Hunt
RSPB Lake Vyrnwy , Llanwddyn
March 23
Come and help us find all the eggs hidden by the Easter Bunny, with chocolate treats, craft activities and a quiz. Click here for details

Easter Nature Scavenger Hunt
RSPB Lake Vyrnwy, Llanwddyn
March 22
Join our wildlife expert in the forest and hunt for nature’s forest treasures.
Click here for details.

Easter Egg-stravaganza
Elan Valley Estate, Elan Valley
March 21 - 24
Come and ‘eggsplore’ with our family fun quiz. Click here for details.

Plas Newydd, Llanfairpwll:

Mr Bamboozle will be the “eggstra” special guest at the fantastically situated Plas Newydd on the banks of the Menai Strait in Llanfairpwll on 23 March. Children will be able to try their hands at craft activities, an Easter Egg Trail, and there will also be face painting. Take a stroll around its gardens, which are an abundance of golden daffodils at the moment, and soak in the stunning views of Snowdonia across the Menai Strait.

Erddig, near Wrexham:

Meet spring’s new arrivals from 21 - 24 March… little chicks and bunnies will be on show at the stables. As well as having a go at the Easter Egg trails, why not treat the family to horse and carriage ride around the estate? Erddig will also host a selling exhibition of beautiful ceramics by local potter, Wendy Gill…a perfect gift or souvenir to remember a great day out!

Powis Castle, near Welshpool:

Answer questions and solve the riddles as the Easter trail leads you around the spectacularly famous garden at Powis Castle between 21 - 24 March. Take the kids to see some seriously scary daggers and sparkly bejewelled treasures from India in the Castle’s Clive of India Museum.

Bodnant Garden, Conwy Valley:

The world famous Bodnant Garden is also an abundance of spring colour at the moment, and provides a colourful backdrop for an Easter trail and wildlife quiz from 21 - 24 March. Stop off for a delicious home made treat at the tea room before heading home.

Chirk Castle, near Wrexham:

Kids - and adults alike will be kept entertained at the magnificent Chirk Castle between 21 - 24 March with egg nests basket ball, space hopper maze, a children’s entertainer, face painter and Easter trail. Don’t forget to call at Chirk Castle’s Home Farm shop to find some tasty locally produced meat, fruit, seasonal vegetables and sweet treats to take home for tea.

Family Fun Day and Easter Craft Fair - Margam Park, Neath Port Talbot - 24 March

A great day for a visit to the Park Storytelling, Children’s Entertainment, Easter Bonnet Competition, Face Painting and lots more.Come along on Easter Monday for a great family day out with children’s entertainment throughout the day.

Pick n’ Mix circus, Jimmy Juggles, Circus Workshops, Francis Maxey Clown and many more or why not visit our Easter Craft Fair* in the grand setting of Margam Castle, where a wide selection of local crafts will be on sale from 10am to 4.30pm or join in with one of the History Walks, on throughout the day, with the ‘Friends of Margam Park’.

Don’t for get to bring along your Easter Bonnet for judging at 2pm, Childrens activities start from 11am.

Adults: £4.00 Children/Concessions: £3.00 Under 3’s: Free

Some Alternative Easter Activities

If Easter Eggs, Steam Trains and, erm… Llamas aren’t alternative enough for you how about….

Spooky Tales at Tredegar House

21^st & 28^th March

Try this guided tour through the history of Tredegar House. Delve into the un-restored parts of one of Wales’ leading stately homes, and hear terrible tales of the unexplained experiences of the House’s many eccentric characters. Tours last approximately 2.5 hours and must be booked in advance. Not suitable for children under the age of 8.

Adults £8, Concessions £7, includes a glass of wine -Tour starts at 7pm

Tel - 01633 815880

Civil War Battle Gathering - Caldicot Castle presented by The Sealed Knot
11am-5pm, 22nd - 24th March

“The Army of Parliament is arriving to storm this Royalist stronghold” providing spectacular displays throughout the weekend. Plenty of living history and all-round family entertainment.

Caldicot Castle 01291 420241

Llwyngwril Gallery
Fairbourne - Friday, 21st March 2008 From 2pm

• Acting Workshop with Mayur Raj Verma
• A Talk about Bollywood and showing of highlights from Bollywood films.
• Presentation of Film 15 with Emma Macey and some of our own Film 15 project 2006 films
• Authentic Indian food will be available, prepared by Noorie of Café Indiana, opening in Fairbourne, priced £7

Book places for the day on 01341 250054/01341 250884/07870 873231
Thats all for now, you can find hotels or bed and breakfasts in Wales on the Visit Wales web site. Let us know what you got up to in Wales over the Easter Bank Holiday - you can leave your comments here.

With four ” Good Food Guide” entries this year , St David’s is claiming itself a gastro city. Find the list in last weekends Travel Saturday Guardian. We are pleased that Wales is fast becoming a foodie favourite !

Foraging Forays and Gastro pubs in Wales

Sally Shalam latest find is the ‘Foraging Breaks‘ at gastro pub The Foxhunter, read her lovely review in Travel Saturday Guardian of one of the Top ten foodie breaks in the UK.

If foraging is really your thing why not spend a weekend discovering more on a Nature’s Larder course at the renowned Centre for Alternative Technology near Machynlleth, where sustainable living is second nature. Again read about it in Travel Saturday Guardian

The Walnut Tree revived ….

.. and working back its magic in the Welsh countryside. Read the Tracey MacLeod review in The Independent Magazine, as she finds that this famous eatery near Abergavenny has been brought back into the gastronomy fold by the much admired chef Shaun Hill.

Japanese Bath Rituals
Or look for the exclusive Ytsara’s Japanese Onsen Bath Rituals on offer to guests staying in the hotel’s Bron y Glyn decadent suite - a total bathing ritual to relax the mind, body and spirit.

On a bicycle made for two…

Have you ever dreamed of riding off into the sunset on a bicycle made for two?

Well Drover Holidays have put together a perfect Valentine’s present - A weekend cycling break on a tandem!

The weekend can be booked in advance from 15th March onwards and a gift voucher issued ready for Valentine’s Day. (Give your loved one the voucher in February but do your cycling when its warmer !)

How do you say ‘I love you’ in Welsh?

Say ‘Rwy’n dy garu di’ or even I love you at The Imperial Hotel overlooking the elegant promenade in Llandudno. Woo your lover with champagne, chocolates and a traditional Welsh love spoon.

Quality Hotels in Wales

Don’t forget you can also find plenty of hotels in north and south wales to help you plan your Valentines celebrations on Visit Wales Web site

Love birds at National Wetlands Centre Llanelli

Take advice from the Independent on Sunday 3 Feb and get closer to nature at The National Wetland Centre, in Llanelli and celebrate Valentine’s Day over a candelit meal with champagne and roses at the Estuary Cafe. But if can’t get to Llanelli this year why not shower your lover with an unusual gift. By adopting a swan as a Valentine’s gift, you’re helping to provide a secure future for them and wowing your Valentine into the bargain! For more information contact The National Wetland Centre

A lot of people ask us ‘Where is that picture taken?’

The image we have used in Visit Wales home page is the view from the top of Mount Snowdon looking South East towards Llynnau Mymbyr Lakes.

The BBC features a panoramic view from the top of Snowdon accompanied by some interesting posts from people who have been up the mountain.

If you fancy a high altitude coffee, they are also building a cafe at the top of Snowdon. You can monitor its progress and track other news on the Snowdonia Active blog.

Looking back up the mountain

The reverse view to the homepage picture is the one looking up from Llyn Mymbyr lakes.

Llynnau Mymbyr are lakes situated near Dyffryn Mymbyr, a valley running from the village of Capel Curig. north-west Wales.

The A4086 runs to the north of the valley and offers some stunning views of Mount Snowdon and Snowdonia. -You can find accommodation near Capel Curig here

Wikipedia has more about Llyn Mymbyr if you need to know more

Planning a short break in snowdonia?

Try these useful links

• Where to stay in Snowdonia (Hotels, B&B’s, Guesthouses and Hostels)
• Free brochures with articles about things to do such as walking, climbing in Snowdonia
• Whats going on in Snowdonia

The article also appears in Visit Wales new magazine Wales View. You can order this free magazine here and also stand a chance of winning a Honda Civic Hybrid.

More Shopping….

Llandeilo is not the only mecca for independent shopping. Take your cue from Wales View and try:-

• Abergavenny for its various and well-stocked weekly markets;
• Betws-y-Coed for outdoor shops aplenty;
• Cardiff for its compact city mix of highstreet and Victorian arcades;
• Hay-on-Wye for books and boutiques;
• Cowbridge for high-octane glamour;
• Narberth for antiques and stylish crafts;
• Welshpool for fine wines.

Phew, happy shopping…and if you have any further shopping tips for us, please share…

If you ever wanted to see what people get up to when they go on an activity break in Wales then Wales 1000 Things is the site to visit.

View, share, rate other peoples photos

Its got thousands of photos and videos uploaded and shared by people who have been mountain biking, cycling, fishing and horse riding in Wales (and many other activities).

Upload your own photos

Why not take a look? Or even better, if you have been on an activity weekend or short break in Wales why not upload your own !

The Guardian suggests Plas Tan-yr-Allt, in its list of ‘Sexy Bolt Holes in the UK’ !

The Times sends its Mystery Shopper to visit a selection of Hotels in Wales.

And we have our own take on luxury hotels in Wales that should provide you with plenty of ideas for your romantic break in Wales in 2008.

Times Travel featured Bluestone in their top ten family holidays…..

A new eco-friendly, car-free resort that sounds similar to Center Parcs opens this July in 200 ha of forest in the Pembrokeshire National Park. Self-catering ranges from studio apartments in the village to log cabins sleeping up to six. Bluestone Wales (01834 869900, www.bluestonewales.com has a waterpark, adventure playground, freshwater lake, spa, pub, restaurants and shops. Guests can travel around the resort by bike or electric bus. Activities include nature trails, tennis, dance classes, aerobics, painting and photography.

Its an innovative, eco friendly option for anybody planning to stay in a holiday cottage in Pembrokeshire.