Welsh pride - 02/06/2010

Wales is packed with attractions sure to satisfy the needs of any group.

The Welsh landscape is a rich tapestry of culture, history and breathtaking views crammed with 641 castles, 200 golf courses, 750 miles of coastline and the UK’s fastest growing city. It has everything from sleepy market towns to high-octane theme parks... a mean feat for a country only 60 miles wide and 170 miles in length.

Literary heritage

Wales is proud of its literary heritage, as celebrated at the world-famous Hay Festival in late spring, but it is the writing of Swansea-born Dylan Thomas that best captures the diversity of the Welsh landscape, culture and people. The Dylan Thomas Centre pays homage to Swansea’s famous son with a permanent exhibition that reveals the relationship between the town and his writing. “Swansea”, he wrote, “has got as many layers as an onion - and each one reduces you to tears.” The centre hosts a Dylan Thomas Festival every October and celebrates with a two-week programme of events. At other times of the year special talks can be arranged for groups in advance.

Authentic historical experiences

Wales boasts a number of excellent living history experiences, offering groups with opportunities to immerse themselves in the country’s rich and diverse history. At Llancaiach Fawr Manor in south Wales your group can step back in time to the 17th century, try on Civil War costumes and interact with historical figures. The ‘servants’ (played by actors) will guide your party through the manor house and reveal the trials and tribulations of 17th century life against the backdrop of Civil War.

Modern Welsh history is dominated by the coal industry. Naturally rich in coal, Wales provided the fuel for the industrial revolution and became the powerhouse behind the British Empire. By 1913, Welsh mines were producing an astonishing 57 million tons of coal each year and, at its peak, the industry employed over 270,000 men in over 600 mines. The Big Pit National Coal Museum (pictured) stands as a monument to Wales’s industrial past, and is a must for all groups. To experience working conditions at the coal face first hand, groups are issued with helmets and cap lamps before being lowered 300 feet into the original network of mineshafts. The guides, all ex-miners, share their personal experiences adding an authentic touch to proceedings. For claustrophobic group members, exhibitions and a multi-media tour of a modern coal mine are available - all above ground!