Part III - Wales

Tintern Abbey, Wales, Photo Image © Karen Toh , 2010

Tintern:
Tintern Abbey a spectacular ruin, was the first Cistercian abbey in Wales, founded in 1131 in the beautiful Wye valley. It was during the reign of King Henry VIII, in one of his political actions in which the king created a policy that began the Dissolution of the Monastries, invoking total control over the church in his realm.  Tintern Abbey was surrendered to the king’s visitors on 3 September 1536, and as the monks left the abbey in that late summer, a way of traditional monastic life ended after nearly 400 years. With the roofs gone and the windows smashed, the shell of the abbey fell into decay.

Cardiff Castle Clock Tower, Wales, Photo Image © Wikipedia

Cardiff:
Of Roman Origins, the city of Cardiff or Caerdydd (Welsh) is the capital of Wales.  Much of its Roman remains now lies beneath Cardiff Castle, a medieval castle built in the 11th century. The castle was begun by Willaim the Conqueror on his return from St David’s in Pembrokeshire. 

Picturesque Tenby, Photo Image © Karen Toh, 2010

Tenby: 

Tenby is a walled seaside town in Pembrokeshire in South West Wales. It’s notable feature is its 4km of sandy beaches, its 13th century medieval town walls.

St David’s Bishops Palace and St David’s Cathedral, Photo Image © Visit Pembrokeshire

St David's:

St David’s and the Cathedral Close, known as St David’s is a city and community located in Pembrokeshire on the St David’s peninsula. It is the final resting place of Saint David, the country’s patron saint.

Aberaeron Harbour, Wales, Photo Image © Karen Toh, 2010

Aberaeron:

Aberaeron is a seaside resort town in Wales, built around the estuary of River Aeron, which has been enlarged to provide a small half-tide harbour for recreational craft.

Caernarfon Castle, Wales, Photo Image © Karen Toh, 2010

Caernarfon:
Caernarfon Castle, is a medieval building in Gwynedd located in north-west Wales. The current stone structure replaced a previous motte-and-baily castle, primarily to build its defences against the nearby Roman fort of Segontium.

Conwy Castle, Wales, Photo Image © Karen Toh, 2010

Conwy:
Conwy Castle is medieval castle built between 1283 and 1289 by order of King Edward I’s. This stronghold waqs built on a rock promontory, like Caernarfon Castle, with the purpose of guarding the entrance to the River Conwy.

Betws-y-Coed, Photo Image © Karen Toh, 2010

Betws-y-Coed, Photo Image © Karen Toh, 2010

Betws-y-Coed:
Betws-y-Coed is a thriving village in the Snowdonia National Park, in a valley near the point where the River Conwy is joined by River Llugwy and the River Lledr. It also makes a good base for those who are planning to go up the Snowdonia Mountain.

Devil's Bridge, Photo Image © Wikipedia

Devil's Bridge:
The Devil's Bridge (Welsh: Pontarfynach) is an unusual bridge located in Ceredigion, Wales. It has three separate bridges, each built upon the previous bridge. 


According to legend the original bridge was built by the Devil, as it was too difficult for mortals to build. The agreement stipulated that the Devil would build the bridge in return for the soul of the first life to cross the bridge. The Devil built the bridge but was tricked by an old woman who threw bread unto the briedge. Her dog crossed the bridge for the bread, thus becoming the first life to cross the new bridge.  (Talk about cruelty to animals!)


To get to the bridge, you can either drive directly to the location, where there is free parking, or take a scenic railway ride through the Rheidol valley on the Vale of Rheidol Railway from Aberystwyth. 

Snowdon at sunrise, across Llyn Y Dywarchen, Photo Image © Wikipedia

Snowdonia:
Snowdonia a region and a national park in Wales, is derived from Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales and England. The Snowdonia Naitonal Park was established in 1951 as the 3rd National park in Britain. It is considered quite a busy area, with the Snowdon Mountain Railway carrying tourists to and from the summit, and is also very popular with hikers. 


Snowdon has six ridges, which are steep and rocky to the north east, shallower and grassy to the south and west.  On rare clear days (as the area is one of the wettest climates in Great Britain), visitors can see as far as Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England and the Isle of Man.