VisitWales has announced the launch of The Wales Way, a family of three national scenic touring routes that cross the country’s most epic landscapes, showcasing its fascinating history, coastlines and attractions.
Packing in over 6,000 years of history, the three routes lead travellers across ancient paths, drovers’ ways, and along roads built by the Romans.
Meandering through the very best of Wales’ landscapes and attractions, the routes allow visitors to unearth the country’s gems and unique, authentically-Welsh experiences.
The Wales Way has been designed to provide ‘stepping stones of discovery’, with a density and compactness of sights and attractions which appeal to those not looking to the final destination as an event in itself.
It’s these compelling opportunities to stop and linger every few miles that differentiate the routes from their competitors, with more reasons to be out of the car than in.
The three Ways have been designed to intersect, so can be enjoyed alone for shorter breaks, or linked together for longer adventures.
Whether you go for coast, mountains or culture, the beauty of these routes, and the thing that makes them really stand out among their counterparts, is that you can so easily create your own, custom-built Welsh road trip.
In Welsh it’s known as going igam ogam – ‘step-to-step’, or ‘zig-zagging’ – discovering your own secret places.
The Wales Way isn’t confined to driving; the routes offer rail connections, walking paths, cycling routes and horse riding trails – so anyone can explore the best of what Wales has to offer in a way that inspires and excites them.
The Coastal Way celebrates Wales’ epic coastline and travels the wild and rugged west coast around Cardigan Bay from Aberdaron to St Davids, where dramatic seascapes meet the mountains.
This 180-mile road trip, with the sea on one side and mountains on the other, tours a series of picturesque harbour towns and resorts such as Barmouth, the historic city of St
Davids, tiny fishing villages such as the brightly painted Aberaeron and countless beaches, cliffs and hidden coves.
Travelling from top to bottom along the mountainous spine of the country, The Cambrian Way focuses on Wales’ beautiful countryside and runs for 185 miles between Llandudno and Cardiff, winding through the Snowdonia and Brecon Beacons National Parks, with epic scenery and adventure around every corner.
Pass through the quaint village of Betws y Coed in the foothills of the Snowdonia, before embarking on epic zip-lining and underground adventures below.
The North Wales Way is rich in culture, and although just seventy-five miles in length, is packed with thousands of years of history and includes two UNESCO World Heritage sites.
The North Wales Way offers a gateway to Snowdonia’s mountain adventures and the ancient history of Anglesey.
Welsh government cabinet secretary for economy and infrastructure, Ken Skates, said: “This initiative emphasises the epic experiences that Wales has to offer – rather than simply the journey from A to B.
“The routes will encourage visitors to stop and visit different places, areas, attractions and products which will enable them to get a deeper understanding of Wales and will benefit the local tourism industry too.”