In 2017 Wales is celebrating its epic past, present and future. We’re bringing the past to life like never before, with attractions, events and activities at legendary locations across Wales. We’re also creating new Welsh legends, immersing visitors in our epic story, and making new legendary experiences. This is our Year of Legends.
Yes, Wales is an ancient landscape, with thousands of years of history and myth wherever you look. People speak a language that’s a living link with King Arthur and our Celtic ancestors. Snowdonia is a land of majestic mountains, mighty night skies and home to many ancient myths from The Mabinogion. The mountain just behind Graig Wen, Cader Idris, is so called because it is the throne of the giant Idris (more about Idris soon in another blog).
But Snowdonia is also an epic land of thinking and high adventure.
In Snowdonia we specialise in innovative ideas in ancient places from zip wires and mountain bike trails to inland surfing. There are long stretches of sandy beach a few minutes away at Fairbourne and Barmouth and you can walk from Graig Wen across the Mawddach Estuary on an iconic bridge that’s nearly a mile long. There’s magical islands to explore and within an hour’s drive ancient castles to conquer from world heritage sites to remote and romantic ruins.
Right on our doorstep The Mawddach Trail is regularly featured as one of Britain’s Best family Bike rides. Coed y Brenin is the first and still one of the best purpose built mountain bike trail centres. If legendary road bike climbs are more your thing, Hellfire Pass or Bwlch-y-Groes, is not far to pedal from Graig Wen, but the ascent to Cregannan Lakes takes some beating and is just around the corner.
Above all, Wales is a place to enjoy here and now. There’s great food and drink and a legendary welcome. Step into our favourite Dolgellau cafe for one of Meg – “Queen of Cakes” – slabs of mouthwatering lemon sponge and you may never leave…
This year we’re creating new legends – more about that at Graig Wen later…. Want to come and find your own legendary experiences? Why not take one of the world’s 10 most epic train journeys to get here? Ask the driver to drop you at Morfa Mawddach (it’s a request only stop – fans of Tiny Stations) and we’ll even come and collect you…