The Berkeley Guides:
Berkeley Guide to Europe:
Great Britain and Northern Ireland:
Wales
Most visitors flock to England or Scotland when traveling in Britain, ignoring Wales, one of the best off-the-beaten-track destinations in Europe. There's lots of undiscovered territory here, although the coastal resorts cram in crowds of British tourists, and busy Mt. Snowdon is being loved to death. If you want more breathing room, pick your way among the sheep droppings at Brecon Beacons National Park or enjoy the seascapes along the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. In a country that still reveres Owain Glyndyˆr, a revolutionary who fought to wrest Wales from English control, it's no surprise to find a strong sense of patriotism bordering on Anglophobia, especially in the north. South Wales, which has been industrialized and increasingly anglicized for the past few centuries, maintains Welsh traditions less staunchly, but no matter where you go in Wales, you'll find friendly people--and bilingual signs to remind you that this is not England.
BritRail basically covers only the top and bottom edges of Wales. From London, trains depart Paddington Station for Cardiff in the south and from Euston Station to Bangor, Aberystwyth, and Holyhead in the north. Once you're in Wales, regional railways take over. The Freedom of Wales Rover ticket (£52, £34.65 with a Young Persons Railcard) gives you a week of unlimited rail travel; buy them at BritRail travel centers. National Express buses (tel. 0990/808-080) depart from London's Victoria Coach Station for several points in Wales. Once you arrive in Wales, you must hook up with one of the many regional bus services.
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