If you browse through Bucket List ideas, you’ll often see Llanfairpwllgwyngyll on there. The train station is a famous selfie spot as travelers pose in front of the longest name in the UK. It can be a quick stop that can be tacked onto any trip through the UK, as you can simply hop off the train, take your selfie, then hop back on.
But Llanfairpwllgwyngyll offers so much more than a train station stop, as does the Welsh country.
Ever since I was young and saw my first pictures of the United Kingdom country called Wales, it was at the top of my must-see places before I died. The lush, green countryside, towering mountains, and blue lakes captured my heart, and I was in love ever since. The land is also filled with myths and legends that I could believe in as I explored the beauty of it. I could even believe that the red dragon of Wales lurked somewhere in the highlands.
When I lived in London, I knew that I absolutely had to visit the country I had been admiring from afar for over a decade. But as I looked online for places to visit, I was stumped. Of course, Llanfairpwllgwyngyll was on that list, but all it really boasted was its train station. Two cities kept popping up, Cardiff – the capital of Wales – and Swansea, but they seemed like any other city in the UK. I wanted that lush countryside I had been fawning over. So, I delved deeper.
And I found a little town called Pembroke that lies near the southern coast of Wales. After a couple of trains and a bus ride, I arrived at this lovely place. It was a quiet town, perfect for a little getaway from the business of London. I stayed at The Middlegate Hotel, a small but cozy hotel above the Middlegate Café and Bistro. The room even came with a freshly made traditional English breakfast.
Some of the sites that you can enjoy here include a street of pastel-colored houses, the massive Pembroke Castle, and Mill Pond. But the main attraction is the Freshwater West Beach a short bus ride from town. Harry Potter fans will recognize the beach immediately as the site of Dobby’s death in Deathly Hallows Part 1, but you don’t have to be a wizarding fan to fall in love with this place.
If you plan to go swimming or surfing, be aware that there are strong currents here and you should be an experienced swimmer/surfer before braving the waters. I simply went to enjoy the weather and the sun and had no problems exploring the spacious beach. I went in early July, prime beach weather, and I didn’t run into a heavy number of beachgoers while I was there. It was peaceful and quiet, the perfect place to pick up a book and enjoy some ice cream.
My entire trip to Pembroke was absolutely amazing. Everyone was incredibly kind and friendly. The hotel owner was very nice and cooked an awesome English breakfast and gave me plenty of tips for sightseeing during my short visit. The bartender at the Waterman’s Arms was welcoming to everyone who walked through the door, and the girl serving ice cream at the beach offered me a ride back to town as I was stressing about the bus delay and wondering if I’d miss my train. Given the opportunity, I would return in a heartbeat, and I highly recommend adding this lovely town to your UK itinerary.
My next venture into Wales took me to the Snowdonia region. Snowdonia is a famous mountain that makes its way on every Wales travel list, and for good reason. Whether you’re a hiker or prefer to sightsee via train, this area is captivating. I visited the city of Caernarfon in the northern part of Wales along the Irish Sea coast. What drew me here was the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway.
This scenic train ride takes you through the Welsh Highlands and offers several different journeys. Before the pandemic, they offered a snack and food service, which I hope will return as we slowly ease back to normalcy. I was able to catch one of the last trains of the season on the day before New Year’s Eve, which was a shorter ride from Caernarfon to Rhyd Ddu, with only a short stop for you to get off and get pictures of the train and Snowdon Peak in the distance. It was a foggy day when I went so, I couldn’t see the mountain too well, but I could feel the awe from the land. The legend of Merlin battling the Red Dragon was born here and I could easily envision that great battle happening before me, especially seeing the hill that looked like a sword cleaved down the middle of it. The Welsh Highlands are truly unmatched in their beauty and the 2-hour train ride was far too short.
If you’re interested in taking one of these wonderful train rides, click here to visit Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway’s website and book your tickets.
Caernarfon itself offers more to see. For history buffs, Twthill is a famous scenic point that is easy to climb. Here you can stand where Owain Glyndŵr stood when he laid siege to Caernarfon Castle in 1401. It was also the site of a battle during the War of the Roses in 1461. Standing atop this hill, looking over the city and seeing Snowdon in the distance makes you feel all at once powerful and yet so small. It’s truly a sight to behold. Fans of Maggie Stiefvater’s The Raven Cycle series will also relish in Twthill, wondering if the sleeping king lay beneath any of the mountains before you.
Once again, I felt so comfortable here. Every person I encountered was friendly and welcoming. It’s another quiet place to just enjoy yourself and soak in the countryside.
Following my stay in Caernarfon, I made my way to the iconic city of Llanfairpwllgwyngyll for my selfie, but I saw so much more than the train station. Translated, the city’s name means “St. Mary’s Church in the hollow of white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio.” I wanted to see the namesake of the city. With such an iconic name, it must be a sight.
And I was not disappointed. The church was very easy to find from the bus station I got off at. It was a bit of a walk but was very manageable. The church was a simple structure that wouldn’t necessarily turn heads, but if you walk just a bit further, you’ll come to the Menai Strait. The view here took my breath away and made the walk absolutely worth it. If you are someone who enjoys seeing the beautiful places of the world, then I can’t recommend it enough.
While you’re here, be sure to stop by the gift shop by the station or run by the post office for an official stamp with the legendary name.
After getting my selfie, my final destination in Wales was the city of Conwy. Much like Pembroke and Caernarfon, it was another quiet town. Its main attraction is its castle. Like Caernarfon Castle, it was constructed by King Edward I in the 13th century.
I didn’t spend a lot of time in Conwy, and I spent most of it exploring the castle. It provided stunning views of the city and the Irish Sea on the horizon. You can walk along the old city walls all the way from the train station to the city centre and feel like you’re back in time. There are other museums and historical places of interest in Conwy to visit while you’re there.
Wales is a severely underappreciated country. I don’t hear it talked about often enough and it’s usually overshadowed by the other UK countries. Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland (and by extension, the Republic of Ireland) are all beautiful countries in their own right, but Wales has its own charm and uniqueness to it. You can feel the brevity of the legends born here and the strong Welsh pride. Everywhere you turn, you see something more beautiful than the last thing and it feels impossible to truly take it all in. To all those filling out their adventurous Bucket Lists, to all those who love to travel and find beautiful places in the world, I implore you to visit Wales. You will not regret it.
I am planning a visit back to Wales next year and I hope to see some of these beautiful places again, but I also look forward to seeing something new. I invite you to explore as well.
Be Bold 