Why you should choose Wales for your autumn break

For an irresistible combination of outdoor exploration, unique events and a welcoming atmosphere, say ‘shwmae’ to your next getaway destination

As the British summer winds down, you could be forgiven for seeking out warmer foreign climes for your autumn break. But this is the season when Wales – with its spectacular natural landscapes, vibrant gardens and rich, distinctive cultural offerings – truly comes into its own.

Wales may be small, but it packs a lot into its 8,000 square miles and spectacular coastlines, and you’ll find countless outlets for your wanderlust here – while also being able to shut out the noise of everyday life.

Better still, with no need to fly to this country with a proud commitment to eco-conscious tourism, you can travel sustainably by train and leave feeling every bit as refreshed and fulfilled as you would with a further-flung holiday.

Wales is open for autumn and beyond, so read on to discover just what it has in store for you.

Built for adventure

With three national parks covering around a fifth of its total land mass, the world-famous Wales Coast Path, and one-of-a-kind destinations such as the Isle of Anglesey, your eyes, ears and mind will be generously rewarded by Wales’s breathtaking landscapes. In fact, its land and people hold a bond so unique that there’s a special Welsh word – hiraeth – to describe the sense of longing to return to its striking mountain faces and verdant, rolling green valleys.

If you’re able, take in the glorious sweeping vistas of Eryri National Park (Snowdonia) in North Wales. And don’t worry, you don’t have to scale Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) itself to do so! There are several easy and intermediate-level walking and cycling trails to explore. Just make sure you get the chance to take in the beautiful Llyn Glaslyn, Welsh for ‘Blue Lake’, while you’re there.

Down south, the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (Brecon Beacons) offers equally arresting geographical features, including the Porth Yr Ogof Caves, featuring the largest entrance of any cave in Wales at more than 17m wide and 5m tall, and the jewel in the park’s crown, the stunning Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn waterfall, which is part of the iconic ‘Four Waterfalls Walk’.

Serenity by the sea

Whether you’re on two feet or two wheels, nothing prepares you for the boundless natural beauty of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path. With more than 200 routes across 186 miles, you’ll discover craggy, storm-beaten cliffs and vast expanses of unspoilt beaches stretching out before you.

For your best chance of spotting some of the impressive local wildlife, opt for the five-mile Cemaes Head walk, where chough, ravens, kestrels and buzzards soar above, and bottlenose dolphins frequently appear in the bay.

Head even further north to the Isle of Anglesey, and you’ll find tucked-away treasures such as the picturesque seaside town of Beaumaris, which boasts glorious views of Eryri across the Menai Strait, or take a cruise to Puffin Island where you can get close to seals and, you guessed it, puffins.

Glorious gardens

For a country so steeped in wilderness and diverse ecosystems, it’s little surprise that there’s also a huge choice of resplendent public gardens to visit. A must-see is the National Botanic Garden of Wales in Carmarthenshire. You’ll find plant species from all over the world, including some of the most endangered plants on the planet, in the impressive single-span Great Glasshouse.

You can embrace autumnal colour at its best in the National Trust-owned Bodnant Garden, which sits above the River Conwy in North Wales. Here, expertly maintained tree collections paint the glades in gorgeous shades of ochre, amber and auburn.

Elsewhere, the Australasian Arboretum at Plas Newydd House and Gardens on Anglesey is a sight to behold, and the tranquil 15-acre Llanover Garden in Abergavenny, which is lightly populated by grazing Welsh Black Mountain sheep, has been planted by seven generations of the same family.

Alternatively, you could take in all the texture and colour of the Garden Rooms at Dyffryn Gardens in Glamorgan or admire the Japanese maples at Colby Woodland Gardens in Amroth. But wherever you choose to spend time, you can be sure the country’s most talented gardeners have worked tirelessly to ensure a heavenly horticultural experience for every visitor.

Make yourself at home

Wherever in Wales you land, you’re guaranteed a healthy dose of hwyl, or fun at Wales’ food festivals and events. Autumn is a ripe time for foodies, with both the Abergavenny Food Festival and Neath Food and Drink Festival taking place in September and October respectively. You’ll also be able to sample award-winning Welsh produce at November’s Royal Welsh Agricultural Society Winter Fair in Builth Wells.

The Mumbles in South Wales is a particular hotspot for local delicacies – try fresh Penclawdd cockles served with laverbread and crispy bacon at Swansea’s indoor food market. One of the region’s most in-demand ingredients is Gower Salt Marsh Lamb, with its mouth-watering flavour created from the sheep’s diet of samphire, sorrel, sea lavender and thrift. And if you’re after the ultimate teatime snack, there’s always a hot, fruity Welsh cake dripping in butter waiting for you.

You’ll have no trouble finding a great place to stay, either. Between bustling, endlessly hospitable towns and villages offering guesthouses, hostels and B&Bs, a selection of spacious and luxurious spa hotels, and quaint countryside rental cottages, there’ll always be somewhere perfect for you to retire for a good cwtsh after a long day’s exploring.