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Are you itching to visit Wales and wondering what to do in this adorable little country? Hands down, Wales is one of the most underrated destinations in Europe and has a ton of sites, attractions, and amazing activities that’ll blow you away! To get a better idea of what you can do in this small UK country, I’ve put together a short but sweet list of 7 unique things to do in Wales. (#5 is my favorite!)
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After spending nearly 4 years exploring the gorgeous country of Wales, I’ve come across some spectacularly unique things to do here! This includes activities like exploring Mars (or what I imagine it to look like), strolling through an Italian village, and walking across a bridge in the sky!
Sounds pretty freakin’ awesome, amirite?
Wales, though small, delivers an exceptionally long list of peculiar attractions, strange sites, and unique destinations that’ll captivate any visitor.
If you’re planning a trip here or need some inspiration on what to do in Wales, take a look at my list of 8 unique things to do in Wales below! You won’t be disappointed by how much this teensy country in the United Kingdom has to offer.
After you’re done reading this post, don’t forget to check out my other Wales posts, including 33 reasons to travel to Wales, 10 top places to visit in Wales, and best 7-day Wales itinerary.
Table of Contents
1. Visit Pistyll Rhaeadr
How does visiting one of the tallest waterfalls in the United Kingdom sound?
Often referred to as the tallest waterfall in Wales and the tallest single drop waterfall in the UK, Pistyll Rhaeadr is a gorgeous waterfall nestled in the Berwyn Mountains.
It features crystal clear mountain water ferociously cascading over the top of a high cliff, falling fast and far to pound the rocks below where visitors can walk across a short bridge to admire the waterfall view.
While the waterfall itself is beautiful enough for a stop, there’s a trail that goes up to the waterfall top where visitors can admire the jaw-dropping views of the surrounding hills and Welsh valleys.
I highly recommend hiking up to the top of Pistyll Rhaeadr! The stunning views are absolutely worth it.
2. Stroll Around Portmeirion Village
Portmeirion Village is hands down one of my favorite places to visit in Wales!
This unique Wales destination is designed to look similar to a small village you would find along the Italian Riviera but instead of having to travel several hundreds of miles to the Mediterranean, you can just hop over to the West Coast to get a taste of Italy in Wales! How cool is that?
While there aren’t many things to do in Portmeirion itself, it’s incredibly fun just to simply stroll around the village and grounds to admire the architecture, colorful buildings, quaint homes, and beautiful views of the surrounding river!
3. Take a Dip in St. Winefride’s Well
Rumored to be the oldest continually visited pilgrimage destination in Britain, St. Winefride’s Chapel and Well has been a place for Christian pilgrimage and healing for over 13 centuries.
This unique destination in Wales is a renowned place of history and so-called miracles, and has a rather peculiar tale behind it.
As the legendary tale goes, St. Winefride’s Well is the exact location where Saint Winefride, who was once a beloved woman and virgin martyr, was brutally beheaded by her would-be rapist, Caradoc, after she turned down his advances. The notorious St. Winefride’s Well sprung up at the spot where her head hit the ground.
Following her murder, Winefride’s uncle, Saint Beuno, prayed over her body and brought her back to life. She then lived for another 22 or so years as a nun.
Since her first death and the creation of the Well, the site of St. Winefride’s Chapel and Well has been a place of pilgrimage and the healing waters are tied to many miracles continuously reported over the last 13 or so centuries.
This is what makes this unique thing to do in Wales one of my top recommendations for any future Wales visitor!
4. Explore the Historical Pentre Ifan
Ready to go alllll the way back to the New Stone Age?
Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber dates back to Neolithic times when our ancestors would bury the dead in odd tombs such as the one pictured below (historically referred to as a “dolmen“). Pentre Ifan neolithic dolmen is one of the largest and best preserved in Wales.
According to historians, this particular burial chamber dates back to around 3500 BC and still has ancient skeletal remains lingering at the site (and, in my wild imagine, the long-lost souls of those skeletons are haunting these Welsh hills, too).
While Pentre Ifan is a seriously unique place to visit in Wales, one of the best parts of this Welsh attraction is actually the surrounding views, too.
Perfectly positioned within the Preseli Hills, the backdrop of Pentre Ifan is rolling green hills and moors with endless plant and wildlife, as well as the stunning Pembrokeshire coast far off in the distance.
Traveling to England, too, and wondering where to visit? Check out this post on 10 outstanding places to visit in England for inspiration!
5. Walk Across Pontcysyllte Aqueduct
How would you like to go for a stroll in the sky while visiting Wales? ‘Cause that’s exactly what it feels like to walk across Pontcysyllte Aqueduct!
Located in the gorgeous Vale of Llangollen (which, by the way, is one of the BEST places to visit in Wales!), Pontcysyllte Aqueduct is aptly named the “Stream in the Sky” and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Additionally, the name pontcysyllte actually means “the bridge that connects”, as this stunning canal is actually 11 miles long and connects England and Wales.
While you can certainly walk across it, which will surely give your body a little rush with adrenaline, it’s even better to cross it by boat! You can easily find a boat to board for crossing in the town Trevor Basin nearby.
Once you’re done experiencing Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, I highly recommend going a few miles down the road to the quaint little village of Llangollen! You won’t be disappointed.
6. Admire the Wondrous Tintern Abbey
Once a great example of gorgeous British Gothic architecture, Tintern Abbey is ruined historical site in South Wales that still radiates beauty, magic, and wonder as you stroll around the grounds and amongst its broken, roofless buildings.
Initially founded as a simple and modest church in 1131 by Cistercian monks from France, Tintern Abbey has transformed into something much more. With the help of some wealthy local lords in the beginning stages of its life, a much grander abbey was built in the years following, which is what travelers see today!
It’s now vast and imposing structure features soaring arches, seven-lancet windows, and delicate stone detailing that will no doubt take your breath away.
Not to mention, it’s superbly located along the River Wye and surrounded by gorgeous green mountains, boundless valleys, and quaint Welsh villages and countrysides just waiting to be explored by travelers.
Ever thought about visiting Scotland and its wondrous landscapes? Take a peek at this popular post on 15 crazy awesome places to visit in Scotland! You’ll love it.
7. Discover the Magical Parys Mountain
A personal favorite unique Wales destination of mine, Parys Mountain is an ancient copper mine on the Isle of Anglesey in North Wales but it pretty much looks like the far-off planet of Mars!
With its unusual landscape that features a rocky and beaten terrain dotted with coppery orange and red colors, Parys Mountain certainly looks like another world.
Though this peculiar place to visit in Wales might not be everyone’s cup of tea, it has an alluring sort of odd beauty to it that captivates explorers, photographers, historians, and geologists alike.
8. Visit the Welsh Village with the Longest Name
An addition to Parys Mountain, there’s a curious place that’s another little gem on the Isle of Anglesey. It has drawn in tourists from across the globe due to one simple, yet fascinating reason — it has a ridiculously long name that was once the longest place name in the world!
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, the name of the Welsh village, has 58 letters and is virtually impossible to pronounce unless you are familiar with the Welsh language. Personally, all I know is that it ends with a “gOH-gOH-gAHk” sound!
Even funnier, a local tailor was the person who changed the community’s name to the wildly ridiculous one it has now as a publicity stunt over a century ago in the 1860s!
And as a marketer myself, I can wholeheartedly say it has paid off over the years, as Llanfairpwllgwyngyll — which is the shortened name of the village — has attracted thousands of tourists who come here just to take a photo with the local signs that feature the name!
Unfortunately, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch was overtaken by another town in New Zealand, which now has a longer place name with 85 letters.
Nonetheless, Llanfairpwllgwyngyll still boasts the longest one-word place name in the United Kingdom and Europe, which definitely makes visiting this small village a seriously unique thing to do in Wales!
If you’re planning a trip here and wondering what the most unique things to do in Wales are, definitely keep this list handy! It features some of the weirdest and most peculiar sites, attractions, and activities to do in the small, yet vibrant country of Wales.
Are you planning a trip to Wales or have you been here before? Share your plans and thoughts in the comment section below! Or if you have any further questions about traveling Wales, ask away.
Sophie xx
Not sure what to check out next? Readers love these posts:
- How to have the best days out in North Wales, UK
- The ultimate 7-day itinerary for Wales, UK
- 3 fantastic, lesser-known alternatives for popular UK destinations
- Hiking Moel Morfydd (Llantysilio Mountain) in the Clwydian Hills – North Wales
- Abandoned castle hunting: Ewloe Castle ruins in North Wales
- 10 best places to visit in Wales, UK (#7 is a must!)
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