Wales is one of the most interesting places in the world. It’s a hiker’s, a tourist’s, or an adventure seeker’s favorite. It offers a lot of things for people who love beautiful sights and breathtaking activities.
Hiking in the Black Mountains
The Black Mountains are part of the Brecon Beacon National Park. Hidden from the sun by the Brecon Beacons, the mountains sit humbly in the shadows. The landscape looks staggeringly different. Rolling sandstone punctuated by limestone structures fill much of the terrain. One of the best things about the Black Mountains is their seclusion. They are not one of those crowded tourist spots, but are popular among campers and gliders. Campers, for instance, find it easy to set up tents on any of those flattened peaks. Once you’re there, enjoy the sight of the birds or sunset.
Coursing Snowdonia’s Dark Side
If descending into deep underground spaces is your idea of adventure, Zip Below Xtreme is the new underground thrill for you. The site is near Betws-y-Coed in Snowdonia. It’s not a cavern. It’s an abandoned slate mine that has the longest underground trek, which runs 5 km. It also has an underground zipline that is 130 meters long. The whole adventure takes about a day. People who have been there say the whole underground tour is not for the fainthearted. You have to cross rotten timber with nothing to grab on for safety. You cross old, wooden bridges and then find yourself clinging to cliffs. There will be moments when you feel like you have to cling so hard for your life!
Joining the Dragon’s Back Race
The Dragon’s Back Race is one of the most popular ultra-marathons in Wales. Runners complete the race in about 5 days, and when they do, they will have run the length of Wales. This race is not for newbies, but everyone are welcome to try. It’s for runners who are up for the challenge. The race is a hardcore endurance competition for people who can last the grueling course. The route tracks the mountainous backbone of Wales with trails that take you to Conwy Mountain and a series of climbs and descents engulfed with clouds. It’s virtually easy to get lost — and cold.
Climbing Mount Snowdon
Imagine Mount Snowdon as a complex creature with incredible ridges, towering cliffs, and narrow crests. The paths to the peak is just picturesque. There are many tracks to the peak, and one of them is the Snowdon Horseshoe, which takes you to the peaks of Crib Goch and Lliwedd. Proper gear and advanced skills in mountaineering are absolutely necessary, especially when you get to Crib Goch’s narrow ridges. But beginners need not take the harsh path. The Llanberis path is the easiest and most crowded. Though, watch out for the winter snow when you get to Snowdon Mountain railway line, particularly the section that crosses Clogwyn Coch cliffs. This spot is an accident prone zone.
Image credit: By Tim Felce (Airwolfhound) (Snowdonia National Park – Wales) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
