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Wales

Wales (Welsh: Cymru) is one of the United Kingdom's four constituent countries. With a distinctive Celtic language and culture, there's plenty to see and do in this beautiful country.

Most tourists in Wales come from other parts of the UK, attracted to the scenic mountains, impressive coasts, magnificent national parks, imposing castles, and the fact that the country has much of Britain's industrial heritage.

Visit Wales is the tourist bureau.

Regions
Wales is here divided geographically and culturally into three regions:

Cities and towns
Wales has many picturesque cities and towns. As with many countries, a syllable within the name of a town names often refers to a feature of the towns. The most common syllables in use are: Those most notable towns and cities are listed below:
 * aber- = estuary
 * afon- = river
 * caern- = cairn
 * castell- = castle
 * llan- = church
 * pont- = bridge
 * rhyd- = ford

Cities

 * (Welsh: Caerdydd) — the capital of Wales, the seat of the Welsh government, and a major tourist destination.
 * — A small, picturesque university city with about 18,000 residents. Home to landmarks such as Bangor Cathedral and Garth Pier, the second-longest pier in Wales.
 * (Abertawe) — Wales' second largest city is famous for is beaches and coastal walks. It is the gateway to the stunning Gower Peninsular.
 * (Wrecsam) — The largest town in North Wales was made a city in 2022.

Towns

 * — A coastal town with large student population.
 * — The site of Caernarfon Castle, one of Wales' largest and best preserved castles.
 * — A medieval, fortified town with impressive castle and quaint shops.
 * (Y Gelli Gandryll) — The "book capital" of the UK, home to the annual literary festival.
 * (Dinbych-y-pysgod) — A medieval walled town and elegant seaside resort.

Other destinations

 * (Ynys Môn) – large island, home to the town with the UK's longest placename
 * (Parc Cenedlaethol Bannau Brycheiniog) - a range of low mountains, with mining history, market towns, caves, and waterfalls
 * (Penrhyn Gŵyr) - Wales's most beautiful beaches offer surfing and riding, while the peninsula's villages are picturesque
 * (Penrhyn Llŷn) - a bastion of the Welsh language thrusting into the Irish Sea
 * (Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro) - rugged cliffs and peaceful coves, home to internationally-important seabird colonies
 * (Parc Cenedlaethol Eryri) – popular mountaineering destination, with its pinnacle Mount Snowdon being the highest point in southern Britain

History
Wales was once an independent, though rarely unified nation, with a strong Celtic and Druidical tradition. The word "Wales" is an exonym going back to a Germanic term meaning "foreign" which can also be found in words like "Cornwall" or "walnut". When King Edward I defeated Llywelyn the Last in 1282, the nation fell under the jurisdiction of England. At first, it was ruled as a separate country, but rebellion by Prince Owain Glyndŵr (considered in modern times as the 'Father of Welsh nationalism') led to incremental incorporation into England, and Wales was annexed through the Laws in Wales Acts 1535–1542. Since the Act of Union in 1801, Wales has been part of the United Kingdom which includes England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland too.

Prior to the industrial revolution, Wales was a sparsely populated country dependent on local agricultural and pastoral trade. However, due to the abundance of coal in the South Wales valleys, there was a phenomenal growth in population and a dynamic shift in the economy of South Wales during the 18th and 19th centuries (see Industrial Britain). The area of central Glamorgan, in particular, became a national focus for coal mining and steel production, while the ports of Cardiff and Swansea established themselves as commercial centres, offering banking, shopping and insurance facilities. Moreover, places on the north coast, such as Rhyl and Llandudno, developed into fun-fair type resorts serving the expanding populations of the major industrial cities of Lancashire.

Coal mining has all but ceased and heavy industry declined. However, Wales' attractive scenery and rich history has lent itself to the development of tourism, while at the same time, Cardiff and Swansea have retained their rankings as centres of commerce and cutting-edge industry. Cardiff, which was designated as capital of Wales in 1955, has seen a huge amount of investment in institutions through 'devolution', also giving rise to a significant amount of political power being passed down from Westminster. Since 1999, Wales has had its own legislature separate from Westminster.

Politics
Wales is governed by a combination of local, Wales-, and UK-wide institutions. Many important matters are decided on a UK level, and Wales is represented by 40 MPs in the House of Commons. One of the greatest British statesmen of the 20th century was the Welshman David Lloyd George, who is the only Prime Minister whose first language was not English (it was Welsh). Since 1999, Wales has had its own devolved government and bilingual legislature. The Senedd Cymru - Welsh Parliament  sits in Cardiff Bay, in an eco-friendly building designed by Richard Rogers. The Senedd has a single chamber with 60 members, known as MSs, who are elected every five years. All residents of Wales aged 16 or over on election day are eligible to vote. Each elector casts two votes: one for the candidate they wish to be their local MS, and one for a party as a whole from a regional list. The resulting composition is 40 MSs who each represent a constituency directly, and 20 who are invested based on a form of proportional representation. The leader of the largest party in the Senedd typically becomes the First Minister (Prif Weinidog), who is head of the government. Since 2024, the First Minister has been Vaughan Gething (Labour), the first Black leader of a European nation.

The powers of the Welsh Government (Llywodraeth Cymru) have been expanded over time to cover matters such as agriculture, education, the environment, healthcare, housing, tourism, transport, and the Welsh language. This can lead to visible differences from the rest of the UK; for instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Welsh Government has imposed different restrictions at different times to those imposed by the UK Government in England.

Wales has long been generally more left-wing in its politics than the UK as a whole. The Labour Party has led each government since 1999, though it hasn't always been the sole party of government. Labour's strongholds are in the densely-populated south and north-east of the country. The pro-independence Plaid Cymru, which is ideologically social-democratic, is strongly supported in majority-Welsh-speaking areas in the north and west. The Conservative Party is most popular in rural areas near the border and in the south west, which tend to have fewer Welsh speakers.

There is wide support for increasing the powers of the devolved government still further, but support for full independence is limited and certainly lower than in Scotland. In the 2016 Brexit referendum, 53% of the electorate in Wales voted to leave the European Union but some areas were majority remain-voting; in January 2020, Wales left the EU along with the rest of the UK.

Culture
Wales is part of Britain and so part of the UK, but is not part of England. It is correct to call Welsh people British, but incorrect and even offensive to call them English. Over the centuries, there have been minor revolts aimed at gaining independence, but in general Wales has accepted its place in the UK, and has made notable contributions to its politics and culture. Nevertheless, Wales has remained a bastion of Celtic culture, and the Welsh language continues to be a topic of pride and is widely spoken, especially in rural areas. It is now taught in all Welsh schools. As of 2020, around 29% of the population are able to speak Welsh.

The Prince of Wales (Tywysog Cymru) has been, since the 13th century, the eldest son of the sitting monarch, and is therefore usually the next in line to the British throne. It is for this reason that Wales is often referred to as a principality, even though the prince has no constitutional status in Wales, and doesn't even reside in the country. On 9 September 2022, King Charles III named HRH Prince William as the new Prince of Wales.

The prince's heraldic badge of feathers is sometimes used to symbolise Wales, though the daffodil flower, the leek and, above all, the red dragon tend to be more popular symbols. The origins of the leek can be traced to the 16th century, while the daffodil became popular in the 19th century, encouraged by David Lloyd-George. Both the leek and daffodil are commonly worn on the lapels of people celebrating St David's Day, which is Wales's national day, celebrating the country's patron saint. Dragons have been associated with Wales since the early Middle Ages, and the red dragon (y ddraig goch) in particular has been used as a symbol of Wales throughout the centuries, and is now featured on the country's flag.

Rugby union is hugely popular in Wales and is considered the national sport. Attending a Wales international game in a packed-out Principality Stadium in Cardiff is a most electrifying experience, and a great opportunity to hear the country's national anthem, Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau (The Land Of My Fathers), belted out by 50,000 or more Welsh fans.

Indeed, the country is celebrated for its singing, with the ballads Calon Lân, Cwm Rhondda (Bread of Heaven) and Men of Harlech fundamental parts of the repertoire of any respectable Welsh choir. The country's long tradition of folk music and literature is celebrated annually at the National Eisteddfod, while famous musicians in the contemporary era include Sir Tom Jones, Dame Shirley Bassey, Katherine Jenkins and Bonnie Tyler, plus the rock bands, Stereophonics and Manic Street Preachers.

Other famous Welsh people include Henry VII (the first of the Tudors, the famous dynasty of 15th and 16th century monarchs); Anthony Hopkins, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Christian Bale (Hollywood actors); Aneurin Bevan (politician, father of the National Health Service); Gareth Edwards and Alun Wyn Jones (respectively a former and the current captain of Wales' national rugby team); Ryan Giggs (former footballer and now coach), Gareth Bale (current footballer); Bertrand Russell (philosopher); Dylan Thomas (poet and author) and Richard Burton (poet and actor, linked to Thomas forever by Under Milk Wood).

Climate
Wales has an oceanic climate just like the rest of the UK. If it is not raining at the moment, it is certainly about to rain. This does, however, produce an intensely green and beautiful landscape. Summer average temperature is around while spring and autumn is about. The weather varies substantially depending on the location and landscape, the coastal area being much milder than in the mountains. Wales experiences more intense rainfall than its eastern neighbour England. Cardiff is the wettest city in Wales. Snow is common on mountains in the winter. It can be bitterly cold up in the mountains and the valleys so make sure you wrap up warm before going on your adventure.

Talk

The two official languages of Wales are English and Welsh (Cymraeg).

Welsh is a Celtic language most closely related to Cornish and Breton, and more distantly to Irish, Scottish Gaelic and Manx. Speakers live all over Wales, but it is most commonly spoken in the north and west; you are most likely to find native Welsh-speaking individuals in Carmarthenshire, Northern Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion, Gwynedd, and the Isle of Anglesey. An increasing number of people around the country are learning Welsh as a second language, and it is believed that, as of 2020, 29% of the population knows the language. The Welsh government has plans to increase the number of speakers to one million by 2050.

Bilingual signs are the norm in Wales, including on the roads, in shops, and at tourist attractions. Locals who are not fluent in Welsh usually know how to pronounce Welsh words, especially place names. There is lots of Welsh-language media including the TV channel S4C and BBC Radio Cymru.

Learning Welsh is not necessary or expected from visitors, but Welsh people will react well if you show interest in their language. Using phrases like bore da (good morning), iechyd da (cheers), and diolch (thank you) will be greatly appreciated in most of the country; even non-Welsh-speakers are usually supportive and welcoming if you try a few words.

There are several regional accents of English spoken in Wales. That spoken in the South Wales Valleys and further west is perhaps closest to the 'stereotypical' Welsh accent, while in the North, where the greatest number of native Welsh speakers live, the accent is noticeably distinct and more nasal, blending in north-east Wales to something similar to Scouse (the accent and dialect of Liverpool). Cardiff has a distinct accent all of its own - the name is sometimes jokingly spelt 'Kairdiff' as an indication of this. However, no Welsh accent should present much difficulty to anyone with a decent command of English. There are a few colloquialisms that may take you a moment to work out what is meant, but don't be worried to ask for someone to repeat something. 'Aye' is commonly used to indicate 'yes' and 'ta-ra' can be said instead of 'goodbye'. 'Tidy' is often used but has a wide meaning ranging from fine/splendid or large (quantity), as in 'a tidy amount'. 'Butty'/'butt' is sometimes used for friend/buddy.

Get in
Wales has the same immigration and visa requirements as the rest of the UK. All passengers travelling to the UK from outside Ireland, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man go through systematic passport/identity card and selective customs checks carried out by the UK Border Agency on arrival in the UK.

There is no internal border control between Wales and England. The road and train networks are fully integrated between England and Wales, meaning travel between the two nations should be stress-free.

By plane
Cardiff Airport is the only international airport in Wales. It is west of the city, near Rhoose. Anglesey Airport is the only other commercial airport in Wales, with weekday services to and from Cardiff.

 * Eastern Airways operate flights to Aberdeen and Newcastle.

 * KLM operates services to Amsterdam 4 to 5 times a day.

There are also many seasonal flights catering to packaged holidays with companies such as Cosmos Holidays, Ryanair and TUI Airways flying to many destinations in Greece, Spain and North Africa.

There are regular bus services from Cardiff city centre to the airport. You can also get to the airport using a bus service from Barry Station, which is closer to the airport and on local rail lines. A nearby railway line has a station at Rhoose, where there are shuttle buses to the airport.

Bristol Airport is also gaining popularity, and there are dedicated coach services between Bristol Airport and central Cardiff.

Birmingham Airport is well served by long-haul destinations and is in easy driving distance to Wales. Liverpool John Lennon Airport is smaller, having flights mainly to continental Europe, but is in striking distance of North Wales.

It could be easier to fly to an airport in England such as one of the London airports when visiting South Wales, as a greater range of airlines and cities flown from are available from there to destinations around the world, with services from many airlines. However London is over 2 hours from Cardiff, and longer from many other places in Wales. If you do choose to fly into London, then Heathrow Airport is by far the closest to Wales in terms of travel time (around 2 hours to Cardiff, subject to traffic); Gatwick, Luton and Stansted airports are around an hour further away. Other cities served by international airports in England which offer reasonable access to parts of Wales include Birmingham for mid Wales, Liverpool  and Manchester  for north Wales.

By car
South Wales enjoys good motorway connections with the rest of the UK:
 * The M4 links southern England, including London and Bristol, to South Wales via the Severn Bridge. It serves Newport, Cardiff, Swansea, and Carmarthen.
 * The M50 links the West Midlands with Monmouth, the Brecon Beacons and all of South and West Wales.

North Wales has no motorway connections. However there are still good road connections with the rest of the UK:
 * The A5 runs from the end of the M54 near Shrewsbury and takes you into Wales through the spectacular Snowdonia National Park
 * The A55, which is of motorway standard for most of its length, runs along the entire north coast from the English motorway network near Chester to the island of Anglesey. It is much quicker than the A5 although also less scenic.

Mid Wales only has single carriageway roads:
 * The A456 Shrewsbury to Welshpool being the main route
 * The A44 from Worcester can be a slow route, but scenic and with quite a few nice places to stop in both countries

There are no internal border controls within Great Britain and you may not notice the border if entering Wales from England via a minor road. You will usually see the Croeso i Gymru ("Welcome to Wales") sign crossing the border.

By train

 * See also Rail travel in Great Britain

The three railway companies serving Wales are Transport for Wales, Avanti West Coast, and Great Western Railway (GWR).

South Wales
Main line rail services connect south Wales (especially Newport, Cardiff and Swansea) with all parts of the UK, via Avanti West Coast (to Birmingham and the North East, including Scotland), Transport for Wales (to the rest of Wales) and GWR (to London Paddington).

North Wales

 * The North Wales Coast Line links Chester (and other parts of England) with the northern seaside resorts of Rhyl and Prestatyn, the city of Bangor, the isle of Anglesey and the port of Holyhead. Through tickets to Dublin (Rep. of Ireland) are available, which include the ferry from Holyhead to Dublin Port. Services are run by Transport for Wales (from Manchester and Cardiff) and Avanti West Coast (from London and Crewe).
 * The Conwy Valley Line stretches from Llandudno Junction along the Conwy Valley via Betws y Coed to Blaenau Ffestiniog, and connects with trains on both the North Wales Coast line and the Ffestiniog Railway. Services are run by Transport for Wales.
 * The beautiful Cambrian Coast Line runs from Shrewsbury (in England), across Mid-Wales through Machynlleth, and through the coastal towns of Tywyn and Barmouth, through the south part of Snowdonia, Harlech and Porthmadog, and along the south coast of the Lleyn Peninsula to Pwllheli. Services are run by Transport for Wales.
 * The Shrewsbury-Chester Line runs from Shrewsbury to Chester, across the Wales-England border and the river Dee, passing Gobowen (in England, near Oswestry, also in England), Chirk (near the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct), Ruabon, Wrexham (General) and Chester. Services are run by Transport for Wales and Avanti West Coast (from Wrexham General to Chester and beyond only).
 * The Borderlands Line runs between Wrexham (Central) and Bidston, linking various Flintshire towns and villages with the Wirral, and Wrexham. Services are run by Transport for Wales. Merseyrail services are available to Bidston, from the rest of the Wirral and Liverpool.

Mid Wales
Mid Wales is very sparsely populated and does not have extensive rail services. Nevertheless a few routes exist that show the beauty of the country:

 * Transport for Wales also run the famous Heart of Wales Line from Swansea to Shrewsbury. As the name suggests, this service runs through very scenic areas in the middle of the country. The train takes almost 4 hours to make the  journey due to the many gradients and turns.  It is popular with tourists but also provides an essential service to rural communities along the route.
 * The Cambrian Line takes the same route as the Cambrian Coast Line as far as Machynlleth, where it goes southwards along the coast through Borth to the university town of Aberystwyth.

By coach
National Express operates coach services around the UK including to and from many parts of Wales. There are direct National Express coaches from London Heathrow Airport that go directly to Cardiff and Swansea.

By boat

 * See also: Ferry routes to British Mainland

It's possible to take several ferry routes from Ireland to Wales, the main routes are Holyhead (which is on Holy Island, linked to the island of Anglesey by a causeway, and Anglesey is linked by bridge to mainland Wales) and Fishguard on the south-west coast. These tend to be the cheapest and fastest, if you hunt around between the different ferry companies. Stenaline and Irish Ferries offer multiple daily services for passengers and vehicles. Bookings can be made through their websites. Stena operate the route to Fishguard, Irish Ferries operate the route to Pembroke Dock, and both operate to Holyhead.
 * Fishguard - Rosslare in South Eastern Ireland
 * Holyhead - Dublin
 * Pembroke - Rosslare

General
Due to Wales' topography and historic development, most travelling in Wales is done east-west rather than north-south. Rail and road links between centres in South Wales and along the North Wales coast are usually quick and efficient, especially along the M4 and A55. An important exception to this is M4, J32 (the interchange with the A470), during peak morning rush hour, which gets congested with Cardiff commuter traffic. The roundabout at J32 is the largest in Europe. Most places in South Wales are within a 90-min drive of each other.

Travelling between Cardiff and the other main population centres, Swansea and Newport, is very straightforward.

Although only approximately from coast to coast, the topography makes north-south links more difficult in terms of time. By land, journey times are comparable to flight times across North America! However, the journey itself is something a visitor may wish to do to see the scenery.

 * Traveline Cymru - bus, coach and rail journey planning and timetable information

By plane
Wales is a small country and flying is not a common mode of internal transport. The only domestic route, Cardiff International Airport to Anglesey Airport ceased in 2022.

By car
It is much easier to drive from east to west across Wales (via the M4 or A55, for instance) than from north to south, due to the lack of fast roads across the sparsely-populated interior. You should allow 5 or 6 hours to tackle this. But that is time well spent, as the journey takes in some spectacular scenery. The two main north-south roads are the A470 (Cardiff to Llandudno) and the A483 (Swansea to Chester). However, neither is a fast road: the A470, for instance, has only a 25-mile (40-km) dual-carriageway stretch, from Cardiff to Merthyr Tydfil; while much of the rest of the route has been improved, there are still many places where the road is narrow and winding, and where trucks or agricultural vehicles can slow traffic considerably. Those travelling from the north-east to the south-east may find it quicker to use the English motorway network (M6 and M5), or the A49 road through Shropshire and Herefordshire.

Roads are generally well-maintained and signposted, although flooding is a risk after heavy rain - particularly in the wetter west and north - and the higher mountain passes can become icy and treacherous in winter. In rural areas, minor roads are usually very narrow, just wide enough for a single tractor, while high hedges on either side can obstruct your view of oncoming traffic. A sensible speed and liberal beeps of your horn when tackling corners are essential. When — not if — you meet an oncoming vehicle, one of you will have to reverse to the nearest passing place, which should be no more than a couple of hundred metres away. Beware of livestock on the roads: sheep often graze on roadside verges, including alongside main roads in rural areas, and can stray on to the carriageway seemingly oblivious to passing traffic. It is also quite common for farmers to have to herd sheep or cattle along or across a road from one field to another. If you come across this, remember that the farmer is just doing his or her job, and be patient: sounding your horn or revving your engine will only alarm the livestock and annoy the farmer, causing even greater delays.

Bilingual road signs
Road signage is bilingual, as much for instructions as for place names. There is no colour or font differentiation between English and Welsh, but since 2016 all new road signs have placed Welsh before English. Prior to then, the order was decided seemingly at random, so older signs may show English first.

A few examples are given below:

By train

 * Wikivoyage has a guide to Rail travel in Great Britain

Due to various closures in the 1960s there is no true "Welsh railway system". Basically there are three separate Welsh limbs which are part of the British system although there have been moves to improve intra-Wales railway services. The limbs are a North Wales line to Holyhead, a line to Aberystwyth in the centre, and a main line in South Wales, forming an extension of the London Paddington to West of England main line.

Transport for Wales provides most train services within Wales.

Two cross-border train companies may also be of use for internal train journeys within Wales. Great Western Railway provide the bulk of cross border services between England and South Wales. Their flagship High Speed Service generally goes as far west as Swansea, and there are even a limited number to destinations further West. Their "local" services to Bristol Temple Meads and the South West of England go no further west than Cardiff. Arriva Trains Cross Country provide services as far west as Cardiff to Birmingham and onwards to Nottingham.

Regular train services connect the South Wales' three main cities, Cardiff, Swansea and Newport. Services between Cardiff and Swansea are usually every 20 minutes, and even more frequent between Cardiff and Newport.

Cardiff is also the hub of the Valley Line network which serves a number of former coal mining towns. This railway system was built to carry coal; it is now mainly a commuter network and is useful to visitors to the Valleys, or indeed for local travel within Cardiff.

Swansea and Llanelli in the West are linked to Mid Wales via the Heart of Wales railway, whilst not a quick journey it is well worth considering for its scenery.

Rail connections between North and South Wales in fact cross into neighbouring England, although there are a number of direct services between Cardiff and North Wales along the Marches line via several places in England. There are two high speed services each day between Holyhead and Cardiff, which only stop at a limited number of stations in England.

 * Transport for Wales (Trafnidiaeth Cymru) operates most local rail services in Wales
 * Great Western Railway operates cross border services between South Wales and Bristol, Reading, Portsmouth, and London Paddington.
 * Avanti West Coast operates services from North Wales to Crewe, Birmingham, and London Euston.
 * Crosscountry operates an hourly service between Nottingham and Cardiff, going through Birmingham.

By bus and coach
The First Cymru Shuttle coach service is usually quicker than the train for journeys between Swansea and Cardiff, but at peak times, the train does not get stuck in traffic!

Government-funded Traws Cambria services connect North, Mid and South Wales.

 * Arriva operates a large amount of bus services in North Wales
 * First Cymru operates services in South West Wales
 * Stagecoach operates services in South Wales
 * Cardiff Bus operates services in Cardiff
 * Veolia Transport Cymru operates services in Cardiff and South Wales

Traveline Cymru has a search facility for all Welsh public transport routes.

By bike
National Cycle Route 5 follows the Wales Coast Path, National Cycle Route 8 runs from Cardiff to Holyhead and National Cycle Route 47 is also known as the Celtic Trail.

See
Wales has many significant attractions, and listed below are a few of the most notable. For more details about these attractions plus information on other places of interest, check under regional sections.

Much of Wales' scenery is spectacular, and environmentally important. To protect the environment certain parts of Wales have been designated as "National Parks" or as "Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty". An area with either of these designation will have a high degree of protection from inappropriate development. Whilst these rules exist for environmental reasons, rather than to promote tourism, because "National Parks" and "Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty" have this protection, a visitor to these areas can be confident that they will see some unspoiled scenery. These areas offer some of Wales' most attractive scenery, and a visitor would be well advised to visit at least one of these areas. That is not to say that there aren't other attractive places in Wales, but the "National Parks" and "Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty" are the "jewels in the outdoor crown". Wales has three National Parks: Brecon Beacons National Park (Mid Wales), spectacular mountain scenery and castles, pretty highlands turned into a national park with weaving streams, waterfalls and canals; Pembrokeshire Coast National Park (South Wales) with dramatic coastal scenery; and Snowdonia National Park (North Wales) covering Wales' highest mountains, and considered by some to be the most beautiful and poetic in Britain.

National Park status offers the highest level of environmental and planning protection in Wales. National Parks tend to cover some very large areas. It should therefore come as no surprise, that some of Wales' most important scenery can be found within its National Parks. Each "National Park" is administered by a special-purpose local authority, called a "National Park Authority". These organisations primarily exist to ensure that laws protecting the environment and scenery are followed. Nevertheless a National Park Authority will organise and run various facilities in the area which are clearly "branded" as official facilities. These facilities will include public toilets, car parks, visitor centres, and even gift shops selling branded merchandise. However the National Park Authority does not own most of the land in these areas, and so there is private and charitable provision of facilities such as car parking, and retail outlets too. It is also usual that the boundaries of a national park are marked on the ground where roads enter them, so you will often know when you have entered a National Park, for example there may be a stone or a sign stating you are entering the area. The websites of the relevant National Park Authorities will often have a section designed particularly for visitors and may well be very useful to someone planning a trip to the area, even containing information such as accommodation information. Other important areas which do not have National Park status, have the alternative status of Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). These areas tend to cover smaller areas than "National Parks", they will nevertheless be of interest to visitors. AONBs are not run by government but are simply areas with a similar level of protection to National Parks, but remaining under the jurisdiction of the relevant local authority. Like the National Park Authorities, local authorities with "AONBs" in their area do generally take their duties seriously to enforce planning laws, but unlike them, may not organise any "AONB" branded facilities in these areas. So there don't tend to be official branded facilities such as visitor centres, car parks, and gift shops. These facilities may exist but by conventional private, charitable and municipal provision. The actual boundaries of AONBs - whilst they are often shown on the rear covers of "Ordnance Survey" maps, tend to be of importance to local government officials and landowners, rather than tourists. It is therefore not usual to see markers or signs at the boundaries of these areas on the ground. The official websites of "Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty" are usually part of a local authority's main website. They may still have useful information, but do not expect the same level of specialisation as on a National Park website.

The Isle of Anglesey AONB is predominantly coastal, covering most of the island's 125-mile coastline. Gower Peninsula (Swansea), UK's first designated area of outstanding natural beauty, covers most of the peninsula. Lleyn AONB, the peninsula sticking out westwards beyond Snowdonia, in the north-west of the country. Clwydian Range and Dee Valley AONB is a range of hills running southwards from the coast at Prestatyn, Denbighshire in the north-east of the country, close to the border with England, now extended to include the spectacular hills around the river Dee near Llangollen. The Wye Valley AONB straddles the southern end of the England/Wales border between Hereford and Chepstow

A number of UNESCO World Heritage sites can be visited, including the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct - near Chirk and of course the North Wales Castles built in the decades after the invasion or conquest of Wales by England in the 13th century, representing the most advanced military technology of the time, being compared with the Crusader Castles of the Middle East. Castles of note being Caernarfon, Conwy and Harlech.

Key listed historic building worth visiting include Caerphilly castle, the second largest in the UK, Pembroke castle, Raglan castle, the ruins of Tintern abbey and the incredibly preserved and restored Elizabethan house Plas Mawr in Conwy.

There is a good selection of national museums and galleries to visit. These are: The National Museum (collection of paintings, archaeological finds and geological exhibits ), Cardiff; St Fagans National History Museum (many historic buildings, relocated from their original site), near Cardiff; The National Slate Museum, Llanberis; Big Pit (The National Coal Museum),Blaenafon; The National Woollen Museum, Dre-fach Felindre, near Llandysul; The National Roman Legionary Museum, Caerleon, Newport; The National Waterfront Museum (maritime and industrial past), Swansea. Entry to national museums are free, although expect a charge for car parking.

There are also many stately homes, gardens and estate parks to visit. One of the most visited being the National Botanic Garden of Wales near Carmarthen.

Do

Heritage railways are more generally thought of as pleasurable attractions rather than ways to get around, although the Ffestiniog Railway, initially depended on gravity and horse power, from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog can be used to link places on main rail lines, and the opening of the Welsh Highland Railway has created a useful link between Caernarfon, Beddgelert and Porthmadog. The Vale of Rheidol Railway provides a novel way from Aberystwyth to Devil's Bridge. They are all historic lines that have been either preserved or restored with steam a major feature on these lines. Others include Bala Lake Railway, Brecon Mountain Railway, Gwili Railway, Llanberis Lake Railway, Welshpool and Llanfair Railway, Talyllyn Railway the World's first heritage railway, and perhaps the best known of all the Snowdon Mountain Railway. Wales' offers some spectacular coastal and mountainous scenery. Which offers the opportunity for various activity holidays.

Hiking
Good paths to walk on are the Wales Coast Path or Offa's Dyke Path near the border of Wales and England.

For the more experienced Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales at and Pen y Fan in the Brecon Beacons, is the highest mountain in South Wales at. Cadair Idris, close to the Mid-Wales coast, overlooking Dolgellau to the north and Bro Dysynni to the south-west is another very popular mountain. It has good rail access on both North and South sides from the Cambrian Coast Line, but this is virtually at sea level. The actual summit is above sea level. This makes for a strenuous walk which takes most of the day.

Golf
Wales has a long golfing history, with many top-quality courses, however it offers golf courses which tend to be less crowded, and less expensive than the other Western European destinations. As a very rough rule North Wales tends to have the better links courses, and the South the better parkland courses, although it is well worth playing both sorts of courses in both parts of Wales just to find out! There is a relatively high density of courses in the Vale of Glamorgan, between Cardiff and Bridgend, due to the proliferation of courses in the last fifteen years serving the Cardiff Commuter Belt. There is also a high density of courses in the Conwy and Llandudno area. Further details can be obtained from the Welsh Assembly Government's official golf tourism website, and on pages concerning the specific areas of Wales. Wales' most prestigious courses include: The Celtic Manor Resort in Newport, Monmouthshire, it has three courses, and is the venue for the 2010 Ryder Cup; Conwy (Caernarvonshire), Conwy, Caernarvonshire - this Links hosted a final qualifying round for the 2006 Open Championship; Machynys Golf and Country Club, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire - Links, opened in 2005 Wales' first and so far only Nicklaus-designed course.

Scuba diving
Scuba diving, exploration beneath its surrounding seas, is an activity not many tourists think of when visiting Wales. Although weather conditions are not always perfect, water temperatures are quite chilly, scuba diving in Wales is one of the best experiences for divers around Europe. You can find whales, dolphins, plenty of seals but also superb coral formations including seahorses and several coral fish. The Isle of Anglesey has been encircled by shipping routes for centuries resulting in striking shipwrecks of all sizes. Pembrokeshire with its scenic islands Skomer Island, Skokholm Island and the isolated rocks called the Smalls are known for their colonies of seals and many shipwrecks.

Birdwatching
Wales is a great destination for birdwatching. The long coastline provides excellent habitats for seabirds, and the hinterland is home to many birds of prey. Notable destinations are Bwlch Nant yr Arian Forest Visitor Centre for red kites, Cors Dyfi Reserve for Osprey, while for seabird must-visits are the South Stack Cliffs RSPB reserve and the Conwy RSPB reserve.

Agritourism
Wales has a fantastic agricultural scene and travellers are encouraged to experience it. You can see the Royal Welsh agricultural show, you can go to a small town sheep auction, or a sheep dog trail.

Music

Wales is often referred to as "the land of song", and is notable for its harpists, male voice choirs, and plethora of solo artists, such as Katherine Jenkins and Charlotte Church. Cardiff has a big rock scene and has produced some of the biggest acts in the UK today. The Welsh Folk Song Society has published a number of collections of songs and tunes. Check the web sites of local male voice choirs for dates of concerts.

The principal Welsh festival of music and poetry is the annual

The Llangollen International Eisteddfod echoes the National Eisteddfod but provides an opportunity for the singers and musicians of the world to perform. Traditional music and dance in Wales is supported by a myriad of societies.

Notable musical events include the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, the Brecon Jazz Festival (August) and the Swansea Festival of Music and the Arts an annual (October) three-week bash of culture at various locations in Swansea, and the second largest such festival in the UK.

Others of note include the Faenol Festival organised by the internationally renowned opera singer Bryn Terfel, (August Bank Holiday weekend every year at Y Felinheli) and Sesiwn Fawr a World Music Festival which takes place every July in Dolgellau.

Literary events
The famous Hay Festival literary festival, which Bill Clinton aptly described as 'The Woodstock for the Mind.' takes place end of May beginning of June.

The Dylan Thomas Festival in Swansea is an annual event held between 27 October and 9 November (the dates of the poet's birth and death) to commemorate the works of Thomas. In addition, the festival hosts the awards' ceremony for the winner of the Dylan Thomas Prize - a biannual writing competition for most outstanding literary talent in English, aged under 30. Complementing the main events at the Dylan Thomas Festival the Dylan Thomas Fringe is held at various venues throughout the city.

Sporting events
Six Nations Rugby Tournament - Cardiff's Millennium Stadium (known for sponsorship reasons as Principality Stadium) hosts two or three matches per year as part of the premier Northern Hemisphere Rugby Tournament. Cardiff will host many visitors attending the game. Tickets and accommodation would generally need to be bought well in advance. If you are able to see a match then it is a valuable insight into Welsh culture, whether watching in a pub or in the Millennium Stadium.

Rugby is the national sport of Wales. The Welsh locals love supporting their national team and local clubs. Rugby union is very popular but the league code is rare, unlike in England. Cardiff is often rammed with both locals and tourists supporting Wales in the World Cups and the 6 Nations. At club level, the country's top four teams—Cardiff Rugby, Dragons (Newport), Ospreys (Swansea), and Scarlets (Llanelli)—play in the United Rugby Championship, which also features teams from Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and South Africa. Wales also has a fully domestic league system, the top level of which is known as the Welsh Premier Division; teams in that league are basically developmental operations for the URC sides.

Football is also popular in Wales, though attendances in the local Welsh league (the top level of which is known as Cymru Premier) are low, and the two biggest Welsh clubs, Cardiff City and Swansea City, both play in the English league system. In addition, virtually all the top Welsh players play for English rather than Welsh clubs. That said, the Welsh national team enjoys strong support, having featured world-class players such as Ryan Giggs and Gareth Bale, and play their home games in Cardiff's Millennium Stadium. For instance, the 2017 UEFA Champions League Finals was held in Cardiff.

The Wales Rally GB is usually the final round of the FIA World Rally Championship, it takes place at near the end of each year in many locations around Wales.

Buy
Like the rest of the United Kingdom, Wales uses the pound sterling (£). Unlike Scotland and Northern Ireland, there are no separate banknotes in Wales, only those issued by the Bank of England. Indeed, Scottish and Northern Ireland banknotes may not be easy to spend, although they can be exchanged at any bank. Most banks and travel agents will also change foreign currency, although it is worth shopping around for the best rates.

ATMs are widespread, even in small towns: they can be found in many post offices, convenience stores and petrol stations as well as in banks. However, many banks in small towns have closed, and ATMs in other locations often charge you (maybe £1-2) for withdrawing cash.

As in the rest of the UK, beware of ATM fraud, which is becoming increasingly common. The fraud works either by 'skimming' your card (reading the details on it with a device attached to the ATM) or trapping it in the machine, and using a hidden camera to record your PIN as you enter it. Never use an ATM with a card slot which appears to have been tampered with, and always cover the key pad with your hand, wallet or purse when entering your PIN. If you find an ATM which seems to have been tampered with, or if it retains your card, report this at once to the bank which owns it and to the police.

Costs
Costs are broadly comparable with the rest of the UK; hotels, bars and restaurants in Cardiff are relatively expensive, while the rest of the country is perhaps slightly cheaper. Petrol and diesel is often much more expensive in rural Wales than in the main towns and cities.

Eat
See also: Welsh cheese Wales is associated with many particular dishes, and there are a number of unique foods that you might like to try. The quality of local ingredients is often very high, with a drive towards locally sourced, organic produce in many restaurants.

Several of the above dishes are now rarely eaten and may not be found on restaurant menus. Many cuisines are now represented in Welsh towns and cities, with even small towns and villages usually having takeaways, with Chinese, Indian, pizza and kebab being most common as well as the traditional fish and chips. Cardiff and Swansea have a much wider range of restaurants and cuisines represented including a number of star-rated restaurants. The country and village pubs have their own distinctive style of cuisine.

Vegetarianism and veganism is popular in Wales like its neighbour England. It is easy to find vegetarian meals in the big cities and towns. Even small towns or villages usually have a few vegetarian options in pubs and cafes. For vegans, Swansea and Cardiff offer the most options. Veganism is rare or non existent in rural areas.

For more information, see the general article on eating in the UK.

As with the rest of the United Kingdom, smoking in enclosed public areas, which includes restaurants and cafes, is illegal in Wales, and there is an on-the-spot fine of £50 for those who violate the ban.

Drink
Although the temperance movement was strong in Wales; beer was and still is a popular drink. There are a large number of small independent breweries in Wales, of which one well-known brand is Double Dragon from Felinfoel Brewery near Llanelli (Wales' oldest) is a must to taste. Wrexham Lager, after an absence of over a decade, Wrexham has its famous lager back and also back to its former glory. The owners are focusing on and giving a boost to the local pubs. One of the largest breweries in Glamorgan, Brains brews a decent range of ales

After an absence of over 100 years, Wales rejoined the club of Celtic countries that produce whisky in 2004 with the launch of the Welsh Whisky Company. This distillery is based out of the village of Penderyn, on the edge of the Brecon Beacons near Aberdare in South Wales. Penderyn whisky has received a number of awards and makes an interesting addition to the world of whisky. The distillery visitor centre opened in June 2008.

The other major beverage produce is, not surprisingly, bottled water.

See the more general article on drinking in the UK, with information on pubs and real ale.

Be careful on Friday and Saturday nights especially in the big cities and towns. You could encounter drunks anywhere but mostly outside pubs and bars and very poor areas. If you're unsafe around drunk people, get to a safe area.

Sleep
Wales is very tourist-friendly, so finding hotel accommodation, a self-catering holiday cottage or a place to pitch a tent should not be a problem. However, you might need to make prior reservations during the summer season in tourist areas such as Anglesey, Llandudno, Llangollen, Lleyn, Rhyl, Swansea/Mumbles and Tenby, or around the time of major sporting or cultural events in Cardiff.

Learn
The Welsh education system is similar to the educational system in England, with a few differences here and there. The most notable feature of the Welsh educational system is compulsory Welsh-language lessons in all state schools until the age of 16. The Welsh language is an important cultural part of the Welsh nation.

The country is home to eight universities and one conservatoire, the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Perhaps the most prestigious institute of higher education in Wales is Cardiff University, which is often regarded as one of the top universities in the United Kingdom and the world.

If there's one thing that attracts many students to Wales, it's the low cost of living. Costs in Wales are much lower compared to other parts of the United Kingdom. Cardiff is remarkably cheaper to live in than say, London.

Wales is a great place to learn Welsh and Welsh people love it if you show interest in their language. If you want to learn the language, there are a few options to choose from, as shown below.

Work
The major cities of Swansea and Cardiff have a growing number of white collar office jobs. The more rural areas, and especially the former mining communities in the Valleys are extremely impoverished and unlikely to offer many opportunities.

Stay safe
In any emergency call 999 or 112 and ask for Ambulance, Fire, Police or Coast Guard when connected. For non-urgent Police matters, dial 101 to be connected to the nearest police station anywhere in Wales.

Crime
Wales is one of the safest parts of the United Kingdom and crime rates continue to fall. Nonetheless, criminal activity including violent crime is not uncommon, especially alcohol-related violence in towns and cities. Indeed, it may be wise to avoid the centres of large towns and cities on weekend nights and after large sporting events. Despite this, it is unlikely that tourists would be targeted in such a situation. Pickpocketing and mugging is rare.

Driving
It is perfectly safe to drive on Welsh roads. However, care should be taken on rural and minor roads, some of which are extremely narrow and poorly marked. In addition, colliding with a sheep or (even worse) a cow can severely damage your car, not to mention the unfortunate animal. Many of these roads pass through some of the most beautiful parts of Wales, but just ensure that at least as much attention is paid to the road as to the scenery! Some areas of Wales are not suitable for learner drivers due to extreme terrain. If you're a learner, wait till you're more experienced for winter driving or going through the mountains. Like the rest of the UK, Wales drives on the left.

Natural hazards
While generally escaping extreme weather, it should not be forgotten that the British Isles enjoy a famously changeable climate and few places more so than Wales. As such, it is extremely important to be prepared when venturing into the countryside and especially onto the mountains. Here, what starts as a sunny day can rapidly turn into a blizzard, storm-force gale or a disorienting, chilling fog. Every year, many have to be rescued from Snowdonia and the Brecon Beacons and some lives are lost due to falls and exposure. Ensure you have suitable clothing, a map and a fully-charged mobile phone before setting off.

Thunderstorms aren't common in Wales, but if there is a thunderstorm warning, get yourself to safety.

On the coast, tides can cut you off on rapidly disappearing sea-level land. On the cliff tops be aware that the land can overhang the cliff edge being very thin and unstable.

There is little danger from animals, with only a small chance of coming across the adder snake which is venomous. Bites are painful but rarely fatal; stay calm but get to a doctor if bitten. The most dangerous animals are cattle and the occasional aggressive sheep. It is very rare to come across a live dragon.

Respect
Welsh society is generally warm, informal, and welcoming, with a tradition of acceptance and tolerance (for instance, there is no history of support for racist political parties in Wales' larger cities).

Refer to people from Wales as "Welsh", and not "English". Using the latter term is a crass error and it could get people to think that you're trying to start an argument. Most Welsh people don't object to being called "British", but as always, follow the locals' lead.

The relationship between Wales and England is quite complex. The geopolitical ties between England and Wales are strong, though some light-hearted anti-English sentiment is common. Despite this, English people in Wales are unlikely to face any issues.

Attempts to speak Welsh will be welcomed and will most certainly endear you to the locals. Everyone in Wales has heard the tired old canards about the language having no vowels or room-fulls of people instantly switching from English to Welsh when a tourist walks in; if these are in your repertoire of "jokes", keep them to yourself.

The issue of Welsh independence is certainly much debated and has been seeing a rise in support in the 21st century. In some areas, there are high levels of support for independence. Whilst nowhere near as sensitive or divisive as in other parts of the world, it's best to steer clear of discussing this topic altogether.

Welsh culture is often liberal. Generally speaking, the most liberal laidback areas are big cities and tourist places. Outside these places, Welsh culture is more conservative particularly in rural areas with locals following traditional procedures.

Wales is much like the rest of the UK regarding attitudes towards homosexuality. Displays of homosexuality are not always commonplace, possibly due to the rural nature of some parts of the country, although outward displays of same-sex affection are unlikely to cause a problem. Larger towns and cities are also friendly and open minded, but issues are not unheard of. The most accepting places for LGBT are Cardiff and Swansea. Outside major towns and cities, some locals may be offended by your sexuality, but that's their problem. Homophobic attacks are extremely rare but possible, and all discrimination based on sexuality is illegal in Wales, as it is in the rest of the UK.

Connect
See Connect entry in our United Kingdom article for information on telephone, internet and postal services. Some rural areas do not have mobile phone reception. Few areas, including towns, have high-speed internet.

See Connect entries in individual city articles for local information.

Go next

 * To the east the English border counties of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire are a quiet, almost undiscovered area, before you move in to the higher population areas of the West Midlands and Merseyside. Or if you are looking for the quintessential England try the Cotswolds.
 * Ireland, if you have not had enough of beautiful wet green landscapes then this is the direction to go. Reachable by ferry from a number of places on the west coast.

title: Wales


text:
Walker

There is more than one place called Walker:

United States of America

 * Walker (Arizona) — A town in Arizona.
 * Walker (Minnesota) — A town in Minnesota.
 * Walker — A district in Grand Rapids.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Walker


text:
Walker (Arizona)

Walker is a small community outside Prescott, Arizona in the high pines above Lynx Lake. It is at ~6500ft and a bit cooler in the summer and with more snow in the winter months. Many people are summer owners from Phoenix area. There is a long history of mining and gold speculators in the Walker area.

See

 * Poland-Walker Tunnel
 * Potato Patch
 * Lynx Lake
 * Lynx Creek

Do
There is a fire station which has a number of small activities in the summer time - ice cream socials, pancake breakfasts, car show, etc. Picnicking, boating, fishing and camping at lynch lake on walker road.

title: Walker (Arizona)


text:
Walking tour of Sydney

This walking tour of Sydney is in Sydney, Australia. It takes in many of the major sights in and around the Sydney Central Business District.

Understand
Sydney is the largest city in Australia, and capital of New South Wales. Fortunately for visitors, it has a compact centre that is pedestrian friendly and brimming with star attractions.

The main sights in central Sydney can be covered on foot in a day's walking tour. It takes about 35-45 minutes to walk straight from Central Station to Circular Quay. Most attractions can be seen for free, but some of the locations require admission fees if you want to go in and have a detailed look around.

The complete tour is a large loop that covers sights in City Centre, The Rocks, Darling Harbour, and City South. It can take at least several hours and up to a full day, depending on speed, fitness level, and time spent at each location. It can easily be extended over several days with longer visits to some of the museums, galleries and shopping districts.

There are several optional loops listed on this tour, which will extend it further. You will have to be very fit and walk fast to complete all the options in a single day.

If you are short in time and wish to do only part of the walking tour, consider taking the Harbour side walk from Mrs Macquarie's Chair, with the waters to your right, down to the gated Royal Botanic Gardens, up to the iconic Opera House, down to Circular Quay, and up through The Rocks to the Harbour Bridge. This segment of the walking tour is for many the epitome of the Sydney experience.

Prepare
The climate in Sydney ranges from cool winters to hot summers. In the warmer months, it is imperative to protect yourself from the harsh Australian sun. Use a maximum protection sunblock (SPF 30+) on all exposed skin, and re-apply during the day. Wear a hat with a wide brim. Do not worry about making a fashion statement - Sydneysiders are very sun-aware and won't look twice at anyone in a sunhat. Sunglasses are also highly recommended.

In winter (i.e., April to September), central Sydney can get quite chilly, especially on a windy day, as the wind is funneled between the tall buildings. Wear a wind-resistant jacket.

This tour requires a good deal of walking, with some gentle slopes and a few stairs. Wear comfortable shoes.

There are plenty of places to buy food and drink along the way, but city prices can be expensive. Carrying your own bottle of water is a good idea if you don't like paying a lot for it. Filtered water fountains for top ups are available for free in many parks and tourist areas.

Get in
If staying near City Centre, you can pick up this walk at the nearest point to your accommodation.

If staying outside City Centre, catch a train to Town Hall Station or a bus to Town Hall on George Street for the starting point. If you are staying near a ferry wharf, you could catch a ferry to Circular Quay and begin the loop there.

By taxi, request a drop-off at Town Hall if coming from south of the harbor. If coming from north of the harbor, request Wynyard as your destination and join the walk there, to save the extra taxi fare down to Town Hall.

Town Hall to Hyde Park

 * A good place to start is on the steps of the Sydney Town Hall. It is easily accessible by train (Town Hall station on the City Circle line) and bus. This is the place where Sydneysiders meet, wait and watch. If open, walk inside and have look around at the ornate interior and see the massive pipe organ. To the left of the entrance is a quiet café.
 * Walk across Sydney Square and enter St. Andrew’s Cathedral via the main entrance at the far end of the Square. After looking around, exit via the side entrance and head east up Bathurst Street towards Hyde Park.

 * Cross Elizabeth Street and past the Obelisk (which is actually a vent for the sewer system) and into Hyde Park and head towards the ANZAC Memorial. You can enter the building via the side entrance at the ground level.  There is a small museum to the right and ahead is a statue of a dead soldier being carried by the grieving women left behind in his life. Read the explanatory plaque and head upstairs to the main chamber where the eternal flame burns. Exit via the main doors and walk around the reflecting pool.  On your right across College Street is the Australian Museum, which is worth a visit if you have more time in Sydney.

 * Continue down the central path of Hyde Park and cross Park Street. Note the amazing canopy of trees as you walk towards the Archibald Fountain. This is a beautiful place, especially on a sunny day when rainbows form in the spray from the fountain. Head east towards the cathedral and cross the road. Located under the far end of the plaza (skateboard park) is the Cook and Philip Olympic Pool. You are welcome to have a look at the complex if you ask the staff member at the entrance counter.

St Mary's Cathedral to the State Library

 * Enter St. Mary’s Cathedral via the main stairs off the plaza and have a look around. The layout of the cathedral is unusual in that it runs north-south, rather than the usual east-west. Purchase a photography permit from the cathedral shop before taking photos of the interior. Exit the cathedral via the shop on the left side. Head north towards Macquarie Street.
 * On your right is the Hyde Park Barracks which was the principal male convict barracks in New South Wales until 1848. Enter via the front door and have a look at the first room on the left, which shows some of the historical uses of the building over the years. Also have a look through the shop and note the pet rats. You might also like to pay the entrance fee to look through the museum. Exit back onto Macquarie Street. Across the street is St. James Church and the Supreme Court of NSW, fronted by a large statue of Queen Victoria, facing a matching statue of Prince Albert in front of the Barracks. Look south for a magnificent view along Hyde Park's esplanade of trees, past the Archibald Fountain, to the ANZAC Memorial.
 * The next building as you head north along Macquarie Street is The Mint, which you are free to look around, followed by Sydney Hospital. Make sure to make a wish (and a donation) by rubbing the nose of the pig statue outside the Hospital.

 * Across the road from the Hospital is Martin Place, the major open square within Sydney. It extends two blocks west; halfway down is the fountain featured in the "woman in red" scene in the film The Matrix. The first building on the left is the Reserve Bank of Australia, which has a free museum accessed via the buildings main lobby.
 * Continuing north along Macquarie Street, the next building past the Hospital is the New South Wales Parliament House. Enter via the stairs on the left and have a look around. Free tours are also available and give you direct access to the floor of the parliament chambers. Exit the Parliament and again continue north up Macquarie Street.
 * Enter the new wing of the State Library of New South Wales via the revolving doors. Head up the stairs and left along the corridor to view the latest exhibition from the Library’s collection. Continue through to the end of the gallery, through the large doors and down the stairs to the main lobby of the old library building, note the old map in the floor. Enter the magnificent old Reading Room, which many Sydneysiders would never have visited. Exit the Library via the main entrance, note the images of aboriginal life in the heavy steel doors.

The Domain to Mrs Macquarie's Chair to Royal Botanic Gardens

 * Turn right at the bottom of the library stairs and head east into The Domain, where main city workers play sports and relax during their lunch breaks.
 * Continue east towards the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Walk in to the world-class art museum (free!) and have look around the many and varied displays. If you are in a hurry, have a look in the second room on the right inside the main entrance, which displays many famous Australian paintings depicting (a) the development of the country since European settlement and how the nation's wealth was created through the sacrifices of early settlers, (b) the development of the wool industry and (c) the discovery of gold. Exit the Art Gallery and turn right, north up Art Gallery Rd.
 * Option: Head north-east and down the stairs towards Woolloomooloo. Head east past the main entrance to the Finger Wharf to Harry's Café de Wheels and have a pie with mashed potatoes and peas. This place is a Sydney institution and there is no place better after a long night on the town. Note the pictures which show some of the famous customers who have sampled the pies. From here you can also see the Garden Island Naval Dockyard. Head back to the Finger Wharf and enter via the main doors. Inside is located a hotel, posh bar and apartments which are home to some of Sydney's most famous residents, include Gladiator Russell Crowe who lives at the very end (which can only be accessed externally). Once finished here, head north along the waterfront past the yellow apartments, follow the path and climb the stairs. Go right at the top of the stairs and continue north. The Naval Dockyards should now be on your right.

 * Walking north along Mrs. Macquarie's Rd, you will soon come to the Andrew (Boy) Charlton Pool. Continue north past the pool.
 * At the end of the headland is Mrs. Macquarie's Chair, a large sandstone bench cut into the rock, reputed to be where colonial governor Lachlan Macquarie's wife sat watching for ships from England. This headland offers the most iconic photo opportunity in Sydney, including both the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Make sure to climb up into the sandstone caves and take in what must be one of the most beautiful views of any city in the world. If ever there was a place that made you feel like you are standing inside a postcard, then this is surely it.

 * Continue south, with Farm Cove on your right, along the path towards the Royal Botanic Gardens. The further south you go, the more the Opera House moves in front of the Harbour Bridge as you watch them across Farm Cove. Enter the Yurong Gate to the Royal Botanic Gardens (free!) It opens at 7AM. The gardens are extensive and reward detailed exploration. There are free guided walks at 10:30AM departing from the Palm Grove Information Counter. On fine days, many people relax on the grass with picnic lunches.

Sydney Opera House to Circular Quay to The Rocks

 * Exit the Royal Botanic gardens via the Queen Elizabeth II Gate (follow the path northwesterly with the harbour on your right), which leads directly to the Sydney Opera House. Walk around the base of the Opera House along the shoreline to get a feel for the size and majesty of the structure, then climb the pink granite steps for a closer look at the famous white shells. Inside there is a public box office area, but access to the performance hall foyers and halls is restricted to event ticket-holders and guided tour groups. A guided tour of the interior is worthwhile if you have time.

 * Leave the opera house by walking south along the pedestrian promenade of East Circular Quay. This controversial modern development offers many al fresco dining choices with stunning views, but was criticized for obstructing sight lines between Circular Quay and the Royal Botanic Gardens. Embedded in the walkway from East Circular Quay to West Circular Quay are 60 plaques celebrating Australian and other writers (Writers' walk).
 * Circular Quay itself is the small cove with multiple wharfs, forming the terminus for most of Sydney's ferry services. This is a good departure point for day trips to Manly or Taronga Zoo. Walk along the promenade next to the wharfs, passing buskers and street entertainers.
 * At the center of Circular Quay, walk south under Circular Quay railway station and across the large open square to Customs House. This early colonial building now serves as a space for the City Library and cultural events. Walk into the lobby and examine the scale model of Sydney embedded under the glass floor.
 * Go back to Circular Quay and continue walking around the shoreline to the west, turning north. The large art-deco building is the Museum of Contemporary Art, originally the Maritime Services Board offices.

 * Continue north past the hulking Overseas Passenger Terminal, where passenger ships berth, giving them a fantastic view of the Opera House across the water of Sydney Cove. At the north end is Doyle's Restaurant, a Sydney seafood institution, where a fat wallet will get you a meal and a view.
 * Turn inland and walk up to Hickson Road and then to George Street, placing you in the heart of The Rocks . This historic district was the site of the first English settlement in Australia, and contains many original buildings. Walk north up George St.; this section of the street is closed to traffic on weekends and hosts The Rocks Market. Return south down George St. and turn right into Playfair Street, where there is a row of historic stone cottages (now turned into shops). Browse the shops in the restored Argyle Center. Emerge into Argyle St. and turn west up to the Argyle Steps which lead up the steep hill to Cumberland St.

Sydney Harbour Bridge to Australia Square

 * From Cumberland St., climb the stone staircase up to the east side walkway of the Bradfield Highway and walk north on to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The views from the pedestrian path are breathtaking. For even better views, pay ($13 adult) and climb the 200 steps through 3 levels of exhibits to get to the top of the South Pylon Lookout.
 * Option: Continue all the way across the Bridge (20 min) to Milson's Point and down the stairs at the north end, then walk south down the hill to Bradfield Park, which offers superb views across the water to the city skyline. Go west under the bridge at water level and you will see the giant face of Luna Park, flanked by magnificent art-deco spires. This historic amusement park is open for walking around - you only need to pay if you want to go on one of the rides. Walk back up the hill and through the tunnel under the roadway to the stairs leading back up to the bridge deck and return south across the harbour.

 * Once off the bridge, return to Argyle St. and walk west under the bridge. Turn left onto Watson Rd, which leads up to Observatory Hill, the site of Sydney Observatory. The observatory is open to the public and contains historical and astronomical displays.
 * Return down Argyle St. to The Rocks and turn right into Nurse's Walk, a historical area now bustling with upmarket shops. At the far end, cross back into George St. and walk south.

 * A few blocks down you will come across the unmistakable round white tower of Australia Square, Sydney's first skyscraper and tallest building from 1967 to 1976. The 47th floor contains The Summit, one of Sydney's prestige dining locations.
 * Just south of Australia Square is Wynyard Station, a major commuter hub, but nothing to look at except a few signs pointing to underground entrances.

Martin Place to Queen Victoria Building

 * Continuing south, you come across the western end of Martin Place. Enter the square to see the Cenotaph and The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. At this memorial, the solemn ceremonies of ANZAC Day are performed at dawn each 25 April. In December, a giant Christmas Tree is erected in this space.
 * The building on the corner of George St. at 1 Martin Place is the historic General Post Office, commonly known as the GPO. Considered to be the official center of Sydney, it has been redeveloped into a series of restaurants and shops, although the central post office for Sydney still occupies part of the building.
 * Continue south down George St. At the corner of King St., the tiny historic Darrell Lea Shop (1957) still sells chocolates and resists attempts by developers to turn the property into a skyscraper.
 * Just past the Darrell Lea shop, turn left into the historic Strand Arcade (1891). Brimming with upmarket shops, the arcade still retains its Victorian-era look.
 * Walk all the way through the Strand and emerge at the far end into Pitt Street Mall, the hub of Sydney shopping. Even if you don't enjoy shopping, there is always plenty happening here, with street performers and plenty of people watching. Walk south along the pedestrian mall.
 * At the south end, look up. The immense Sydney Tower soars overhead. You can enter the tower by entering the Centerpoint shops and going up to Podium level. Tickets for the lookout at the top of the tower are moderately expensive, but provide stunning views on a fine day. Views are not so good if the pollution is bad.

 * Leave Pitt St. and take Market St. west back to George St., where the majestic Queen Victoria Building occupies the next block. Cross George St. and walk through the QVB, admiring the restored Victorian architecture (now occupied with yet more shops). Take the stairs or antique lifts to the upper levels for historical displays and a close-up view of the giant animated clock, as well as sweeping interior architectural views.

Sydney Aquarium to Darling Harbour

 * Exit from the same end of the QVB and continue west along Market St. It leads into a pedestrian bridge over a freeway and on to Pyrmont Bridge. This historic bridge was closed to vehicular traffic in 1981, and now provides a leisurely stroll across Cockle Bay.
 * Before leaving the eastern shore, on the right is the Sydney Aquarium. Aficionados of sea life will find this well worth a visit.
 * Across the bridge on the opposite shore, facing the Aquarium, is the Australian National Maritime Museum, also worth a few hours and the admission price, if you have the time and inclination. Otherwise, turn left.
 * Walk south along the shoreline of Darling Harbour. This large public space is characterised by modern architecture. Walk past the site of the new International Convention Centre Sydney (which opened in 2016) on your right. The Imax Cinema looms on your left as you continue south under the freeways into Tumbalong Park.
 * At the southern end of the park is the Chinese Garden of Friendship. This place offers a calming slice of peace and tranquility in the bustle of the city. If you need a restful break, the admission charge is worth it.
 * Beyond the Garden is the brutalist concrete architecture of the Qantas Credit Union Arena (formerly the Sydney Entertainment Centre), where many major concerts and other events are held.

Chinatown to Town Hall

 * From the intersection between the Garden and the Qantas Credit Union Arena, walk east up Goulburn St to Dixon St, and turn south into Sydney's Chinatown. The food here is excellent and inexpensive, especially from the many food courts ensconced underground, or you can easily go upmarket with a fancy restaurant.
 * At the southern end of Dixon St, cross Hay St into Paddy's Markets, which are open Thursday to Sunday. This vast, bustling hall full of vendors provides interesting sights, sounds, smells, and bargains.
 * From Paddy's go along Hay St to George St and walk north back to Town Hall.

 * Option: From Paddy's, walk south along George St. and turn east into Rawson St.., which leads to the magnificent old Central Station building, with its distinctive clock tower. Reminiscent of the old railway stations of Europe, the country terminus bustles with activity in a grand interior space. From here, walk north up Pitt St and cross back to George St. to return to Town Hall.

Exchange - Commercial & Retail Sydney
From imposing banks to opulent shops and old warehouses, much of Sydney’s commercial history can be seen in its buildings.

Sydney’s shops demonstrate the evolution of retailing from elaborate Victorian shopping arcades to multi-storey department stores.

This walk (search Exchange - Commercial & Retail Sydney online for detailed route) will take you through the heart of the City’s financial and retail district — Martin Place, George Street and Pitt Street — pointing out landmarks, their architectural features and the history behind them.

Stay safe
During daylight, the most dangerous thing you will encounter on this walk is traffic. Be careful crossing streets, remembering to look right for oncoming traffic if you are from a country where cars drive on the right side of the road. Many locals will dash across streets whenever there is a gap in the traffic, but it's better to obey the crossing signals for maximum safety.

You may be approached by a more or less scruffy looking beggar at some point, often requesting money for "a bus ticket home." Politely refuse and walk away and they will generally leave you alone.

If you remain on the streets after dark, stick to well-lit main thoroughfares. The area along George Street south of Town Hall can harbor boisterous youths who may have had too much to drink, although police presence means incidents are rare.

Along the water, especially at Circular Quay, anyone with food will be pestered by seagulls. They are harmless, but can be annoying and disconcerting. Avoid feeding them.

Go next
There are several other scenic walks within Sydney, taking in parts of the suburbs around the CBD area.
 * Coogee Beach to BondiA clifftop walk along the eastern coastline past several of Sydney's beautiful beaches. Stop off for a swim if you get too hot.
 * Manly to The Spit Along the foreshore of Sydney Harbour.
 * North Head to Manly walk a scenic historic walk that takes one along North Head
 * Bondi to Manly Walk. The Bondi to Manly Walk (B2M) links all the existing coastal and harbour-side walking tracks between Australia’s two most famous surf beaches, Bondi Beach and Manly Beach.

title: Walking tour of Sydney


text:
Wall

There's more than one place called Wall.

United Kingdom

 * Wall (Staffordshire) - Town in the county of Staffordshire.
 * Wall (Northumberland) - Town in the county of Northumberland.

United States of America

 * Wall (New Jersey) and South Wall - towns near Point Pleasant Beach, New Jersey.
 * Wall (South Dakota) - Town in South Dakota known for its unique drug store.
 * Wall (Pennsylvania) - Town in Pennsylvania.

title: Wall


text:
Wall (South Dakota)

Wall, South Dakota, "the geographic center of nowhere," is probably known best to cross-country travellers for its main attraction, Wall Drug. Advertised on gigantic billboards for hundred of miles to the west and east on Interstate 90, the gargantuan drug store has put Wall on the nation's map. There are also Wall Drug signs all over the world telling how many miles to Wall Drug.

Get in
Wall is on Interstate 90 just north of the Badlands of South Dakota and just east of Rapid City. It is served by Jefferson Lines buses.

Go next

 * Minuteman Missile National Historic Site - 1960s Delta-01 Launch Control Facility, Launch Facility/ Missile Silo: Delta-09, nuclear tourism visitor centre with information on Cold War history. This Minuteman ICBM site could rain down nuclear devastation six thousand miles away in 30 minutes. Guided free tours of launch control are available from the visitor centre; numbers are limited so large groups will need to book a few weeks ahead.
 * Black Hills National Forest
 * Deadwood is possibly America's most storied small town from the wild frontier days.
 * Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a short drive away, and so is the even larger Crazy Horse Memorial.
 * Rapid City is a transportation hub for the region. It has a few museums, and plenty of cheap hotels and restaurants (chain and local).
 * Sturgis, roughly 12 miles to the East of Deadwood, is the home of the famed Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in August.

title: Wall (South Dakota)


text:
Wallace

There's more than one place called Wallace:

Canada

 * Wallace (Nova Scotia)

United States of America

 * Wallace (California)
 * Wallace (Idaho)
 * Wallace (Indiana)
 * Wallace (Michigan)
 * Wallace (Missouri)
 * Wallace (Nebraska)

title: Wallace


text:
Wallace (Idaho)

Wallace is a historic mining town in North Idaho in the United States of America.

Understand
The entire city of Wallace is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. According to the Idaho State Historical Society's Historic Preservation Office, Wallace is the only city in the United States entirely listed on the Register. This mining town fought for its survival on several occasions:

The mining wars: twice in the 1890s civilian rule was suspended in Wallace. Army troops enforced martial law, locking up every man 15 years of age and older in internment camps because striking miners blew up two mills (1892, 1899) a train (1899) and the Governor of Idaho (1905). The assassin, former Wallace area miner Harry Orchard, spent the rest of his life in prison. The men who allegedly hired him, union bosses with the Western Federation of Miners, also hired famed attorney Clarence Darrow and were acquitted for the conspiracy to murder the Governor.

The fire: five years after the governor was blown up, the mountains blew up. Wallace was in the cross-hairs of America's largest ever wild land fire, the Big Burn of 1910. 30 million acres, an area the size of Connecticut, were incinerated in a weekend. One-third to a half of Wallace burned, but these feisty folks lit four back-burns, put out falling embers the size of trees and battled fire tornadoes to survive. That catastrophe changed the way America fought fires and manages forest.

The freeway: in 1967 the federal highway department announced plans to build Interstate 90 through Wallace, which would have led to the demolition of its downtown corridor and most of its residential area. The town fought back, holding up completion of project in court for nearly 20 years. In that time while city fathers sued, the ladies of the Wallace Historic Preservation Society -- mostly grandmothers -- went to every downtown building, filed reams of paperwork, hired historic architects and got every building, then the entire town placed on the National Register -- so the feds couldn't touch a brick. Wallace was saved and the highway department was forced to build a $43-million bypass.

Get in
Interstate 90 passes through town.

See

 * Oasis Boreello.jpg

 * The six towns are:
 * The six towns are:

Festivals and parades

 * Each year in early May, the town celebrates Depot Day in conjunction with a Classic Car Show with entries from throughout the inland northwest.
 * Wallace Craft Beer Pub Crawl - Microbrews descend on the 13 or more bars in Wallace.
 * Gyro Days and Lead Creek Derby - Gyro Friendship club's primary fundraiser for scholarships. Follow the Gyro ball from Mullan to Wallace. Winning time wins the pot.
 * Statehood Day Parade - Celebrate the creation of Idaho
 * BluesFest - Top blues bands take over the downtown streets of Wallace.
 * ATV Jamboree - Week long guided ATV/UTV tours of the Wallace area trails
 * Accordion Festival - Bring your squeeze box and enjoy the festivities
 * Huckleberry Festival & Fun Run - Celebrate our unique berry with all sorts of delicacies
 * CDA Mining District Contest - Watch hard rock miners show off their skills
 * JeepFest - Strut your Jeep. Guided Jeep runs and local Jeep competitions
 * Under the Freeway Flea Market - Find that cool old thing you didn't know you needed.
 * Center of the Universe rededication - Wallace will be the center of the universe until you can prove otherwise. Ask the EPA!
 * Wallace Brat Fest - Brats and Beer, why not?
 * Retro Christmas Festival - Christmas brings back memories. Remember your and make new ones in Wallace.
 * Extreme SkiJor & Snow Machine Grand Prix - Ski jump race in downtown Wallace, how cool.

Culture events and activities

 * Fall for History - Historical tours, lectures, exhibits all through town
 * Sixth Street Melodrama - local actors and playwrights exercise their trade
 * Tour the ghost town of Burke

Outdoor activities

 * Pulaski Historic trail - 2.5 miles to the mine site where Ed Pulaski saved 40 men from the 1910 Big Burn forest fire.
 * Art'n Garden Tour - Tour the historic home's gardens and peruse the amazing local artists new creations.
 * Silver Streak Zipline Tours - 12 ziplines overlooking the picturesque silver valley - up to 60 mph
 * Route of the Hiawatha - 15 mile bike trail - 1.6% gentle downhill grade - 10 tunnels (one is 2 miles long) - 7 railroad trestles
 * Trail of the Coeur d'Alenes - 70 miles rails-to-trails with full services along the way.
 * Historic stairs - Wallace neighborhoods are build on a steep hill. The historic stairs have been restored and are a great way to adventure through the town
 * Lookout Pass Ski Area - Groomed trails and family friendly. Summer lift rides with free frisbee golf course when you reach the summit.

Buy
Silver Moose - a non-profit co-op shop featuring a bakery, gourmet chocolates and unique hand-crafted gifts.
 * Idaho Silver Shop - silver jewelry
 * Something Perfect - bawdy and funny gifts
 * The Fox & The Hare Mountain Wear - outdoor wear
 * The Eureka Sally Gallery of Art & Chocolate - art and chocolate
 * North Idaho Trading Co - antiques, collectables, and the curiosity
 * The Woodland Market - art and gifts
 * Olivers Mercantile - antiques, screen printing and eclectic
 * Johnson's Gems - gemstones, jewelry and collectables

Sleep

 * Ryan Hotel, 608 Cedar Street, +1 208 753-6001.
 * Wallace Inn, 100 Front Street, +1 208 752-1252. The Wallace Inn is off I-90, approximately 11 miles from Silver Mountain Ski Resort, Lookout Pass Ski Area, the Route of Hiawatha mountain biking and hiking trail, and the Silver Country 1000 Mile Trail System.

Bed & Breakfast

 * The Beale House Bed and Breakfast, 107 Cedar Street, +1 208 752-7151 Toll free: +1-888-752-7151.

RV parks

 * Wallace RV Park
 * By the Way Campground
 * Crystal Gold Mine RV Park
 * Lost Moose Campground
 * Mullan Trail

Go next
Not far from Wallace, Kellogg has metal sculptures of a dragon and knight, a gold panner, an elk (in front of the local chapter of the Elks), a big panther (which is the high school's mascot) in front of the local pool, a miner and donkey, and the best was the Red Baron. All seemed to be made of scraps of metal from different things, but they are large! Mine tours (approx. 30 min) are given at Crystal Gold Mine. Kellogg was the site of one of the worst U.S. mining accidents; a statue of a miner holding high a rock drill guards dozens of impromptu headstones at the Sunshine Mine Disaster Memorial.

title: Wallace (Idaho)


text:
Wallace (Nebraska)

Wallace is a small town in rural Lincoln County Nebraska, with a population of 366 (2010).

Understand
Wallace is a small farming community located in extreme southwestern Lincoln County, along the Burlington Northern Railroad line. The town celebrated its centennial in 1987.

Get in
Wallace is near the crossroads of Nebraska highways 23 and 25, each of which is a two-lane blacktop road. Highway 25 continues south into Kansas, eventually meeting up with Interstate 70.

Get around
The only way to get around Wallace is by car.

Go next
25 miles south of Wallace on Highway 25, the Grand Duke Alexis Rendezvous is held each July. The rendezvous is set up near the original site of the 1872 buffalo hunt when the U.S. Army commissioned the young scout Buffalo Bill to entertain the Grand Duke Alexis of Russia.

title: Wallace (Nebraska)


text:
Wallaroo

Wallaroo is a coastal town on the western side of Yorke Peninsula in South Australia and is a popular tourist destination. Along with Kadina and Moonta, Wallaroo forms the Copper Coast, formerly known as the Copper Triangle.

Understand
The name Wallaroo comes from the Indigenous Australian Narungga word 'Wadlu Waru' meaning wallaby urine. The early British colonials tried to copy this word by calling it Walla Waroo, however they found this too big to stamp on the wool bales, so they shortened it to Wallaroo.

Wallaroo has a deep sea port, at which the Viterra grain terminal is located and ships dock to fill up with grain. When there's no ship in port, the jetty is a favourite location for fishing.

Wallaroo is also home to the Spencer Gulf Prawn fleet, and has a multi-million dollar marina - Copper Cove Marina.

By ferry
Sea SA Car & Passenger Ferries has temporarily suspended all services between Wallaroo on the Yorke Peninsula and Lucky Bay on the Eyre Peninsula while a new ferry is constructed. Sea SA plans to resume daily services in early 2011, on the arrival of the new ferry Aurora.

Do
Wallaroo is a popular fishing destination, with many fishing charter tour operators using it as a base.

Contact
Cellular (mobile) telephone network reception may not be available in many areas especially those distant from cellular network repeater towers normally located along the major highways and near larger townships. Hilly terrain will also effect reception. In an emergency seek higher ground. Some networks provide a poor coverage in regional and rural areas. It is generally considered that the best reception is available from either Telstra or Optus when in areas such as Yorke Peninsula.

For emergency services including police, fire services and ambulance call 000 from any telephone and ask the operator to connect you. Such calls are placed without charge to the calling party.

title: Wallaroo


text:
Walla Walla

Walla Walla is a city in the Columbia River Plateau region of Washington State.

Understand
Celebrating its 150th year in 2009, and located in southeastern Washington, with the charming rejuvenation of its downtown and booming wine industry, Walla Walla has become a pleasant stop for tourists and new residents alike as they flee the larger cities of the coast and California — be it for a weekend get-away or something more long-term.

Known originally for its funny name and famous Walla Walla Sweet Onions, the long-established farming community with an "Old West" history has seen a major shift in agriculture in the last decade as traditional crops have been replaced by the vineyards of the rapidly growing wine industry. Walla Walla is at the heart of wine country, boasting over one hundred wineries – including some of the area and nation's best cellars – with tasting rooms conveniently located downtown, around the airport, and throughout the scenic countryside.

But don't expect the stodginess of elitist wine areas elsewhere; the area is still an affordable and welcoming community with small town roots, and there's plenty to do besides taste the vino. Walla Walla also offers a taste of Oregon Trail history in Fort Walla Walla and the Whitman Mission, gorgeous views in the country, a charismatic Main Street, and the liveliness of a college town: hosting both the prestigious private liberal arts school Whitman College and private SDA Walla Walla University in neighboring College Place. And should the wine bars and tasting rooms get to be too much, you can always escape into a classically red-neck bar, many of which are clustered near the Washington State Penitentiary in the northeastern part of town. This town is also the seat of Walla Walla County.

The valley itself offers a diverse variety of striking landscapes: bordered by the Columbia River basin and its desert beauty as you enter from the west, rolling wheat fields and vineyards through the surrounding countryside, and the scenic Blue Mountains to the southeast. Expect the best of the four seasons with cold and snow in winter, temperamentally sunny springs, blustery winds and fog in the fall, and golden sun warmed days of a hot, dry desert summer.

By car
By car Walla Walla is accessible by a series of US and state Highways:.
 * US 12.svg Comes in from Tri Cities, WA in the west and Clarkston and Lewiston  in the east through Dayton and Pomeroy. It passes along the north side of town as a freeway.
 * OR 11.svg & WA-125.svg Comes in from its junction with Interstate 84 (Exit #210), in Pendleton as OR-11 and goes north through the town of Milton-Freewater, OR. The same highway becomes WA-Hwy 125 after crossing the state line into Washington state and becomes 9th Ave through town. Hwy 125 continues north of town along N 13th Ave from Hwy 12 and ends near Prescott at its intersection with WA-Hwy 124,  north of town.

By bus
The main bus station for local public transportation and intercity buses is at the on N 4th Ave & W Main St. The stops for Valley Transit are along N 4th Ave between Main & Rose while the stops for the intercity buses are on W Main St:

By plane
The next nearest airports served by more airlines, including Allegiant, Delta, United Express and/or Boutique Air, from more destinations, are in Tri-Cities ( west); Pendleton  ( southwest) and Lewiston  ( east).

By foot
Within town no place is much more than a half-hour walk away, an hour at the most, and many things to do are easily found in the small downtown area. The streets are pedestrian and bicycle friendly - with sidewalks and bike lanes on most major roads, and low traffic on others.

By bicycle
Walla Walla has some of the best biking around! Great biking through surrounding vineyards and wheatfields. To Waitsburg and Dayton, to Milton Freewater and Touchet, numerous 15-60+ mile routes. But mind those hills! Stop into the following bike shops for info on routes and rides:

The Valley Transit local bus service runs in the daytime around town, costs only 75 cents a trip with free transfers, and also provides bike racks on most buses. Its main transfer station is located downtown, and it also runs to the airport.

With many peaceful parks and quiet streets lined with large old, shade trees to wander along and admire the charming neighborhoods, leaving the car behind is more than plausible.

By car
Bring your own car to drive around town or out on the country roads with, or rent one from one of four available companies easily found online. Even if you plan to explore mostly on foot, having a car can be a boon for a trip up Mill Creek or getting to some of the wineries located around the airport and out in the country.

Buy
Wine!

Coffee, this is Washington after all. Try a blend from a local roaster such as Walla Walla Roastery.

Art from one of the many downtown galleries.

Any other souvenirs that suit your fancy.

Eat
Don't miss the desserts and coffee at the Colville St Patisserie.

Drink

 * Wineries--There is certainly no shortage of places to drink if wine is your beverage of choice. The Walla Walla area has between 100 and 120 wineries, many of which feature tasting rooms to sample their creations.

title: Walla Walla


text:
Wallingford

There is more than one place called Wallingford:

England

 * Wallingford (England) — A town in England.

United States of America

 * Wallingford (Connecticut) — A town in Connecticut.
 * Wallingford (Iowa) — A town in Iowa.
 * Wallingford (Pennsylvania) — A town in Pennsylvania.
 * Wallingford (Washington) — A neighborhood in Seattle.
 * Wallingford (Vermont) — A town in Vermont.

title: Wallingford


text:
Wallingford (Connecticut)

Wallingford is a city in Connecticut.

Get around

 * Routes stopping at Windsor Locks:
 * Amtrak Hartford Line operating 3-5 trips per direction daily between Springfield and New Haven with stops in Windsor Locks, Windsor, Hartford, Berlin, Meriden, and Wallingford.
 * Northeast Regional operating twice daily between Springfield and Washington, D.C. with stops in Windsor Locks, Windsor, Hartford, Berlin, Meriden, Wallingford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Stamford, New Rochelle, New York City, Newark, Trenton, Philadelphia, Wilmington, Baltimore, and New Carrollton.
 * Valley Flyer operates twice daily between Greenfield and New Haven including stops in Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield, Windsor Locks, Windsor, Hartford, Berlin, Meriden, and Wallingford.
 * Valley Flyer operates twice daily between Greenfield and New Haven including stops in Northampton, Holyoke, Springfield, Windsor Locks, Windsor, Hartford, Berlin, Meriden, and Wallingford.

Do

 * - located in Wallingford
 * - located in Wallingford

title: Wallingford (Connecticut)


text:
Wallingford (England)

Wallingford is a historic market town on the River Thames in Oxfordshire, England.

Understand
The Romans liked Wallingford but proved unreliable tenants. Now the Saxons, they really put the hours in, building the earliest recognizable settlements.

Agatha Christie wrote from Wallingford, led the local amateur dramatics society and is buried nearby in Cholsey. Resident somehow in both mind and body, she’d be happy with the town’s continuing notoriety as it is plagued by heinous murders... the penny drops: this is Midsomer Murders country and Wallingford is the fictional village of Causton.

Before you run for your life, remember: it’s only a television show. That said, a town so touched by history always has a grisly secret to reveal.

William the Conqueror crossed the Thames here and established the castle. After roaming lawless on the open South Oxfordshire roads the murderous Dick Turpin rested up here, the law chasing his blood-stained coat tails.

In 1646 Oliver Cromwell gave the order to sack Wallingford Castle, undoing 600 years of fortifications. Even so, with boats moored under drooping willows that arc into the Thames, Wallingford remains the best example of a Saxon town in England.

The prehistoric road, the Icknield Way, crosses the River Thames at Cholsey.

By car
The town lies on the A4130 which runs to Didcot (6 miles) and the A34 to the W and to Henley-on-Thames (14 miles) and on to Maidenhead (23 miles) to the E. The A4074 connects the town to Reading (15 miles) to the SE and to Oxford (14 miles) to the NW.

By bus
The area is well served by buses from Reading and most local towns.

By boat
Visitors may arrive by riverboat in the summer, from Reading and Abingdon.

By bicycle

 * The town lies on National Cycle Route 5 running from Reading to Holyhead.
 * The town lies on the 170 mile circular Chilterns Cycleway at the SW end of the loop.

On foot
The Ridgeway long distance path (running 87 miles from near Avebury to Ivinghoe Beacon) passes only 1 mile SE of the town.

Get around
The town is small enough to see on foot.

See
Plenty of things to see in Wallingford - the Castle, the River Thames, the ancient market town built on Saxon foundations, the Castle Gardens and Castle meadows, quirky antique shops, coffee shops, and places for supper.

Do
Take one of the self-guided historical walks (information from the tourist information office in the Market Place), or visit Wallingford Museum. Have a picnic on the banks of the Thames, or investigate the Saxon ramparts which surround the town. If you visit on a Sunday, why not attend the Sunday Gospel Service held by the Wallingford Christian Assembly, at the Gospel Hall, Atwell Close. (5:00-5:45PM each week.)

Buy
Wallingford has a large number of independent shops, antique shops and specialist shops. Where else can you buy a violin, visit numerous antique shops, purchase a stunning hat to complete a special outfit, or buy lovely clothes and shoes? Wallingford has it all - and many markets.

Crowmarsh Gifford

Go next

 * Didcot
 * Abingdon
 * Newbury and Thatcham
 * Oxford
 * Reading

title: Wallingford (England)