Discover the Story of Wales
Map
Itineraries
Cymraeg
Cardiff Bay owes much of its history to the iron and coal trade which were the catalysts for the construction of a number of docks during the 1830s. The docklands developed into a cosmopolitan community with seafarers from all around the world making Cardiff their home. It is estimated that people from at least 50 nationalities settled in this area, which became known as ‘Tiger Bay’.
Today, Cardiff Bay is home to a number of attractions such as Techniquest Science Discovery Centre ideal for all the family, Craft in the Bay, The Senedd, Butetown History and Arts Centre, the Norwegian Church Arts Centre and the Wales Millennium Centre, a stunning international arts centre and the iconic Pier Head building.
A walk around Wales, from Celtic times to the present day, St Fagans is one of Europe's leading open-air museums and Wales's most popular heritage attraction. Since 1948 over forty original buildings from different historical periods have been re-erected in the 100-acre parkland, among them houses, a farm, a school, a chapel and shops. The splendid Oakdale Workmen's Institute and Rhyd-y-car Terrace reveal a key part of Wales’s Industrial Heritage
The Welsh Coal Mining Experience is a tourist attraction which offers an insight into the life of the coal mining community that existed in the area until 1990. Visitors can experience the life of the coal miners on a guided tour through one of the mine shafts of the Lewis Merthyr colliery. Tours are led by former colliery workers.
www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/Tourism/RhonddaHeritagePark/Home/
Take a breath of fresh air at the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. It meanders through the Welsh countryside and is one of our most beautiful and peaceful waterways following the line of the Usk Valley through the Brecon Beacons National Park.
The Newport Transporter Bridge crosses the River Usk in Newport, South East Wales and is one of fewer than 10 transporter bridges that remain in use worldwide. As well as a working transport link, the bridge is also open as a tourist attraction – visitors can climb the towers and walk across the upper deck for a small charge.
Located at the gateway to the South Wales Valleys, partly within the Brecon Beacons National Park, the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape is a testament to the human endeavour of coal miners and ironworkers of the past. Set in 33 square kilometres, it is an UNESCO World Heritage Site. All the attractions are within walking distance.
The Fourteen Locks Canal Centre is a heritage and visitor centre situated at the top of the unique Cefn flight of locks - an engineering wonder of the industrial revolution. It provides an excellent focal point for walks along the Monmouthshire and Brecon canal route and towpath, which is also part of the national cycle route.
As a result of the Industrial Revolution, Merthyr Tydfil became the centre of iron production. By the early 1800s it was the most populated town in Wales with locals and migrants from around the world who came to work in the ironworks owned by the Guest and Crawshay families. Cyfarthfa Castle was built by William Crawshay II in 1824 and was the family home overlooking the valley and the ironworks. Today, it is a museum where visitors can learn more about the history of the town, including the world's first steam locomotive built by Richard Trevithick built in 1804.
www.visitmerthyr.co.uk | Cyfarthfa Castle
The National Waterfront Museum tells the story of industry and innovation in Wales, now and over the last 300 years. The Industrial Revolution in Wales had a tremendous effect on people, communities and lives, as well as that of the rest of the world. Visitors can soak up the history with a breathtaking mix of old and new in the city's rapidly developing maritime quarter.
www.museum.wales/swanseaThe Hafod-Morfa Copperworks was once a beating heart of the Industrial Revolution. Spawned by the Industrial Revolution’s insatiable demand for copper and driven by science, it was fed by the Swansea Canal and the River Tawe – the former delivered cheap coal from mines in the Upper Swansea Valley while the latter drew in copper ore from firstly Cornwall, then Anglesey and finally the wider world to feed the furnaces of the works. On the back of this, Swansea became an industrial seaport of world importance known as ‘Copperopolis’.
www.hafodmorfacopperworks.com | www.welshcopper.org.uk
The Copper Jack operates trips between the Swansea Marina and the Liberty Stadium. The journey is an hour and a half round trip, usually including a guided tour travelling up the river Tawe past remnants of Swansea’s industrial past, such as the White Rock and Hafod copper works.
Discover the spellbinding story of the Welsh woollen industry. Wool was historically the most important and widespread of Wales's industries and the picturesque village of Dre-fach Felindre in the beautiful Teifi valley was once the centre of this thriving industry, earning the nickname 'The Huddersfield of Wales'. Located in the historic former Cambrian Mills, shirts and shawls, blankets and bedcovers, woollen stockings and socks were all made here, and sold in the surrounding countryside and to the rest of the world. Today, you can follow the process from fleece to fabric and visit the sympathetically restored listed mill buildings and historic machinery.
The Gwili Railway is a Welsh heritage railway, starting at Abergwili Junction (near Carmarthen) in south west Wales and runs 4.5 miles (7.2 km) along a section of the former Carmarthen to Aberystwyth line.
The Vale of Rheidol Railway re-creates the Edwardian spirit of adventure. Step aboard one of their restored steam trains for a stunning journey through the ancient woodlands to Devil’s Bridge, home of the famous waterfalls, nestled in the magnificent Cambrian Mountains. During the 12-mile journey from Aberystwyth, you can see birds of prey such as red kite and buzzards which are regularly seen soaring high above the valley floor.
One of the great little trains of Wales: www.greatlittletrainsofwales.co.uk
Located in the heart of Padarn Country Park at the foot of Mount Snowdon, the National Slate Museum is a living museum telling the story of the slate industry in Wales. Visit the original engineering workshops including the enormous waterwheel, wander through the quarrymen's houses and watch our craftsmen split slate in daily demonstrations.
Part of the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales World Heritage Site Nomination: www.llechi.cymru
Dinorwic Quarry Hospital, near the National Slate Museum Llanberis, was built in 1860 and was largely maintained by the quarrymen's own contributions. The idea was that having a hospital close to their place of work would allow them to get back to work as soon as possible after they received treatment. It was one of the first buildings in the area to have hot and cold running water and electricity and the hospital had one of the earliest x-ray machines in North Wales.
Part of the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales World Heritage Site: www.llechi.cymru
Enjoy a 5-mile steam engine ride alongside beautiful Lake Padarn in the heart of Snowdonia. The trip takes you past the 13th century Dolbadarn Castle, across possibly Britain's shortest river and past Llanberis' twin lakes. From Llanberis the train runs non-stop through the Padarn Country Park, joining the 1845 slate railway route to run along the shores of Lake Padarn to Penllyn, and giving stunning views of Snowdon, the highest peak in England and Wales.
One of the Great Little trains of Wales: www.greatlittletrainsofwales.co.uk/
Part of the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales World Heritage Site: www.llechi.cymru
Nant Gwrtheyrn is home to the National Welsh Language and Heritage Centre and is a magical place located in a former quarrying village on the northern coast of the Llŷn Peninsula. The centre specialises in courses for adults who want to learn Welsh.
Sygun Copper Mine is an exciting underground adventure set in a Victorian Copper mine near Beddgelert. The mine closed in 1903 but was renovated and reopened as a tourist attraction in 1986, focusing on audio-visual tours of the underground workings. Enjoy self-guided tours through winding tunnels with magnificent stalactite and stalagmite formations.
A visit to the Ffestiniog Railway is 'history on the move' and a whole lot more! The Ffestiniog Railway runs for 13.5 miles from Porthmadog to the historic slate town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. The track was built between 1833 and 1836 (with a final section and the Moelwyn Tunnel near Tanygrisiau being completed in 1842) the track climbs and bends its way to a maximum height of 700 feet after starting at sea-level and provides spectacular views of Snowdonia.
One of the Great Little trains of Wales: www.greatlittletrainsofwales.co.uk
Part of the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales World Heritage Site: www.llechi.cymru
Built around 1755, this charcoal-fired blast furnace used for the smelting of iron ore is one of the best-preserved industrial buildings of its type in Britain. Harnessing the power of the River Einion, the furnace’s waterwheel drove a huge set of bellows. The furnace only operated for around 50 years before being abandoned. The restored waterwheel that can now be seen is a remnant of the building’s second life as a sawmill.
www.cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/dyfi-furnace
The "Copper Kingdom" refers to the area of Amlwch on Anglesey, which once had the largest copper mine in the world. The town of Amlwch became Anglesey's own “Copper Rush” town, just as unruly as the wild west gold rush towns. Venture down to the harbour where you can experience the working life of the Copper Lady, Miner, Smelter, Mine Manager or an Assay Manager, in the Copper Kingdom Centre and then take a walk through the rugged colourful pathways of Parys Mountain.
