On a bright spring day why not pack a flask or picnic and head off to one of these inspiringly beautiful places, as recommended by some of Wales’ familiar faces:
1. Bosherton Lily Ponds, Pembrokeshire
© NTPL / Joe Cornish
Take a stroll around the superbly tranquil and picturesque Bosherton lakes which are part of the Stackpole Estate. The gigantic ponds, which are crammed with beautiful water lilies were created between 1780 and 1840 by the estate’s wealthy Cawdor family. There is an abundance of wildlife at this glorious site, including wild ducks, otters, and dragonflies.
Jamie Owen, BBC Radio Wales and BBC Wales Today presenter:
'You can travel to the Caribbean and Mediterranean but you’ll probably never find a stretch of coast or a beach quite as beautiful as Stackpole in Pembrokeshire. It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world and as perfect as you can imagine. Go for a walk around the Lily ponds in Bosherston and head to stack rocks, St Govan’s Chapel and then back along the coastal path - it’s magnificent.'
2. Rhossili, Gower
© NTPL / Joe Cornish
You can’t beat watching the sun go down over the aquamarine sea from the soaring cliffs of Rhossili – last year 'Country Life' magazine named it the best place in the UK to see a sunset. A stone’s throw from Swansea, Rhossili is a tranquil haven from bustling city life. The cliff top walks from the National Trust visitor centre to the old coastguard lookout offer dramatic views of the three-mile long golden beach and out to Worms Head. It’s easy to see how Gower Peninsula deserves its 'Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty' status.
Lucy Owen, presenter of ITV Wales news:
'For me there’s nowhere more spectacular than the walk along the headland at Rhossili. With the wind in your hair. It gets a bit cold – but that’s the perfect excuse to snuggle up as you stroll!'
3. Mwnt, Ceredigion
This beautiful beach is a perfect sandy cove, bounded on the north by the dramatic headland of Foel y Mwnt is a geological SSSI and part of the Ceredigion Heritage Coast. Steeped in wildlife, it’s a great place to spot seals and bottle-nosed, common and Risso dolphins playing among the waves.
The bay was a battle site in 1155, when an invasion of Flemings was repelled by the Welsh, and the church of the Holy Cross nearby was built in the thirteenth or fourteenth century on the site of an old Celtic saint’s cell, on the pilgrimage route to Bardsey.
Terwyn Davies, presenter on BBC Radio Cymru:
'I am in my element when I get a chance to return to Ceredigion, and there’s nothing better for me than walking along Mwnt beach, watching the sun setting on the horizon. It’s one of those magical places that attracts me time after time and the sound of the waves crashing on the rocks is amazing.'
4. Porthdinllaen, Llŷn
© NTPL / Joe Cornish
The sleepy little fishing village of Porthdinllaen, with its pastel coloured cottages and golden crescent beach fringed by cliffs and ragged headlands offers astounding views. The seashore is rich in marine wildlife – a walk along the shore at low water can reveal an amazing variety of marine creatures, including barnacles, crabs, dog whelks, kelp, limpets, sea anemones, winkles and wrack. Great seals are frequent visitors, and can be seen basking on the rocks at the far end of the peninsula.
Daloni Metcalfe , presenter of S4C’s 'Ffermio':
'I’m very lucky to be living in one of the most truly beautiful parts of Wales. Walking along the golden sandy beach of Porthdinllaen, with the sun setting in the distance and the majestic Snowdon range as a backdrop, this place is heaven on earth.'
5. Three Cliffs Bay, Gower
© NTPL / Joe Cornish
Steep cliffs, broad sands and a meandering stream make up the beautiful Three Cliffs Bay. The vertigo-inducing cliffs are a great spot to soak in the spectacular views over to the horizon. A small sand-dune system and area of salt marsh add to the wildlife interest of the area, with a number of characteristic plants such as sea spurge, sea holly, eel grass, glasswort and sea plantain.
Chris Needs, BBC Radio Wales presenter:
'Bishopston in Gower is absolutely fabulous. I love the sea; being a Pisces, it is very important to me. Walking along the seashore at Bishopston, the stunning views remind me of Gibraltar.'
6. Cregennan
Cregennan is a remote and stunningly beautiful lake and moorland site set high on Cadair Idris, in the south of the Snowdonia National Park. It provides a magnificent viewpoint in the shadow of the summit of Cadair Idris and with sweeping views of the Mawddach Estuary, Barmouth, Cardigan Bay and northern Snowdonia.
Iolo Williams, Naturalist:
'For me, one of the most beautiful and romantic places in Wales has to be Llynnoedd Cregennan in the shadow of Cadair Idris and overlooking the stunning Mawddach valley. On a warm summers' evening, the air full of feeding swifts, surely there can be no more romantic place to pop the question in the whole wide world.'
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