cottages4you blog: inspiration for your cottage or villa holiday in UK, Ireland and Europe

Those of you planning a holiday in Wales might enjoy heading to the North Wales Choral Festival on November 6th.

The event is celebrating its 24th anniversary this year and according to organisers is "one of the most well-established events in the North Wales calendar".

Billed as a "fantastic spectacle of choral singing at its best", the festival will see groups competing during the day to reach the winners' concert in the evening.

Categories are set to include youth, mixed, ladies, male and barbershop choirs.

Also performing will be mezzo-soprano Sioned Terry, who plans to entertain the audience with a repertoire of Welsh music, theatre songs and classics such as Lieder and Oratorio.

The festival is being held in Llandudno, a seaside resort that the event's website says is full of things to do.

It recommends taking a walk along Wales's longest pier, while Visit Llandudno suggests taking in some beautiful gardens, like those at Bodnant.

Posted by David Sollberger, cottages4you
 

A holiday in Wales could be made even more enjoyable this autumn, as the Dylan Thomas Festival is returning to Swansea.

From October 27th to November 9th, visitors can attend plays, events, workshops and exhibitions on the writer and his family.

Modern authors such as Andrew Motion, Gwyneth Lewis, Jo Shapcott and Alexis Lykiard will be involved in the event, where Peter Hain will also be discussing his new book on Nelson Mandela.

Holidaymakers may enjoy a new one-man performance on David Lloyd George and the first showing of some drawings by Dylan and the artist and illustrator Dodie Masterman.

Swansea could be an excellent place to base your holiday, as according to Visit Wales, the waterfront city's location "is hard to beat".

People might like to take a trip to the "pretty" seaside village of Mumbles at the west end of the bay, which boasts a medieval castle and a Victorian pier.

Posted by David Sollberger, cottages4you
 

Those of you taking a holiday in Wales over the next few months could find plenty of opportunities to get out and about in the countryside.

According to the Visit Wales blog, some of the country's greatest walking festivals take place in September and October.

"And the timing couldn't be better – with soft summer hues slowly giving way to the vibrant reds of autumn," the author wrote.

From October 6th to 10th, the new Love2Walk Festival will be taking place in Bridgend, offering visitors a choice of over 25 different routes.

Holidaymakers might like to embark on a themed ramble, such as the bat-detecting walk or the ghost tour.

Additional activities will be held in the area to keep you entertained, including live music and a food festival.

And people looking to try something new during their Wales holiday might like to give sailing a go, after David Reed – a spokesman for the South and West Wales Marine Leisure Federation – said the country's shores offer plenty of wildlife and "stunning" scenery.

Posted by Matt Smith, cottages4you
 

Those of you looking for the perfect location for your next UK break might like to consider a holiday in Wales, after it was suggested the country is perfect for boating activities.

David Reed, a spokesman for the South and West Wales Marine Leisure Federation, said many people are choosing to sail off the Welsh coast rather than other areas in Britain.

Boating in Wales is becoming increasingly popular because of its quiet and clean waters, wildlife, "stunning seascapes" and heritage, which are what makes the country special, he continued.

Mr Reed described Wales as a "beautiful area" to enjoy sailing, with seabird colonies, seals and dolphins that follow boats on the water.

Holidaymakers can also enjoy places such as Cardiff, Swansea and the Pembrokeshire National Park – the only coastal national park in Britain – he suggested.

And according to recent figures from the Office for National Statistics, the staycation is still proving popular, with the number of trips taken abroad by Britons decreasing by ten per cent during the 12 months leading up to July, compared to the year before.

Posted by Matt Smith, cottages4you
 

A holiday in Wales could be even more enjoyable with a visit to Harlech Castle at Tremadog Bay.

The 13th-century Norman fortress, which is built into the cliffs over the bay, was recently frequented by an individual writing on the Visit Wales blog.

Standing "enduring and impenetrable", the castle offers "sweeping bay views" and is full of cavernous passageways waiting to be discovered, the person said.

Holidaymakers can learn the tale of King Edward I, who built the fortress and many others in his quest to conquer Wales.

One of the longest sieges in British history ended at Harlech in 1468 during the War of the Roses.

And according to the town's official website, the castle is at one with its surroundings due to care taken to work with the site's natural surroundings when it was built.

The writer also described a stay in Llandudno, where you can admire ocean views and a waterfront resembling Victorian seaside resorts.

Posted by David Sollberger
 

People renting a holiday cottage in Wales this month might wish to head to Newtown, where they can cheer on top cyclists.

The third stage of the Tour of Britain cycling race is set to kick off on September 13th, where over 100 competitors will be taking part, including Olympic gold medallists Geraint Thomas and Bradley Wiggins, according to the Visit Wales Blog.

And the day before the race, there will be a Tour of Britain Fun Day held in Newtown Park, where families can join in with activities such as face painting, a bungee run, decorate-your-bike competitions and a funfair.

Evening entertainment is also set to include a hog roast, music and singing.

Furthermore, keen cyclists might like to try out the nearby mountain biking adventure trails while in the area, at locations like the Elan Valley and Llanwrtyd Wells, for example.

The Tour of Britain describes itself as the largest professional bicycle race in the UK and was attended by over a million roadside spectators in 2008.

Posted by Matt Smith, cottages4you
 

People considering a holiday in Wales might like to consider a trip to Aberaeron, where you can try local cuisine by the harbour.

A writer blogging on the Visit Wales website who recently visited the area praised the restaurant of the Harbourmaster Hotel, where holidaymakers may wish to eat one evening.

"To dine here is to experience a culinary tribute to some of the best local produce and meats in the country," the individual remarked.

The blogger described the harbour as "shimmering" with wine glasses and coloured lights strung between lamp posts, which could make it ideal for an evening stroll or drink.

Aberaeron has a shipping history and its Georgian houses used to be painted by captains in a colourful array of shades, the writer continued.

And food lovers heading to Wales this month may also like to try the Abergavenny Food Festival, being held from September 18th to 19th, where you can feast on local treats.

Posted by Andrew Hill, cottages4you
 

People going on a Wales holiday next month might like to take a trip to Loggerheads Country Park, which is at the heart of the Clwydian Range, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The space comprises a wooded river valley, cliffs and outcrops as well as a Discovery Trail, which could make it great for walking.

And those of you interested in the industrial history of the area may wish to try out the Discovering the Past event, where you can enter a disused mine passage with a caving expert.

Visitors can see for themselves what a miner would have experienced 200 years ago at the activity, which runs from September 4th to 26th.

Furthermore, keen ramblers might like to take in a tour of the area's Iron Age hill forts and heather moorland on the Bringing Views to Life tour held on September 9th.

The Abergavenny Food Festival – taking place from September 18th to 19th – could also be of interest to holidaymakers heading to Wales.

Posted by David Sollberger, cottages4you
 

Those planning a holiday in Wales this September might like to head to Abergavenny, where they can sample the country's culinary delights at a food festival.

Learn how to hunt for wild food such as herbs and vegetables from professional food forager Yun Hider, who will be giving a talk on the subject, the Visit Wales blog reported.

Chefs Valentine Warner and Matt Tebbutt will also be on hand at the Abergavenny Food Festival to give visitors a masterclass on how to cook and eat wild food.

According to the blog, "Wales has some of the best game, sea and coarse fishing in the UK", so why not join the Abergavenny Game Fishing Association on a trip to source wild brown trout along the river Usk?

It was recently suggested by the Guardian a holiday in Wales could be perfect for families looking for a relaxing break, as Snowdonia is home to several low-key attractions.

Posted by Matt Smith, cottages4you
 

A holiday in Snowdonia, Wales could suit those looking for a relaxing and peaceful break.

According to the Guardian, the area is home to some of the best family days out in Britain and is perfect for people looking to escape noisy theme parks.

Ewe-phoria and GreenWood Forest Park are both "low-key family attractions [that] combine education and entertainment in a peaceful rural setting," said journalist Louise Dale.

At Ewe-phoria, you can watch a sheepdog demonstration, learn about sheep shearing, see a ram parade and meet puppies.

Meanwhile, families can enjoy activities with an eco-friendly twist at GreenWood Forest Park – every aspect of this attraction is designed to be as green as possible.

Try out the Green Dragon, which according to the park is the world's first people-powered rollercoaster, or the BareFoot Trail.

While Wales could be the ideal spot to relax, it may also have plenty to offer those looking for adventure – last month, a spokeswoman for Visit Wales commented the country offers plenty of activities such as white water rafting and mountain biking.

Posted by Andrew Hill, cottages4you