Porthcawl, South Wales, UK by Andrew Evans

Safety first!

First things first, wild swimming is nothing like a few lengths in your local pool and there are a few things to consider before you make a splash. Firstly, never swim in the wild alone. Unlike a 25m pool, there are no signs which tell you about depth or potential dangers like sharp rocks, thick weeds or strong currents. Ensure someone is on hand to provide help just in case you get into trouble.

Secondly, do your research. Learn about currents if you are swimming in rivers, find out about tides if you’re planning an offshore dip. If you are not a confident swimmer make sure you choose a spot where the water is relatively clear and free of currents and tides. For beginners, lakes are often a safer starting point.

Finally, prepare for the cold. You may like to take a wetsuit along if you’re particularly prone to the chills. Ensure you have warm towels and clothing with you too so that you can warm up as soon as you get out. In the spirit of bravado it can be easy not to take the cold seriously yet very cold water can be a serious hazard.

Got that? Great! Now let’s take a look at some of Wales’ most spectacular wild swimming spots…

Lakes

If you’re new to wild swimming, lakes are the best place to start. Wales has an incredibly diverse selection of lakes for you to cool off in, from high altitude tarns with spectacular views, to wooded glens in secluded spots.

Llyn y Fan Fach is a stunning lake, high up close to the Black Mountain in the Brecon Beacons. At high altitude you should expect cold temperatures but you should also expect incredible sunsets, mountain views and true escapism.

Meanwhile, for a very different Welsh wild swimming experience, try the Blue Pool at Golwern Quarry close to Fairbourne on the West coast of Wales near Cardigan Bay. Surrounded by steep rock faces, this inviting pool is accessed through a short tunnel.

Llyn y Fan Fach Lake, Wales, UK by SNappa2006

Rivers

River swimming can be challenging if you’d never done it before, especially if there is a current to contend with. However, make sure you’re prepared for this and river swimming in Wales can be a truly liberating and exhilarating experience.

The best rivers to swim in are those which slow to river pools. Here you will be able to enjoy plunge pools and lakes without a strong current, but still swim for a distance if that’s your thing! The Upper Wye is a popular river with wild swimmers. Close to Bulith Wells, you’ll find the Pen-doll Rocks where the Wye is transformed into a long formation of rapids and river pools – perfect for a cooling dip or a real swim. With rock gorges upstream and sandy bays downstream there’s plenty of varied natural beauty to enjoy too.

Swimming Pool on the Upper Wye, Wales, UK by Graham

Sea swimming

The Welsh coast is renowned for its beauty, from the stunning Pembrokeshire coast and Gower Peninsular in the South to the wide white sands of Cardigan Bay, there are hundreds of incredible sea swimming spots in Wales.

There are even beautiful swims to be enjoyed close to the capital. Just 30 minutes outside Cardiff you’ll find Ogmore by Sea and nearby Southerndown where, beneath the beautiful Dunraven Castle, you’ll find rugged beaches and bracing, scenic swims.

If you prefer your beaches sandy and endless try Rhossili Bay on the Gower Peninsular or Amroth in Pembrokeshire. Aberdyfi in Gwynedd, meanwhile, is famed for its watersports. Keep an eye on the tides and soak up your beautiful surroundings.

Author: Best of Wales scour the Welsh countryside to bring you the most inspiring properties in the most incredible locations. To find the perfect base from which to experience Wales, browse our stunning West Wales Holiday Cottages today.

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Santiago de Compostela, Spain by Alquiler de Coches

• Every place in the world has its own gastronomic pleasures to provide to guests from other places, therefore it makes perfect sense for travelers and holiday makers to try out the edible goodies of Galicia.  It is simply recognized for the unique set of seafood, with octopus being the main attraction.  Of course, this is very much like a slippery version of calamari, which can be off putting to some people.  However, there are also some other dishes that one can try out.

• There are a few events that can prove fascinating to curious guests, and one of them is the Queimada.  This is a traditional practice in which one engages in a bit of drinking with the rest of the locals and other travelers.  At the same time, it is also a ritual which is intended to fend off evil spirits.  This can be quite entertaining to say the least, and one would certainly learn a whole lot about Galician culture.

• Of course, since one would travel to Galicia to enjoy the best experiences that it has to offer, it would be suitable to take a trip to Santiago de Compostela indeed.  For many of the locals, they would have to travel straight from their homes, while pilgrims and hikers would start off their journey to the town from the French regions of the Pyrenees mountains.  It is a 500 mile walk, which can prove quite challenging for some.  However, the minimum distance that one can travel in order to be recognized as following “the Way of Saint James”, is 100km.  it would usually take travelers 3 to 4 days, and they would be treated to a certificate that congratulates them for making it that far.

There is so much adventure awaiting tourists, and it can even prove to be an experience unlike any other. These are just some of the things that one should get involved in when they’re planning to do the El Camino.  The spiritual gratification and fulfillment from traveling to Santiago will certainly have an impact on people’s lives for the better.

Leslie loves hill walking and writing his routes on the web.  He has been running the main Camino de Santiago and Walking in Scotland site since 2006. Click on El Camino to know more interesting facts.

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Portsmouth fishing fleet, UK by Roger H. Goun

How to keep occupied when on a low budget

There are many attractions in Portsmouth which don’t cost a single penny in order to enjoy them. Portsmouth has a very long seafront (approximately 4 kilometres) and two piers (Clarence and South Parade) are situated there as well. When walking, cycling or driving along the seafront, there are many events which are organised throughout the year, such as the bandstand which overlooks the seafront. During the summer months, a host of bands and artists perform at the bandstand and several styles of music can be enjoyed at no cost whatsoever.

Portsmouth is a city of culture

Unlike other towns and cities in the United Kingdom, Portsmouth’s cultural attractions have not suffered greatly because its many libraries are still open. Portsmouth has numerous museums which are still free to enter (although giving a donation is recommended). They are also open extensively throughout the year as well.

Enjoying the great outdoors

Despite being hugely developed over the past few hundred years, especially since the end of the Second World War, Portsmouth has many areas which have copious amounts of nature. Hilsea Lines is found in the north of the city and were originally built in the 19^th century in order to protect Portsmouth and its affluent residents from French and Spanish forces if an invasion took place. As the likelihood of this happening soon diminished, Hilsea Lines returned to civilian use and now houses a sanctuary which is host to much nature. Running through Hilsea Lines is a canal and this attracts an abundance of birdlife.

Just a few hundred yards away from Hilsea Lines is Farlington Marshes. With a path running through the top of it, many walkways are in Farlington Marshes which offers those who visit this picturesque area the opportunity to see many birds and animals. Free to enter, Farlington Marshes is a very popular destination, especially as there are many car parks throughout.

Home to the last remains of Henry VIII’s warship the Mary Rose and also both HMS Victory and HMS Warrior, Portsmouth continues to attract thousands of visitors every year. As the upmarket shopping complex Gunwharf Quays opened in 2001 and the hideous Tricorn Centre demolished in 2004, Portsmouth is a far more pleasant place to live and visit, especially as it regularly hosts events which attract people from around the world.

About the author: Russell Hill is a journalist and freelance writer. He loves green tourism and enjoys exploring cities rich in culture and heritage. He gives preference to staying in fully furnished corporate apartments rather than hotels. One company that inspired Russell was Executive Apartments, a fully furnished corporate apartment rentals provider in Washington, D.C.

The post Great and inexpensive family time in Portsmouth | United Kingdom appeared first on Best of European Union.

Photo licensed under the Creative Commons, created by Elizabeth Veitch

There are plenty of tour operators who specialise in horse riding holidays that you can check out online, and they can find places that are close to you, or a little further away. Here are some ideas horse riding holiday places all over the UK that you might want to consider.

Escape from London

If you live in London, it can be a bit difficult to get out and about on horseback. Fortunately, that’s what the home counties are for! The Thames Valley has a wealth of stables and horse riding facilities across counties such as Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Surrey. These places make a great escape for those wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of the big smoke.

Horseriding in the North

In the same way that Londoners need a break from the city, other places such as Manchester certainly benefit from nearby places to go horse riding. Cheshire is full of rural places where you’ll be able to get away from urban city life and enjoy the great outdoors. Places such as the Coddington Loop at Farndon is well knowe

Stunning Scotland

Scotland is a country that is, without a doubt, visually stunning. When it comes to this part of the world, you’re spoilt dsFnchoice dsFngreat places to visit and enjoy slipping on your Ariat Bromont boots and riding into the sunset. There is a network of horse and pony trekking routes throughout the glens of S