Carrie Uffindell, Author at Europe Up Close

A Waterfall Walk in Wales

Published/Revised January 22, 2016 By Carrie Uffindell This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Waterfall Country in Fforest Fawr Geopark and Brecon Beacons National Park is one of South Wales’s natural gems, a collection of deep valleys, rocky gorges, ancient woodlands and over 16 stunning waterfalls connected by some 25 miles of walking trails. While visiting the park this summer, my family and I had a wonderful time exploring one of Waterfall Country’s most accessible walks, the Elidir ... Read Full Article

Discover Four Native Welsh Castles in North Wales

Published/Revised June 11, 2014 By Carrie Uffindell This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

Ewloe Castle. Dolbadarn Castle. Dolwyddelan Castle. Castell y Bere. While many visitors to North Wales flock to the magnificent ring of medieval fortresses built by King Edward I, few venture off the beaten path to these smaller castles built by native Welsh princes, also known as native Welsh castles. Elwoe Castle Nestled in the woodlands of Wepre Park near the English-Welsh border, ... Read Full Article

A Day in Machynlleth, Wales

Machynlleth, mid-Wales is a bustling market town located 18 miles northeast of Aberystwyth. Here, my family and I encountered the spirit of Welsh hero Owain Glyndwr at the Owain Glyndwr Centre. We browsed exhibits at the Museum of Modern Art Wales, toured the landscaped grounds of the 17th century Plas Machynlleth mansion, and explored Welsh art at the Museum of Modern Art ... Read Full Article

Three Great Walks on the Wales Coast Path

The 870-mile Wales Coast Path is the first of its kind--a continuous path following the entire Welsh coastline from Queensferry in North Wales to Chepstow in the southeast. The Coast Path, completed in 2012, is actually a collection of linked trails, from the long-established Pembrokeshire Coast Path to the newer North Wales Path. Interested in walking a section of the Path but uncertain where to ... Read Full Article

A Glimpse at Literary Wales

With such literary sites as Dylan Thomas’s Boathouse, the National Library of Wales, the bookshops of Hay-on-Wye, and the ruins of Tintern Abbey, Wales is sure to inspire all lit-loving travelers. Dylan Thomas’s Boathouse Perched on a short cliff above the Taf Estuary on the outskirts of Laugharne village, Dylan Thomas’s Boathouse offers a unique glimpse into the celebrated ... Read Full Article

Enjoy Family-Friendly Wales

Wales offers families many great summer and fall outdoor activities. Here are four of my family’s favorites: playing on the beach in Llandudno, riding the historic Snowdon Mountain Railway, exploring the interactive displays at the Centre for Alternative Technology, and storming the ramparts of Caerphilly Castle. North Wales Llandudno is a genteel Victorian resort town straddling the base ... Read Full Article

Traveling to Europe with Young Children

Published/Revised April 29, 2018 By Carrie Uffindell This post may contain promotional and affiliate links. EuropeUpClose may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Please read our disclosure for more info.

On our last trip to Europe, our extended family faced many unique challenges while traveling with young children. Our entourage included a five-month-old infant, a two-year-old toddler, and a four-year-old preschooler. From finding family-friendly accommodations to surviving long international flights, check out these helpful tips for families traveling abroad with youngsters. Whether ... Read Full Article

Cool Winter Gardens of Wales

During our last trip to Wales, my family and I bundled up to explore four cool winter gardens: Chirk Castle, Penrhyn Castle, the National Botanic Garden of Wales, and Aberglasney House and Gardens. These gardens are a great way for travelers of all ages to enjoy the stark beauty of the winter season. Chirk Castle Seated on a strategic hilltop seven miles southeast of Llangollen, near the English ... Read Full Article

Browsing for Books in Hay-on-Wye, Wales

As a book lover, I’m giddy when my husband and I drive into the small yet charming town of Hay-on-Wye, mid-Wales. Also known as the world’s secondhand book capital, Hay-on-Wye is home to over 30 used and antiquarian bookshops as well as the internationally acclaimed Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts. A medieval market town on the English-Welsh border, Hay-on-Wye lies just north of the ... Read Full Article

Cruising Around Llangollen, North Wales

It’s a warm summer day when my husband guides our motorized canal boat into Llangollen, Denbighshire North Wales. A small but vibrant town nestled in the River Dee Valley, Llangollen is home to the Llangollen Canal, the Pontcysyllt Aqueduct, the International Musical Eisteddfod, and Valle Crucis Abbey. By canal, the only way to enter the town is over the massive Pontcysyllt Aqueduct. ... Read Full Article