Stella

Guest House

Stella

Guest House

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Celtic Wales is an inspirational, culturally rich nation which shares the island of Great Britain with Scotland and England. The border which separates Wales from England closely traces Offa's Dyke, a 149 mile trench construction established in the 8th Century.

The thriving culture of Wales follows in traditions which can be sourced to the Dark Ages - some of the world's oldest customs were first practised here in ancient times by Welsh druids. Many natives of Wales speak a mother tongue widely acknowledged as the oldest surviving language in Europe - the celebrated Welsh language is a thousand years older than English and can still be heard spoken in Welsh communities to this day.

It was from south western Wales that the famous Bluestones of Presseli were mysteriously transported - by the Welsh - to Stonehenge in England! At this time the island of Great Britain was a wholly Celtic country. Near the Presseli hills, the dramatic west Wales coastline of Pembrokeshire is the U.K.'s only sea facing National Park. There are three internationally significant National Parks in Wales, including spectacular Snowdonia which contains the highest mountain range in southern Britain.

The country of Wales has the highest concentration of medieval castles and ancient monuments in the world, including the U.K.'s first stone built castle at Chepstow. Some of the most magnificent castles in Britain - notably Caernarfon, Conwy, Pembroke, Harlech and Kidwelly - were strategically constructed overlooking Welsh coasts and are therefore set in spectacular land and seascapes. Caerphilly Castle, near Wales's capital city of Cardiff, has a unique double moat and a tower which out-leans the tower of Pisa!

Wales is a land of witchcraft and dragons, with a legacy of colourful mythology and renowned supernatural mystery. Welsh culture and identity has been characterised down the centuries by Celtic myth, legend and fantasy. Wales is the accepted birthplace of Merlin (the legendary magician to King Arthur) and many scholars agree that the ancient Celtic King held round table in Wales.

He existed during the era historically associated with Welsh folklore, which describes a lost magical kingdom when sleeping dragons, trolls, Kings, knights and chivalry co-existed. Caerleon, one of the Welsh towns associated with King Arthur's court, was in earlier times a very significant Roman garrison, and includes remains from the largest Roman amphitheatre outside Italy.