Welcome to Wales

The population of Wales in 2010 is approximately 3 million people and around 20% of those people are welsh speakers. Wales is bordered by England to the east, the Bristol Channel to the south, St George’s Channel in the west, and the Irish Sea to the north. The capital city of Wales is Cardiff, which is situated in the south east of Wales.

Coal, copper, iron, lead, and gold have been mined in Wales, and slate has been quarried. However, the old heavy industries, which once made the port of Cardiff the busiest in the world, have declined to such an extent that even coal mining has almost ceased in Wales.

Due to poor soil, much of Wales is unsuitable for crop-growing, so livestock farming has traditionally been the focus of agriculture. The Welsh landscape, protected by 3 National Parks, and unique Welsh culture brings in tourism, which is especially vital for rural areas.

The land area is just over 8,000 square miles and Wales measures 160 miles long by 60 miles wide. The Highest point in Wales is Snowdon (1085 metres), the longest river in Wales is Towy (64 miles), and the largest Lake is Bala (4.4 square km).

The national game of Wales is Rugby. Wales is known for its great actors such as; Richard Burton, Sir Anthony Hopkins and Catherine Zeta Jones. It is also known for its Celtic traditions and the Red Dragon on its flag. March 1st is celebrated in Wales as St. David’s Day. This is the most important day in the Welsh calendar and the day on which expatriates around the world remember their roots. It is a day for Welsh people to celebrate their culture and identity. Welsh culture and tradition is also celebrated every year at a festival called the Eisteddfod.

Until 1999, Wales was ruled directly from London; that year saw the first elections to the National Assembly of Wales. The National Assembly for Wales is the democratically elected body that represents the interests of Wales and its people, makes laws for Wales and holds the Welsh Government to account.

For more information on Wales visit: http://www.journeyetc.com/travel-guide/historical-facts-on-wales/

Traditional Welsh Food

Welsh food is usually made from local ingredients.

Some traditional dishes include:

- Laverbread (made from seaweed),

- Bara brith (fruit cake),

- Cawl cennin (leek stew),

- Welsh cakes,

- Welsh rarebit,

- Welsh lamb.

A type of shellfish, cockles, is often served with breakfast.

Cook yourself some Welsh cakes

Ingredients

  • 225g/8oz self-raising flour, sieved
  • 110g/4oz salted butter (preferably Welsh)
  • 1 egg
  • handful of sultanas
  • milk, if needed
  • 85g/3oz caster sugar
  • extra butter, for greasing

Less than 30 minutes preparation time

Less than 10 minutes cooking time

Makes approx. 4-6 cakes

Preparation method

1. Rub the fat into the sieved flour to make breadcrumbs. Add the sugar, dried fruit and then the egg. Mix to combine, then form a ball of dough, using a splash of milk if needed.

2. Roll out the pastry until it is a 5mm/¼in thick and cut into rounds with a 7.5-10cm/3-4in fluted cutter.

3. You now need a bakestone or a heavy iron griddle. Rub it with butter and wipe the excess away. Put it on to a direct heat and wait until it heats up, place the Welsh cakes on the griddle, turning once. They need about 2-3 minutes each side. Each side needs to be caramel brown before turning although some people I know like them almost burnt.

4. Remove from the pan and dust with caster sugar while still warm. Some people leave out the dried fruit, and split them when cool and sandwich them together with jam.