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10 pts!

@ Winter in Wales

Croeso i Gymru! Welcome to Wales! I'm Kerry and I'm looking forward to taking you on a tour of the country, starting in the south Wales Valleys, where I grew up from a young cub in our house on a mountain next to the railway. Here it was that I fell in love with trains!

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11 pts!

@ Atmospheric Rural Wales

My family traditionally worked in the coal mining industry. Papa would come home, with fur still a bit damp from the pithead showers, ravenous for his evening meal! I had different ambitions. Let's move on to our capital city, where I trained on the railway, and drove express trains from Paddington to Cardiff and back.

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12 pts!

@ Watch out!

The very first dinosaur footprints made 220 m years ago were discovered in Wales in 1878! Giant dinosaur claws appeared on the National Museum a few years ago. The grand-cubs were scared to go in, but were soon enjoying the fun of the Baby Dinosaur exhibit!

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12 pts!

@ Cardiff Skyline

Climb the mighty Norman Keep and see our replica trebuchet. Marvel at the Castle Apartments, created for one of the world’s richest. Discover the Roman remains and Chariot Corner. Explore the Firing Line military museum and experience the Wartime Shelters!

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51 pts!

@ Cardiff Reflections

An easy walk from the city centre that initially follows the River Taff, goes through Bute Park and Cathays (a very impressive Victorian cemetery with many 19th century memories), and finishes at Roath Park Lake.

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15 pts!

@ Snowy Cardiff

Victorian houses make up a large proportion of our UK housing stock and these characterful properties are always in high demand. They tend to have period features such as sash windows, encaustic floor tiles, cast-iron fireplaces, high ceilings with decorative cornices, all architectural details that make Victorian properties so charming and desirable

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15 pts!

@ Castle Predator

I love Cardiff Castle but when I was a cub, this creature would scare me! You must visit the Castle—it has masses of really interesting stuff! My first date with a young lady bear from school was here so you can tell, I have fond memories of the place!

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12 pts!

@ Norman Keep, Cardiff Castle

Additions made in the 13th and 14th Century included a gatehouse with a stone staircase leading to the stone bridge which replaced the timber drawbridge across the moat. The gatehouse was later removed during landscaping in the 18th Century.

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15 pts!

@ The Bluebirds

Sport is a big part of our national identity, and Clwb Pêl-droed Dinas Caerdydd is Cardiff City Football Club. I'm not a soccer chap but a rugger chap to the core. Cut me in half and, like a stick of Brighton rock, you'd find "RUGBY" written all the way down! It was the same with all of us who grew up in the Valleys.

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12 pts!

@ Cardiff Pier

To explore Cardiff’s coastline, there’s no better way than by boat. Cardiff Bay is where all the boat trips head out from. There’s everything from leisurely water taxis to exhilarating RIB rides, that will take you out into the River Severn for an exciting higher speed tour!

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11 pts!

@ Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay

This used to be a Norwegian Church built especially for seamen from Norway coming to port after the industrial revolution. It's now an Arts Centre with a gallery & bay views, plus regular concerts & arts events. It's a great place to have a coffee and make friends!

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14 pts!

@ New Year in Cardiff

On New Year's Eve, let your fur down, get blinged up, revel in live music or karaoke and raise a glass as the clock strikes midnight!
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda! Happy New Year!

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14 pts!

@ Cardiff Castle

The most recognisable feature at Cardiff Castle is surely the impressive twelve-sided Keep, the finest example in Wales. This type is known as a ‘shell’ keep because its outer walls provided a protective shell for smaller buildings within. The stone Keep was built in the early 12th Century replacing the timber defences. For eight years it was the prison of Duke Robert of Normandy, the eldest son of William the Conqueror.

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10 pts!

@ Llantwit Major

A welcoming town, oozing Welsh history and charm, it is one not to be missed! Llantwit is the gateway to 14 miles of dynamic and stunning coastline. Llantwit Major beach is famous for Jurassic fossils, sheer and tumbling cliffs, coves and caves.

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10 pts!

@ Pen y Fan Mountain

If you are up to tackling the highest peak in South Wales, at 3000 ft, this is it! It is the highlight of all the attractions in the Brecon Beacons National Park. The views of the Welsh countryside from the top, or indeed, throughout the ascent, are spectacular!

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10 pts!

@ The Red Arrows!

The Wales Airshow will be taking to the skies in July! Some of the best pilots and flying displays in the world use the natural amphitheatre of Swansea Bay to show off incredible aero­batics. From jets to helicopters, it’s two days of the year not to be missed.

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60 pts!

@ Puffin, Skomer Island

This is just the right time to visit Skomer Island to see puffins like my little friend here! The puffins come in April as they establish their breeding areas. They are on the island from May to July.

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12 pts!

@ Fantasy Dragon

What an amazing cloud formation! I saw this—it reminded me of home. The dragon is the symbol of Wales, Y Ddraig Goch, the Red Dragon. Strictly speaking, that says “the dragon red”, but no matter!

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13 pts!

@ Red Kite at Night!

Red kites can be seen all over Wales. With their 6 foot (2m) wingspan, they are awe-inspiring birds! If you are in central Wales, do take a trip to Rhayader Farm, where they have special hides constructed so you can view hundreds of red kites being fed!

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12 pts!

@ Inspiring Waterfall

Rhayader is where my favourite waterfall is! The town is on the River Wye (at 155 miles, the fourth-longest river in the UK) and there are spectacular dams and reservoirs. It is the outdoors capital of Wales, due to the plentiful opportunities for outdoor hiking and activities!

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51 pts!

@ Vale of Rheidol Railway

The Vale of Rheidol Railway offers stunning scenery! What a trip! I have made such good friends on this railway. The Vale of Rheidol Railway is a 1 ft 11 3⁄4 inch narrow gauge heritage railway in Ceredigion. It's an unforgettable 12-mile journey from Aberystwyth to Devil's Bridge, through the beautiful Rheidol Valley.

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10 pts!

@ Snowdonia

With high summits, rock ridges and brooding cliff faces all over, Snowdonia is a truly unique destination, known the world over for its fabulous hiking and rock climbing. The names of the famous peaks and routes in Snowdonia are familiar to any mountain enthusiast, and ticking off the Snowdon Horseshoe, the Welsh 3000ers, Tryfan and the rest should be on any "bucket list".

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15 pts!

@ Snowdonia

Thousands of travellers a year make the epic train journey from Llanberis all the way to the summit of Yr Wyddfa. As the train goes up the mountain, you’ll see awe-inspiring views and hidden secrets, from viaducts, waterfalls and gorges to the remnants of abandoned farms, chapels and mediaeval settlements.

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12 pts!

@ Yr Eifl aka The Rivals

Three, three, the Rivals! as it goes in Green Grow the Rushes—"the Rivals" thought to be a reference to the English name for Yr Eifl, a series of peaks on the north coast of the Llŷn Peninsula. The highest summit doesn't take all that long to climb, although the going can be tough, but you are rewarded at the top by view extending over the Irish Sea to Dublin and in the other direction, over to the Lake District in England.

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13 pts!

@ Snowdon Railway

This is another favourite railway of mine! It is very popular with visitors, especially in the summer. Take a once in a lifetime journey (I've made it more than once!) to the summit of majestic Snowdon, Yr Wyddfa, for breathtaking views at the summit!

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14 pts!

@ Snowdonia Rail

Hafod Eryri was built on the summit of Snowdon. It welcomes over 600,000 visitors a year and it’s not hard to see why. On a clear day the views can stretch as far as Ireland. The cairn, at 1085m above sea level, is the highest point in Wales and England! You can even send a postcard from the summit post box!

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10 pts!

@ Flowering Welsh Onion

Or a spring onion, if you prefer! They are very easy to grow, and the stems are like giant chives. Chopped up, they are delicious added to potato salad! Or, of course, to a regular salad. As Mama Bear always used to say to us cubs: "Bwytewch eich gwyrddion!"—eat your greens!

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51 pts!

@ Pice ar y maen (Welsh cakes)

Welsh cakes or pice ar y maen, (griddle cakes) a Welsh teatime treat passed on through generations and still as popular as ever. I do so enjoy making them with my youngest granddaughter.

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@Llanfair PG

Llanfair­pwllgwyngyll­gogery­chwyrn­drobwll­llan­tysilio­gogo­goch is a village on Ynys Môn (Anglesey). It ihas the longest place name in Europe. The name means, "Saint Mary's Church in the hollow of the white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of St. Tysilio of the red cave". It was also the location for the first UK Women's Institute meeting, in September 1915.

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@Llangollen

A favourite of mine! A beautiful area with the canal aqueduct and steam railway. It's the scene of the Musical Eisteddfod every July. Rub shoulders with choirmasters, sopranos, tenors and baritones at this especially busy time! It's near where Owen Glendower the last native-born Prince of Wales, raised his army.

Sponge has enjoyed visting Cardiff, but it is time to go home. Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also enjoy this event!