Soccer, the other team sport

Although largely eclipsed by rugby, football has many followers. A few Welsh clubs are part of the English Championship, including Cardiff and Swansea. But it is mainly the national team that is making the news. They have a lot of great players in their ranks. In the 1980s and 1990s, Ian Rush made the Welsh national team and Liverpool happy, before handing over to Ryan Giggs in the 1990s and 2000s. The Manchester United legend, winner of two Champions League and 13 English league titles in the red jersey, has carried the Welsh colours high. Those legends have now been replaced by Aaron Ramsay, who, after leaving Cardiff, spent 11 years in the Arsenal shirt, and most notably Gareth Bale. The Real Madrid striker, described as "the greatest Welsh player of all time" by Ryan Giggs himself, won everything at the world's most prestigious club and led his national team to the semi-finals of Euro 2016. The best performance in the history of Wales.

Taking to the sea

One of the most famous Welshmen today is the skipper Alex Thomson. 2nd in the Vendée Globe in 2017, this legendary single-handed round the world sailing race, and 3rd in the previous edition (2012), some would like to see his 60-foot Hugo Boss finally cross the finish line in the next edition. The Bangor native also came close to achieving the same feat in the Route du Rhum in 2018. Largely in the lead, he unfortunately ran aground a few miles from the finish and will only be ranked third.

On the spot, in order to set sail, it will be necessary to make do with a few sea excursions organised by agencies mainly located in Pembrokeshire. One sails around the islands of Skomer, Skokholm and Ramsey to try and spot dolphins, porpoises, birds and sometimes even whales and sharks. You can also get some exercise by kayaking, paddling, surfing or windsurfing. But the sport that has become fashionable in recent years is coastering, a mix of climbing, jumping and swimming in the sea... Sensations guaranteed!

On land too, we sweat

More and more cycling enthusiasts are taking to the roads in the country of Geraint Thomas, winner of the 2018 Tour de France. But they also pedal on mountain trails on mountain bikes and mountain bikes.

Hiking is finally the flagship activity that you do when you pack your suitcases in Wales. Wales is the perfect place for all kinds of walks - whether it's sporty hikes, cliff walks, adventures on forest trails or short climbs on the more challenging slopes of Snowdon (1,085m above sea level). Warm up! Especially if you plan to tackle the famous Offa's Dyke Path, the former border between Wales and England. Walks lasting several days that offer beautiful routes and spectacular scenery. On the sea side, it is the Wales Coast Path that attracts walkers who can hike the entire coast.

With its innumerable lakes and rivers, Wales also offers an exceptional playground for fly fishermen, who target wild trout, sea trout, rainbow trout, grayling, salmon...

Finally, golf enthusiasts will find some famous greens in the heart of exceptional landscapes. The Ryder Cup has set down its bags on the Twenty Ten course at Celtic Manor near Cardiff, while Tiger Woods has already taken its clubs to the Royal Porthcawl in Rest Bay, the most beautiful course in the country.