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Sacred Wales

The sacred landscape of Wales is a secret known only to a few.

This living work of art, entwined with history, culture and mythology has the power to inspire the mind and soothe the soul.

Our amazing ancient churches and chapels have sat quietly in the background for centuries; their stories hidden deep within, their features and fittings understood only by a few, their immense age, their power to excite the mind, buried deep.

Discover remarkable sacred spaces; decode their art and architecture, reveal their hidden histories and take inspiring journeys of discovery around the new Wales Way.

Find and explore the churches with us, enjoy bookable experiences and meaningful tours to excite the mind and stir the soul, around the forgotten corners of this ancient land.    

Join us on our exploration of sacred Wales.

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The Coastal Way

The breath taking coastal landscape of Wales has held allure for pilgrims, poets and travellers for millennia. Hundreds of ancient atmospheric Welsh churches are sited within a stones throw from, and even occasionally on, the beach, promontory or headland. Your journey will lead you through some of the most awe inspiring landscapes in the world.

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The North Wales Way

Taking you to some of the finest sacred places in Wales, where impressive medieval churches with rich art and architecture abound. But, in some of the remotest spots you’ll be transported to another place entirely. From the mountainous wilds to a church cut off by the high tide. Stunning landscapes and little known pilgrim churches brimming with atmosphere.

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The Cambrian Way

From Cardiff to the Great Orme; take the back roads down the mountainous spine of Wales. Timeless simple out of the way chapels and picturesque town churches with a warm welcome, travel to the oldest unaltered non conformist place of worship in Wales, admire medieval glass and angel roofs, and be wowed by Arts & Crafts splendour and bold modern art.

Discover more from us

Caru dy gymydog

Wales is said to be the castle capital of the world, with more castles per square mile than any other country. But what many people don’t know is that our churches are even older than our castles.

Edge of the world

There is always something magical about visiting a tidal island church. The incredible rhythm, the ebb and flow of the sea, means these shape shifting islands are other worldly, mysterious.

Tirweddau hudol

What is it about the wild and mysterious landscape of Wales; and the ancient churches you stumble across, every few miles, which seem so intimately connected with it?

National Parks

From the rugged wilds of the Cairngorms in Scotland and the ancient woodlands of the New Forest in southern England to the golden shores of the Pembrokeshire Coast in Wales, all of our National Parks are truly special places.

Mountain churches

Ten of our favourite mountain churches. Sheltered in hidden valleys underneath our highest mountains, offering places of comfort after a day exploring the surrounding fells.

Dewi Sant

It is the most important day in the Welsh calendar to celebrate our culture and heritage, but who was Dewi Sant?

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Discover trails and rides

If feeling the earth beneath your boots or bike is your thing, you are in for a treat!

Wales Coast Path

The Wales Coast Path is the first path in the world to follow a nation's entire coastline. Some rare souls may choose to walk the whole 870 miles but we have created 9 new short walks, all visiting sacred places along the path.

Great Welsh Church Walks

Looking for ideas for some amazing walks this year? If you like atmospheric places off the beaten track, Wales churches are a great place to start. We asked our friends to recommend their favourites.

Penrhys Pilgrimage Way

Discover a 20 mile medieval pilgrimage route, split into six sections, rich in history as you travel through the ever changing and gorgeous landscapes of South Wales.

Cistercian Way

A 672 mile walk into the heart of Wales. The Cistercian Way is a project to create a round Wales walking route linking iconic Cistercian abbeys with other sites of historic interest.

Carmarthenshire Enlightenment Tour

This tour in southern Carmarthenshire will enlighten you on the rapid improvement in literacy across Wales during the European ‘Age of Enlightenment’.

Sacred Wales

Welsh churches on our map
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St Cwyfan, Llangwyfan

It may seem an odd and perilous place to build a church, but St Cwyfan's originally stood at the end of a peninsula between two bays.

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St Davids Cathedral

A sacred place of pilgrimage upon the site of an earlier 6th century monastery built by St David, the patron saint of Wales.

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Soar y Mynydd, Tregaron

Soar y Mynydd, Tregaron Soar y mynydd is the remotest chapel in Wales, its name is Welsh for 'Zour of the mountain'.

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St Tysilio, Church Island

It is known that the present church on the island dates back to the 1400s but it is not known who built the church and why.

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Plough Chapel, Brecon

The first chapel on this site was a meeting room in a building also used as a pub called the Plough, which stood here in the 17th century.

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St Hywyn, Aberdaron

This medieval pilgrim church stands above the shore of the Irish Sea, at the end of the Llyn Peninsula, nestled in the old fishing village of Aberdaron.

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Church of the Holy Cross, Mwnt

This remote 13th century church has a complete medieval roof. Originally a sailor's chapel of ease, it has stunning sea views.

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St Govan Chapel, Bosherston

This is a place to connect with the ancients and the elemental; a medieval pilgrimage chapel in a dramatic setting, perched on a cliff face above the Atlantic sea, approached down a flight of worn stone steps.

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Maesyronnen Chapel, Glasbury on Wye

You can’t get a chapel much older than Maesyronnen, it is considered one of the most important buildings in Wales.

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Welcome to the Year of Discovery.

https://www.visitwales.com/

Exploring the family of touring routes that lead you through the heart of Wales.

https://www.visitwales.com/inspire-me/wales-way

Welcome everybody, many of our churches are remote and full of atmosphere.

http://friendsoffriendlesschurches.org.uk/

Telling the story of Welsh chapels.

http://www.welshchapels.org/

 

Essential travel information & guidance for tourists visiting or planning a holiday or short break to Wales.

https://www.visitwales.com/info

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