Getty Images

Sustainable Things To Do In Wales

2 years ago

What to do in 'The Land of Castles'

This post may contain affiliate links. Learn more

Getty Images

From mushroom foraging to bushcraft glamping to curious creepy-crawly cuisine, these are the sustainable things to do on your next visit to Wales.

Sustainable Things To Do In Wales

Explore nature at Glaslyn wildlife reserve

Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust’s biggest nature reserve is home to hundreds of species of plants, fungi, insects and birds – as well as the odd herd of sheep and cattle. In the Cambrian Mountains, Glaslyn also offers some stunning views. Visit in the summer to see the heather moorlands flower in shades of violet, mauve and plum. montwt.co.uk

Forage along the Pembrokeshire coast

Visitors to south Wales can get their forage on with Wild About Pembrokeshire, where guides Julia Horton-Mansfield and John Mansfield take groups along the shoreline in search of oceanic delights. Culinary enthusiasts should also make sure they stop by the duo’s Really Wild Emporium café, which features local foraged plants and marine algae on the menu. reallywildemporium.co.uk

Get your buzz on at Grub Kitchen

The UK’s only restaurant dedicated entirely to entomophagy puts an interesting spin on culinary classics. Grub Kitchen forgoes traditional protein sources in favour of creepy crawlies, with the hopes of lowering its environmental impact in farming and water usage. Feeling brave? Get stuck into some curried insect pakoras, mealworm gnocchi and cricket falafel. thebugfarm.co.uk

Catch a show at the UK’s first sustainable stadium

In 2010 the Welsh Rugby Union set out to make Cardiff’s Principality Stadium a better venue for the environment. Within 12 months, 70 tonnes of waste was kept from landfill, reducing CO2 emissions by nearly 30 tonnes. Today, sports and music fans alike flock to the stadium for a night of top-tier entertainment. principalitystadium.wales

Principality Stadium (c) Getty Images

Discover the Wales Coast Path by bike

Home to 870 miles of stunning coastline, Wales is a prime destination for cyclists wanting a little extra from their daily ride. The route is packed with cultural hotspots, from the seaside town of Llandudno to historic Conwy Castle. walescoastpath.gov.uk

Spot Britain’s biggest resident pod of dolphins

Head to Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre in New Quay for an aquatic adventure fit for kids and grown-ups alike. The centre, which is known for operating marine conservation activities, offers boat tours where volunteers will teach you how to spot local marine wildlife – such as dolphins, porpoises and seals – from a mile away. welshwildlife.org

Keep the kids happy with theme park visits

Voted the ‘best family attraction in North Wales’, GreenWood Family Park should be high up on the list for families with energetic children on side. The park spans over 27 acres of woodland and boasts solar-powered water rides, sledge runs, treetop towers and the world’s only people-powered roller coaster. Canine companions are also more than welcome. greenwoodfamilypark.co.uk

Glamp in the great outdoors

Combine a luxurious stay under the stars with courses in bushcraft, foraging and gin making at Penhein Glamping. While reconnecting visitors with nature, the glampsite adheres to a strict ‘buy locally and live sustainably’ mantra – water comes from a nearby spring, wood is sourced from fallen trees and food comes from local businesses or is grown on site. penhein.co.uk

See renewable energy in action at Bodnant Garden

Bodnant Garden in North Wales welcomes thousands of visitors every year to its sprawling estate, where over 80 per cent of energy needs are met with renewable technologies. Take a stroll amongst the flowers, visit the solar-powered tearoom and be sure to check out Bodnant Garden’s conservation projects. nationaltrust.org.uk

Learn something new at the Centre for Alternative Technology

Powys’ Centre for Alternative Technology is committed to researching and communicating positive solutions for environmental change. It offers courses for both kids and grown-ups, from renewable energy and organic farming to planet-friendly construction, rewilding and social forestry. cat.org.uk