Wales has just launched her Year of the Outdoors, and with it a whole host of amazing things to see and do throughout 2020.
From extraordinary concerts to pioneering water sports and first-time events, there's loads of great experiences planned just over the border.
Introducing visitors to ancient coastlines, mountainscapes and valleys that brim with stories and inspiration, paired with a wealth of new attractions, unique accommodation and experiences to remember.
Visitors in the new year should expect a time-honoured sense of community, historic castles and rich traditions, but be prepared for the innovation and excitement of modern Wales.
So if you're planning a trip to Wales, be sure to take a look at some of the great things happening over the next 12 months.
New openings and experiences
Enrol at a gin school in a castle
Grade I listed Hensol Castle will complete a multi-million-pound renovation project in 2020 and be reborn as a craft spirit distillery and gin school.
The new venture will see this magnificent 400 year old structure produce premium quality gins, vodkas and other spirits and invite people to create their own bespoke bottle of gin, whilst learning about the process and the castle’s history.
Hensol Castle, part of the Vale Resort, has its own golf course, spa, gin school and, while only a short drive from cosmopolitan Cardiff, will leave history lovers and architecture buffs shaken AND stirred.
For more information visit: www.hensolcastle.com
Take a class at the UK’s first official eFoil water sport school
The latest experience to come to north Wales, one of the world’s adventure capitals, FoilRide (an extension of RibRide in Anglesey) is the only place where water sport enthusiasts can learn to eFoil in the UK, and one of very few in Europe.
eFoil is a surfboard with an electric motor that flies above a hydrofoil wing, giving visitors the chance to fly above water and interact with the beauty of Wales’ iconic waterway without imposing upon it.
Only a modicum of balance is required.
The first wave of lessons start on April 4, 2020. For more information visit www.ribride.co.uk
Go to a gig in an underground cavern
To kick off the celebrations, Visit Wales is putting on a gig like no other – in a cavern at Bounce Below, merging the lines between outdoors and indoors.
On 29 February, a line-up of current Welsh artists will play underground to a limited number of hard-hat wearing ticket holders, combining Wales’ distinctive terrain with a mix of traditional and modern sounds.
The bill includes rock duo Alffa, who in 2019 became the most streamed Welsh language act ever, Pembrokeshire born 'fierce and fragile' songstress, Bryde and BBC Horizons alumnus and young soul and jazz artist, Kizzy Crawford.
Tickets for the one-off gig will only be available via a prize draw which goes live on Friday, 17 January 2020.
The draw will be open until 31 January 2020 with 80 tickets available.
Or new Adventure Festival
Adventure Parc Snowdonia will be staging its first-ever Adventure Festival from September 25-27.
The Festival will showcase on and off-site adventures, including its new pump track which launches in spring, against the backdrop of the spectacular Conwy Valley landscapes.
The programme will include surf taster sessions, adventure themed workshop demonstrations and masterclasses alongside lectures, films and music.
Festival goers will also enjoy the best of the region’s food and drink.
Try the first North Wales whiskey in 120 years
A whisky quietly sleeps in the Snowdonia National Park in a small village close to Bangor.
Aber Falls Distillery is one of only four in Wales, and the first in North Wales since the early 1900s.
Based in the village of Abergwyngregyn, this distillery takes its name and water from the beautiful nearby Aber Falls waterfall.
The first batch of its hotly anticipated whisky, made with locally sourced ingredients, is set to have finished maturing in 2020 – the same year that Aber Falls’ new look visitor centre is set to open.
The team already welcome more than 50,000 visitors each year, keen to understand more about the distilling process and sample its premium award winning gins and liqueurs.
Tours are available at £8 (€9.42) for adults, £6 (€7.07) for Students and OAPs and free for children aged between 6 and 17. For more information, visit: www.aberfallsdistillery.com
Or take a drive down the Wales Way - named one of the Best Trips to Take in 2020 by National Geographic
National Geographic named The Wales Way, the new national touring route of Wales, one of the best travel experiences for the new year.
The combined 420 miles are made up of three distinctly different routes across the country, which all promise their own insight into Welsh culture, heritage and its natural beauty.
And it's the perfect way to discover the most breathtakingly beautiful corners of the country.
These unique routes, winding through stunning mountainscapes, lush forests and along a seemingly endless coast, are enough to summon all motorists, cyclists and campervan-owners to the open road.
They also intersect easily with each other, meaning visitors can develop an itinerary that works around them, which might also uncover something new and unexpected.
There are plenty of opportunities to go ‘igam ogam’ (or zig zag) off route, to pull over and explore further and deeper by foot.
The whole route takes around seven days to complete, but whatever distance you travel, it's guaranteed to be beautiful.
For more information, visit www.visitwales.com
Take a spiritual cycling tour - while staying overnight in remote chapels
The team behind fforest, known for isustainable breaks that help families get close to nature, is continuing its mission to provide unique journeys in Wales with a brand new project, due to launch next year.
Dubbed "Spirit Cymru", it will connect chapels and churches in West Wales through unique cycle tours, with overnight stays in remote historic church and chapel buildings.
Experience routes through green valleys, majestic coastal paths, hills and history.
Stay in comfort in remote churches and chapels, with beautifully designed accommodation and services.
The fforest team is creating self-contained, Japanese/Scandinavian inspired rooms, each designed to respect the original building, meet cyclists’ specific needs and offer overall warmth and comfort.
Tours will begin and end at fforest in Cilgerran. Bookings available soon. For more information about fforest, visit www.spirit.cymru
Stay overnight at an adventure park
Construction is currently underway for the Hilton Garden Inn Snowdonia – the first time the Hilton Garden Inn brand has been brought to Wales.
The 106-bedroom, four-storey hotel is set to welcome its first guests next year and promises unparalleled views across Adventure Parc Snowdonia’s world-first inland waves and the Conwy Valley’s mountains-and-forests landscapes.
The Hilton Garden Inn will include an indoor / outdoor wellbeing spa, corporate conference facilities for up to 260 delegates and a destination dining lagoon-side restaurant.
All this is in close proximity to Adventure Parc Snowdonia – winner of the ‘One for the Kids (family experience) at the National Geographic Traveller Reader Awards in January.
Expect surfing, Adrenaline Indoors adventure assault course and outdoor activities such as coasteering, mountain biking and rock climbing.
For more information, visit: www.adventureparcsnowdonia.com
Or stay in Slate Caverns for the first time
A boutique hotel situated at the entrance to a historic North Wales slate quarry is taking bookings ahead of its grand opening next year.
Llechwedd, home to the popular slate caverns site in Gwynedd, is to open the new Plas Weunydd hotel and potential guests can now book to be among the very first patrons when the location opens its doors in May 2020.
Plas Weunydd, a 24-bedroom boutique hotel, is the latest development at the heart of North Wales’ most exciting tourist attraction following the successful launch of six glamping safari tents – one of only five sites in Wales to earn a Gold Star award from Visit Wales.
For more information, visit: www.plasweunydd.co.uk
Dates for your 2020 diary
Dydd Santes Dwynwen - Jan 25
Be sure to mark January 25 in your diary - it's a special day in honour of the Welsh patron saint of lovers, which is often considered the equivalent of St Valentine’s Day.
Dwynwen translated means ‘she who leads a blessed life’ and is a popular day celebrated across Wales, and in particular Anglesey , where Dwynwen was from.
Cambrian Rally - Feb 8
The Cambrian Rally will provide the 2020 curtain call once again with iconic stages as featured on Wales Rally GB, as the scene for the first battle of the year.
This British rallying favourite gets the championship underway in February with the BRC teams returning to the heart of Llandudno once again with over 60 miles on the famous Welsh gravel and through the notoriously challenging Welsh forests.
Coral Tour Championship 2020 - March 17-22
Snooker fans will have the chance to see the world's leading players in Llandudno next March.
The Coral Tour Championship will run from March 17 to 22 in 2020 at Venue Cymru.
The leading eight players on the one-year ranking list will qualify as Llandudno stages a tournament for the sixth consecutive year - with Ronnie O'Sullivan winning the event last year, coming through a strong field which included the likes of Judd Trump, Mark Selby, Neil Robertson and Mark Williams.
Conwy Real Ale Trail - May 2
The Award-Winning Real Ale Trail is coming to real ale pubs around Conwy countryside this spring. T
aking you to the door of rural Real Ale pubs by bus.
Spend the day visiting some of the best Real Ale pubs in the area, without worrying about who's driving, with over 50 real ales to try, live music and awesome food.
Focus Wales 2020 - May 7-9
FOCUS Wales is an international multi-venue showcase festival taking place in Wrexham, North Wales, which places the music industry spotlight firmly on the emerging talent that Wales has to offer the world, alongside a selection of the best new acts from across the globe.
The event fills a variety of spaces and music venues, using 20 stages, and hosting a full schedule of interactive industry sessions, arts events, and film screenings, throughout the festival.
Llandudno Victorian Extravaganza - May 8-10
The event celebrates the local Victorian heritage with a traditional fairground and entertainment.
Paired with the nearby Transport Festival, over on Bodafon fields, which showcases traction engines, historic buses and lorries, there's a whole host of entertainment on offer over the weekend including marching bands, street entertainers, jugglers, vintage fairground organs, fire eaters and more.
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Wales Prosecco, Gin & Rum Festival - May 16
The annual Wales Prosecco, Gin & Rum Festival is returning to Chirk, Wrexham for its third year.
Taking place within the beautiful setting of the historical Brynkinalt Hall - Home to the Trevor family in Chirk - there will be authentic Italian Street Food, over 50 types of Prosecco, Gin and Rum sourced from all over the world, all accompanied by live music.
Access All Eirias 2020 - July 5 and July 11
This summer will see some of the biggest names in music take to the stage at the massive Access All Eirias event at Stadiwm Zip World.
Hot boyband Westlife will be performing some of their greatest hits to fans on July 5, with global girl group Little Mix playing the Colwyn Bay stadium.
Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod - July 7-12
The unique celebration of global peace and harmony returns for its 74th Eisteddfod, with daily performances and competitions, featuring some of the most prestigious artists and choirs from around the world, culminating with the world renowned Choir of the World award.
The event, which runs over several days, is one of the biggest events in the Welsh cultural calendar with outside stages featuring live music throughout the day and a chilled festival atmosphere in the spectacular setting of the Dee Valley.
This year it closes with the ever-popular Llanfest, which this year will see BRIT Award winning artists James Morrison and Will Young co-headline.
Rhyl Air Show - August bank holiday weekend
An action-packed, fun-filled two-day event with spectacular displays in the air and on the ground.
The show, which attracts thousands of spectators each year, celebrates its 12th successful year in 2020.
The free event is organised by Denbighshire Council with Rhyl Town Council, and takes place right on the promenade.
Although specific details have yet to be revealed, the event usually starts at 11am and alongside the spectacular displays, there's a whole host of family entertainment on site too.
Wales Rally GB - Oct 29-Nov 1
The electrifying race will be staged from Thursday, October 29, to Sunday, November 1, and will include the penultimate round of the FIA World Rally Championship - meaning the champion could be crowned in Wales.
Last year's event saw the rally base moved from Deeside to Llandudno with an all-new family-friendly test in Colwyn Bay as the WRC blasted along the seafront.
The full route for 2020 is yet to be announced at the time of publication.
