The relationship between Wales and Ireland is embedded in Celtic history. Over the centuries, the West of Wales and Ireland’s Ancient East have formed an unbreakable bond forged through centuries of cultural exchange; traders, fishermen and even missionaries made the journey to and from the Irish Sea.
The two coastlines are known for their untamed landscapes, never-ending beaches, rolling hills, and rugged mountains – filled with ancient crosses, chapel ruins and sacred stones. The Celts of Ireland and Wales perceived the world through three different realms, the sky, the land and the sea. These three realms comprise the landscapes of Celtic Routes, making the West of Wales and Ireland’s Ancient East the perfect destination for curious travellers.
Celtic Routes have joined forces with the beautiful coastal communities of East Ireland and West Wales to provide a selection of curated Celtic experiences, all of which encapsulate the spirit of the landscape. These locations include three Irish coastal counties; Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford, and its Welsh counterparts across the Irish Sea – Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
Celtic Routes showcases the beauty of these coastal counties, making sure that all those who visit can confidently venture off the beaten track and discover their unique charms. You’ll have ancient abbeys, sacred stones, castle ruins and tales of legends – all at your fingertips.
Celtic Beacons offer you a snapshot of a particular moment in Celtic history. This could be a trip to Wexford where you can step back in time and pay a visit to the world's oldest operational lighthouse, (Hook Lighthouse) which has stood for over 800 years. Or maybe a trip to the Irish National Heritage Park where you can fully immerse yourself in over 9,000 years of Irish history.
Across the Irish Sea, you can discover Pumlumon (Five Peaks) in the Cambrian Mountains, the highest of which is Pen Pumlumon Fawr at 752m; on a clear day at the summit, you’ll see the whole of Wales unfold before your eyes. Or possibly an afternoon spent in Tregaron watching Celtic-inspired jewellery being made in the foothills of the Cambrian Mountains takes your fancy? Each Celtic Route takes you closer to the coast and countryside, allowing you to tailor your adventure to exactly what you want.
Celtic Moments allow you to fully immerse yourself in your surroundings. Perhaps you’ll venture to Wicklow Way, referred to as The Garden of Ireland. This is a wild expanse of coastline, woodland and mountains through which runs the country’s most popular walking trail, The Wicklow Way, taking you through the rolling hills and finishing at the small Wicklow-Carlow border village of Clonegal. Or maybe you’ll join townsfolk in Ceredigion for Aberaeron Mackerel Fiesta, marking the end of another prosperous fishing season with a mock fish funeral.
You can reconnect with nature and go foraging in the woods of South Wicklow, where you’ll learn how to identify wild leaves, flowers, fruits and mushrooms. Or maybe you’ll take a trip to the shore of Carmarthenshire, to the town of Llansteffan. Here you can go foraging along the coastline, discovering how to find shrimp, mussels, cockles, wild samphire, sea anemones and scarlet elf cup mushrooms. The reward for your efforts is your very own zero-waste, organic lunch which you can enjoy right next to the sea. These are moments that won’t just make you understand what it is to be a part of the Celtic culture, but make you feel it too.