100 things to do in wales

February 27, 2019

Early in 2018 I came across an interesting lady posting fun photos of the things she and her family were experiencing in Wales. She was authentic, intelligent and exuded positivity. I warmed to her immediately, as did several thousand other Instagram users.

I soon learned Sian was following the Wales Online ‘100 things to do in Wales before you die‘ bucket list and was on a mission to find a way to manage her mental health using our beautiful country as inspiration to make her smile.

She continues her journey, providing inspiration and food for thought along the way. Sian has given permission for us to share her highlights here. Enjoy the length and breadth of Wales from your sofa, or get outside (if you’re able) to experience this magical country yourself.

You can also follow Sian at @100_things_to_do_in_wales

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You dont have to travel the world to be an explorer. On the weekend my mum put a pin in the map of South Wales and we drove to Garnswllt as opposed to what we would normally have done: gone for a walk around the shops and stopped for something to eat. There was nothing of note in Garnswllt. Nothing at all. So we found a walking route online over the Black Mountain. On the way we found a pink cafe with pink flowers outside which matched my mums pink hair. We talked and listened to the birds on the moor. Passed old coal pits. We saw a part of Wales we hadn't visited before. It made us think and we had a blast. Moral of the story is even if you think there's nothing there in the way of cinemas, restaurants and modern day entertainment there really is something worth seeing. Just take a chance.

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Apr 3, 2019 at 10:23am PDT

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The three bridges of Conwy castle. The middle bridge was one of the first road suspension bridges in the world, built by Thomas Telford and completed in 1826. Crossable now by foot it is in the care of @ntwales The bridge on the right is Conwy railway bridge which is still in use. Built in 1849 by Robert Stephenson it is the last remaining wrought iron tubular bridge in the World. The bridge on the left is the modern bridge used to carry traffic over the river to Llandudno. Built in 1958. #bridge #bridgedesign #suspensionbridge #tubularbridge #robertstephenson #welshhistory #findyourepic #visitwales #igersnorthwales #igerswales #bridgehistory #railwaybridge #conwy #conwyhistory

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Mar 8, 2019 at 11:31pm PST

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There's nothing I enjoy more than embarrassing my child. I thought we'd really immerse ourself in the history of the National Trust Tudor House, Tenby. I think we can see who was enjoying the experience more. Think I might print this off and use as my Christmas card image. #gobigorgohome #tenby #tudormerchantshouse #nationaltrust #findyourepic #visitwales #welshhistory #dressup #roleplay #tudors #embarrasingmother

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Dec 3, 2018 at 1:18am PST

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Sitting on Garth Mountain overlooking Gwaelod y Garth and Cardiff city centre on the horizon (you can just about see the Millenium Stadium if you zoom in) This child continues to surprise me. We cycled from Llandaff, which is pretty much in the city, to Gwaelod y Garth. Parked up our bikes to climb the mountain then cycled all the way home. No moaning. No complaining. Just cracked on. I hope she continues to love and embrace hiking as she has done so far. #donew4you #hikerkidz #garthmountain #ordanancesurvey #findyourepic #getoutside #discoverwales #hikergirls #girlscanhike #welovewales #explorewales #igerswales #igerscymru #gooutdoors

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Feb 25, 2019 at 11:18am PST

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Not until my Instagram friend - @doitlikedomini - came all the way from Canada to stay with me a few weeks back did I find out that Spillers Record Shop in Cardiff is the oldest vinyl shop in...the....World!! You can see her in the window. I made her pose like that for ages. Some people thought she was a mannequin. Id not set foot in there before but now I love it, just because its the oldest record shop...IN...THE WHOLE....WIDE...WORLD! Now I just have to get a record player and I can buy something other than a tote bag and a sticker. Did I mention that it's the...oh I did? 😏

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Apr 6, 2019 at 1:33pm PDT

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Spring is finally here and it's looking particularly beautiful in St Davids, Pembrokeshire #daffodil #springflowers #springtime #flowers #springday #bluebells #stdavids #pembrokeshire #igerspembrokeshire #visitwales #exploringwales #discoverwales #findyourepic #happy #sunshine

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Mar 29, 2019 at 2:17am PDT

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100 Things To Do In Wales: Challenge 39 - go coasteering in Pembrokeshire This is the third time I've gone coasteering. Being a bit of a scaredy cat I've scrambled the rocks but never jumped. Until I found @manupukevents who gave me the encouragement and support to take the leap. This is my first jump, starting small and jumping a little higher each time. I also loved how considerate they were to Bethan. I would recommend this activity to anyone visiting Wales. It's a must do. Check out @manupukevents for more info. Thanks to Finton and Chris #coasteering #adrenaline #watersports #challenge #jump #cliffjumping #abereiddy #igerspembrokeshire #findyourepic #visitwales #walesmustdo #wales #scaredcat #faceyourfears #faceyourfear #igerswales #igerscymru #igerspembrokeshire Photo credit📸@alunrhyscymro and thankyou for all the support

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Mar 24, 2019 at 12:09pm PDT

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The highest waterfall in South Wales made more powerful by all the rain we've had lately. #donew4you #discoverwales #waterfall #waterfalls #stormgareth #river #naturephotography #photooftheday #picoftheday #nature #findyourepic #nationaltrust #breconbeacons #wales #walesonline #ordanancesurvey #samsung #samsungs8

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Mar 16, 2019 at 3:34pm PDT

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You don't know Wales until you've visited the valleys. And you don't know the valleys until you've visited Aberfan. Im not sure if you know the history of this small village but it's remembered with sadness here in South Wales. Aberfan was a coal mining village. The waste from the mine was tipped onto the hill tops which loomed over the valley. One tip however sat on top of a spring and following three weeks of heavy rainfall the tip slid down the hill engulfing the school. At 9.15am on 21st October 1966, all the children of the village were in school. The slurry killed 116 children and 28 adults. It wiped out a generation. Much was said afterwards and from what I've read very little support was given to these families. The remains of the school were replaced by a memorial garden: a very quiet place to reflect. The children were buried nearby and it is worth taking a walk to the graves to read the messages the family left and pay respects. They all lie together on the hillside overlooking the valley.

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Feb 21, 2019 at 7:25am PST

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Yes its another photo of Worm's Head but it's so gorgeous down there I couldn't help but take loads of photos. I watched this photographer as he took shots of the sun going down. Im starting to wonder whether its time to get a real camera instead of using my mobile🤔 #photography #photographers #picoftheday #discoverwales #igerswales #gower #sunset #silhouette #light #sun #walescoastpath #getoutside #findyourepic #nationaltrust #naturephotography #seascape #samsungs8 #samsung

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Feb 18, 2019 at 11:36am PST

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No filter needed tonight. Beautiful sunset on Rest Bay. Caught these surfers heading home after catching some waves. #surf #surfing #surfer #surfinglife #sunset #surfers #watersports #seaside #picoftheday #photooftheday #walesonline #findyourepic #getoutside #explorewales #visitwales #igerssouthwales #porthcawl

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Feb 13, 2019 at 11:54am PST

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No filter needed for a photo of Porthgain. This has to be one of the prettiest places along the Wales Coast Path. Once an industrial harbour with the remains of its slate heritage it's now a beautiful place to come to enjoy fish and chips in @theshedporthgain, a drink in the @sloopporthgain and peruse the art in @harbourlightsgallery #porthgain #harbour #industrialrevolution #industrialharbour #harbour #fishingboats #coast #walesmustdo #seaair #walescoastpath #findyourepic #ordanancesurvey #visitwales #getoutside

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Feb 4, 2019 at 1:38am PST

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100 Things To Do In Wales - Challenge 19: Step inside St David's Cathedral Following in the footsteps of pilgrims who made their journey to this shrine in Pembrokeshire since the 6th Century. #shrine #walesonline #stdavids #stdavidscathedral #prayer #christianity #peaceful #pilgrimage #pilgrim #pembrokeshire #findyourepic #discoverwales #thoughts #igerspembrokeshire #explorewales

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Jan 30, 2019 at 12:50am PST

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I remember visiting this site in my late teens and didnt really get anything from it. I visited again this weekend, spending two hours wandering around, immersing myself in all the information. This time I found it such an interesting place. Did you you know tin was the plastic of its age? Of the 225 tin mills in Britain, 205 of them were in South Wales. It was big business until Welshmen migrated to America and took the secrets of tin plating with them. The Americans banned the import of tin and that was the end of that. The buildings were left to ruin apart from the wheel which is the largest working waterwheel in Europe. #ntwales #nationaltrust #welshhistory #aberdulaisfalls #aberdulaistinworksandwaterfall #aberdulaistinworks #wales #welsh #tinplate #tin #industrialrevolution #waterpower #waterwheel

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Jan 7, 2019 at 1:16pm PST

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"I did it!" This is the face of a little girl descending Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in South Wales. It is the face of achievement and determination. I don't see this face when she's watching YouTube or playing games on the ipad. We need to get our kids outside more and teach them self confidence and happiness. As a side, as we were ascending Pen y Fan a man was being arrested by the police for wielding a gun on the mountain. He was going to take his own life. #nationaltrust #ntwales #findyourepic #getoutside #calm #happiness #achievement #getkidsoutside #hiking #mountain #wales #discoverwales #walesonline

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Jan 3, 2019 at 1:55pm PST

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100 Things To Do In Wales - Challenge 12: Brave the elements in the New Year swim at Saundersfoot Let's start 2019 as we mean to go on....challenging ourselves and pushing ourselves out of our comfort zones. I was really nervous about this challenge but not because of the cold water. I was nervous because of all the people. I get anxious in crowds so this was quite a big deal for me. But I did it and it was such a great feeling. Now who's up for it next year? NB. And no I didn't wee in the sea.....honest😏 #nyds #newyeardayswim #saundersfoot #nydssaundersfoot #findyourepic #coldwater #winterswimming #anxiety #socialanxiety #weeinthesea #freezingcold #explorewales

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Jan 1, 2019 at 11:18am PST

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Id love to say its the staircase in my house. This glorious piece of architecture belongs to Margam Castle once owned by the Talbot family that Port Talbot is named after. It's decked out ready for Christmas. Events on the run up to Christmas include Santa feeding the deer, elf workshops and parties in the Orangery. Go to the Margam Country Park website for more information #margam #margampark #castles #margamcastle #walesonline #staircase #christmastree #christmasdecorations #mansion #downtown #abbey

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Dec 12, 2018 at 2:06am PST

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100 Things To Do In Wales - Challenge 57: Ride the Rollercoasters at Oakwood We laughed all day. Got soaking wet on the Waterfall and Captain Hook ride. Screamed on the wooden rollercoaster, Megaphobia (stayed on 7 times 🤮). Then ooh and ahhhed at the closing fireworks. Looking forward to returning next year. NB just in case you're wondering why my mum is pointing at her head she's saying "I paid £75 for this hair do yesterday and now look at me" #100_things_to_do_in_wales #100thingstodoinwales #oakwood #oakwoodthemepark #rollercoaster #woodenrollercoaster #adrenaline #rides #pembrokeshire #rollercoasters #rollercoaster🎢 #themepark #themeparks #igerspembrokeshire #visitwales

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Nov 4, 2018 at 1:14am PST

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Id love to say its the staircase in my house. This glorious piece of architecture belongs to Margam Castle once owned by the Talbot family that Port Talbot is named after. It's decked out ready for Christmas. Events on the run up to Christmas include Santa feeding the deer, elf workshops and parties in the Orangery. Go to the Margam Country Park website for more information #margam #margampark #castles #margamcastle #walesonline #staircase #christmastree #christmasdecorations #mansion #downtown #abbey

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Dec 12, 2018 at 2:06am PST

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My mother is in town and there's a man giving out free hugs...please caption because I have no words #cardiff #igerscardiff #freehugs #freehugsproject #kindness #happiness #love #visitwales #explorewales #nice #compassion

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Oct 6, 2018 at 6:59am PDT

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100 Things To Do In Wales - Challenge 31: While away a day canoeing down the river Wye She did it and she loved it. Video on You Tube - link in bio #100_things_to_do_in_wales #100thingstodoinwales #canoeing #canoe #watersports #wateractivity #rowing #riverwye #riverwyecanoe #visitwales #findyourepic #womenwhoexplorewales #womenwhoexplore #getoutside #motheranddaughter #lovewales #igerswales #ordanancesurvey #thecanoehire

A post shared by 100 Things To Do In Wales (@100_things_to_do_in_wales) on Sep 30, 2018 at 2:47am PDT