There aren’t many places quite like Wales. Filled with soft sand beaches, spectacular coastal walks, high hills, dazzling waterfalls, wildlife, and much more, this beautiful constituent country in the UK is home to countless picture-perfect landmarks and locations.
It is no surprise that Wales hosts tens of thousands of beautiful photo opportunities, making it one of the most Instagrammable places in the UK. We have compiled a list of some of the best photogenic spots that will look right at home on your social media profile.
Dan-yr-Ogof
There are many ways you could wow your followers. Reaching new heights by flying a private jet charter could create the ideal Instagram story moment, but you don’t always have to climb up high to capture the most Instagrammable views. There’s also so much beauty to enjoy and capture deep underground. Dan-yr-Ogof has many chambers and passageways, beautifully decorated with the abundance of stalactites and stalagmites seemingly posing for their next photo opportunity. A deeper exploration into the caves will bring you to Cathedral Cave, a 40-foot high waterfall that surrounds you, or the tentative Bone Cave, once home to 42 human skeletons buried here.
The beautiful thing about Dan-yr-Ogof is that it is underground, meaning that the weather above ground does not affect the conditions, offering photogenic scenery all year round. The cave is wonderfully illuminated, meaning whatever time you visit, you will surely get that Insta-worthy photo.
Snowdon
For views that make your Instagram followers wish you’d packed them in your suitcase, there’s no better than Mount Snowdon — the largest mountain in Wales and the second largest in the UK, behind Ben Nevis. Attracting visitors all year long, this mountain is one the most famous destinations in the entire country. At the peak, you can gaze across the horizon over 100 hills that cascade across the jaw-dropping scenery in Snowdonia National Park. A gentle warning before you make your voyage to the top: Snowdon is not for the faint of heart. Make sure you are prepared for a three to four-hour trek, and also check what the weather is going to be like the day you decide to go.
The best days to capture the best pictures from the top of Snowdon are, of course, when the skies are clear. This way, you can see the neighbouring mountainscape, lakes, and even the Isles of Anglesey. On very clear days, you can see as far as Southern Scotland and Ireland. March is an excellent time of year as you will see snow-covered peaks. However, the chance of a clear day can be few and far between, but you never know — you could time it perfectly.
Pen y Fan
Standing impressively at 886 metres above sea level, Pen y Fan is the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons. This walkable peak is a much more manageable alternative than Mount Snowdon’s. You are likely to be greeted by other like-minded walkers with the same thought on their mind, trying to get the best selfie from the cairn waiting at the top. Brecon Beacons National Park is one of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful places to bestow your eyes in all of Wales, making the highest peak in the area the perfect vantage point for capturing the elusive no-filter Instagram photo.
As with Snowdon and any other mountain range for that matter, the best kind of conditions for the ultimate photo is on a clear day, so always research what type of weather you’re going to receive. From the summit on a clear day, you can see the Black Mountains, Cambrian Mountains, Herefordshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Gower, making it one of the most Instagrammable places in Wales.
Skomer Island
Skomer Island — home to the largest colony of Puffins in southern Britain — is world-renowned as a wildlife fanatics’ paradise. Prepare for your heart to melt and become overwhelmed as the classic Welsh scenery becomes the backdrop to your photo shoot with the nesting seabirds on the towering offshore rocks littering the island. You’ll find more than just puffins on Skomer: The island is home to Atlantic grey seals basking on its beaches throughout the year, while dolphins and porpoises are frequently spotted in the surrounding areas.
The nearby Martin’s Haven sees departing boats heading to the island between April and October. Springtime hosts the arrival of bluebells and pink campion that beautifully carpet the island. While seals can be spotted year-round, the largest numbers can be enjoyed during Spring and Autumn. The island’s primary attraction — the puffin — can be photographed best between May and early July.
Conclusion
Wales is synonymous with the cascading countryside, forests, hills, waterfalls, and the remote sense of being that helps us unwind and get ready to return to the concrete jungle city-living we are programmed to endure. It’s earned its reputation as one of the most beautiful places in the UK. Even for just a weekend, you’re guaranteed to capture photos that will make your followers wish they were in such an awe-inspiring location — no filter needed.
