Historic counties of WalesThe historic counties of Wales (Welsh: siroedd hynafol) were the thirteen sub-divisions used in Wales from 1535 up to their abolition in 1974 when they were replaced by eight larger administrative counties (which in turn were replaced with the current twenty-two).
Wye ValleyThe Wye Valley (Welsh: Dyffryn Gwy) is a valley in Wales and England. The River Wye (Welsh: Afon Gwy) is the fourth-longest river in the United Kingdom. The upper part of the valley is in the Cambrian Mountains and is enclosed by hills as it descends through Rhayader, Builth Wells and Hay-on-Wye before reaching the England-Wales border and becoming a broader vale through Hereford.
BrecknockshireBrecknockshire (Welsh: Brycheiniog or Sir Frycheiniog), also known as the County of Brecknock, Breconshire, or the County of Brecon, was one of the thirteen counties of Wales that existed from 1536 until their abolition in 1974. It was created in 1536 under the Laws in Wales Act 1535, and from 1889 it was an administrative county with a county council; the administrative county was abolished in 1974.
Welsh languageBrittonic languageVideo of a Welsh speakerWelsh (Cymraeg or y Gymraeg) is a Celtic language of the Brittonic subgroup that is native to the Welsh people. Welsh is spoken natively in Wales by about 18% of the population, by some in England, and in Y Wladfa (the Welsh colony in Chubut Province, Argentina). Historically, it has also been known in English as Cambrian, Cambric and Cymric. The Welsh Language (Wales) Measure 2011 gave the Welsh language official status in Wales.
Community (Wales)A community (Welsh: cymuned) is a division of land that forms the lowest tier of local government in Wales. Welsh communities are analogous to civil parishes in England but, unlike English parishes, communities cover the whole of Wales. There are 878 communities in Wales, with more than 730 having community and town councils.
Spa townA spa town is a resort town based on a mineral spa (a developed mineral spring). Patrons may visit spas to "take the waters" for their purported health benefits. Thomas Guidott set up a medical practice in the English town of Bath in 1668. He became interested in the curative properties of the hot mineral waters there and in 1676 wrote A discourse of Bathe, and the hot waters there. Also, Some Enquiries into the Nature of the water.
Market townIn Europe a market town is a settlement that obtained a market right (by custom or royal charter) in the Middle Ages, which allowed it to host a regular market; this distinguished it from a village or a city. In Great Britain, small rural towns with a hinterland of villages are still commonly called market towns, and this is sometimes reflected in their names (e.g. Downham Market, Market Rasen, or Market Drayton).
PowysPowys ( POH-iss, POW-iss, Welsh: [ˈpou̯ɪs]) is a county and preserved county in Wales. It borders Gwynedd, Denbighshire and Wrexham to the north; the English ceremonial counties of Shropshire and Herefordshire to the east; Monmouthshire, Blaenau Gwent, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Neath Port Talbot to the south; and Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion to the west. The largest settlement is Newtown, and the administrative centre is Llandrindod Wells.
Afon IrfonAfon Irfon (the River Irfon) is a river in Powys, Wales. It flows from the upper slopes of Bryn Garw in the Cambrian Mountains, through the Abergwesyn Valley, past the Nant Irfon National Nature Reserve in the hills above the village of Abergwesyn, and through Llanwrtyd Wells to its confluence with the River Wye at Builth Wells. The source of the Irfon is in the so-called 'Desert of Wales'.
WalesCountry within the United KingdomWales (Welsh: Cymru) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Located on the island of Great Britain, it is bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west, England to the east, the Bristol Channel to the south, and the Celtic Sea to the south-west. As of 2021, it had a population of 3.1 million. It has a total area of 21,218 square kilometres (8,192 sq mi) and over 2,700 kilometres (1,680 mi) of coastline.
River WyeThe River Wye ( ; Welsh: Afon Gwy [ɡʊɨ̯]) is the fourth-longest river in the UK, stretching some 250 kilometres (155 miles) from its source on Plynlimon in Mid Wales to the Severn Estuary. The lower reaches of the river form part of the border between England and Wales. The Wye Valley (lower part) is designated a National Landscape (formerly an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). The Wye is important for nature conservation and recreation, and is affected by pollution.
ConfluenceIn geography, a confluence (also conflux) occurs where two or more watercourses join to form a single channel.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.