Welsh cuisine isn’t all about roast lamb and Welsh cakes (although both are worth the trip alone). Cardiff’s dining scene offers a wealth of options, from local produce handled with French technique at cosy brasserie and local favourite Bully’s to brilliant burgers at The Grazing Shed, craft coffee at Uncommon Ground Coffee Roastery in the Royal Arcade, and pretty vegan plates at Anna Loka. At Zerodegrees microbrewery and pizzeria, meanwhile, you can sample the signature mango beer in the industrial-chic glory of the working brewery as it bubbles and brews around you.

Wales has been dubbed the castle capital of the world, with more than 600 historic fortresses dotted across its lush landscape. Cardiff Castle, a fusion of medieval and neo-Gothic styles dating back to the 11th century, lords over the capital from beautiful parklands in the city centre. An entry ticket will get you access to impressive grounds, exhibits, the Battlement Walk, a Norman keep and bomb shelters, but insiders will suggest you upgrade to a House Tour for access to the extravagant rooftop garden and opulent private rooms. Outside Cardiff, Caernarfon, Harlech, Beaumaris and Conwy castles, which make up the four castles and town walls of King Edward in Gwynedd, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site to behold.

With stunning coastal walking tracks, surf breaks, pristine bays for sea kayaking and white sand (yes!) beaches, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park in the west of the country is a summer playground. Style meets substance – there are plenty of Celtic and pre-Celtic sites to explore, including Britain’s smallest city, St Davids (or Tyddewi to locals), home to Wales’ holiest site, St Davids Cathedral, and the birthplace of the nation’s eponymous patron saint.

It might be hard to pronounce, but that won’t matter when you’re tucking into a Michelin-starred feast at Ynyshir Restaurant and Rooms in Machynlleth, just south of the Snowdonia National Park. With one of the best locations of any restaurant in Wales, this country house in the stunning Dyfi estuary offers an immersive experience in local ingredients and innovative cooking thanks to chef-owner Gareth Ward, whose Japanese-Welsh menu mash-up is as majestic as the landscape out the window.

You may know it from your cheeseboard, but the southern town of Caerphilly (home to that eponymous deliciously rich cow’s-milk cheese that is Wales’ answer to cheddar) is also home to the largest castle in Wales. Caerphilly Castle is an awe-inspiring medieval fortification surrounded by extensive artificial lakes – described by historian Allen Brown as the “most elaborate water defences in all of Britain”. These days you’re more likely to see ducks on the lakes and dams than medieval sieges unfolding as you picnic in the grounds – unless you happen to visit during a battle re-enactment. This gallery was brought to you by HelloWorld Travel.