Welsh coast is greatest region on earth

Welsh coast is greatest region on earth NEWS

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Welsh Coastline has been named the greatest region on earth to visit in 2012 coming in ahead of more notable worldwide travel destinations

Lonely Planet, one of the world's leading travel publications, has named the Welsh Coastline as the greatest region on earth to visit in 2012, as next year Wales becomes the first country in the world to enjoy a formal footpath running along its entire coastline.

The All Wales Coast Path (AWCP), which is a Welsh Government scheme, estimated to cost in the region of £10million will, when it opens, run all the way from Chepstow in the South to Queensferry in Flintshire, North Wales. The path will be approximately 870 miles long when it opens in May 2012.

The Welsh government has said that the recognition given by Lonely Planet is 'fantastic news'.

The Lonely Planet Guide highlights 10 countries, 10 regions and 10 cities which are selected by the publishers travel experts as the best places in the world to visit.

In describing the AWCP the guide states 'how better to truly appreciate the shape ' and soul ' of a nation?....What a wonderful thing to walk the entire length of a country's coastline, to trace it's every nook, cranny, cliff-face, indent and estuary.'

Tom Hall, a representative of Lonely Planet, explained 'These are some of Lonely Planet's must see spots for 2012, either because they have something special going on next year, there is a lot of buzz about the place, or because we are tipping it as an up and coming spot that you should visit, before the crowds get there'.

He continued 'The region comes out top because of its wildlife, great surf, castles and fantastic spots such as Barafundle Bay and St. Davids. Now that Wills and Kate have set up home in the area it has also received the royal stamp of approval.'

Of the 870 mile AWCP, some 838 miles have already been completed. The footpath has been developed by the Welsh government in association with the Countryside Council for Wales.

Here is a list of the Top Ten World Regions as ranked by Lonely Planet in their 2012 guide:-

1 - Coastal Wales

2 - Ruta Maya, Central America

3 - Northern Kenya

4 - Arundachal Pradesh, India

5 - Hvar, Croatia

6 - Sicily, Italy

7 - Maritime Provinces, Canada

8 - Queenstown & Southern Lakes, New Zealand

9 - Borneo, Indonesia/Malaysia

10 - Poitou-Charentes, France

Take a quick spin around St. Davids City with Cerys Matthews