The capital of Wales, Cardiff is one of the busiest, modern and upbeat cities of Britain, yet it lies within minutes of unspoilt countryside. Within the city boundaries, the River Taff offers an ideal opportunity to explore a surprisingly tranquil green space and to stop off to visit Cardiff Castle. Elsewhere, the grim legacy of an industrial past has all but gone, with green hills forever in its place. Prim villages, like Llantwit Major and St Donat's, invite exploration, while further north, at the head of the valleys, hidden dales, like Cwm Carn, Cwm Dare and Cwn Darran, will come as a refreshing surprise.