Property of the month...

Our holiday villa rental of the month is The Penthouse, a luxurious apartment in Mullins, Barbados. To see the property's website click here.

Sport in Wales

Rugby is the national game of Wales. It is played everywhere - on rough-and-ready village pitches, at well-developed club grounds and, most famously of all, at Cardiff's state-of-the-art Millennium Stadium when the red-shirted national team takes on the opposition.

Wales's passion for rugby is long-standing - the first match took place at Lampeter in 1850, and the Welsh Rugby Union was formed in 1881 (the Rugby Union version of the game is played here - Rugby League is more popular in the North of England.) The passion is an abiding one, from the glory days of Gareth Edwards and Barry John to today's rugby renaissance, crowned by the National Team's stunning Grand Slam victory in the 2005 Six Nations Championships.


Soccer: Fans of 'the beautiful game' will find plenty to keep them entertained in Wales. The three major teams of Cardiff City ('The Bluebirds'), Swansea City ('The Swans') and Wrexham ('The Red Dragons') have a faithful following - as do the many local teams in the lower leagues. Welsh talent also makes its mark outside Wales, most notably in the case of Cardiff-born Ryan Giggs, one of the game's superstars, who plays for Manchester United.

The big match that all football fans look forward to is the FA Cup Final, to be held at the magnificent Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on 21st May 2005. Other highlights in the Welsh football calendar include the FA Community Shield on 7th August in Cardiff and the Wales International Gold Cup Soccer Tournament 2005 that takes place in Aberystwyth from 24th to 30th July.

Golf: Wales has some of the best golf in Britain - and Europe. There are around 170 golf courses in Wales, a many and varied collection that offers something for every golfer. You can choose between challenging championship-standard links courses and friendly nine-holers, breezy hilltop courses and immaculate fairways set in green farmland. Pride of place must go to the doyens of Welsh golf, Royal Porthcawl ('one of the world's best courses') and the magnificent Royal St David's at Harlech, where you play in the shadow of a mighty medieval castle.

But Wales isn't resting on its laurels. The Ryder Cup, the world's most prestigious golf tournament, comes to Wales in 2010. It will be played at the Celtic Manor Resort, an amazing new hotel and golfing complex on the approach to Newport, South Wales. Celtic Manor is the brainchild of Welsh telecommunications entrepreneur - and golfing enthusiast! - Terry Matthews. The successful Ryder Cup bid, against stiff opposition from Scotland, not only recognises Celtic Manor's outstanding golfing credentials but will also throw a spotlight on golf throughout Wales.

Find out more at www.visitwales.co.uk/