Mark Rees

Behind Swansea’s familiar streets and sweeping bay lies another city: one of heroic dogs, vanished chapels, haunted pubs, and seaside legends. Quirky Swansea uncovers the stories that give this city its distinctive character, celebrating the people, places and moments that make Abertawe unlike anywhere else. From roaring rugby and football stadiums, beloved local food, seafront promenades, and iconic landmarks, every corner of Swansea brims with life and history. Step inside Gower’s ancient painted caves, meet the fighter ace who outwitted the Nazis, and uncover the hidden feats of trailblazing women, explorers, and musicians. The city also has its uncanny side: the skull-headed Mari Lwyd that parades through winter streets, the cursed Swansea Devil statue that watches over bombed ruins, and fairy folk that dance on moonlit hills.Quirky Swansea lifts the lid on the hidden stories of a city shaped by the sea, its people, and a proud tradition of doing things its own way.

Behind Cardiff’s familiar landmarks lies another city: one of lost chapels, ghostly legends, hidden treasures and secret passageways. Quirky Cardiff uncovers these stories, celebrating the people and places that make the city so unmistakably Cardiffian.Step inside the lavish fairy-tale chamber created for Sleeping Beauty; meet Captain Morgan, the real-life pirate of the Caribbean; and explore the childhood worlds of Roald Dahl and Shirley Bassey. The city has an uncanny edge too: Daleks roaming the streets, mischievous poltergeists, and even a UFO sighting dubbed the Welsh Roswell. These are the oddities, scandals and surprises that rarely appear in the guidebooks but have shaped Cardiff’s character.From legendary pubs and striking street art to the roar of the stadium on match days, every alley and avenue brims with stories. And, of course, no tale of Cardiff would be complete without a late-night stop on Chippy Lane. Funny, eerie and surprising in equal measure, Quirky Cardiff lifts the lid on the hidden side of Wales’s bustling capital.

Did you know? The Wales Coast Path is the only continuous footpath in the world that runs the entire length of a country’s coastline, a staggering 870 miles. Wales is home to the largest concentration of medieval castles in the UK, with four iconic castles – Caernarfon, Conwy, Harlech and Beaumaris – designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. St Davids, home to an awe-inspiring cathedral surrounded by Pembrokeshire’s rugged coastal beauty, is Britain’s smallest city. Laugharne, with its stunning views of the Tâf Estuary, inspired Dylan Thomas’s Under Milk Wood, written in his iconic Boathouse and Writing Shed. From the towering peaks of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) to the stunning Wales Coast Path, this captivating guide takes you on a fact-filled journey through Wales’s most iconic landmarks. Discover the country’s rich history at breathtaking World Heritage Sites, the UK’s first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, legendary castles and sacred cathedrals. Step into the world of Welsh folklore as you explore secluded beaches, mystical rivers, and ancient landscapes tied to the myths of King Arthur, the Mabinogion, and other timeless tales.Whether you’re exploring Cymru for the first time or rediscovering its wonders, this handy book offers fascinating insights into its culture, heritage, and the secrets woven into its legends.