“Wales” is an English word, deriving from a proto-Germanic root, which was used indiscriminately to refer to inhabitants of the Western Roman Empire. The Anglo-Saxons referred to Britons in this way, not restricted to what we now know as Wales or to the Welsh but to any non-Germanic territories in Britain, such as Cornwall.

The modern Welsh name for themselves is Cymry, and Cymru is the Welsh name for Wales, both words descended from the Brythonic word combrogi, meaning “fellow-countrymen”.

Much as the rest of Europe, Wales has a long and fascinating history. The threat of war demonstrated by the huge number of castles across the country, industry by the healing scars on the landscape. But most of all, the landscape is majestic and awe inspiring.