Travel

Teithio

YFC has so much more to offer other than competitions. When you become apart of YFC you are given the chance to travel the world.

Mae gan CFFI mwy i’w gynnig heblaw cystadlaethau. Pan fyddwch yn dod yn aelod o CFFI mae gennwch y siawns i deithio’r byd.

Take a look at what our members have been able to achieve throughout their time in YFC when given the chances to travel to different and new places.

Edrychwch a pa cyfleuoedd mae aelodau Brycheiniog wedi gael drwy gydol ei amser mewn CFFI pan gawsont y gyfle i deithio i lleoedd wahanol a newydd.

On the 21st of August, I was fortunate enough to be selected for the Northern Ireland Rural Affairs trip with the Wales YFC international programme. A group of six of us flew over to Belfast City for what turned out to be an unforgettable few days.

We stayed at the Malone Hotel, which I’d highly recommend to anyone visiting Belfast—it felt pretty posh for a YFC member like myself 😂. After dropping our bags off, we jumped straight onto a city tour bus to explore Belfast and learn about its rich history. It was quite eerie seeing how the Belfast walls and gates are still a work in progress today.

We then made our way to the Titanic Museum, where we had a walk around and learned how much wealth shipbuilding brought to the city, and how it all came crashing down with the tragedy of the Titanic. After that, we headed back to the hotel, stopping off along the way to sample some of Ireland’s best-known drinks… cough Guinness. That evening, we went out for food and then explored a few pubs around the city.

On the 22nd, we started the day with a proper Irish breakfast before heading off on a bus trip to the Giant’s Causeway. On the way, we did some “window farming” and couldn’t help but feel jealous of how green the fields were and how much grass they had! When we arrived, our tour guide told us the story behind the Causeway—and even shared a handy trick to bypass the National Trust fee. The Causeway itself was class to see, especially how it’s been shaped by the sea over time.

Afterwards, we headed back to Belfast for lunch and a bit more sightseeing.

On the 23rd, we visited Long Meadow Cider Farm, where we got to see how cider is made and learn about orchard management. Of course, we also got to taste it. I’m not usually a cider drinker, but it was honestly the best cider I’ve had—so we ended up buying a couple of crates for later!

That afternoon, we went on a beer bike ride through Belfast, singing Calon Lân, which went down a treat—the Northern Irish really do love the Welsh. After that, we carried on with a bar crawl well into the night.

On the final day, we (slightly regrettably) decided to take on a treetop adventure course. Feeling a bit worse for wear, it was definitely more entertaining for the instructors than for us—but still a great laugh to end the trip.

In October last year, Libby Davies (Sennybridge) and myself were provided the chance to travel to Iceland with NFYFC. This was my first travel trip with NFYFC having made use of the programme extensively in Wales, so was great to meet members from other parts of NFYFC network and understand more about each of the areas. YFC travel offers some of the best opportunities to meet new people and learn not just about the country that you are visiting but also in some part learn about our own country through their eyes.

After catching the National Express in Cardiff and travelling down to Heathrow the day before we were flying out, we enjoyed an evening getting to know our group over a couple of drinks and some food. As most people didn’t know one another, this was a great way of breaking the ice and having conversations.

With the early morning flight upon us, we made sure we were at the airport early, maybe too early as we were waiting for the gates to open over an hour but at least we weren’t late for a change.

When we got to Iceland, it soon became obvious why the country was nicknamed the land of ice and fire. Volcanoes, Glaciers and waterfalls were a plenty across the island, In fact we were warned when we got there that an eruption was due at any time.

We spent our time touring the south coast of the island. We visited some farms along the way as well as museum’s and met some interesting people. The Icelandic cuisine is very much fish, lamb and vegetables, so very healthy in general. Now with this in mind, I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to try Hákarl, fermented shark to you and I. Definitely a unique taste, glad I tried it but never again.

Fun fact, there is only one breed of cattle, sheep, goat and horses on the island and that is the Icelandic breed. They are starting to bring in some Aberdeen Angus to cross in the cattle but this is still in it’s early stages.

Our final full day was an opportunity to explore the capital city of Reykjavik as well as a relax visiting the blue lagoon. Would definitely recommend if you get the chance. To top it all off on the way back to the airport, We saw the Iceland shop in Iceland and that about blew my mind.

If anyone would like to know more about travel through YFC I highly recommend it and will be happy to provide more information should you wish.

As I approached the end of my time with the YFC, I was determined to make the most of every opportunity it offered—particularly its renowned International Travel Programme. When I saw the Patagonia trip, often described as the ‘Mecca’ of Welsh heritage abroad, advertised back in September 2024, it was simply too good an opportunity to pass up.

In the early hours of 21 September, I stumbled onto the bus, bags packed to the brim for what promised to be a packed two weeks of cultural and physical adventure alongside 15 fellow members from across Wales. Excitement had been building for months—nearly 11, in fact—following a competitive interview process to secure our places. Finally, under the leadership of our group leader, Angharad Ann Evans from Ceredigion, we were on our way.

However, there was still a long journey ahead before the real adventure could begin: 7,500 miles in 16 hours. When we landed in Buenos Aires mid-morning on 22 September and boarded yet another bus for an immediate city tour straight after the long-haul flight, none of us felt inclined to complain—especially when we considered the two-month voyage our Welsh ancestors had endured some 160 years earlier.

Despite the fatigue, we packed in a full day exploring the capital, wandering through the colourful streets of La Boca, visiting Plaza de Mayo and Recoleta Cemetery, before enjoying a light meal and our first taste of Argentina—empanadas followed by dulce de leche ice cream for dessert. After dinner, it was time to catch our third flight, heading south to Puerto Madryn and the beginning of our journey into Y Wladfa.

From City Streets to Coastal Wildlife

After a much-needed night’s sleep, we woke to the fresh sea air of Puerto Madryn—the very place where the 150 passengers of the Mimosa, the ship that set sail from Wales, first landed in 1865. We spent the day exploring the Peninsula Valdés, wandering along the coastline and spotting Magellanic penguins before heading out to sea ourselves on a boat trip to see southern right whales.

Being so close to such magnificent creatures was a truly unforgettable experience—one that will stay with me for a lifetime.

Welsh Heritage in Patagonia

Of course, a central part of the trip was immersing ourselves in the history of the Welsh settlers who established Y Wladfa. And where better to begin than Puerto Madryn itself—the landing site of the Mimosa. We walked in the footsteps of the 153 original settlers along the coastline at Punta Cuevas Historical Park, where the remains of their earliest homes and the first grave from 1865 can still be found.

From there, we travelled to Trelew to visit Ysgol Yr Hendre, where children are educated in both Welsh and Spanish. We were warmly entertained by the pupils, who sang their favourite Welsh songs and performed traditional folk dances before giving us a tour of the school. It was also in Trelew that we made our first of several visits to the chapels of Y Wladfa. At Capel Moriah, we sang together as a group for the first time, led by our official accompanist, Aled Clwyd, who was incredibly fortunate to play the original organ that had travelled on the Mimosa in 1865—an experience he will never forget.

Gaiman: Where Wales Lives On

We then travelled to Gaiman, which was perhaps my favourite place of the entire trip. Staying in the iconic Ty Gwyn, where I enjoyed endless tea and cake, this community felt unmistakably Welsh. The warmth of the welcome we received made it clear that the Welsh spirit is alive and thriving here.

Meeting teachers and pupils at Ysgol Gaiman, and seeing the pride with which the children would burst into Welsh song or poetry at any opportunity, was incredibly moving. It was here that I truly felt the pride and privilege of identifying as Welsh—on another continent.

Before travelling, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. Having learned the history as a child, and imagining the bravery of those settlers who left everything behind to build a new life rooted in their Welsh identity, it would have been easy to picture Patagonia as a kind of Welsh utopia.

In reality, I quickly realised that you are unlikely to walk down the street and hear Welsh spoken casually—Spanish is now the dominant language. However, much like in many communities back home in Wales, once you step inside certain spaces—schools, chapels, or community hubs—the Welsh language and culture come alive. Whether it was at the Ddraig Goch Rugby Club, where we were welcomed by Paloma Pugh and enjoyed an evening of folk dancing, or standing in the pulpit of a chapel to sing, it was clear that the original dream still thrives.

Music, Tradition and Belonging

For me, it became evident that music and the tradition of singing play a vital role in keeping this identity alive. This was especially clear during two unforgettable afternoons.

The first was spent with Billy and Gladys Hughes in Gaiman, and the second with Alejandro Jones in Cwm Hyfryd—following a 10-hour overnight bus journey into the Andes. On both occasions, we were treated like Welsh royalty, enjoying asado, drinking mate, and being serenaded by these incredible musicians.

Final Reflections

These are just a handful of the highlights and impressions from our two weeks exploring this extraordinary region. The trip was expertly coordinated by Teithiau Patagonia, and without a doubt, Aled and Ángeles Rees enriched our experience through their connections and friendships across the region.

For anyone considering this once-in-a-lifetime journey, I would wholeheartedly recommend getting in touch with them. And for those who are more digitally inclined and would like to see more from my experience, scan the QR code to explore the journey further—and to hear Alejandro Jones sing for yourself.