Wales travel: Am I allowed to visit, are hotels and restaurants open and what rules are in place?

Unreliable weather aside, Wales makes for a near-perfect staycation destination as far as Britons are concerned.

In 2019 alone, the nation welcomed 87 million day trippers from the rest of the UK, generating almost £3.5m.

The tourism industry in Wales accounts for almost 10 per cent of its workforce and has been hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic. But, as restrictions return, where can you go and when?

Here’s everything you need to know.

It depends on where you’re going – and where you’re coming from.

England’s new three tier system has divided the country into “medium”, “high” and “very high risk” depending on the Covid-19 case rate. Those in areas categorised as medium are simply subject to the previous rules that were in place, such as not congregating in groups larger than six. These people should be able to travel to parts of Wales without local lockdown in place without issue (as long as they abide by the rule of six).

Those travelling from “high” tier regions are subject to extra measures, including the banning of separate households socialising together indoors. This would prevent separate families or friends from different households from staying together in a cottage or similar accommodation.

Meanwhile, people hailing from designated “very high” risk areas have been advised not to travel outside their area (other than for work, education, accessing youth services or to meet caring responsibilities).

“People should avoid staying overnight in another part of the UK if they are resident in a ‘very high’ area, or avoid staying overnight in a ‘very high’ area if they are resident elsewhere,” says the government.

However, the advice not to travel is not legally binding.

Separately, the Welsh First Minister, Mark Drakeford, has announced his intention to ban travellers from Covid-19 hotspots elsewhere from entering Wales. It is currently unclear which regions will be affected, but the new measures are expected to come into force from Friday 16 October.

As for entering Wales, visitors are prohibited from entering regions in the south and north of the country that are currently in local lockdown. This is a legal restriction and those caught breaking it can be fined. The rest of the country is still open to visitors.

Travel within Wales is permitted, providing you’re not attempting to travel to or from a locality that’s currently under lockdown. Masks must be worn at all times on public transport.

All accommodation is permitted to open – although hotels and other holiday accommodation based in areas with local restrictions should not accommodate people from outside the area unless they have a good reason to be there (such as working or attending a funeral).

Camping is allowed, as long as there are no local restrictions preventing this. The toilet/shower blocks, pot wash and laundry areas for campers will also be open subject to measures being in place to ensure physical distancing and appropriate cleaning. You can also take a motorhome or caravan to a caravan park in Wales providing there are no local restrictions.

All visitor attractions are now able to open, although local restrictions may mean that some are only accessible by local residents. Measures to protect visitors, including social distancing, will be in place.

Cafes, restaurants, pubs and bars are permitted to open with certain measures in place: most premises, including all premises selling alcohol, will be providing table service only; all alcohol sales must stop by 10pm; all food and drink should be consumed at tables; you will be required to wear a face covering other than when seated to eat or drink; physical distancing measures will be applied, such as tables being spaced out; you will be asked to give contact details for the purposes of track and trace; and there will be no live music , plus TV broadcasts will be kept at low volume.

You’re allowed to eat or drink outdoors with anyone, subject to any local restrictions, as long as the size of the group does not exceed 30 people. Indoors, you are only able to eat or drink with the people you live with or members of your extended household if you have agreed to form one. Even within your extended household, you can only eat or drink out as part of a group of up to six people (not including any children aged under 11).

Outside areas under local lockdown (which you shouldn’t be visiting anyway), social distancing of 2m with all people outside your household is advised.

Face coverings must be worn in all indoor public places by anyone aged 11 and over who isn’t exempt. This includes on public transport and taxis, and in places where food and drink is served (other than when you are seated to eat or drink). The Welsh government advises people to wear a face covering made up of three layers of a close knit, or close woven material such as cotton from a t-shirt or pillowcase.

People are not allowed to meet socially anywhere indoors with people they don’t live with. However, if you have formed an extended household, you can meet indoors in a group of up to six members at any one time (under 11s are not included when counting the six as long as they are part of that extended household).  Up to four households can join together to form an extended household (although different rules apply in areas subject to local restrictions).

Upon arrival into Wales, British visitors who are permitted to enter are not required to undergo a period of quarantine.