A travel blogger from Powys has turned his talents to creating a new site promoting Wales as a travel destination.

Globetrotting entrepreneur Kieren Windsor has launched walesguidebook.com, a quirky yet comprehensive guide to the Land of His Fathers which aims to reveal the hidden gems among the best-known holiday hotspots.

Originally from Newtown Mr Windsor, 30, went to school in Llanfair Caereinion before studying business and marketing at Cardiff University.

He began his marketing career with Wrexham’s Village Bakery before moving to the North West where he worked for baking and confectionary companies in the Manchester area.

He learned about the role of influencers in marketing through his employment: “I was working with well-known bloggers in my day job and decided to give it a go myself.

“I started a backpacking travel blog as a hobby around five years ago and a few years later, it morphed into a full-time business, enabling me to quit my day job.”

A few weeks after deciding to go full-time as a blogger in 2020, the Covid pandemic caused his income to drop off a cliff. But with no desire to return to office life, he doubled down by covering non-travel topics.

Now with travel back on the agenda he’s been on his travels again this summer but this time around Wales, gathering material for his new business venture.

County Times: Pictured is Blogger Kieren Windsor. Picture Mandy Jones

He said: “Wales Guidebook is about helping people discover the best things to do in the area they live, are staying in or visiting.

“The site is launching with travel guides to over 100 places but it will eventually cover every destination in Wales. So, whether you’re in Anglesey or in Gwent, in Flintshire or in the Vale of Glamorgan, then Wales Guidebook can help you plan your trip."

The guide has been designed to cater for all types of traveller – including families and older adventurers as well.

“I’ve spent several months travelling around Wales this summer, visiting more castles, waterfalls and lighthouses than I can count,” said Mr Windsor

“But I’ve also been finding the lesser-known things to do, such as swimming in the Witches Cauldron in Pembrokeshire, visiting the grave of Gelert the faithful dog in Snowdonia, and finding the tidal islands of Anglesey.

Kieren said the project has given him a new appreciation for his home country: “This is my most ambitious project to date. It will take years to visit every attraction in Wales and build the biggest Welsh travel site but I’m up for the challenge.

“The best part is being able to travel your own country as a job, I’d forgotten just how beautiful Wales is. You can take it for granted when you live here so it’s great to get out and explore again and I hope I can encourage others to do the same.”