Visit Wales has launched a new guided meditation podcast series, Chill Cymru, aimed at offering listeners an immersive journey through some of the country’s most scenic landscapes and cultural rhythms. The initiative debuted on 25 January, St Dwynwen’s Day, Wales’s national day of love, and is designed to transport audiences around the globe to the heart of Wales through sound, storytelling, and reflection.
The series consists of six short meditative audio episodes, each blending natural soundscapes, evocative narration, and ambient music to create a “multi-sensory escape” that seeks to highlight the beauty of Welsh landscapes. Chill Cymru is part of Visit Wales’s broader Hwyl campaign, which emphasises emotional connection and wellbeing.
According to Visit Wales, the aim of the series is to allow people to experience Wales in a different way, using sound to evoke place rather than relying solely on visual imagery. The podcasts are intended both for listeners seeking relaxation and for potential visitors who want to connect with Wales before travelling.
The meditations are narrated by BBC Radio 1 presenter Sian Eleri, who is originally from Caernarfon and hosts the station’s Chillest Show. Her voice guides listeners through a series of locations across Wales, encouraging mindfulness and calm reflection while highlighting the character and rhythm of each setting.
Each episode centres on a different part of the country. Locations include Three Cliffs Bay on the Gower Peninsula, known for its sweeping coastline; the lavender fields at Cefnperfedd Uchaf in mid Wales; the mountain surroundings of Pen y Pass in Eryri National Park; Wern-y-Cwm Farm beneath Ysgyryd Fawr in Monmouthshire; Cardiff Bay; and the woodland landscape of Cwmcarn Forest in south-east Wales.
The podcasts blend audio such as wind, water and birdsong with gentle musical compositions, while elements of the Welsh language are woven into the narration. Visit Wales has said the intention is to reflect not only physical landscapes but also the emotional and cultural identity of the country.
“Each short meditative journey blends evocative narration with organic soundscaping. The result is both intimate and transportive, encouraging listeners to slow down, listen deeply, and connect to the rhythm of Cymru,” says Visit Wales.
Alongside the audio episodes, short films have been produced to accompany the series, pairing visuals of the featured locations with the meditation tracks. The podcasts are available on major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Visit Wales officials say the project reflects a growing interest in mindful and restorative experiences, with destination marketing shifting away from traditional promotion patterns toward creating deeper, more meaningful connections with places.
The podcast invites listeners to pause, breathe and experience Wales through sound, using stillness and sensory elements to present the country as a place of rest and reconnection, alongside its well-known outdoor adventure.
“We want to share our warm ‘croeso’ and unique ‘hwyl’ with the world and invite them to not just see but feel, taste and truly experience the ‘must do’ things we have on offer,” highlights Visit Wales.
The project represents an innovative approach to tourism promotion, using meditation and storytelling to showcase the landscapes, language and spirit of Wales to a global audience.
The Chill Cymru launch comes as Visit Wales continues to explore new ways of promoting the country internationally, moving beyond traditional destination advertising. The Hwyl campaign emphasises how Wales feels rather than simply how it looks, highlighting emotion, atmosphere and a sense of place.
