Castles and Coastline – South Wales

Arriving in Cardiff (rail tickets from London available), collect your vehicle and make your way in to the South Wales countryside. Head firstly for the border town of Chepstow to see the stunning medieval fortress at Chepstow Castle before following the course of the beautiful Wye Valley where you can visit the magical ruins of Tintern Abbey - a view which once inspired Wordsworth. Pass the market towns of Monmouth and Abergavenny before arriving in the dramatic moorlands of the Brecon Beacons National Park.

Overnight: Brecon Beacons area.

Journey details: 85 miles / 2hrs approx*

Dedicate today to exploring the beautiful and barren moorlands and mountains of the Beacons National Park where sheep and wild-horses roam the hillsides. You may choose to visit the southern valleys where Wales' industrial heritage is evident especially at Big Pit, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where you can descend a real working coal mine. Alternatively, head to the border town of Hay-on-Wye, self-proclaimed second-hand book capital of the world the quaint town bustles with bookshops, tea-rooms and antique dealers.

Overnight: Brecon Beacons area.

Meals: Breakfast included

Passing along the northern edge of the of the Beacons you enter the Welsh county of Carmarthenshire. Stop at one of Wales’ best kept secrets at the hilltop medieval fort of Carreg Cennen Castle before making your way in to the coastal county of Pembrokeshire. You may choose to visit Dylan Thomas’ former home in Laugharne before making your way to the historic town of Tenby, home to a bustling harbour, Norman Castle and city walls, a labyrinth of cobbled streets and flanked by stretching sandy bays.

Overnight: Pembrokeshire

Meals: Breakfast included

Journey details: 75 miles / 1hr 45mins approx*

Today enjoy the breath-taking scenery of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park home to almost two hundred miles of protected coastline. Enjoy walking stretches of the famous coastal path across bays and cliffs as you spot the sea and bird life including dolphins, grey seals in the waters and Puffins nesting in the rock faces. Make your way to St David’s, the namesake of the Welsh patron Saint – this tiny village enjoys city status due to its stunning cathedral and Bishop’s Palace.

Overnight: Pembrokeshire

Meals: Breakfast included

Today return East along the South coast of Wales. Arriving in the Cardiff area take time to explore the city’s outlying areas; visit the fairytale Victorian castle at Castel Coch or the 13th century fortress at Caerphilly Castle complete with its archetypal moat and famous leaning tower. Finally, make your way to the St Fagan’s Museum of Welsh life, a living museum where you can experience Welsh life through the ages. By evening return your vehicle in Cardiff.

Overnight: Cardiff

Meals: Breakfast included

Journey details: 95 miles / 1hr 45mins approx.*

Spend today discovering central Cardiff from the Edwardian baroque architecture of Cathays park, home to the national museum and gallery of Wales to the city’s stunning centrepiece at Cardiff Castle which combines Roman and Norman history with a gloriously lavish Victorian mansion. A short boat or train ride brings you to the cosmopolitan Cardiff Bay area which is home to the National Assembly for Wales, the Millennium Centre and a host of waterfront bars and cafes.

Overnight: Cardiff

Meals: Breakfast included

Enjoy a final breakfast in your Cardiff Hotel before check-out. Time-permitting do some last minute souvenir shopping in Wales before taking a train back to London or making your way onwards to an airport for your return flight.

Meals: Breakfast included