Enchanting Wales 2024

This morning, make your way to Cardiff, the Welsh Capital (just 2hrs from London by direct rail). After checking in to your hotel the afternoon is yours to explore the city at your own pace. With your included tickets, you can visit the unique Cardiff Castle whose history stretches from Roman times right through to the industrial revolution and an illustrious Victorian manor house. By evening meet your tour leader and the rest of the group where we’ll enjoy a hearty Welsh dinner together.

Overnight: Cardiff

Meals: Dinner included.

Boarding the mini-coach, a short ride from central Cardiff, we’ll visit the Museum of Welsh Life; set in the expansive grounds of the Elizabethan manor house of St Fagan’s Castle you can trace Welsh life through the centuries. We’ll then head for the cosmopolitan Cardiff Bay area to see the vibrant Mermaid Quay which is now a hub of Welsh heritage and politics and is home to a host of waterfront cafes, bars and eateries. Your afternoon is free to explore “the Bay” or return to central Cardiff to see more of the historic city.

Overnight: Cardiff

Meals: Breakfast included.

Today we leave the bright lights of Cardiff for Wales’ for the dramatic coastlines of Pembrokeshire. On route, we’ll pause at the magnificent National Botanic Garden of Wales, set amongst a nature reserve spanning 500 acres before heading for the village of Laugharne, the picturesque home-town of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas. Later we continuing to the beautiful seaside town of Tenby where there’ll be time to wander the within the 13th century town walls, see the sweeping golden bays or climb the rocky headland overlooking the picture-postcard harbour.

Overnight: Pembrokeshire

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

This morning we continue to explore the natural scenery of the protected Pembrokeshire Coast. We’ll head for St Davids, namesake of Wales’ patron saint. This tiny village enjoys city status owing to its beautiful cathedral and Bishop’s Palace. From here we’ll turn North and follow Wales’ scenic west coast past the sweeping sands of Cardigan Bay and in to rural mid-Wales. We’ll pause in one or more of the bustling harbour towns before arriving in Aberystwyth, our overnight destination. In the evening we enjoy our dinner together.

Overnight: Aberystwyth

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

After a hearty Welsh breakfast we’ll enjoy a scenic drive North to the intriguing town of Portmeirion. Nestling in a sheltered position on an enclosed estuary this beautiful Italian style village was uniquely designed by Sir William Clough Ellis and has since been used for various television productions. After plenty of time to explore, we’ll head for the local train station – here it’s all aboard a narrow gauge steam train for an epic mountain railway journey of breath-taking views in to the heart of the Snowdonia National Park. Later we retire to our base in Llandudno on the North Wales coast.

Overnight: Llandudno

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

Today is a free day to enjoy at leisure; equipped with your complimentary open-top bus tour tickets you can explore the contrasting towns of Llandudno and nearby Conwy at your own pace. Llandudno is an elegant Victorian seaside resort with a sweeping sandy bay and long promenade whilst Conwy is a cobbled medieval market town nestled on the shores of the Conwy estuary. Between the two there are a host of leisure and visitor attractions to enjoy including a Victorian cable tramway ride to the top of the Great Orme headland or a walk along the medieval town walls to the ramparts of the imposing 13th century fortress at Conwy Castle.

Overnight: Llandudno

Meals: Breakfast included.

Today we make our way south along the course of the Conwy Valley to the charming Welsh town of Llangollen home of the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a stunning waterway which carries boats more than 100 feet above the valley floor and enjoys World Heritage status. By afternoon we’ll continue south to visit the beautiful National Trust Powis Castle where we’ll admire the interior collections of the Herbert family and explore the elegant manicured and wild gardens. Later we continue in to the scenic border marches to our overnight hotel where we will enjoy a farewell dinner together.

Overnight: Brecon Beacons

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

Today we enjoy a leisurely breakfast before we transfer to Newport Train Station in South where you bid farewell to your driver. Using your complimentary rail passes you can choose to take the train either back to Cardiff to continue to explore the Welsh capital or head back to London on the direct service.

Meals: Breakfast included.