Explore Wales by Rail

After arriving into Heathrow or Gatwick Airports, validate your BritRail Passes and travel by rail to the vibrant Welsh capital city of Cardiff, your base for the next three nights. Drop your bags at your hotel begin by wandering the Edwardian baroque architecture of Cathays Park, home to the national museum and gallery of Wales. Then explore the Victorian market and shopping arcades or tour the famous Millennium Stadium home of the Welsh national rugby team. Not to be missed is the city's magnificent centrepiece at Cardiff Castle which combines Roman walls and Norman tower with a gloriously lavish Victorian mansion.

Overnight: Cardiff

Journey details: 20 minutes to London (via Gatwick/ Heathrow Express) and London Underground, followed by 2 hours to Cardiff (approx.)*

A short train ride from the centre is the cosmopolitan Cardiff Bay; once the largest coal port in the world the rejuvenated “bay” is now home to a host of sites including the seat of Welsh government, the Millennium Centre, the Victorian Pierhead building and Norwegian Church. By afternoon you may choose to take a local bus or taxi to the open-air museum at St Fagan’s which showcases Welsh life through the ages, or take a short train ride to nearby Caerphilly to see the magnificent ruins of the 13th century fortress at Caerphilly Castle complete with concentric moat and leaning tower.

Overnight: Cardiff

Meals: Breakfast included

Today board the train and head West passing firstly through industrial South Wales then into the rolling hills of Carmarthenshire. Make your way in to one of the nation's most scenic corners, Pembrokeshire, a peninsula home to almost two hundred miles of protected coastline. Head for Tenby, your base for the next two nights; Tenby is one of Wales’ best kept secrets, home to a bustling natural harbour, Norman Castle and city walls, a labyrinth of cobbled streets and flanked by far reaching, sparkling sandy bays.

Overnight: Tenby

Meals: Breakfast included

Journey details: 3 hours (approx.)*

With Tenby as your base today you can make some short rail journeys to visit nearby towns and villages of Pembrokeshire. You may like to head along the coastline to the harbour village of Saundersfoot to sample a traditional fish ‘n’ chips on the seafront or inland to the tiny village of Lamphey; home to an historic Bishop's Palace. Alternatively, make your way inland to the town of Pembroke to visit the imposing medieval fortress at Pembroke Castle.

Overnight: Tenby

Meals: Breakfast included

Today embark on a rail journey to the historic town of Shrewsbury – on route you’ll either pass through central Wales and the Brecon Beacons National Park on the Heart of Wales line or through the rolling hills of the Welsh Border Marches. Arriving in the English border town of Shrewsbury you can explore this traditional market town of Tudor timberwork buildings. Climb to the unique red sandstone castle, home to a local museum, gallery and gardens, spot the Charles Darwin Monument or visit Shrewsbury Abbey which inspired the stories and television series of medieval monk Brother Cadfael.

Overnight: Shrewsbury

Meals: Breakfast included

Journey details: 5 hours 15 minutes (approx.)*

Take the train from Shrewsbury all the way to the coast of Wales, – Cardigan Bay – to the Victorian resort town of Aberystwyth. Here you can stroll along the elegant mile long promenade and where you’ll also find the intriguing National Library of Wales. The seafront also boasts the oldest pier in Wales (it was built in 1864), which offers the second-best vantage point of Aberystwyth. For the best views, take Britain’s longest cliffside railway up to the world’s largest obscura camera, which provides a bird’s eye view of more than 1000 square miles, in a 360 degree sweep around Aberystwyth.

Overnight: Aberystwyth

Meals: Breakfast included

Journey details: 2 hours (approx.)*

Board the Edwardian restored steam change take in the changing dramatic countryside scenery from wide open fields and meadows to woodlands and rugged mountains. Listen to the sound of a powerful narrow-gauge steam locomotive working hard to climb 700ft to Devils Bridge; home of the famous waterfalls, nestled in the magnificent Cambrian Mountains. With nature trails, waterfalls and 3 bridges it is easy to see what inspired poets such as William Wordsworth.

Overnight: Aberystwyth

Meals: Breakfast included

Today you’ll embark on an incredibly scenic rail journey hugging the coast of West Wales from Aberystwyth to Portmeirion. Designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis in the early 20th century, Portmeirion's Riviera inspired houses, ornamental garden and campanile are a beautiful pocket of madness like no other. Be sure to explore its variety of shops, cafes, colourful buildings, picturesque piazza, exhibitions and audio-visual displays. Get lost in the 70 acres of exotic woodlands with 19 miles of pathways which cut through forests, secret spaces and coastal coves. No visit to Portmeirion Village would be complete without making it down to see the Amis Reunis, or "Friends Reunited", the famous "Stone Boat" of Portmeirion.

Overnight: Portmeirion

Meals: Breakfast included

Journey details: 3 hours (approx.)*

A short rail journey to Harlech will transport you to stretching beaches and dunes, artisan ice cream shops and the steepest street in the world; Ffordd Pen Llech. From Harlech you will find some of Wales’ best walks and hikes with outstanding views of the soaring Snowdonia National Park to one side of you and the wild, untameable crashing waves of the Irish sea to the other. The highlight of this town, however, is undoubtedly the UNESCO World Heritage Site; Harlech Castle. Perhaps one of Edward I’s mightiest fortress, standing atop the craggy cliffside surrounded by fortress walls and crashing waves, for the first time in over 600 years you can now cross the ‘floating’ bridge to take you inside its defences.

Overnight: Portmeirion

Meals: Breakfast included

Today you will experience the UK’s longest heritage steam railway, sit back a relax whilst you take in the 25 miles of breath-taking views from the stunning Aberglaslyn Pass to the picture postcard village of Beddgelert and around the foot of Wales’ highest peak, Mt Snowdon. Arriving in Caernarfon you will notice the towns narrow streets and the stylish redeveloped waterfront but what will catch your attention most is one of the worlds greatest buildings from the middle ages, seemingly rising out of the banks, protecting its ancient inhabitants from the dangers of the elements as well as the human threats of their time. Caernarfon Castle, another of Edward I’s fortress palaces but this one stands apart from the others from the sheer scale and dramatic architecture, echoing the imperial romans.

Overnight: Caernarfon

Meals: Breakfast included

Journey details: 2 hours 20 minutes (approx.)*

Back onto the Welsh Highland Railway skirting around the base of Snowdon, change onto the Ffestiniog Railway - the world’s oldest narrow gauge railway - this time climbing the mountainside over 700 feet from sea level exposing unique views as you pass through tranquil pastures, magnificent forests, past lakes and waterfalls. Reaching Blaenau Ffestiniog, change onto the mainline and head south along the Conwy Valley line to the beautiful Victorian resort town of Llandudno, home to elegant architecture, a Victorian pier and the oldest working cable tramway in Britain which offers trips to the summit of the Great Orme.

Overnight: Llandudno

Meals: Breakfast included.

Journey details: 5 hours 30 minutes (approx.)*

Take the short rail journey to Conwy; a true hidden gem that has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status, Conwy is a town seemingly frozen in time with its traditional market square encased in stunningly preserved medieval town walls and an imposing 13th century fortress. Thanks to restored spiral staircases in its great towers you can walk a complete circuit around the battlements of Conwy Castle. We highly recommend it. This is one of the most magnificent medieval fortresses in Europe.

Overnight: Llandudno

Meals: Breakfast included.

Today return over the border and through the heart of England to London to explore the stunning English Capital. London is a thriving metropolis with a vibrant modern culture and rich history and heritage. Explore world renowned sights including Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace and Trafalgar Square. In the East of the city you’ll find the Tower of London and St Paul’s Cathedral. By evening why not take a flight on the London Eye for spectacular views of the city skyline.

Overnight: London

Meals: Breakfast included.

Journey details: 3 hours and 40 minutes (approx.)*

Today is free to continue exploring the history of the English capital. Perhaps visit one of the world-famous art galleries or museums such as the Victoria & Alebert Museum, the Natural History Museum or the British Museum. Your rail pass and the convenient rail connections of London offer opportunities to visit dozens of towns and cities on day trips out of the city; these would include the medieval university cities of Oxford and Cambridge, the cathedral cities of Salisbury and Canterbury or the coastal towns of Brighton and Portsmouth.

Overnight: London

Meals: Breakfast included.

Today bid farewell to the UK as you board the Heathrow or Gatwick Express rail links to take you back to your departure airport.

Meals: Breakfast included.