Wales and Cotswolds 2022

This morning, make your way to Cardiff, the Welsh Capital (just 2hrs from London by direct rail). After checking in to your central 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 at a local restaurant.

Overnight: The Coal Exchange Hotel (or similar), 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: The Coal Exchange Hotel (or similar), Cardiff

Meals: Breakfast included.

Today we leave Cardiff for a day of contrasts; we’ll ascend the South Wales valleys to experience Wales’ industrial heritage at Big Pit where we’ll have the opportunity to descend a an operational coal mine. We then pass West in to the Welsh countryside – we’ll pause at Laugharne the picturesque home-town of Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, before continuing to the beautiful seaside town of Tenby. There’ll be time to wander the within the 13th century town walls and see the sweeping golden bays or climb the rocky headland overlooking the harbour before taking dinner together at our hotel.

Overnight: Heywood Hotel and Spa (or similar), Tenby, 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: Nanteos Mansion Hotel (or similar), near 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: Dunoon Hotel (or similar), Llandudno

Meals: Breakfast 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 seaside resort with a Victorian 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 sites to enjoy including a Victorian cable tramway ride to the top of the Great Orme headland for spectacular panoramic views or exploring the medieval ramparts of the imposing 13th century fortress at Conwy Castle.

Overnight: Dunoon Hotel (or similar), 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. By afternoon we’ll continue south pausing at the beautiful National Trust Powis Castle where we’ll admire the interior collections of the Herbert family and explore the manicured and wild gardens. Finally, we arrive in the barren landscapes of the Brecon Beacons National Park where wild ponies roam the hillsides. Tonight we enjoy a farewell dinner together at our village hotel.

Overnight: Bear Hotel (or similar), Crickhowell

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

After a leisurely start our journey will take us south along the scenic Wye Valley where we’ll visit the haunting riverside ruins of Tintern Abbey which is said to have inspired Wordsworth himself. By afternoon we return to Cardiff where you bid farewell to Welsh tour leader and board the train for a brief rail journey over to English Bath. After hotel check-in, the balance of the day is yours to explore as you wish. Using your complimentary tickets, be sure to visit the magnificent Roman Baths which date back over 2000 years. By evening, meet with your tour leader and the rest of the group to dine together at a local restaurant.

Overnight: The Bird Hotel (or similar), Bath

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

Today we enjoy an excursion from Bath to take in the Southern Cotswolds. First stop will be the honey-coloured village of Castle Combe, widely regarded as the prettiest village in England. Then we’ll head for Avebury to see the intriguing standing stones – lesser known than Stonehenge but equally enigmatic, here you get to walk freely amongst the stones themselves. Final stop will be the historic town of Lacock – seemingly frozen in time this charming village and Lacock Abbey have been used in TV and film productions such as Pride and Prejudice, Downton Abbey and Harry Potter. Then it’s back to Bath to explore further at your leisure and to dine independently.

Overnight: The Bird Bath Hotel (or similar), Bath

Meals: Breakfast included.

Leaving Bath behind, today we dedicate to exploring the heart of the Cotswolds. As we journey North we’ll pass through rolling patchwork fields and a wealth of quintessential Cotswold villages with eccentric names such as Moreton-in-Marsh and Stow-on-the-Wold. Each village is unique but characterised by honey-coloured buildings, thatch cottages, cobbled market squares and historic parish churches; we’ll pause in various spots of particular beauty or interest to soak up the atmosphere. By afternoon we’ll make our way to our base for the next two nights in the heart of a Cotswold market town.

Overnight: Noel Arms Inn (or similar), Chipping Campden, Cotswolds

Meals: Breakfast included.

Our journey this morning takes us to the nearby bustling medieval town of Stratford-upon-Avon, the home of William Shakespeare. We’ll learn about the life and times of the great bard at Shakespeare’s Birthplace before taking time to stroll around this pretty town nestling on the banks of the River Avon. By afternoon we’ll immerse ourselves in rural life with a visit to a working Cotswold farm; here we’ll get to meet the farmer, see some of the animals and even see his sheepdogs at work; a truly unique experience. Later we return to our base in the heart of the Cotswolds where we’ll dine together.

Overnight: Noel Arms Inn (or similar), Chipping Campden, Cotswolds

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included.

On our final day we enjoy a relaxing start. After breakfast we’ll head East and visit the elegant country manor at Blenheim Palace, former childhood home of Winston Churchill where we’ll gain an insight in to his life and achievements. Our final stop will be in the beautiful medieval university city of Oxford where we’ll enjoy a brief orientation before free time to explore – perhaps take a “punt” on the river, climb Fairfax Tower for views of the town’s renowned “dreaming spires” or wander the historic college quads of one of the world’s most famous educational institutions. After a perfect end to our Cotswolds tour we’ll return to London where our journey ends.

Meals: Breakfast included.