6-day/5-night tour of North Wales. It can easily be adapted for travelers to and from Ireland via the ferry port at Holyhead.
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: After meeting at Manchester Airport at 9:00 we head westwards into Wales to your first stop, Snowdonia, where you'll spend the first 3 nights.
*Conwy
With Snowdonia in the background Conwy boasts a fine castle, an almost complete town wall and a wonderful estuary setting. Wherever you are in the medieval and Victorian town you are never more than 200 yards from the walls. This makes it wonderfully easy to wander around
*Llandudno
Nestling between the Great Orme and the Little Orme headlands Llandudno is a perfect example of a Victorian seaside town. St. Tudno, from whom the town gets its name, brought Christianity to the area in the sixth century. Its 19th century pier is one of the few remaining in Wales.
Day 2:
*Caernarfon
Viewed as the eastern capital of the Roman Empire the English defeated the last true Welsh Prince of Wales Llewellyn and established Caernarfon as one of Edward 1’s ‘Iron Ring” towns
A short 10 minute walk takes you to Segontium Roman Fort which the Romans occupied for about 300 years.
*Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantisiliogogogoch
Here is a chance for a photo call at the town with the longest place name in Britain. Take a picture at the world famous railway station and pick up a souvenir.
*Beaumaris
The original inhabitants of Beaumaris were evicted by Edward 1 so he could build a new castle in the town. Its name means ‘Beautiful Marsh’ and it was so called to attract English settlers. It boasts a castle, Courthouse and a gaol opened in 1829 which was used to house convicted prisoners before they were transported to the colonies
Day 3:
*Llanberis
The village nestles beneath the world famous Mount Snowdon, ‘Yr Wyddfa’ in Welsh which means burial place. A railway runs along the side of the lakes and, on a clear day, there are superb views of Snowdon and the surrounding mountains. The journey over the Llanberis pass is magnificent.
*Beddgelert
A charming village nestling deep in Snowdonia, Beddgelert has some attractive river walks and stunning scenery. In summer the houses are brightened by glorious floral displays. The nearby copper mine which closed a hundred years ago had been in use since Roman times.
*Swallow Falls
The falls are one of Snowdonia’s best know beauty spots with the water of the river Conwy cascading over the rocks. There are several viewing platforms here which give splendid sights of the falls.
Day 4:
*Blaenau Ffestiniog
The approach to Blaenau Ffestiniog is dramatic from whichever direction. This was once a great slate producing centre and evidence of that can be seen everywhere to-day. A trip to the Llechwedd Slate Caverns will show just what slate means to the town.
*Porthmadog
Once a thriving port, Porthmadog is blessed with the most magnificent mountain views. . Named after the Welsh prince who sailed to North America in the 12th century and an MP who built the mile long Cob it is the terminus of the Ffestiniog Railway, one of Wales’ finest narrow gauge railways.
*Bala
The little town of Bala is set at the end of Wales’ largest natural lake. In the 19th century Bala was famed for its piety, but has now evolved into a major water-sports centre offering anything from windsurfing to white water rafting.
*Llangollen
Llangollen is the embodiment of a welsh town, nestling beneath Dinas Bran the brooding Welsh castle and with the river Dee tumbling through its centre. Spanning the river is a 14th century Gothic bridge and a canal leads out of the town to cross the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Llangollen is home to the world famous annual International Music Festival
Day 5:
*Ruthin
Set proudly on a hilltop Ruthin has the distinction of being the first town in Wales ransacked by the last great Welsh leader Owain Glyndwr, in 1400 at the start of his attempt to drive the English out of Wales. There are many fine medieval buildings around the square
Day 6:
Sadly its time to say goodbye and make your way back to Manchester, arriving at 1:00
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
From just £695 per person (based on 4 people sharing in double/twin en-suite rooms).
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Wales
Cultural Journey
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