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North Wales, Celts & Gardens
4 days, 3 nights
On this leisurely short tour, you'll see the fantastic scenery of the Snowdonia National Park and the most impressive range of 12th Century castles of anywhere in the British Isles. You'll see walled cities and beautiful gardens. It is not often appreciated that this northern end of the Principality boasts some of the finest gardens in the UK and we’ll sample several.
You'll enjoy the wonderful tranquility of a Victorian coastal resort and a steam train ride into the mountains. You'll uncover a fabulous industrial heritage, as this was the world centre for slate and a gold mining region. We'll show you prehistoric tombs, Roman remains and evidence of the rich Celtic culture of our forefathers. All in all, this is a lovely short break!
Tour Dates:
4 - 7 April, 2012
26 - 29 Sep, 2012
Tour Rate: $1599 USD per person; $175 single supplement
What your tour price includes: Your accommodation for 3 nights while on the tour including both full breakfasts and dinners. Your price also includes all entrance fees to attractions, transportation, services of driver/guide-companion and all taxes and tips other than those you may wish to give your guide.
Airport transfers and accommodation pre and post tour are not included but can be added to your package as you wish. Ask us for details.
We have regional Wales tours and custom designed itineraries available throughout the year.
Those interested in a longer holiday in Wales may choose to link this short tour with the either the 4-day South Wales Heritage Trail or 6-day Sacred Places, South Wales and Pembroke.
Contact us for availability: specialgrouptours@yahoo.com
This tour begins and finishes in Manchester. You will be picked up from your hotel at approximately 09:00.
TENTATIVE ITINERARY
DAY ONE Wednesday
We'll begin our day in the walled city of Chester, once one of the occupying Roman armies main bases in England. Thence, across the border into Wales!
Garden lovers are in for a treat as our main visit is Bodnant Gardens. Quoting from their own website, it's "one of the most beautiful gardens in the UK", spanning some 80 acres and is situated above the River Conwy on ground sloping towards the west and looking across the valley towards the Snowdonia range. The garden has two parts. The upper garden around Bodnant Hall consists of the terraced gardens and informal lawns shaded by trees. The lower portion, known as the "Dell" is formed by the valley of the River Hiraethlyn and contains the Wild garden.
Our accommodation stop will be either the lovely Victoria seaside town of Llandudno or the walled, castle city of Conwy. We’ll be sure to explore both during our stay in the area.
Accommodation: Conwy or Llandudno
DAY TWO Thursday
What better way to begin our day than with a breathtaking scenic drive through the very heart of Snowdonia, passing the famed Betyws Y Coed, and on to Clough William-Ellis’s astounding Italiante village of Portmerion. In addition to the almost surreal architecture you have Brazilian rain forest trees, wild Rhododendrons, Himlayan Firs and the largest willow-like Maytenus boaria in the UK!
Snowdonia National Park is one of dominating peaks - the highest in England and Wales –with narrow mountain passes, flowing streams, cascading waterfalls, sheep-covered uplands and verdant, hidden valleys. It has been claimed that these secluded valleys were home to the real King Arthur. Certainly, an ancient Welsh culture and language still thrives here today. We'll explore it in true off the beaten track fashion taking you beyond the regular tourist haunts downs tracks and paths that will have you gasping!.
Our day can include a steam train journey through the mountains on a half-gage railway. As time and interest will permit, also in this area is a great slate mine at Blaenau Ffestiniog, a copper mine at Sygun and a woollen mill.
Accommodation: Conwy or Llandudno
DAY THREE Friday
Following an obligatory visit to Caernarfon, we continue to the Isle of Anglesey, crossing the Menai Straits by Thomas Telford's famed suspension bridge - a wonder of the age of the industrial revolution.
This ancient and mystic island offers an astounding wealth of attractions including prehistoric burial chambers and monuments, Celtic and Viking settlements, fabulous flora and forna, and the village with the World's longest name - Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerchwyrndrobwllllandysilliogogogoch.
There's the fabulously pretty harbour of Beaumaris with its Victorian gaol (it has the only working tread-mill wheel in Britain), a magnificent 12th Century Norman castle, and a Roman Army museum, in addition to a 900 year old pub!
The island's geography is a natural haven for birds, with its wildly contrasting variety of sheer cliffs, sheltered coves, estuaries, dunes, heaths, wetlands, lakes and woodlands. Along the coast, if we’re lucky, we may just catch sight of puffins, guillemots, razorbills, terns and cormorants - among many other bird species. Spring and summer turn the Isle of Anglesey into a giant rock garden, carpeted with flowers of every hue. Seal colonies are a common sight on the rockier stretches of the coastline, whilst dolphins can sometimes be glimpsed from shore.
We'll spend the full day exploring this unique corner of the British Isles.
Accommodation: Conwy or Llandudno
DAY FOUR Saturday
Our final day takes us via Dibleys Nurseries near Ruthin, the country’s leading grower of stretocarpus and 18 times Gold medal winner at Chelsea then Llangollen, the small town that ‘Welcomes the World’ each year when it hosts the International Music Festival. We may make time for a visit to nearby Plas Newydd, home of the legendary ‘Ladies of Llangollen.’
The highlight visit of our day is sure to be Chirk Castle. This castle, built in the time of Edward I, has been home to the Myddleton family for over 500 years. You could say the gardens were historic! The gardens were landscaped in the 18th century. There’s a 18th century yew topiary, a 17th century lime tree arcade. With a view over 9 counties, it’s a perfect finish to our North Wales adventure!
Tonight’s accommodation in Manchester is priced separately, not included in the tour rate but available for a supplemental fee. Alternatively, why not join our South Wales Heritage Trail beginning tomorrow?! Hop the train and have a wonderful, independent evening in a Welsh farmhouse between tours.
Alternatively, we have regional Wales tours and custom designed itineraries available throughout the year including the Land of Song scheduled tour and Sacred Places, South Wales and Pembroke, immediately prior to the 28 September departure of this North Wales: Celts and Gardens.
Please Note: All attraction opening times are correct at time of printing this website. While we do our utmost to include all properties, we reserve the right to change an attraction should it become impossible to visit due to change in opening times, days.
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