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Village Life In Wales
8 days/7 nights
Llŷn Peninsula - Be surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery in Britain
The Llŷn Peninsula
The Llŷn Peninsula lies on the north-west corner of Wales, dividing Cardigan Bay and Caernarfon Bay, and being west of the Snowdonia mountains and in the Gulf Stream the region enjoys a mild, drier climate than the rest of Wales. The peninsula stretches out around 30 miles into the Irish Sea and is surrounded by 100 miles of coastline. There are sweeping bays, small coves and rocky cliffs and impressive headlands. Llŷn is notable for its large number of protected sites with over 20 Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Our “Village Life” Tour
Our Village Life in Wales‟ tour programme is now in its fifth year and, as in previous years, it focuses on some of the special features of the country and its people. We are justly proud of our lush well-kept countryside, picturesque villages, small market towns, and fine gardens. We have some of the best examples of medieval castles in Europe, and our National Trust properties are amongst the best in Britain. The tour is relaxed and unhurried, with plenty opportunities to gain a genuine insight into the local culture and taste the delicious regional cuisine.
For our Llŷn Peninsula itinerary, we have chosen to stay with our friends Owen and Ruth at Sygun Fawr Country House Hotel in the beautiful village of Beddgelert for the full duration of the tour.
Sygun Fawr Country House - www.sygunfawr.co.uk
Sygun Fawr is a relaxed, friendly and informal 17th-century Welsh manor house, full of atmospheric period features with low beams, exposed stone walls, cosy nooks and crannies and an inglenook fireplace. Sygun Fawr is located about a 15 minute walk from the village, along a path running alongside a lively brook for the most parts, and emerges over a bridge on to the village green. Sygun Fawr has only one television which is neatly tucked away in a small lounge. It really is the perfect place to relax, and refresh body and mind. After a day‟s touring you can enjoy the hospitality of your hosts Ruth and Owen Evans, and the good food is prepared by Chef Jim Clack.
Beddgelert
Its stone built dwellings, inns and hotels are surrounded by the finest scenery in North Wales. Snowdon, the highest peak in England and Wales, dominates the skyline a few miles to the north and the beautiful Aberglaslyn Pass and Nant Gwynant valley are near-neighbours to the south. Wooded vales, rocky slopes and mountain lakes fill the surrounding countryside. The village, in keeping with its location in the Snowdonia National Park, is picturesque and totally unspoilt.
Tour Inclusions:
- Seven nights bed and breakfast, one lunch and six dinners at Sygun Fawr Country House Hotel and a comprehensive daily sightseeing tour programme with the following inclusions:-
- “Sunday Tea‟ at Cricieth
- Picnic Lunch on Bardsey
- Farewell dinner at Country Inn
- Visit to Dinas Emrys
- Visit the Royal Town of Caernarfon and tour its mighty castle
- Visit to Oriel Plas y Weddw
- Visit Plas yn Rhiw
- Visit to the Holy Island of Bardsey
- Travel on the Welsh Highland Railway
- Visit St Beuno’s Church
- Visit Nant Gwrtheyrn, Welsh Language and Heritage Centre
- Visit Portmeirion.
- Services of experienced local driver /guide throughout
- Small group travel in our 16 seat Mercedes Coach
ITINERARY
Day 1 Wednesday
Our “Meet and Greet” service is available for transfers to hotel. Please enquire.
Meet your guide and fellow travelers over a light lunch at 1.00 at the hotel. Depending on the weather, we will take a stroll or take our minicoach to the village, taking a river bank track that takes us past St Mary‟s church which stands on a site of a 6thC Celtic community. Although the church was heavily restored in early Victorian times, it has retained many of its medieval features.
Our path continues towards the Grave of Gelert to hear probably Wales‟ best known legend from your guide. We then board our coach for our visit to Dinas Emrys, believed to be the setting of one of the most enigmatic tales of early British history, left to us by Nennius, a 9th-century writer. The story concerns the early Roman-British-Saxon legends surrounding Vortigern, Merlin and others, and the two sleeping dragons (one red and one white) that awoke and fought for the supremacy of Wales.
Making our way back to Sygun Fawr to relax before dinner.
Overnight, lunch and dinner at Sygun Fawr.
Day 2 Thursday
After a pleasant drive through the central region of Llyn, we discover Wales‟ oldest Art gallery.
Oriel Plas Glyn-y-Weddw has recently celebrated its centenary-and-a-half, making it not only one of Wales‟ most picturesque art venues, but also its oldest. Nestling in the village of Llanbedrog, in an area of outstanding natural beauty, the Gothic styled Mansion was built in 1857 as a Dowers house for Lady Elizabeth Jones Parry of the Madryn Estate. We are told that Lady Love Jones Parry‟s ghost is occasionally seen walking the upper landings!
After lunch, our journey continues along the south coast to Plas yn Rhiw. This is a small 16th C Manor House rescued from neglect and lovingly restored by the three Keating sisters, who bought it in 1938 and is now in the care of the National Trust. The views from the grounds across Cardigan Bay are very spectacular and the garden contains many beautiful flowering trees and shrubs, with beds framed by box hedges and grass paths.
Overnight and dinner at Sygun Fawr.
Day 3 Friday
Mountain Roads, St Beuno‟s Church, Welsh Heritage Centre
The day begins with a scenic drive through the Beddgelert Forest over to the old mountain road, through small villages and hamlets (some abandoned), to the north coast of the Llŷn Peninsula to visit the remote sixth century church of St Beuno. Even today, this small church in the tiny hamlet of Pistyll is freshly strewn with rushes and sweet smelling wild medicinal herbs three times a year. It is believed Beuno, the Saint, chose this solitary location to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life – the silence here is deafening!
Onwards from here to Nant Gwrtheyrn, where it is believed the first to settle in the valley, where the village now stands, was the Brythonic king Gwrtheyrn in around 300 B.C. In later times this calm and quiet Nant is the background for one of the most famous and sombre love stories in Welsh, the story of “Rhys and Meinir”, which your guide will take much pleasure in relating. The by- now „ruined‟ village was bought in 70‟s by a group of local people, who had the vision to create a Welsh Language and Heritage Centre. Over time the village was rebuilt and the centre became very successful. To date, over 25,000 Welsh language learners have passed through its doors.
Breakfast, overnight and dinner at Sygun Fawr.
Day 4 Saturday
Welsh Highland Train Journey, Royal Town of Caernarfon
We start the day with a pleasant journey to the Royal Town of Caernarfon. Caernarfon's symbolic status was emphasized when King Edward I of England made sure that his son, the first English Prince of Wales, was born here in 1284. In 1969, the castle gained worldwide fame as the setting for the Investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales. Your guide will take you on a tour of the castle followed by spending some free time in the town. Today Caernarfon is a lively market town, with a fine array of interesting shops and restaurants along its narrow streets.
Mid-afternoon, for our return journey to Beddgelert, we‟ll board the Welsh Highland Railway on a 19 mile journey through the fabulous scenery in the Snowdonia National Park.
Breakfast, overnight and dinner at Sygun Fawr.
Day 5 Sunday
Morning at leisure - the Aberglaslyn Pass, Cricieth
After lunch we take a scenic drive through the Aberglaslyn Pass, a narrow gorge of considerable beauty alongside the Glaslyn River, to the village of Prenteg, and onwards to Cricieth. This a small picturesque seaside town with wonderful views over Cardigan Bay and the “Rivals” mountain range- and where there is a delightful tea shop and also where the best “homemade” ice cream can be found.
Sunday tea at Cricieth.
Breakfast, overnight and dinner at Sygun Fawr.
Day 6 Monday
Bardsey - the island of 20, 000 saints and the village of Aberdaron
We drive to the westernmost point of northern Wales, then take the short sea crossing to Ynys Enlli, (Bardsey Island) – the island of 20,000 saints. The 14th C was a Golden Age for pilgrimages while the wealthier pilgrims were attracted to Jerusalem or Rome, the North Wales shrines at Holywell and Bardsey Island attracted vast numbers of devout Christians. Three pilgrimages to Bardsey were rated as equivalent to one pilgrimage to Rome.
The island was bought by the Bardsey Island Trust in 1979, and is managed by the Trust, in conjunction with the Countryside Council for Wales and CADW, it is a National Nature Reserve, a Site of Special Scientific Interest and part of the Llŷn Environmentally Sensitive Area. It covers an area of 180 hectares, which is mostly farmed. On our return to the mainland, we will spend some time in the village of Aberdaron, a former fishing village that has changed little over the centuries
Breakfast, overnight and dinner at Sygun Fawr.
Day 7 Tuesday
The Villages of Ardudwy valley and Portmeirion
We board our coach for a drive through the villages of Ardudwy to the remote Cwm Nantcol, giving us spectacular views over Tremadog Bay.
Our last visit of the tour is to Portmeirion, a unique 'fantasy village' built between 1925 and 1975 by the late architect Clough Williams-Ellis. Travel writer Roger Thomas described it “The visual extravagance of this fantasy village eclipses all attempts to pin it down to words. Eccentric, strange, charming, bizarre, amusing, disorienting etc…” The village was the setting for the 70‟s cult TV series “The Prisoner” staring the late Patrick McGoohan, and Prisoner fans still make the pilgrimage back to Portmeirion.
Returning late afternoon to our Hotel, there will be some free time to prepare for departure the next day and for our evening visit to a Country Pub for our farewell dinner
Breakfast, overnight at Sygun Fawr.
Day 8 Wednesday
Tour ends after breakfast, our “Meet and Greet” service is available for transfers from hotel. Please enquire.
This tour is operated by Country Lane Tours
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