| Scottish Dream Tours Presents A Taste of Wales with Castles, Country Houses, Pubs and Tearooms October 5th - 17th, 2011 13 Days in Wales: Chester, Llangollen Railway, Chirk Castle, St. Asaph's Cathedral, Conwy Castle, Caernarfon Castle, Beaumaris Castle, Harlech Castle, 14th Century White Lion Inn, Betws-Y-Coed, Snowdonia National Park, Barmouth, Aberystwyth, Cardigan Heritage Centre, Pentre Ifan, St. David's Cathedral, Tudor Merchant's House in Tenby, Pembroke Castle, Carew Cross, Dylan Thomas's Laugharne, Brecon Beacons, Carreg Cennen Castle, Offa's Dyke Centre, Church of St. Nicholas and more! This is a small intimate tour of Wales limited to 10 people in order to make for a more enjoyable experience. Keeping the tour size to a minimum does not limit us as to where we can go and what we can do. We will stay in lovely luxury country house hotels all over Wales. Our meals will be taken in old world inns, medieval pubs, unique tearooms and intimate seaside cafés and restaurants. Wales has more castles per square mile than any other place in the British Isles and I have chosen but a few of the many that are on my must see list. The history is truly astounding and to be able to take meals in ancient and medieval establishments is bordering on the unbelievable. From Pembrokeshire to the Brecon Beacons we will see all the glory of South Wales. And from Powis to the Snowdonia National Park and Anglesey Island to Colwyn Bay and Offa's Dyke Path we will see the wild beauty of North Wales. 13 Days of Spectacular castles, important historical sites, ancient pubs, luxury country house hotels and intimate tearooms. Tour includes full breakfast each morning, all lunches, teas and dinners as listed in the itinerary. Escorted minibus with guide. Luggage handling. All sightseeing including entrance fees. All accommodation. All taxes and service fees. No hidden costs. $4195 per person double occupancy. $500 per person deposit to reserve your spot on this tour. Sold Out Click here for route map |
| Day 1 - October 5th - Arrive Manchester International and our first stop will be Chester and Chester Cathedral. We will spend some time investigating this 2,000 year old historic city with its Chester Rows. The rows of Chester are unique covered walkways which house a fantastic array of shops restaurants and Inns in unique two tired rows dating from the 13th Century. Next stop is St. Asaph and St. Asaph's Cathedral. Saint Kentigern built his Church here in AD560. When he returned to Strathclyde in AD573 he left Asaph as his successor. The present building was begun in the thirteenth century and is reputed to be the smallest ancient cathedral in Great Britain. We'll stop in Rhos-on-Sea for Lunch at Ambrosia Tearoom before a visit to Llandudno which has retained its Victorian and Edwardian elegance and splendour, despite its modern attractions. We make our way to our accommodation to check in before we are out for a Welcoming Dinner. Overnight near Conwy. (L,D) Day 2 - This morning we visit Conwy and Conwy Castle. Words cannot do justice to Conwy Castle it is by any standards one of the great fortresses of medieval Europe. Conwy's well-preserved castle wall helps the town maintain a medieval character lost by other Welsh castle-towns over the years. Conwy is also home to Britain's Smallest House, measuring 10 feet by 6 feet. The structure was used as a residence from the 16th century until 1900 when the owner was a 6ft 3 inch (1.9 meters) fisherman named Robert Jones. We'll stop for Afternoon Tea at Bodysgallen Hall before a visit to Aberconwy House, the only Medieval Merchant's House in Conwy to have survived the turbulent history of the walled town over nearly six centuries. Dating from the 14th century, The house is the oldest recorded dwelling of its kind anywhere in Wales. Dinner and Overnight near Conwy. (B,L,D) Day 3 - Following breakfast our first visit of the day is Caernarfon Castle. Caernarfon is architecturally one of the most impressive of all of the castles in Wales. Most impressive of all is the Eagle Tower crowned by its triple cluster of turrets. This afternoon we visit Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch , a small village with the longest name in Wales. It translates to "The church of St. Mary in the hollow of white hazel trees near the rapid whirlpool by St. Tysilio's of the red cave". We then make our way to Llangefni and Oriel Daniel Gallery Tearoom for Lunch before visiting Beaumaris Castle. Beaumaris, begun in 1295, was the last and largest of the castles to be built by King Edward I in Wales. It is possibly the most sophisticated example of medieval military architecture in Britain. Dinner at the White Lion Inn in Llanelian. Ale has been served on the site of the White Lion Inn since the year 722! Overnight near Conwy. (B,L,D) Day 4 - Our drive today will take us south the lovely village of Betws-y-Coed. Betws-y-Coed is located where the River Conwy meets its three tributaries flowing from the west, the Llugwy, the Lledr and the Machno. Much of it was built in Victorian times and it is the principal village of the Snowdonia National Park. Our next stop is Portmeirion, designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975 in the style of an Italian village. After some free time in town, we continue on to Harlech and Harlech Castle driving through the beautiful Snowdonia Region. If Harlech's spectacular situation, foreboding might and great power were not sufficient to ensure the fame of this magnificent castle, Harlech is also inseparably linked in Welsh myth with the tragic heroine of Branwen, the daughter of Llyr, of the Mabinogion. Our lovely coastal drive will then take us to Barmouth and then to Aberystwyth. The largest town on Cardigan Bay and liveliest seaside resort in Wales, Aberystwyth is a charming Victorian seaside resort and the unofficial capital of mid Wales. Dinner and Overnight near Aberystwyth. (B,L,D) Day 5 - Our first stop today after a breathtaking coastal drive is Cardigan. Cardigan is well know by art lovers and its Guildhall has a covered market which offers a great selection of fresh food, crafts and second-hand goods. You can also visit the Cardigan Heritage Centre, housed in an 18th-century warehouse on Teifi Wharf. We then continue our journey to Pentre Ifan, a bronze age megalithic site dating back at least 4000 B.C. It is probably the finest Welsh hilltop megalith and is said to have been originally constructed as a burial chamber. We then make our way to Fishguard where we stop in the Market Square for a Fish and Chips Lunch. Then onward to St. David's and St. David's Cathedral, begun sometime between 1180 and 1182 and is the culmination of centuries of rebuilding and expansion. St. David's has been a place of pilgrimage for over 1500 years. We then stop at Carew and the magnificent sculptured Carew Cross, one of the largest and most elaborate early Christian monuments in Wales. Then we are off to the delightful market town of Tenby. Dinner on your own this evening. Overnight near Tenby. (B,L) Day 6 - Tenby is a coastal town steeped in ancient history surrounded by an imposing stone wall, built in the 13th century. While here we visit the Tudor Merchant's House, a 15th century relic of Tenby's prosperous seafaring days. After some free time in Tenby we drive to the lovely village of Manorbier taking us through some of the most scenic parts of Pembrokeshire winding dramatically along leafy hedged lanes towards the coast. Lunch at the Manorbier Garden Centre Tearoom before a visit to Pembroke and Pembroke Castle. Mighty Pembroke Castle impresses by its sheer size and dominance of location. Pembroke is a Norman stronghold dating to the time of William the Conqueror, however most of the present castle dates from the 13th century. Pub Dinner and Overnight near Tenby. (B,L,D) Day 7 - This morning we start our long journey northward with a stop at Laugharne, home of Dylan Thomas. While here we will visit his Boathouse, Grave and Writing Shed. From the Parlour of the boathouse, you look out on the landscape from which Dylan drew so much of his inspiration. You can literally see the sources of his poetry and the structure of the Boathouse is largely as it was when the Thomas family lived here. We are next off to Carreg Cennen Castle, one of the most spectacularly sited Welsh castles. Spell-binding views are waiting to be experienced from the sharp hilltop upon which the castle sits and dominates its surroundings. Next we visit Caerphilly and Caerphilly Castle. Caerphilly is one of the great medieval castles of Western Europe. Its immense size, making it the largest in Britain after Windsor, its large-scale use of water for defence and the fact that it is the first truly concentric castle in Britain all contribute to this. From here we are off to Wales Capitol City of Cardiff. Overnight near Cardiff. (B,L) Day 8 - After a good Welsh breakfast we will visit Castle Coch. The name means Red Castle in Welsh, this late 19th century fairytale castle, built on medieval remains was designed for the 3rd Marquess of Bute by William Burges. Lavishly decorated and furnished in the Victorian Gothic style, this castle is a Romantic vision of the Middle Ages. This afternoon we will return to Cardiff where you will board an Open Top Bus complete with guide for a Tour of Cardiff City with hop on and off service with stops for Cardiff Castle, National Museum and Gallery, Millennium Stadium and Cardiff Bay. Cardiff was made a city in 1905, and proclaimed capital of Wales in 1955, making it the youngest capitol city in the UK. The rest of the afternoon is free before we meet up this evening to visit Cardiff Castle for a Medieval Banquet. Overnight near Cardiff. (B,D) Day 9 - After breakfast our journey starts in Chepstow with a visit to Chepstow Castle, superbly set high upon its river cliff above the Wye, Chepstow still guards one of the main river crossings from southern England into Wales. Few castles in Britain tell the story of medieval fortification, from beginning to end, as does this mighty stronghold. Our next stop is Tintern and Tintern Abbey. The Cistercian Abbey of Tintern is one of the greatest monastic ruins of Wales. It was only the second Cistercian foundation in Britain, and the first in Wales, and was founded on 9 May 1131. This afternoon finds us in Raglan to visit Raglan Castle. This 15th century castle is characterized by pale, almost yellowish sandstone from Redbrook on the Wye river, three miles away. After a drive through the Brecon Beacons National Park we find ourselves in the town of Brecon. Dinner and Overnight Brecon (B,L,D) Day 10 - This morning we visit Knighton, whose Welsh name is Tref-y-Clawdd which means "Town on the Dyke" and it is the only town that stands right on Offa's Dyke. Knighton is the home of the Offa's Dyke Centre. The Dyke was built toward the end of the 8th Century by King Offa to separate the kingdoms of Mercia from Wales. It ran for 149 miles from Chepstow to Prestatyn and some 80 miles of The Dyke is still traceable today. We next stop in the market town of Montgomery with its cobbles streets, timber-framed houses and Georgian and Victorian architecture. We will have Tea at the Ivy House before we visit the Church of St. Nicholas which contains some wonderful memorials and medieval effigies. The huge Elizabethan canopied tomb depicts Richard Herbert of Montgomery Castle who died in 1596 and his wife, Magdalen. A 15th Century screen divides the nave from the chancel, the original portion situated on the west side. Above the screen is an elaborately carved rood loft, and in the centre are carved Elizabethan gates with a pair of 15th Century figures with shields on either side. We then make our way back to North Wales. Pub Dinner at the Miner's Arms. Overnight Near Flint. (B,L,D) Day 11 - Our first stop today is the Glassblobbery near Corwen. The studio offers all sorts of glass animals, glass flowers, glass dragons and other glass sea creatures all hand made at the studio. There is also work on show by other artists and craftsmen using other materials. Then we are off to board The Steam Hauled Heritage LLangollen Railway, starting at Llangollen Station located beside the Dee River Bridge in Llangollen Town, and continuing for 7 ½ miles upstream, following the River Dee to the village of Carrog. Once we are back in Llangollen you will have time to find some lunch and wander around the town. This afternoon we visit Chirk Castle, completed in 1310, Chirk is the last Welsh castle from the reign of Edward I still lived in today. Features from its 700 years, include the medieval tower and dungeon, 17th-century Long Gallery, grand 18th-century state apartments, servants' hall and historic laundry. Dinner and Overnight Near Flint. (B,D) Day 12 - This morning we journey to Altrincham to visit Dunham Massey Hall. This is one of the most sumptuous Edwardian interiors housing exceptional collections that include Huguenot silver, paintings and walnut furniture. In the library is the Grinling Gibbons masterpiece `The Crucifixion´. From here we journey to the town of Bakewell in the Peak District National Park. Bakewell is the only market town in the National Park. After some time to enjoy this lovely town we will stop for lunch and also discover world famous Bakewell Pudding not to be confused with the more familiar Bakewell Tart. This afternoon we visit Bishops' House in Sheffield, a well preserved timber framed house built around 1500. Bishops' House typifies the development of the smaller English domestic house in the 16th and 17th centuries. Inside, the house retains many of its original features and looks just as it would have done in the 17th century, giving a tantalising flavour of Stuart England. We then make our way to just outside of Manchester for a Farewell Dinner. Dinner and Overnight near Manchester. (B,L.D) Day 13 - October 17th - Return to Manchester International for the journey home. (B) |
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