Day 1 - May 19th - Arrive into London Heathrow Airport but our adventure will start in Cardiff, Wales. Along the
way we stop at a few lovely English villages including the market town of Marlborough. We then stop at one of my very
favourite tearooms in all of the UK,  The Bridge Tea Rooms in Bradford-On-Avon for Afternoon Tea. You will want
some time to investigate this lovely Cotswolds Village before we continue our journey to Wales and the capitol city of
Cardiff. After getting settled into our accommodation we will gather for a Welcoming Dinner at Cardiff Castle to kick
off this tour. It will be a traditional Welsh Evening of Song. Dinner and Overnight Cardiff. (L,D)   

Day 2 - 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 for Lunch at Pettigrew Tearooms before you 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 and evening free. Overnight Cardiff. (B,L)      

Day 3 - This morning we visit Caerphilly and Caerphilly Castle before our drive through the Brecon Beacons.
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. The Brecon Beacons National Park is resplendent with traditional market towns, stunning landscapes, canal
paths and castle. The scenery is spectacular from the rolling countryside and valleys to the wild beauty of the waterfalls and
caves. Along the way we will stop for Afternoon Tea at Pilgrims Tearooms At Brecon before making out way back to
Cardiff. On the way back, we will stop at Wales only Whisky Distillery, Penderyn. At Penderyn they produce just one
cask per day of the finest malted barley spirit, which, when matured, is recognised worldwide as one of the finest malt
whiskies. After a Tour and a Taste we return home. Dinner and Overnight Cardiff. (B,L,D)

Day 4 - After breakfast we leave Cardiff behind as we head just a short ways to St. Fagan's, Museum of Welsh Life, an
open air Celtic village within 100 acre parklands. During the last fifty years over forty original buildings from different
historical periods have been re-erected in the 100-acre parkland, among them houses, a farm, a school, a chapel, a tollhouse, a
splendid Workmen's Institute and a Tudor Mansion. Traditional crafts and activities bring St Fagan's alive, in workshops
where craftsmen still demonstrate their traditional skills. We will stop for Lunch at the Old Castle Tearooms at
Llanelli before a visit to 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
family lived here. We then continue on to Pembrokeshire. Dinner and Overnight Pembrokeshire. (B,L,D)

Day 5 - Following a hearty breakfast we travel to St. David's where St. David's Cathedral has been the dominant
presence since the 12th century and was a popular pilgrimage destination throughout the middle ages. Since the 6th century
there has been a church on this site and for the past 1500 years prayer and worship has been offered on a daily basis which
continues to this day. We will stop for a Fish and Chips Lunch before we make our way to Tenby in Pembrokeshire.
Tenby is a coastal town steeped in ancient history surrounded by an imposing stone wall, built in the 13th century. While here
we will visit the Tudor Merchant's House, a 15th century relic of Tenby's prosperous seafaring days. Step back 500 years
and discover how the Tudor merchant and his family would have lived in this fascinating three storey house. Dinner on
your own and Overnight Pembrokeshire. (B,L)       

Day 6 - The most popular megalithic site in Wales is Pentre Ifan.  It is a splendid burial chamber with a huge capstone
delicately poised on three uprights. Once known as Arthur's' Quoit, Pentre Ifan means Ivan's Village. The monument dates
back to about 3500 BC. Our coastal drive then takes us through Cardigan, New Quay and Aberaeron and on to the
lovely seaside village of Aberystwyth with a stop along the way for lunch. You will have some time to investigate this lovely
seaside university city before we take the Aberystwyth Electric Cliff Railway to the top of Constitution Hill which
rises dramatically from the sea, providing spectacular and uninterrupted views of the town, Cardigan Bay, and on a clear day
26 mountain peaks spanning much of the length of Wales. We then make our way further north to near Dolgellou. Dinner
and Overnight near Dolgellou. (B,L,D)

Day 7 - Today our coastal drive will take us further north to Harlech and Harlech Castle. As if its 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. We
will Lunch at the Cemlyn Tearoom in Harlech before we travel through the beautiful Snowdonia Region of Wales
on our way to Betws-y-Coed. We will take a short detour to Portmeirion, designed and built by Sir Clough Williams-
Ellis between 1925 and 1975 in the style of an Italian village. This is also a wonderful place to get some great ice cream! Once
in Betws-y-Coed you will have free time to enjoy this lovely Snowdonian village before we make our way to our
accommodation. Dinner and Overnight North Wales. (B,L,D)

Day 8 - 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. We
will stop in Llandudno for Afternoon Tea before a visit to Conwy Castle. Words cannot do justice to Conwy Castle as 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 then return home before Dinner on your own.
Overnight North Wales (B,L)   

Day 9 -  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 we will Stop for Lunch at a local
tearoom before a wander around the town. This afternoon we visit the evocative ruins of Valle Crucis Abbey, which stands
in green fields beneath Llangollen's steep sided mountains. The Abbey, founded in the 13th century has fared well against
the ravages of time, history and neglect. Dinner and Overnight North Wales. (B,L,D)

Day 10 - This morning we drive through the spectacular North Wales Mountains to Bala and the breathtaking Lake
Bala through the peaks and valleys eventually ending up at Welshpool. Near to Welshpool we find Powis Castle and its
world famous garden. High on a rock above the terraces, the castle, originally built circa 1200, began life as a medieval
fortress. Remodelled and embellished over more than 400 years, it reflects the changing needs and ambitions of the Herbert
family - each generation adding to the magnificent collection of paintings, sculpture, furniture and tapestries. We will have
Afternoon Tea at Lady Henrietta's at the castle before visiting the castle itself. We then make our way heading south
with stops Montgomery and Newtown on our way to Caersws. Montgomery grew up around its hilltop castle, built in the
13th century and is pleasant place to explore with its mixture of timber-framed houses, Georgian and Victorian architecture.  
Dinner and Overnight Caersws.  (B,L)

Day 11 - This morning we make our way through more picturesque villages and lovely Welsh countryside on our way to
Abbey Cwm Hir, mid Wales most unique and beautiful stately home and historic house. This 52 Room Victorian
Revival Gothic Mansion sits in 12 acres of gardens overlooking the ruins of the 12th century Cistercian abbey. Before our
tour of the house we will have a lovely lunch in the house. Next visit is to Hay-on-Wye and Llanthony Priory. Llanthony
was one of the earliest houses of Augustinian Canons to founded in Britain and is famous for its wild and beautiful setting.
Hay-on-Wye lies on the east bank of the River Wye and is within the Brecon Beacons National Park, just north of the
Black Mountains. Hay-on-Wye is a destination for bibliophiles in the United Kingdom, with over thirty bookshops, many
selling specialist and second-hand books. We then continue on to our accommodation where find dinner waiting. Overnight
near Chepstow. (B,L,D)

Day 12 - After breakfast we visit 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 journey then takes us to Tintern with 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 is one of my favorite stops in Wales! We
will stop for Lunch at St. Mary's Tearoom before we visit Caerwent Roman Town, a small quiet village that was once
the site of a busy and bustling Roman town with numerous shops, houses, baths, temples and a civic hall and marketplace. It
was then known as Venta Silurum 'the market of the Silures'. Overnight near Chepstow. (B,L)

Day 13 -  This morning we make our way to the Gloucester to visit Gloucester Cathedral, a place of worship for over
1300 years. The present cathedral was begun in 1089 and in 1216, Henry III was crowned here and King Edward II is
buried here. We then make our way to Oxford with a stop for lunch along the way. Once in Oxford we visit the Bodleian
Library on a behind the scenes tour, where you will certainly recognize areas used in filming the Harry Potter movies. The
Bodleian, chief among the University’s libraries, has a special place. It first opened its doors to scholars in 1602 and these
buildings are still used by students and scholars from all over the world. We then drove to a lovely location just outside of
London Heathrow.  Farewell Dinner and Overnight near Heathrow. B,L,D)

Day 14 - June 1st- After breakfast, we return to Heathrow International to prepare for our journey home. (B