Wales Coast & Mountains 2 Day trip
Saturday 11 April 2015, 8:30am - 9pm
International Students' House, 229 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5PN
About this event
DAY ONE (Saturday):
We depart London and head north west to the Welsh Borders. Here we make our first stop in historic Chester. A very important Roman city, Deva Victrix, we first view the remains of one of the Roman Empire's largest amphitheatres before we take a guided walk around the medieval walls and view the famous Eastgate Clock (said to be the most photographed clock in Britain after Big Ben!). After some free time and a chance for lunch we cross the 14th century Old Dee Bridge and enter Wales itself. Following the Welsh coastline through the holiday resorts of Rhyl and Colwyn Bay we arrive at Conwy with it's magnificent 13th century castle and complete town walls. All built in the 1290's by Master James of St George on the orders of King Edward I to safely protect the invading English soldiers inside from the Welsh outside. Today, in much quieter times it became an important fishing village and it's beauty and charm can be appreciated as we are taken around the walls and along the quayside by our guide, finishing off at the quirky 'smallest house in Britain' on the harbour side.
A short drive later and we are at our overnight accommodation in the elegant Victorian resort of Llandudno. Using a centrally located family run hotel, a fun evening awaits us, whether it's a walk along the 19th century pier, a stroll on the beach or a meal in one of the friendly local pubs, it'll be a great way to end the first day.
DAY TWO (Sunday):
After a full cooked Welsh breakfast to start our next morning, we drive up the steep road out of Llandudno to the Great Orme headland for spectacular views over Liverpool Bay and the Snowdon mountain ranges. Look out for the Kashmir goats roaming the hillside!
We then drive over to the Island of Anglesey, over the treacherous Menai straits to visit Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch the village with the longest name in the UK.
For the remainder of the day we visit Snowdonia National Park. We drive into the mountain landscape to the highest mountain range outside of Scotland, past the beautiful lake of Llyn Cwellyn to Beddgelert where we take a nature ramble to a nearby waterfall and learn of the story of Gelert's grave.
We then follow the breathtaking Aberglaslyn Pass down to the old harbour town of Porthmadog before our lunch stop at the historic railway station. There we will board a steam hauled narrow gauge train for a ride up the mountainside to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Built in the 1860's to carry the world famous Welsh state from the mines down to the coast, it now carries visitors in restored carriages along a line that is renowned for it's stunning views and scenery.
We rejoin the tour bus at Blaenau Ffestiniog and travel through a dramatic landscape of massive redundant slate heaps, giving way to clear views of Mount Snowdon itself (weather permitting) before exploring the delightful Lledr, Conwy and Dee valleys before our return to England and back to London.
Price Includes
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Guided tour through magnificent mountain and coastal scenery of North Wales, including the Snowdonia National Park
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Visit to historic town of Chester
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Visit to Conwy Castle's outer walls
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Steam train ride into the mountains
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Travel by luxury minibus - maximum 16 seats
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3* Hotel/guest house bed & breakfast accommodation in ensuite twin/double bedded rooms
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Services of a tour guide for the duration of the tour
Small Group promise - no more than 16 people in the group
Hotel Accommodation
All accommodation on this tour is based on staying in good quality family run hotels. Rooms are twin or double bedded and all have private bathroom/toilet and television. Hotels used are in the beautiful Victorian seaside resort of Llandudno on the North Wales coast.
Please note, due to the very nature of this tour the route and itinerary are subject to weather and road conditions and therefore may be changed while the tour is in progress.
DEPARTURE DETAILS
08.30 AM From International Students' House, 229 Great Portland Street, London W1W 5PN
If you are joining this tour in London, the meeting point is in the car park (just outside reception). ISH is directly opposite Great Portland Street tube station but also a very easy walk from Warren Street, Regent's Park and Baker Street tube stations.
This tour normally ends by 9pm in London
For more information or to book, please follow the link below:
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