Grand Eight Day Tour of Wales

A circular tour of all of Wales in eight days

This is an actual tour that took place in 2017, an excellent example of a touring route to see all the contrasting & interesting areas of Wales. The tour included travelling the whole of the north coast of North Wales, the island of Anglesey, touring through the rugged mountainous area of Snowdonia National Park: 

After three nights staying in Caernarfon, we travelled down the west coast of Wales on route to the second base in North Pembrokeshire and then touring the South Wales area with two nights stay in the Capital City of Cardiff.

The final day was spent touring the borderlands of England and Wales before our final spectacular site, the world heritage Pontcysyllte aqueduct, then on to airport hotel in Manchester. 

Customer Review

Eight Wonderful Days Touring Wales 

"Alwyn Griffith met our plane in Manchester and we headed to Wales for a trip to see castles, ruins, churches, small villages, and lovely scenery. We were a group of photographers eager to photograph the old Welsh castles and burial sites. Our weather was very good. Our entire trip was a wonderful experience. We enjoyed Alwyn and hearing his many interesting facts on Welsh history as we journeyed about. His van was comfortable and nice with ample room for four adults and a bunch of luggage. Alwyn was considerate, friendly, and very easy to work with.

All in all, it was perfect. We couldn't have had a nicer tour guide or better trip."

– Susan Black, Texas, USA

Please visit the comprehensive Blog pages below created by Susan, I hope our potential customers enjoy and appreciate your excellent creations as much as I did.

Thank you, Alwyn

• English Castles in Wales

• Native Welsh Castles

• Two Cathedrals and an Abbey

• Ft. Belan, Newton House, and Castle Coch

• Pretty, Interesting, Fun

We can begin or end the tours at your chosen location such as any North Wales venue, the capital city of Cardiff or Manchester airport etc.

Areas included on this tour

Conwy & the Conwy Valley

The historic castle town of Conwy and the Victorian resort of Llandudno are well known as popular tourist destinations but there is a lot more on offer for visitors to this beautiful area of North Wales. We travel along the Menai Strait, looking over to the Isle of Anglesey, before following the ancient road over the mountain to Conwy.

We then follow the river along its course, visiting hidden historic sights and quaint corners before reaching Betws-y-Coed, the perfect picture postcard village nestling in the hills at the gateway to Snowdonia.

Snowdonia National Park

The day will then be spent exploring the Snowdonia National Park around Mount Snowdon travelling via the Nant Ffrancon Pass, Ogwen Valley, Snowdonia Lakes, Nant Gwynant, Beddgelert, Caernarfon, Llanberis and the Menai Straits. We will visit the highlights of this fascinating area, where history has left its mark on every farm, castle and mountain.

Isle of Anglesey

The Isle of Anglesey is known as the Mother of Wales. With its rolling countryside, rich pastures and infinitely varied coastline it has historically been credited with the ability to feed the whole of Wales. If the past is your thing, we can travel through prehistory, visiting Iron Age and Celtic sites in an astonishing state of preservation to seeing a picture-perfect castle in its moat at Beaumaris.

The coastline offers many opportunities for a rich experience – from Penmon with its lighthouse and Puffin Island, a historic lifeboat at Moelfre, South Stack lighthouse and then on to a beach stretching as far as the eye can see …well until you reach the ruins of St Dwynwen’s – the patron saint of Welsh lovers – on an island accessible at low tide.

After a short stop to see the village with the longest name, you can see and then travel over the spectacular bridges linking the island to the mainland.

South Snowdonia & Llyn Peninsula

South Snowdonia and the Llyn Peninsula offers you an incredible variety of scenery, architecture and history. The Italianate fantasy village of Portmeirion, castles at Criccieth and Harlech, beautiful gardens at Brondanw and an Iron age hillfort are all en route. And if that were not enough, there is a restored quarry village repurposed as a cultural centre which lies on the shores of an azure sea.

Mid Wales & Cardigan Bay

The natural centre of Mid Wales and Cardigan Bay is Aberystwyth, the home of Wales' oldest University and the National Library (and a castle, of course!). It is also an ideally situated traditional seaside town, where the sun goes down right in front of you as you look out to sea on long summer evenings. The Vale of Rheidol steam Railway chugs out of the town through a beautiful valley towards Devil's Bridge. Cue more myths and legends.

Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire is a county of lovely coastal villages, hidden coves, picturesque harbours and a stand-out architectural icon in St David's Cathedral, hidden in a hollow, built on marshy ground, but a lasting monument to the skill of the medieval builder.

South Wales & Cardiff

Cardiff is a vibrant, young capital city which has quickly established the cultural landmarks you would expect - theatres, museums and sporting stadiums are here aplenty. There are also stand-out sights - an amazing gothic fantasy castle within its forbidding walls, another fairy-tale castle just out of town and one of world's best outdoor folk museums at St Fagans.

South East Wales & Wye Valley

South East Wales and the Wye Valley say a lot about Wales - you suddenly escape from city and busy infrastructure to rolling hills, rushing rivers and atmospheric ruins of long-abandoned abbeys, now lovingly preserved in their impossibly beautiful locations.

North East Wales

We head further east on this day, into the valley of the Dee and the borderlands of Nort East Wales. The natural centre is Llangollen, itself an attractive small town at an important crossing point of the Dee. The river is quite wild at this point and it’s a great pleasure to spend time on its banks watching canoeists battle their way through. On a gentler note, the town is also a cultural centre, hosting an International Eisteddfod (festival).

Yet another World Heritage Site is nearby – the famous Pontcysyllte aqueduct which takes the Llangollen canal soaring above the valley of the River Dee. You can visit Telford’s masterpiece from below or for those who want to brave the heights, you can walk across. Nearby are also the atmospheric ruins of Vale Crucis Abbey and the hilltop castle of Dinas Bran – the City of the Crow.