Overview
North and South Wales can feel like different countries. This tour drives from one to the other, and the road between them is half the point.
After the castles of the north and a day on Anglesey, you come down the coast to Aberystwyth, which faces west and does sunsets properly, then ride the Vale of Rheidol steam railway to Devil's Bridge, where an old woman and her dog outwitted the Devil. Then over the Elan Valley's dams to Hay, the Town of Books, and underground at Big Pit with a former miner.
It ends in Cardiff at St Fagans, where more than fifty buildings from all over Wales have been rebuilt in one place.
- Duration
- 6 days
- Group size
- Up to 7 guests
- Vehicle
- Mercedes V-Class
Includes
- Expert bilingual local guide
- Travel in a Mercedes V-Class
- Daily pick-ups & drop offs
- Fully customisable
Excludes
- Flights, transfers and accommodation
- Food and drink
- Entry fees to attractions
Itinerary
Day 1 Conwy and the Dee
Conwy's castle and walls to start, then across to Ruthin and down to the Dee for Telford's aqueduct and Llangollen. Back west past the Rhug estate's farm shop to Betws-y-Coed, and Llanrwst's old bridge over the Conwy.
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Edward I's exceptionally preserved fortress on the River Conwy
Built for Edward I by Master James of St George from 1283, on a rock at the mouth of the Conwy: eight towers, two barbicans and a great hall in one long ring, with no need for the concentric walls of his other castles because the rock did that work. It cost about £15,000, the most Edward spent so quickly on any Welsh castle, and it is the best preserved of them all. A World Heritage Site together with the town walls, which still run unbroken round the old town. -
Denbighshire town of historic squares below the Clwydian Range
Is a picturesque town in Denbighshire, celebrated for its rich history and scenic landscapes. Dating back to Roman times, it features the historic Ruthin Castle, a 13th-century building that now serves as a hotel. The town's heart is St. Peter's Square, surrounded by attractions like the Ruthin Craft Centre and the Old Courthouse, which hosts galleries and community events. Nestled near the Clwydian Range and the River Clwyd, Ruthin offers ample opportunities for hiking and enjoying nature. -
Telford's 1805 aqueduct, the highest navigable one in the world
Thomas Telford's aqueduct of 1805 carries the Llangollen Canal 307 metres across the Dee on 18 tapering stone piers, hollow at the top to save weight, 38 metres above the river: the highest navigable aqueduct in the world and a World Heritage Site. You can walk the towpath across, with a railing on one side and the drop on the other, or see it from the riverbank below. -
Dee Valley town below the Berwyn Mountains and Castell Dinas Bran
A small town at a crossing of the Dee, in the narrowest part of the valley below the Berwyn Mountains. The river runs fast here and canoeists fight through it under the old bridge, while a horse pulls the passenger boats along the canal above the town. Each July the International Musical Eisteddfod fills the Royal Pavilion with singers and dancers from around the world, and a heritage railway runs ten miles up the valley to Corwen. On the hill above are the ruins of Castell Dinas Brân. -
Organic estate farm shop, cafe and restaurant on the Rhug Estate
The farm shop is renowned for its high-quality products and commitment to organic and sustainable farming practices. It aims to provide customers with fresh, wholesome, and ethically produced food. In addition to the farm shop, Rhug Estate also encompasses a cafe and restaurant where visitors can enjoy meals made using ingredients from the farm. Prince Charles opened the shop in 2013 and has been known to stop by. -
Victorian resort village of stone bridges and riverside woodland walks
A gem of a village and the gateway to Snowdonia, Betws-y-Coed has been a popular holiday destination since the Victorian era. Situated in a picturesque valley at the confluence of the River Conwy and River Llugwy, the village offers charming stone bridges, woodland walks, and a wonderful selection of outdoor shops and cafes. -
A Conwy Valley market town beside the 17th-century Pont Fawr
A small market town on the River Conwy. Pont Fawr, the three-arched bridge of 1636, is attributed by tradition to Inigo Jones, and Tŷ Hwnt i'r Bont beside it is a 15th-century house, now the ivy-covered tearoom in every photograph of the town. Gwydir Castle, the Wynn family's Tudor house, is across the river.
Day 2 Anglesey
Onto the island for Bryn Celli Ddu, a tomb whose passage lines up with the midsummer sunrise, then Llanfairpwll, Beaumaris and Penmon Point. The afternoon crosses the island to Moelfre's harbour and the coloured rock of Parys Mountain, once one of the largest copper mines in the world.
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A 5,000-year-old Neolithic burial chamber, remarkably well preserved
The Mound in the Dark Grove: a Neolithic passage tomb on Anglesey, around 5,000 years old, built on top of an earlier henge, so that it is two monuments in one, tracing a change in belief. You can walk into the chamber, where a stone carved with spirals stands. The passage is aligned so that the rising midsummer sun lights the chamber. -
The village with Europe's longest name, and the photo to prove it
The village with the longest place name in Europe, 58 letters, stretched to that length in the 1860s as a stunt to bring visitors to the new railway station. It still works: everyone stops to be photographed under the station sign. The name means roughly 'St Mary's church in the hollow of the white hazel near the rapid whirlpool and St Tysilio's church by the red cave'. -
Elegant Georgian seaside town with its World Heritage castle and cafes
A small Georgian town on the Menai Strait, laid out beside the last of Edward I's castles, which sits in its moat at the top of the main street. The Victorian pier looks across the water to Snowdonia and up the strait to Puffin Island. Independent cafes, restaurants, gift shops and galleries, and the old courthouse and gaol to visit. -
Headland views across to Puffin Island and the mainland coast
A scenic headland on Anglesey offering panoramic views of the Menai Strait, Puffin Island, and the coast of mainland Wales. The area is home to historic landmarks including Penmon Priory, a 12th-century priory, and Penmon Lighthouse, built in 1838 and still in operation today. -
Telford's 1826 span, the world's first major suspension bridge
Thomas Telford's suspension bridge of 1826, the first major one in the world, crossing the Menai Strait where the ferries used to run. The small town on the Anglesey bank takes its name from it, with a waterfront walk to Church Island, and shops and restaurants near the bridge. -
Whitewashed coastal village with a small harbour and sea views
A picturesque coastal village on the Anglesey Coastal Path, offering stunning views of the Irish Sea and the surrounding countryside. The village retains its traditional charm with whitewashed cottages, a small harbour, and a lovely beach. -
A vivid copper-mined landscape of red, orange and purple rock
Copper was dug here in the Bronze Age and by the Romans, but Parys Mountain's great age was the late 18th century, when it was the largest copper mine in the world and its ore sheathed the hulls of the Royal Navy. Women, the copar ledis, broke the ore with hammers on twelve-hour shifts, and children carried it to them. What is left is a hillside stained red, orange, purple and green, with a marked trail around the open pit.
Day 3 Down the west coast
Caernarfon, then through the mountains to Beddgelert and down to Harlech on its crag. Inland to Tomen y Mur, a Roman fort with its own amphitheatre high on the moor, then Dolgellau and the coast road to Aberystwyth.
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Edward I's mightiest fortress, guarding the Menai Strait since 1283
Edward I's fortress palace at the mouth of the Seiont, begun in 1283, its banded masonry and polygonal towers modelled on the walls of Constantinople. The first English Prince of Wales was born here in 1284, and the investiture of Prince Charles took place here in 1969. A World Heritage Site with its walled town, and one of the best-preserved medieval castles in Europe. -
Often called the prettiest village in Wales, and famed for ice cream
Often called the prettiest village in Wales, where the Glaslyn meets the Colwyn under the mountains. The name means Gelert's grave, and the story of the prince who killed his faithful hound by mistake is told at the grave a short walk downstream. Parts of the village date from the 12th century; it grew on copper mining in the 18th and 19th. Famous for its ice cream, and for the National Trust's Tŷ Isaf shop in a late 17th-century house in the centre. -
Edward I's clifftop fortress above Cardigan Bay, a World Heritage Site
Edward I's castle on its rock above Cardigan Bay, built to the concentric plan in only twelve years, 1283 to 1295, by nearly a thousand craftsmen and labourers. The sea once came to the foot of the rock. A siege in the Wars of the Roses, when a small garrison held out for seven years, is said to be the origin of 'Men of Harlech'. A World Heritage Site. -
A Roman fort with its own amphitheatre, high on the moor
Tomen y Mur is an ancient Roman fort near Trawsfynydd in Gwynedd, North Wales. Built around AD 78–80 during the Roman conquest of Wales, it was an important military site and included a fort, roads, a parade ground, and other buildings. Today, only earthworks and ruins remain, but the site provides fascinating evidence of Roman life and military activity in the Welsh landscape. -
A stone-built market town, the gateway to southern Snowdonia
A historic market town with a rich history dating back to medieval times. Dolgellau features 17th-century houses, narrow streets, and the iconic stone bridge Pont y Wernddu. The architecture reflects the town's heritage and contributes to its considerable charm as a gateway to southern Snowdonia. -
Mid Wales seaside town and university city below a clifftop railway
The largest town in Mid Wales, home to the oldest of the Welsh universities and the National Library, with a castle ruin on the front. It faces due west across Cardigan Bay, so on summer evenings the sun goes down straight in front of the promenade. The funicular cliff railway of 1896, the longest in Britain, climbs Constitution Hill to a view of 26 peaks on a clear day, and the Vale of Rheidol steam railway leaves from the station for Devil's Bridge.
Day 4 Across mid Wales
An hour of narrow-gauge steam up the Rheidol valley to Devil's Bridge, then across the uplands to the Elan Valley, where Victorian dams hold back Birmingham's water. Over to Hay-on-Wye, the Town of Books, and into the Bannau.
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Narrow-gauge steam through the Rheidol Valley to Devil's Bridge
Narrow-gauge steam from Aberystwyth, twelve miles up the Rheidol valley to Devil's Bridge, about an hour each way. Opened in 1902 and the last steam railway British Rail ran, the line twists along the valley side through open fields and ancient woodland, climbing to Devil's Bridge, home of the Mynach Falls and the three bridges stacked one above another over the gorge. Red kites soar over the valley most days, and the locomotives and carriages are kept in traditional livery. -
A valley of reservoirs and woodland, rich in wildlife and birdlife
The reservoirs stand as a remarkable achievement in Victorian engineering, addressing the pressing water needs of Birmingham while transforming the landscape into a stunning natural reserve. The project not only provided a reliable water supply for over a century but also created beautiful reservoirs that attract visitors for recreation and wildlife observation. Today, the Elan Valley is celebrated for its historical significance, breathtaking scenery, and the balance it strikes between human ingenuity and environmental preservation. -
The Town of Books, with dozens of bookshops beside the River Wye
Is a small town located on the border between England and Wales, in Powys County, Wales. It is renowned for being a major center for second-hand and antiquarian books, earning it the nickname 'The Town of Books'. Hay-on-Wye is also known for its picturesque setting. The town is situated in the beautiful countryside of the Wye Valley, with the River Wye flowing nearby and stunning landscapes of the Brecon Beacons National Park. -
Dramatic mountain scenery, waterfalls and valleys on a scenic drive
A stunning national park in South Wales known for its dramatic mountain scenery, waterfalls, and beautiful valleys. A scenic drive through the park and Neath Valley is a memorable experience.
Day 5 The Valleys and the Wye
Crickhowell's bridge, which has twelve arches on one side and thirteen on the other, then Big Pit, where a former miner takes you underground. Raglan's Tudor ruins, the wooded Wye Valley and Tintern Abbey, founded in 1131, finish the day.
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Market town on the Usk, with a many-arched bridge of 1706
Crickhowell lies where the Usk comes down out of the Black Mountains, a market town inside the Bannau Brycheiniog national park. Its stone bridge, rebuilt in 1706 and widened a century later, crosses the river at 128 metres and is known for having twelve arches on one side and thirteen on the other. Tretower Court and Castle are a few miles up the valley. -
Descend a real Blaenavon pit with a former miner as your guide
An industrial heritage museum in Blaenavon, Wales. It is located within the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The Big Pit was a working coal mine from 1860 until it was closed in 1980. It has since been transformed into a museum that allows visitors to experience what life was like for the coal miners who worked underground. -
Late medieval castle and Tudor mansion ruins in the Welsh Marches
An extensively restored medieval castle and major tourist attraction. Visitors can explore the impressive ruins including the Great Tower, the Pitched Stone Court, and the remains of the former Tudor mansion. Raglan Castle offers a fascinating insight into medieval and Tudor history in the Welsh Marches. -
An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the England-Wales border
The Wye winds between wooded limestone gorges on the border of Wales and England, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the birthplace of British tourism, where Georgian travellers took boats down from Ross to Chepstow in search of the picturesque. Tintern Abbey stands on its bank, and Symonds Yat Rock gives the classic view. -
Gothic ruins of a 1131 Cistercian abbey beside the River Wye
Also known as Tintern Parva, is a historic ruined abbey located on the banks of the River Wye in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is one of the most famous and well-preserved medieval abbeys in the country. Was founded in 1131 by Walter de Clare, the Lord of Chepstow, and belonged to the Cistercian order of monks. The abbey church and monastic buildings were constructed over the course of the 13th century, showcasing some of the finest examples of Gothic architecture in the UK.
Day 6 Caerleon and Cardiff
The Roman fortress at Caerleon, with its amphitheatre and baths, then Cardiff Bay, where the coal ships used to sail from and the Senedd now sits. The afternoon is St Fagans' open-air museum of rebuilt Welsh houses, chapels and shops, and the capital itself.
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Roman legionary fortress with amphitheatre, baths and museum
The Romans established a legionary fortress at Caerleon around 75 AD, and it remained in use for over 200 years. The fortress was strategically positioned on the River Usk and served as a key defence point for the Roman Empire in Britain. Within the fortress, various structures were constructed, including barracks, granaries, a bathhouse, an amphitheatre, and an impressive Roman Legionary Museum. The amphitheatre was used for gladiatorial contests and other forms of entertainment. -
Redeveloped docklands waterfront, home to the Senedd and Pierhead
A waterfront district located in the capital city of Cardiff, Wales. Historically, this area was the site of Cardiff's docklands and maritime industries. However, in the late 20th century, the area underwent a major redevelopment. The redevelopment has created a vibrant, pedestrian-friendly district with scenic walking paths, public art, and green spaces. It has become a popular destination. -
Over 50 historic Welsh buildings rebuilt in an open-air museum
Is one of Europe's leading open-air museums and Wales's most popular heritage attraction. The Museum stands in the grounds of St Fagans Castle and gardens, a late 16th century manor house donated to the people of Wales by the Earl of Plymouth in 1948. Over 50 historic buildings from all over Wales have been re-built at the Museum including a Victorian school, a medieval church and a Workmen's Institute. -
Wales's capital city, from Roman fort to castle and waterfront
Based on the southern coast of Wales, along the Bristol Channel and River Taff estuary. Cardiff originated as a minor Roman fort before gradually growing into a major port city during the Industrial Revolution. It was officially proclaimed the capital of Wales in 1955. One of the main highlights is Cardiff Castle which dates back 2,000 years ago.
What guests say
We connected with John 8 months before our planned tour of Wales in June 2026. We had a rough outline of where we wanted to go and experience. After meeting on FaceTime, we discussed further ideas. John designed a route for us with options and background information. After a few weeks of back and forth, we had a plan for a 6 day circuit of Wales! After that John offered some suggestions for accommodations and eateries. We wanted a scenic, off the beaten path, tour of Wales, with a stop in Pontypridd to find some family history. We kept in constant communication, and even had a few minor last minute changes. John’s knowledge of Wales, along with his passion, made for an incredible journey. Small town cafe’s and restaurants, local haunts, gorgeous beaches and cliffs - you won’t get this on any big tour. Comfortable Mercedes Van that goes anywhere. Welsh treats and snacks (Snowdonia Black Bomber Cheese anyone?). This is the best guided tour we’ve ever been on (and we have travelled the world). Worth every penny (or should I say “pence”). To sum up - amazing, thoughtful, flexible, warm and kind hearted. Diolch yn fawr iawn John.
The entire process of planning and then touring with John went so smoothly. He took my rough wishlist and turned it into an amazing 4-day adventure! We visited a variety of places in Wales between Llandudno, Snowdonia, and Cardiff. This trip exceeded my expectations!
Frequently asked questions
- Can we change the itinerary?
Yes. Every tour we run is customised, so treat this itinerary as a starting point. Tell us what interests you and we will build the days around it.
- Can this tour be combined with other tours, or made longer or shorter?
Yes. A day tour can be built into a multi-day tour, and a multi-day tour can be shortened, extended or joined to another. Tell us how many days you have and we will plan around them.
- Are admission fees included?
No. Entry to castles, gardens and other attractions is paid on the day, where a fee applies. Many of the castles are cared for by Cadw, and we can advise on the best-value tickets when you book.
- Is food included?
No. As we tour we will suggest eating places that our guests have enjoyed.
- What should we wear and bring?
Sensible footwear for some light walking, and a rain jacket, just in case.
- How much walking is involved?
Some, and none of it strenuous: the walk from the car to a castle gate or a viewpoint. If walking is a concern, tell us and we will plan the stops accordingly.
- Where should we stay?
Somewhere central, so that touring time is not spent driving to the start. Our accommodation advice lists places our guests have used, and we are happy to suggest a base for your tour.
