Overview
In 1953 the men who would climb Everest trained in these mountains, based at a small inn below the Llanberis Pass. You stop there on the first day, on the way over the high passes from Conwy to the sea.
The second day crosses the Menai Strait to Anglesey: the Marquess of Anglesey's house on the water, a burial chamber you can walk inside, and the lighthouse at South Stack.
Two days, the mountains and the island, and Telford's bridge between them.
- Duration
- 2 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
- Castles
- Heritage & culture
- Mountains & lakes
- Coast & beaches
Itinerary
Day 1 Conwy to the Nantlle coast
Out of Conwy and up the valley to Betws-y-Coed, then over Pen y Gwryd and Pen-y-Pass, the heart of the mountains. Down through Beddgelert to Pant Du, a vineyard on the glacial slopes of the Nantlle Valley, and out to the Iron Age hillfort on the beach at Dinas Dinlle.
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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. -
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. -
Snowdonia's most popular waterfall, a short way from Betws-y-Coed
A series of falls on the Afon Llugwy two miles above Betws-y-Coed, the most visited waterfall in Snowdonia since the Victorians came by train. The Welsh name, Rhaeadr Ewynnol, means the foaming fall; 'ewynnol' sounds like 'y wennol', the swallow, and the English name stuck. -
The inn where the 1953 Everest team trained before setting out
Gained historical significance as the base camp for the 1953 British Mount Everest expedition led by Sir John Hunt. The expedition aimed to conquer Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world. The team, which included renowned climbers such as Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay, used Pen y Gwryd as their training ground before departing for Everest. -
Mountain pass high in Snowdonia, a classic start for Snowdon walks
A mountain pass at the top of the Llanberis Pass in Snowdonia, offering dramatic views of the surrounding peaks. A popular starting point for walks up Snowdon and a stunning drive-through experience. -
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. -
Family vineyard and orchard on the sunny slopes of Nantlle Valley
Vineyard and Orchard situated on the stunning slopes of the Nantlle Valley, Snowdonia, North Wales. The vineyard and orchard has been planted on the south facing glacial slopes of the valley, at the foothills of Snowdon. Pant Du is a family run business with a cafe, shop on site. Spectacular views of the magnificent Snowdonia mountain range can be seen to the North East, and panoramic views of the sea to the West, Pant Du is an idyllic location to enjoy the spectacular natural beauty Snowdonia has to offer. -
Iron Age coastal hillfort with views across to the Llŷn Peninsula
An Iron Age hillfort thought to have been constructed around 300 BCE, serving as a defensive structure offering protection to its inhabitants. Located on the coast near Caernarfon with views across to the Llŷn Peninsula.
Day 2 Ynys Môn
A last look at the mountains from Cwm Idwal, then across to Anglesey for Plas Newydd on the Menai Strait and the chamber tomb of Bryn Celli Ddu. Beaumaris in the afternoon, the seabird cliffs of South Stack at the island's far end, and back over Telford's bridge as the day closes.
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Wales's oldest nature reserve, a dramatic hanging valley and lake
A hanging valley and lake under the cliffs of Glyder Fawr, Wales's first National Nature Reserve, where Darwin came in 1831 and only later realised he had been looking at the work of glaciers. The legend is darker: Idwal, a prince's son, was drowned in the lake by his guardian, and no bird, they say, has flown over it since. The circuit of the lake is about three miles from the Ogwen car park. -
Marquess of Anglesey's mansion and gardens on the Menai Strait
The Marquess of Anglesey's house on the Menai Strait: a 1470s house rebuilt in the 1790s by James Wyatt and restyled in the 1930s, when Rex Whistler painted the 58-foot mural in the dining room, his largest work, an imagined harbour with Snowdonia beyond. Gardens and woodland walks along the strait, and the National Trust since 1976. -
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. -
Clifftop seabird colonies around one of Wales's most photographed spots
A lighthouse of 1809 on a rock off the west coast of Holy Island, reached down 400 steps and across a bridge: an island off an island off an island. The cliffs hold thousands of guillemots, razorbills and puffins in early summer, and choughs all year, and the RSPB's rare-breed sheep graze the heath above. Above the car park are the Iron Age hut circles of Tŷ Mawr. -
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.
What guests say
Being that both of our ancestors came from the Snowdonia area of North Wales, this is a place my husband and I always wanted to visit. Finding Celticos online and working with John after he answered our request for information I knew we had found the perfect person to fulfill our wishes. Talking and texting with him confirmed both his love for and knowledge about the area. From the moment he picked us up at Heathrow to his dropping us off near the Stafford train station we were treated to a personal two day tour of the area around Snowdonia. By the time we parted ways we felt like we had known John forever and would highly recommend him and Celticos for those who want to visit North Wales.
Celticos was absolutely the best use of our limited time in North Wales. If anyone has the opportunity to go to North Wales, please don’t hesitate to hire John Pritchard to tour you around. John was personable, knowledgeable, informative, and showed us all the best sites in North Wales. I would recommend him wholeheartedly. He drove us around for two days, and it was a total pleasure and really enhanced our experience in that area of the world
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.
