Overview
The best of this day comes out of the water. Halen Môn has been drawing sea salt from the Menai Strait since the 1990s, and Conwy's mussels are still raked by hand from small boats, a method so particular to the estuary that it earned protected status in 2016.
In between you eat: lunch at Dylan's by the Menai Bridge, a slice of bara brith, the speckled fruit loaf of every Welsh kitchen, and Welsh cheeses at a specialist shop under Conwy's castle walls.
Come hungry.
- Duration
- 1 day
- 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
- Food & drink
Itinerary
The strait to the estuary
The morning starts at the salt works on the Anglesey shore, where salt is still made from the strait by traditional methods. Lunch at Dylan's, coffee and bara brith at Y Lloft, then a walk round Caernarfon Castle to make room. The afternoon ends in Conwy, with a cheese counter under the castle and mussels from the estuary outside.
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Artisan sea salt harvested from the Menai Strait, with tours and shop
Salt was made on Anglesey until the late 18th century, when the makers were fined for cutting the brine with Cheshire rock salt. Halen Môn revived the craft in the 1990s, drawing seawater from the Menai Strait, already filtered by a mussel bed and a sandbank, charcoal-filtering it and hand-harvesting the flakes with nothing added. The saltcote at Brynsiencyn runs tours and tastings and has a shop. -
Award-winning restaurant known for locally-sourced food
A family of five award winning restaurants, serving locally sourced produce & seafood, in the beautiful coastal towns of Menai Bridge, Criccieth, Llandudno, Conwy & Barmouth, North Wales. -
A cafe near Menai Bridge for coffee and a slice of bara brith
A cafe near Menai Bridge serving coffee and bara brith, the speckled fruit loaf that is a staple of Welsh baking. A relaxed spot for a break between stops on Anglesey. -
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. -
A specialist Welsh cheese deli in the shadow of the castle
The Cheese Room is a popular independent cheese shop in Conwy, North Wales, offering a wide selection of Welsh and British cheeses. Located in the historic town of Conwy, it is a great place to discover local produce and traditional flavours. Visitors can browse a variety of cheeses and find something to enjoy while exploring the town’s famous castle, medieval walls, and charming streets. -
Hand-raked estuary mussels, a Conwy speciality with protected status
Mussels have been raked by hand from the Conwy estuary for two hundred years, and still are: from small boats, with twenty-foot rakes, by families three generations deep in the trade. Not long ago more than ninety men fished the river. The catch is purified for 48 hours at the plant on the quay before it is bagged. The method is so particular to the estuary that Conwy mussels were given Protected Designation of Origin status in 2016.
What guests say
We are grateful to John Pritchard of Celticos for making our time in North Wales so memorable.
He communicated with us before we left home, devising an itinerary ideally suited to our interests. Always prompt, responsive and cheerful, he gave us four full days of worry-free touring, picking us up, driving us all over the countryside and sharing historical and cultural gems along the way.
It was a pleasure to leave the driving and planning to a professional; we were free to take it all in without being distracted by new traffic patterns or confusing GPS directions. John also knows the best ice cream, pastry and pub lunch locations in North Wales and is fun to be with as well.
We highly recommend John and Celticos to anyone searching for a great tour.
Our day with John was not like being on a tour but more like sharing a road trip with family. He went out of his way to accommodate a number of last minute changes we had to make, but did not compromise on our journey through north Wales. His warm welcome, clear explanation of our journey and options, knowledge and engaging manner were exceptional. A number of little surprises along the way just added the feeling this tour was especially for us. Our stop for lunch, suggested by John, made us feel like locals. At no time did we feel rushed and John made adjustments to our journey without hesitation. A simply wonderful day.
Frequently asked questions
- Are the tastings and workshops included?
Some producers charge for guided tours, tastings or workshops. We will tell you which as we plan the day, so there are no surprises.
- 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.
