Overview
North Wales fits four very different landscapes into a small space: an island of farms and sea cliffs, a border valley, a peninsula running out into the Irish Sea, and the mountains in the middle. This tour gives each one a day.
On Anglesey there's a church on its own tidal islet at St Cwyfan's. The Dee Valley has Telford's aqueduct. The Llŷn has Trefor, whose granite paved the streets of Victorian Britain. And in the mountains there's the inn where the 1953 Everest team trained.
By the last day you've seen how different they are, and how close together.
- Duration
- 4 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
- Houses & gardens
- Mountains & lakes
- Coast & beaches
Itinerary
Day 1 Ynys Môn
Over the Menai Bridge into Anglesey's past: the burial chamber at Bryn Celli Ddu and the salt works on the strait, then Aberffraw, seat of the kings of Gwynedd, and St Cwyfan's church on its rock in the sea. The west coast brings Rhoscolyn and South Stack, and you finish at Beaumaris.
-
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. -
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. -
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. -
Former royal seat of Gwynedd's kings, near St Cwyfan's island church
A village steeped in history, once serving as the royal court of the kings of Gwynedd during the medieval period. Its significance in Welsh culture and governance is evident through its role in preserving the Welsh language and traditions. While its prominence waned after the Norman invasion and subsequent shifts in power, Aberffraw remains an important historical site in Wales. A 5 minute drive down to St Cwyfan's church. -
A historic church surrounded by the sea.
St Cwyfan’s Church is a small historic church on Llangwyfan Island, off the coast of Anglesey in Wales. Built in the 12th century, it is surrounded by the sea and is known for its peaceful setting and long history. -
Quiet Anglesey village with a golden beach and clifftop walks
Rhoscolyn is a peaceful village located in the far south-west of the island of Anglesey. With beautiful coastal landscapes that have views of Snowdonia and the Llŷn Peninsula. The place's major attractions include Borthwen beach with its golden sands and safe waters, as well as stunning cliff walks with views of sea arches, St Gwenfaen’s holy well, and the Rhoscolyn Lookout Station. The village’s popular attraction is the White Eagle pub. -
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. -
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.
Day 2 The borderlands
East to Ruthin under the Clwydian Range, then Wrexham, Wales's newest city. The afternoon is the Dee Valley: across Pontcysyllte's towpath, into Llangollen, and back west along the A5 by way of Rhug's organic farm shop to Betws-y-Coed and Llanrwst's old bridge over the Conwy.
-
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. -
Wales's newest city, with St Giles' tower and a famous football club
Wales's newest city, since 2022, and the largest in the north-east. St Giles' Church has one of the Seven Wonders of Wales, its 16th-century tower, and the grave of Elihu Yale, who gave his name to the university. Wrexham AFC, one of the oldest professional clubs in the world, is owned by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, whose documentary put the city on screens everywhere. -
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 3 The Llŷn
A look at Cwm Idwal on the way, then Caernarfon, and the Llŷn coast from the hillfort on the beach at Dinas Dinlle. Trefor's quarry pier, Nant Gwrtheyrn at the foot of its valley and the sands at Nefyn come before Criccieth's castle on its headland and the harbour at Y Felinheli.
-
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. -
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. -
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. -
A quarry village under Yr Eifl with a stone pier and a shingle beach
Trefor grew around the Yr Eifl granite quarry, which shipped setts from its own pier to pave the cities of Victorian Britain. The quarry closed in the 1960s and the village is now a quiet base for walking the three peaks of Yr Eifl and the Llŷn coast path. -
Restored quarry village, now a Welsh language and heritage centre
A beautifully restored Victorian quarry village set on a 200-acre site in a secluded wooded valley overlooking Porthdinllaen Bay on the Llyn Peninsula. Transformed into a Welsh language and cultural centre, Nant Gwrtheyrn is a wonderful spot to enjoy stunning coastal scenery and learn about Welsh culture and heritage. -
Small coastal town with sandy beaches on the Llŷn Peninsula AONB
A small coastal town located on the Llyn Peninsula in Gwynedd, Wales. It is known for its scenic beauty, sandy beaches, and its location within the designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) of the Llyn Peninsula. -
Seaside resort with castle ruins on a headland above two beaches
Located on the Llŷn Peninsula and is known for its beaches, scenic views and castle ruins. Great spot to take in the views and admire the stunning backdrop of a Welsh castle later taken over by King Edward I in the 13th century, perched on the hill. The town began developing into a seaside resort back in 1868, when the Welsh Coast railways were beginning to be constructed. -
Maritime village with a small harbour looking over the Menai Strait
Is a village in Gwynedd, Wales, located near the Menai Straits and close to the city of Bangor. It has a rich history and offers beautiful views of the surrounding landscape, including Snowdonia. The village is known for its maritime heritage, with a small harbor and opportunities for outdoor activities like walking and sailing.
Day 4 The mountains
The big day in the mountains: Llanberis at the foot of Snowdon, over Pen-y-Pass and past the Everest team's inn at Pen y Gwryd, down to Beddgelert. The afternoon turns to the coast for Portmeirion's Italianate village and Harlech on its crag, with the old stone town of Dolgellau on the way back round.
-
Slate village at the foot of Snowdon, on the shore of Llyn Padarn
Lies at the foot of Mount Snowdon, the highest mountain in Wales and England. It is known for its industrial heritage. The nearby Llyn Padarn lake was once a hub for slate quarrying, recently recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Dolbadarn Castle is also situated in the village and was built in the early 13th century by Llywelyn the Great, a Welsh prince. It was constructed as a strategic stronghold to control the Llanberis Pass, which was an important route through the mountains. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
Clough Williams-Ellis's Italianate fantasy village on the estuary
Clough Williams-Ellis wanted to show that a beautiful site could be built on without spoiling it. He looked for twenty years, then in 1925 bought the Aber Iâ estate on the Dwyryd estuary near his home and spent the next fifty building Portmeirion: an Italianate village of towers, colonnades and painted facades, its streets turned so that each corner opens onto the estuary or the mountains, with woodland gardens behind. It was the Village in The Prisoner. A hotel, restaurants and shops. -
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 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. -
Seaside resort with castle ruins on a headland above two beaches
Located on the Llŷn Peninsula and is known for its beaches, scenic views and castle ruins. Great spot to take in the views and admire the stunning backdrop of a Welsh castle later taken over by King Edward I in the 13th century, perched on the hill. The town began developing into a seaside resort back in 1868, when the Welsh Coast railways were beginning to be constructed.
What guests say
We recently completed a four-day tour of North Wales with John from Celticos, and it was nothing short of exceptional from start to finish. John’s commitment to our experience began long before we even set foot in Wales. He coordinated with us via Zoom and stayed in constant communication to answer our many questions. What truly set him apart was his willingness to help us problem-solve our travel logistics, ensuring our arrival was stress-free. Once we arrived, John’s hospitality was unmatched. He provided excellent suggestions and customized our tour based on our interests. John was incredibly generous with his time, frequently staying with us well beyond his scheduled hours, driven by a genuine desire to ensure we didn't miss a single wonder that North Wales has to offer. I cannot recommend John highly enough. If you want to see the heart of Wales through the eyes of someone who truly loves it, book with him immediately!
We recently completed a four-day tour of Northern Wales and thankfully John Pritchard from Celticos was with us every step of the way. Before we even step foot in Wales, John worked closely with us to make sure our travel details to Wales and itinerary were completely customized to our needs.
Throughout our entire stay and touring experience with John, he continually went above and beyond making sure we not only hit the key locations on our itinerary but also giving us quite a flavor for the Welsh culture, food, landscape and language. His good natured personality combined with his quick wit and phenomenal storytelling abilities of “all things Wales” make John the perfect ambassador for his homeland.
If you are preparing to visit Wales, plan on connecting with Celticos as John will absolutely ensure that your experience will be one that you will never forget!
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.
