The Best of Wales (2 centre)

ITINERARY

Thursday - Morning departure from Dorset, we cross the Severn bridge and enter the magical realm of Wales. We stop at St Fagans near Cardiff, the Welsh National History Museum. It contains ancient buildings rescued from across Wales and rebuilt here to preserve them for future generations. Each is frozen in time and displays the way people lived, worked and spent their leisure in times gone by. There are also workshops, crafts and rare animal breeds - a treasure trove. Continue to Swansea for 3 night stay at The Mercure Hotel.

Friday - Visit Aberglasney Gardens, one of the finest in Wales and set in a serene and beautiful location with 10 acres of stunning grounds and an indoor sub-tropical garden in the mansion house to explore. This afternoon we drive to the picturesque resort of Tenby, a gem of the Pembrokeshire Coast. A colourful town surrounded by medieval walls around a lively harbour, there are galleries, cobbled streets, arts and craft shops and boat trips. Admire the stunning coastline of Pembrokeshire - Tenby is a charming and relaxing place to experience the best of Welsh culture and nature.

Saturday - This morning to the must-see Parc Howard Museum at Llanelli which showcases some of the greatest ideas to come out of the town, along with art galleries and pottery. Later make a scenic drive to the Gower Peninsula and enjoy the landscape of this famous region with its picturesque cliffs, woodlands, heaths and sweeping beaches. Call at Mumbles with its traditional Victorian pier, iconic lighthouse and elegant Esplanade. Later drive the length of the peninsula to Rhossili which provides panoramic sea views across Worms Head.

Sunday - Leaving Swansea this morning we tour across country and alongside Cardigan Bay to Aberystwyth. Listen carefully, this is one of the places where the Welsh language is used commonly and it is considered a part of a shared inheritance and identity as a nation. After time for coffee on the seafront we tour along a panoramic mountain route to Portmeirion, a magical Italianate style village in a stunning sub-tropical garden overlooking the rugged Welsh coast. It found fame as setting for the 1960s TV location of "The Prisoner". Later we drive to Caernarfon, a fortified town on the Menai Strait boasting one of the finest 14th century castles in existence. Check-in to our second hotel the popular Celtic Royal.

Monday - Today we shall visit Llandudno, Wales's largest holiday resort but its scale is still intimate and friendly - a Victorian architectural gem that has remained unspoilt and locked in time. While here we shall enjoy a ride on the famous beautifully restored tramway to the top of The Great Orme headland - at 679 feet it provides spectacular views over the town, out to sea and across to the Snowdonia range. This afternoon we drive along the coast to the Menai Bridge and cross onto the Isle of Anglesey. Visit the town of Beaumaris, site of the finest Edwardian castle in Wales and brightened by pastel coloured cottages, a pier and tea rooms. On our way back to the hotel was shall call at Llanfair PG station for a quick photo of the longest town name in Britain.

Tuesday - Touring Snowdonia. One of the most ancient and hauntingly beautiful areas in Europe. Called Eryri in Welsh ("the place of eagles"), Snowdonia welcomes visitors to a breath-taking natural environment where mountains meet the sea. At Llanberis we join the famous rack railway up to the very summit of Mount Snowdon. A remarkable journey that has been described as one of the most scenic railway journeys in the World. It has carried over 12 million travellers since 1896. On arrival at the summit one of the world's greatest panoramas is revealed - breathtaking! Later drive through the Llanberis Pass to Bedgelert, then past the Llyn Cwellyn back to Caernarfon. Enjoy the late afternoon in the town with its ancient town walls, busy harbour and bustling centre.

Wednesday - Our homewards journey offers a last special treat - a scenic drive through the heartland of Wales via Oswestry - Llandrindod Wells - Builth Wells - and Abergavenny, with spectacular views all the way. This afternoon re-cross the Severn Bridge and drive back to Dorset by early evening.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner