3 nights/4 days
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"I'm so pleased that I've finally discovered Wales. It's my 51st country and few of the 50 preceeding ones can beat it for such variety. My only regret is that I didn't take the longer tour!"
Martha Coffey, 2006
This superb, four-day, three-night tour of Wales will introduce you to the very best of South Wales, while affording you a glimpse of West Country England. It's the ideal tour for those who really want to get down the back roads on the discovery trail. The group size is limited to just eleven persons, travelling by comfortable mini-coach and staying in a traditional Welsh country farmhouse, vineyard or manor house. You'll see fabulous history, wonderful scenery, and visit with local people.
TENTATIVE ITINERARY
NIGHTSTOP
Day One - Wednesday
Leaving London early, we shake off the city dust using the M40 freeway to speed our journey to wonderful Wales. Our route will give us a glimpse of the beautiful English Cotswolds as we head for the Royal Forest of Dean, bordering Wales, and the stunning Wye Valley, with a lunch stop beside the river Wye. What better introduction to Wales, "Land of Song", than the imposing 12th century Norman castle of Chepstow Chepstow Castle. and the romantic Tintern Abbey (inspiration for one of William Wordsworth's loveliest poems). If there's time we'll also see the fallen walls of the once mighty Roman city of Caerwent, reputed by some to be the home of the great King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table.
Our accommodation is at a 17th century working Welsh Farmhouse, imposing country manor or vineyard depending on the time of year. South Wales
Day Two - Thursday
The civic centre of the Welsh capital - Cardiff - is magnificent by world standards. It will be the showpiece of a panoramic city tour (which will also feature the Millennium Stadium, formally known as the Arms Park, Mecca for the millions of Rugby Football fans worldwide). On then to the superb cathedral at Llandaff before arriving at the open-air Museum of Welsh Life in the nearby village of St Fagans. This fascinating mirror of hundreds of years of Welsh life embraces dozens of authentic buildings, removed from all corners of the country and painstakingly and faithfully rebuilt and refurbished here. Houses, churches and chapels, a mill, bakery, pubs and even a school, have been wonderfully preserved. This afternoon we explore the verdant Vale of Glamorgan, choosing from the market town where Sir Anthony Hopkins went to school, the Valley of Kings where the wizard Merlin was schooled, rugged coastline where smugglers lured ships to the rocks, and we'll cross a river by 13th century stepping stones. South Wales
Day Three - Friday
According to our accommodation stop, today will either begin or end in the once grey and hard world of a Welsh mining valley, now transformed, but a time so memorably captured in the great novel of industrial Wales, 'How Green Was My Valley'. We'll climb the rim of the saucer of the coal-seam bearing, Rhigos Mountain to view the sole surviving deep Welsh coal mine and the breathtaking scenery of the Brecon Beacons, our next calling point. 'There'll be a welcome in these hillsides' sing the Welsh. The market town of Brecon could be our lunch stop (where there's an interesting military museum ), or perhaps Wales's oldest inn, used by the infamous 'Hanging Judge' Jefferies as a court room. We'll also view the remote and atmospheric ruins of Llantony Priory and a historic 'hidden' rural church.
Depending on time, we'll also be visiting Abergaveny and its cattle market or the historic town of Monmouth, well-known to Admiral Nelson, Mr Rolls of Rolls Royce and Henry V.
As with all Back-Roads Touring Co. Ltd tours, tour participants will be able have an input into what we visit as we'll make allowance for weather conditions, local festivals and individual interests. South Wales
Day Four - Saturday
On our way back to London we'll visit the mysterious ancient standing stones of Avebury and the amazing Silbury Hill. But this will only be after a final memorable morning in Roman Wales. The now small village of Caerleon was named after the camp of the Roman Legions - perhaps up to 6000 Roman legionaries were based here almost 2000 years ago. The imposing remains of that camp remain and can be visited and include the barracks, the only complete amphitheatre in Britain, the Roman baths, and the remains of a Roman port.
We'll take our leave of the land of the Red Dragon, crossing the river Severn in a most unusual fashion before heading east and experiencing a spectacular exit from Wales. Our drive back to London sees us passing through some of England's timeless West country scenery and we'll arrive back into London in the late afternoon.
London – not included in tour
DEPARTURE DATES & PRICES FOR YEAR 2008
| Tour Code | Depart London | Return London |
| SWS | Wednesday | Saturday |
| Departures every Wednesday from Arp 16 to Nov 5. Other dates on request. | ||
Prices: £460 twin share / £480 single / £309 child sharing adult room
What your tour price includes
Your accommodation for 3 nights while on the tour is included in your tour price, and this includes both full breakfasts and dinners
Your price also includes all entrance fees to attractions, transportation, services of driver/guide-companion and all taxes and tips other than those you may wish to give your guide
Airport transfers and accommodation pre and post tour is not included but can be reserved at a specially discounted price.
This tour departs EVERY WEDNESDAY from central London hotels below.It is your responsibility to be there in plenty of time.
| The Royal National, Bedford Way | 08.15 (underground Russell Square) |
