Welsh Wanderer
Discover the mountain peaks and windswept coastline of Wales on this 5-day group tour from London. Explore the pretty villages of the Cotswolds and spend two nights in the coastal town of Aberystwyth. Take in the ruins of Harlech Castle, uncover the scenery of Snowdonia National Park and wander the pretty whitewashed streets of New Quay. Visit the smallest city in the UK, St Davids, browse the fascinating National Museum of History in St Fagans and make your way back to the English capital.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes
Tour overview
Itinerary
Day 1 London to Aberystwyth
Day 1 London to Aberystwyth
London - Hay-on-Wye - Aberystwyth. Departing central London this morning, we drive away from the city and into the Cotswolds area of outstanding natural beauty. Pass through charming English postcard villages, stopping for photos and whenever we come across a site of interest.
Crossing into Wales, we stop first at Hay-on-Wye, nestled just outside the Brecon Beacons and known as the 'town of books' thanks to its large number of bookshops. Driving into the Elan Valley and the Cambrian Mountains we can enjoy the scenery before reaching the seaside town of Aberystwyth, home for the next two nights.
Please note: Check-in closes at 09:00 on day 1 (tour departs at 09:15) - Stance 3, Greenline Coach Terminal London, Bulleid Way, Victoria, London, SW1W 9SH.
Accommodation: Bodalwyn, GwesTY Guest House, The Glengower or similar
Day 2 Snowdonia & Harlech Castle
Day 2 Snowdonia & Harlech Castle
Taking a day trip from Aberystwyth, we head into the mountains of Snowdonia National Park, and stop in the village of Beddgelert. Here lies the grave of Gelert, the legendary dog, slain by Llywelyn the Great. This medieval Welsh ruler believed Gelert had devoured his baby and so killed him, when in fact Gelert had been protecting the infant from a wolf. Llywelyn never smiled again, or so the story goes.
Our next stop is Harlech Castle. Built by King Edward I during his conquest of Wales around 800 years ago, this fortress overlooks both the mountains of Snowdonia and the ocean. Returning to Aberystwyth, the rest of today is at leisure.
Accommodation: Bodalwyn, GwesTY Guest House, The Glengower or similar
Day 3 New Quay, Dinefwr Estate & Tenby
Day 3 New Quay, Dinefwr Estate & Tenby
Aberystwyth - New Quay - Tenby. Departing Aberystwyth, we travel along the coastline of Cardigan Bay, through charming Aberaeron to New Quay. This whitewashed town is on the beach, and there's time to wander on foot - keep your eyes peeled for whales off the coast!
Heading inland, we visit Dinefwr Estate (or Carreg Cennen Castle if it is closed) and the ruined castle located here before making a short stop in Laugharne where famous Welsh poet and playwright Dylan Thompson lived and wrote his iconic work 'Under Milk Wood'. We then complete our drive to the seaside town of Tenby, where we spend the night.
Accommodation: Southcliff Guest House or similar
Day 4 Exploring St Davids
Day 4 Exploring St Davids
Tenby - Pembrokeshire Coast National Park - St Davids - Pembroke - Tenby. We spend our last full day in Wales uncovering the country's south-west. Take in the scenic coastline of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, birthplace of the patron saint of Wales - St David. We then travel to the UK's smallest city, which is named after the patron saint. There's free time for lunch in St Davids before we visit the rural town of Pembroke, home to some well preserved medieval walls and a ruined castle. Returning to Tenby, our final evening is at leisure.
Accommodation: Southcliff Guest House or similar
Day 5 Return to London
Day 5 Return to London
Tenby - St Fagans - Castle Combe - London. We begin our journey back to London this morning. There's a stop at the National Museum of History in St Fagans (it is possible to leave the tour here and travel by public transport to Cardiff, should you wish). We then take the Severn Crossing back into England and enjoy a stop in the Cotswolds village of Castle Combe, the perfect place for a stroll and to enjoy a quintessential English village. We then complete our drive back to London.
Please note: This tour ends at 19:30 - London Victoria Drop Off, Stance 3, Greenline Coach Terminal, Bulleid Way, Victoria, London, SW1W 9SH.
Tour Highlights
Included
Not Included
Prices & Dates
Accommodation
Perched on a hill in a stone-built Edwardian townhouse, this cosy guesthouse is a 7-minute walk from Ceredigion Museum and an 8-minute stroll from Penglais Nature Park. The eight elegantly decorated rooms feature wooden furnishings, cast-iron beds, and sitting areas with leather chairs, along with en suite bathrooms, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and tea and coffee-making facilities. A complimentary Welsh breakfast is served in the inviting dining room or in the sunroom, which boasts exposed stone walls.
On this tour, you will stay in bed and breakfast properties (B&Bs). These are usually smaller residential properties, with just a handful of guest rooms. You’ll have a bedroom, bathroom and often, access to a communal dining room for breakfast. Rooms will always be clean and comfortable, with a private bathroom. Bathrooms are usually en-suite, but on rare occasions, access may be via a communal hallway. This means that the bathroom will still be private and only for your personal use, but it is not en-suite (located in the room). You will need to leave the room to use the bathroom.
This unpretentious B&B, set in a Victorian building from 1879, is 6.6 miles from Folly Farm Adventure Park and Zoo and 7 miles from Carew Castle. The straightforward rooms feature flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, and tea and coffee-making facilities. All rooms have either en suite or separate private bathrooms, and most include sitting areas. A cooked breakfast is served in a casual dining room, with refreshments and light meals available for an additional charge. The property also offers a lounge with sea views, a TV, a DVD player, a piano, and a children’s playroom.
Tour Reviews
Welsh Wanderer - 5 daysDiscover the mountain peaks and windswept coastline of Wales on this 5-day group tour from London. Explore the pretty villages of the Cotswolds and spend two nights in the coastal town of Aberystwyth. Take in the ruins of Harlech Castle, uncover the scenery of Snowdonia National Park and wander the pretty whitewashed streets of New Quay. Visit the smallest city in the UK, St Davids, browse the fascinating National Museum of History in St Fagans and make your way back to the English capital.Handpicked53087Fabulous tour. Your guide and driver was great. Very knowledgeable about all the places we went to and while we were traveling to places of interest. He was very personable and has great seating of music too.
Welsh Wanderer - 5 daysDiscover the mountain peaks and windswept coastline of Wales on this 5-day group tour from London. Explore the pretty villages of the Cotswolds and spend two nights in the coastal town of Aberystwyth. Take in the ruins of Harlech Castle, uncover the scenery of Snowdonia National Park and wander the pretty whitewashed streets of New Quay. Visit the smallest city in the UK, St Davids, browse the fascinating National Museum of History in St Fagans and make your way back to the English capital.Handpicked53087The tour was fantastic, it exceeded our expectations. The driver/tour guide Nic was exceptional. His driving was impeccable and his knowledge was unbelievable. His is a walking encyclopaedia. We couldn't have wished for a better guide, he was so friendly. We could not fault anything thus we gave it 10 out of 10. We would recommend this tour and Rabbies to anyone. When we visit the UK again we will most likely do the Cornwall one with them.
Welsh Wanderer - 5 daysDiscover the mountain peaks and windswept coastline of Wales on this 5-day group tour from London. Explore the pretty villages of the Cotswolds and spend two nights in the coastal town of Aberystwyth. Take in the ruins of Harlech Castle, uncover the scenery of Snowdonia National Park and wander the pretty whitewashed streets of New Quay. Visit the smallest city in the UK, St Davids, browse the fascinating National Museum of History in St Fagans and make your way back to the English capital.Handpicked53087Tour was amazing had a great time Russell was a fabulous guide and enjoyed my trip around wales 🏴 Thankyou😊
Welsh Wanderer - 5 daysDiscover the mountain peaks and windswept coastline of Wales on this 5-day group tour from London. Explore the pretty villages of the Cotswolds and spend two nights in the coastal town of Aberystwyth. Take in the ruins of Harlech Castle, uncover the scenery of Snowdonia National Park and wander the pretty whitewashed streets of New Quay. Visit the smallest city in the UK, St Davids, browse the fascinating National Museum of History in St Fagans and make your way back to the English capital.Handpicked53087We had an amazing trip to the Devon and Cornwall districts. Our driver and guide Nic was the best. He told us so many stories and took us to interesting spots throughout the whole journey. I would thoroughly recommend this tour and driver.
Welsh Wanderer - 5 daysDiscover the mountain peaks and windswept coastline of Wales on this 5-day group tour from London. Explore the pretty villages of the Cotswolds and spend two nights in the coastal town of Aberystwyth. Take in the ruins of Harlech Castle, uncover the scenery of Snowdonia National Park and wander the pretty whitewashed streets of New Quay. Visit the smallest city in the UK, St Davids, browse the fascinating National Museum of History in St Fagans and make your way back to the English capital.Handpicked53087First of all the tour guide, Amir, was terrific! He made the tour memorable. He was knowledgeable, kind, funny, solicitous of each passenger, and a good driver. He took great care of us. I rated the transport a 4 because there wasn't a lot of leg room for my seat. I'm only 5'10 and my knees were right up against the seat in front of me. It would also be nice to have a cup holder so we could bring a coffee on board without spilling it. The food in the bed and breakfasts was good, if that's what you mean by food. I rated the accommodation a 4 due to one of the bed and breakfasts was up two flights of stairs, and it was a challenge getting my suitcase up there. But then I suppose I should have specified that this might be a problem. Otherwise both of the rooms were spacious and clean, and the owners were kind.
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