Day 1: Following your home taxi collection we head to Cheshire arriving late afternoon at the Beaufort Park Hotel for our 4 nights stay on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis. Tea/coffee and Bara Brith (Welsh speckled bread) will be served on arrival whilst our luggage is taken to our rooms
Day 2: Leaving after breakfast we travel along the coast via Abergele and across country to the Conwy Valley to visit Betws-y-Coed. Much of Betws-y-Coed was built in Victorian times and it is the principal village of the Snowdonia National Park. Set in a beautiful valley in the Snowdonia Forest Park, it is ideal for a morning stop.
We then enjoy a scenic ride over the Crimea Pass to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Here we join the famous Ffestiniog Railway for a spectacular ride over the mountains to Porthmadog. A harbour town situated on the Glaslyn Estuary, Porthmadog is rich in maritime history and is an excellent base for touring the surrounding area. The town was named after W.A. Maddocks whose ambitious "Cob" embankment scheme led to the town's name, which translates as "Madog's Port". In times gone by, it was a vital, busy shipping port for the international slate trade, brought down from Blaenau Ffestiniog. The maritime history depicts its proud past. Here we can explore the town and obtain lunch before we make our way through the Snowdonia National Park to Lake Bala where we enjoy a ride along the lake shore on the delightful Bala Lake Railway. Rheilffordd Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake Railway) offers a delightful 9-mile (1 hour approx.) return journey alongside Llyn Tegid (Bala Lake), through the beautiful and natural Snowdonia National Park. The journey offers extensive views of Llyn Tegid, its surrounding countryside as well as the Arenig Fawr, Aran Benllyn and Aran Fawddwy mountains. Keep a look out for the herons & buzzards that nest near the line – a perfect example of nature and machines living side by side. All trains start and finish there day at Llanuwchllyn station, where there is a cafe, locomotive sheds and heritage centre.
Day 3: After breakfast we take a drive through the pleasant Cheshire countryside and enjoy a day in Chester. When visiting this majestic city, take a step back in time and walk down the cobbled street to discover the famous black and white ‘rows’ in the city centre. The half-timbered buildings now house some of Chester’s most beautiful stores, boutiques and restaurants. You will also find one of the largest Roman amphitheatres in Britain; with ongoing excavations just outside the old city’s walls. Take time to discover Chester’s Roman heritage and walk the two-mile ring of Roman walls made from local red sandstone. Only a short walk away, is the picturesque River Dee, with a charming riverbank known as the ‘Groves’ which is complete with a promenade, bandstand, boat rides and ice cream!
Day 4: Today’s excursion takes us through some lovely Welsh scenery, including the spectacular Horseshoe Pass, to the Dee Valley where we join the Rheilfford Llangollen Railway for a journey on a nostalgic steam train. We will also take a ride on the ‘Stream in the Sky’- the Llangollen Canal - gliding gently along over the country’s biggest navigable viaduct.
Day 5: Sadly, after breakfast we say goodbye to our hotel and head back to Norfolk where our door to door taxi service will be waiting to return you home.
Holiday Information:
4 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Price: £613pp
Single Supplement: £nil (Limited Availability)
Insurance: TBC (Insurance not currently available)
Tour Reference: AWE4795
Deposit Required: £50pp
Balance Due: 8 weeks prior to departure