Dragon Tours Itinerary (GOLD)
Day 1
Collection from point of entry
and transfer to Wales. Arrive at the Celtic Manor Resort, Wales’
largest hotel and leisure complex that boast three superb golf
courses and the latest leisure facilities. Golfers may wish to
play a round on one of the world-class courses that have ensured
that Wales will be home to the Ryder Cup in 2010. Alternatively
you may wish to pamper yourself with a therapeutic treatment
or enjoy the resort’s many facilities. www.celtic-manor.com
Day 2
Cardiff :
A chance to explore Europe’s youngest capital and one of
the fastest growing and most vibrant cities in Europe. You may
like to visit the castle in the heart of the city center, take
an open-topped bus ride, visit the wonderful museum or the museum
of Welsh Life at St. Fagan’s. The city has some wonderful
shops, bars, coffee shops and restaurants and theaters to enjoy
while souvenir hunting or for some evening entertainment. Transport
will be available, for those who wish to visit some of the locations
on the outskirts of the city, such as Caerphilly Castle - one
of the largest castles in Europe, Castell Coch and the museum
of Welsh Life at St. Fagan’s. Your accommodation will be
in a top city center hotel allowing you to enjoy an evening in
the city.
Day 3
The Historical Mysteries of Wales:
A journey back through the ages exploring some of the Celtic,
Roman and Medieval wonders of Wales including:
Caerleon - The city of the Legions.
Peruse the remains of this Roman military town including its
amphitheater, baths, fort, barracks and museum. Caerleon has
been associated with King Arthur’s Camelot and the amphitheater
is thought by many to be the site of the mystical Round Table.
Chepstow Castle - This stunning
fortress, perched dramatically above the river Wye is the earliest
stone castle in Wales. It stands as a legacy to the impact of
the Normans.
Tintern Abbey - A majestic medieval
ruin set in the heart of the beautiful Wye Valley, Tintern is
one of the largest Cistercian abbeys in the world. A favorite
location for artists and for the poet William Wordsworth, the
abbey is an ideal place to stop for a picnic on the banks of
the River Wye.
Raglan Castle - A remarkable
Late-Medieval castle surrounded by imposing defenses, Raglan’s
ruins span many centuries and have many a story to tell.
The attractions are mainly situated
in the Wye Valley which will be our route from south into mid
Wales.
Your accommodation tonight will
be at the historic and highly atmospheric Skirrid Inn, Wales’
oldest pub which dates back to the twelfth century. The pub has
a very colorful past and is set in the picturesque foothills
of the Black Mountains.
Day 4
Mountains Adventure :
An opportunity to experience some of the most beautiful countryside
in the British Isles, within the Brecon Beacons National Park.
There you will find dramatic mountain ranges, beautiful valleys
and rivers, timeless villages and historic market towns. Continuing
into the heart of the Black Mountains will take you through the
Gospel Pass, an ancient pilgrims route to St. David’s, which
has incredible views of the Wye Valley. Take time out to stop
at Llanthony Priory, a medieval ruin that was chosen as a monastic
site because of its isolation. The former abbot’s residence
is now a tiny pub set in the grounds - an opportunity for refreshments
and an ideal location for a picnic.
After navigating the Gospel Pass
you will have the opportunity to visit Hay-on-Wye, ‘The
Town of Books’. The border town is famous for its second-hand
bookshops and specialist map and print shops. It also claims
to be independent from both England and Wales and every year
elects its own king.
Your accommodation tonight will
be the Swan at Hay, an historic coaching inn close to the center
of town and an ideal base for the bookshops. www.swanathay.co.uk
Day 5
Industrial Heritage Tour :
The South Wales Valleys fueled the worldwide Industrial Revolution.
This tour explores the rise and fall of the Welsh industrial
empire, focusing on two main areas:
Merthyr Tydfil - The one-time
iron capital of the world, Merthyr’s rise was akin to a
gold-rush town. It became the largest town in Wales and much
of Cardiff’s later success was due to its role as Merthyr’s
port. Attractions in the town capture the spirit of the age and
the legacy of industrial growth. Visit humble workmen’s
cottages then see the Gothic splendor of Cyfarthfa Castle, home
of the Iron Kings of Merthyr, the Crawshays.
Blaenafon - On a hillside at
the top of the Afon Lwyd Valley stand the remains of an eighteenth-century
ironworks, built into the side of a mountain and now a world
heritage site. From there you will be taken to Pwll Mawr (Big
Pit), an ex-working coal mine where visitors can enjoy the unique
experience of an underground tour guided by former miners.
You will return to the heart
of the Brecon Beacons National Park where your accommodation
will be at the historic Bear Hotel, a fourteenth century coaching
inn situated in the charming old market town of Crickhowell.
www.bear-hotel.co.uk
Day 6
Tregaron & Rhiannon's Welsh Gold Centre :
A journey through the wild Eppynt moorland and on through the
spectacular Abergwesyn Pass into the Cambrian Mountains and Ceredigion.
Arrival at Tregaron in time for lunch and a free afternoon where
you will have the opportunity to visit Rhiannon’s Welsh
Gold Centre where local crafts people produce traditional Celtic
designs using rare Welsh gold.
Your accommodation will be the
quaint old drovers inn, the Talbot Hotel, directly opposite Rhiannon’s
shop, where you are sure to hear the native language spoken in
this very Welsh corner of Wales.
Day 7
For those wishing to spend some
more time at the Welsh Gold Centre there will be an opportunity
to stay in Tregaron. Others may wish a tour of the local countryside,
including the option to visit the nearby Dolargothi Gold Mines
which were opened in Roman times or take a journey west into
the heart of the Pembrokeshire countryside. You may like to visit
the magnificent medieval fortress of Pembroke or Britain’s
smallest city and the birthplace of Welsh Christianity, St. David’s.
Day 8
Snowdonia National Park :
A journey northwards into the dramatic scenery of Snowdonia in
the heart of north Wales. You will have the opportunity to visit
some of the most imposing castles in Europe including Conway
and Caernarfon and have the chance to see breathtaking scenery
such as the Llanberis Pass, Beddgelert and Bettws-y-Coed.
Your accommodation will be at
the famous old hotel, Ye Olde Bull’s Head at Beaumaris,
Anglesey.
Day 9
A chance to do some last minute
shopping in Caernarfon and an opportunity to ride up the mountain
railway to the top of Mount Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales
or England. There will also be an option to visit the Italianate
village of Portmeirion, location of the cult 60s series The Prisoner
and your home for the evening.
Day 10:
Return to point of departure.
For more details or for other
tour itineraries please contact the following:
Dr. Mike Davies
Dragon Tours
1 Lake View Close
Llangors
Brecon
Powys
Wales
UK
LD3 7US
Tel: (+44) 1874 658124
Mobile: (+44) 7977148295
E-mail: DragonTours@cinetropic.com
BOOKING FORM
