We will depart our local pick up points and travel to Wolverhampton (with a short comfort stop en route) to visit Chillington Hall. The grand Georgian estate has been the residence of the Giffard family for over 800 years. Parts of the house date back to the 18th century, with later additions designed by renowned architects Sir John Soane and Francis Smith. The surrounding parkland was landscaped by Capability Brown and incorporates a picturesque lake and architectural follies. We will have a buffet lunch on arrival, followed by a private guided tour of the Hall.
We will continue to Llandudno, where we will check into the St George's Hotel (4 star) for 4 nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast accommodation. Dinner will be taken in the hotel restaurant.
TUESDAY 20 APRIL 2027
After breakfast at the hotel we will meet our local Blue Badge Guide and travel to Bodnant Garden (National Trust). Created by the 2nd Lord Aberconway, Bodnant is arguably one of the finest gardens in Britain, featuring five Italian-style terraces and formal lawns, backed by a wooded valley, stream and wild garden. There will be free time to take lunch.
Early afternoon we will continue to Caernarfon Castle. Built by King Edward I in 1283 as a royal residence and seat of government for North Wales, it has in more recent times taken centre stage as the setting for the investiture of Charles, Prince of Wales (later King Charles III). We will return to our hotel by coach and dinner will be taken in the hotel restaurant.
WEDNESDAY 21 APRIL 2027
After breakfast at the hotel we will meet our local guide and travel to Plas Newydd House and Garden (National Trust). This handsome 18th century house is set in a breathtaking location and features dramatic and unspoilt views across Snowdonia. Built by James Wyatt, the building is an interesting mixture of the Classical and
the Gothic. The comfortable interior was re-styled in the 1930s and is famous for its association with Rex Whistler whose largest painting is here - the Rex Whistler Room is consumed by the trompe l'oeil - together with an exhibition about his work. The fine spring garden includes azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons, together with exotic shrubs and mature woodland where a trail gives access to a marine walk on the Menai Strait. Our visit will include free time to take lunch.
This afternoon we will embark on a panoramic tour of Anglesey, the largest island in Wales, both by coach and on foot. Wrapped in 125 miles of sandy beaches and rocky cliffs, large parts of Anglesey’s coastline have been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. During our tour we will discover the wealth of history and culture of this stunning island. At the end of the afternoon we will return to our hotel by coach and dinner will be taken in the hotel restaurant.
THURSDAY 22 APRIL 2027
After breakfast at the hotel we will transfer to the Welsh Highland Railway - Caernarfon Station and board the Snowdonia Star steam train for a one-way journey to Porthmadog Harbour Station. On our journey we will travel through the foothills of Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) and the breathtaking Aberglaslyn Pass.
We will be met by our coach for onward travel to Portmeirion, which is built on a private peninsula at Tremadog Bay at the top of Cardigan Bay. This unique
Italianate village was created by Welsh architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, fulfilling a childhood dream to build a village "to my own fancy on my own chosen site". Portmeirion was created between 1925 and 1973 and comprises a central Mediterranean piazza from which radiate around 50 buildings, piecing together a scaled-down nest of loggias, grand porticoes and tiny terracotta-roofed houses in styles ranging from Oriental to Gothic. This site is also well-known for its famous flowered pottery available in the Ship Shop. Our visit will
include time to take lunch. We will return to our hotel and dinner will be taken in the hotel restaur
FRIDAY 23 APRIL 2027
We will check out of the hotel after an early breakfast and travel to the towering Pontcysyllte Aqueduct for a boat trip (c. 45 minutes). Designed by civil engineers Thomas Telford and William Jessop to provide an efficient network of transport for industrial resources, the construction of the 18-arched stone and cast-iron structure was completed in 1805. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009, it is the longest aqueduct in Great Britain, and affords stunning views of the Dee
Valley. We will transfer to the nearby town of Llangollen and there will be free time to take lunch.
We will rejoin our coach and continue the journey homeward (with a comfort stop en route) arriving at our original pick-up points in the evening.
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