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SOUTH WALES TOUR
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
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Tour Code |
Depart London |
Return London |
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SWS |
Wednesday |
Saturday |
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Departures every
Wednesday from Arp 16 to Nov 5.
Other dates on request.
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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.
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The
Royal National, Bedford Way
The Corus Hotel, Hyde Park
The Grosvenor Thistle, Victoria Station
The Holiday Inn Forum
The Chiswick Hotel, Chiswick
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08.15
(underground Russell Square)
08.25 (underground Lancaster Gate)
08.30 (underground Victoria Station)
08.40 (underground Gloucester Road)
09.00 (underground Turnham Green) |
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