Elsewhere Itinerary – Exploring Wales
Overview
Known for its sweeping coastlines, mountainous national parks, charming language and Celtic culture, Wales is the perfect destination for those with an adventurous spirit. On a creatively designed and exciting self guided trip, explore a country rich in history, culture and folklore. Weave your way into the Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park, discover the beauty of Pembrokeshire, and take a boat trip out to Caldey Island. Explore Britain’s smallest city and seize the opportunity to zoom through the sky on the world’s fastest zipline. With an itinerary filled with perfectly paced, carefully curated days – visit the colourful village of Portmeirion, spend time in the country’s wildest national park and discover the enigmatic wonder of Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber (which predates Stonehenge). Where every aspect of your adventure has been designed just for you – enjoy exploring some the highlights of Wales.
Day by Day
Day 1 - Chepstow Castle & Brycheiniog National Park
Arrive in Bristol today and pick up your hire car. Head north out of the city and into the rugged bounds of Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) National Park. Carved out by the Ice Age, the mountains, hills and valleys are a mix of grassy moorlands, heather-clad plateaus and shattered mountainous peaks. Along the way, visit the historic Chepstow Castle, where medieval history unfolds on the banks of the River Wye. Explore towering stone walls, ancient towers, and the oldest surviving stone fortifications in Britain. This evening, settle into your lovely, welcoming hotel and relax.
Overnight: Abergavenny
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 2 - Hiking Pen y Fan
Rucksacks packed and boots laced, head out to hike up Pen y Fan, a characterful, flat-topped mountain and the highest peak in South Wales. Used as a burial place during the Bronze Age, the top is marked by a well-preserved and structured cairn with a central stone cist. Enjoy the walk through the wild, open moorland, looking out across the patchwork of green and gold fields and keeping an eye out for a variety of upland bird species or lizards sunning themselves on the red rocks. Later this afternoon, wind your way to your hotel and enjoy a well deserved, chilled out evening.
Overnight: Brecon Beacons
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 3 - Hawk Walk & Arrive in Pembrokeshire
This morning, continue your journey west, weaving your way through the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park to
visit the British Bird of Prey Centre. Join an experienced falconer on a hawk walk through the quiet, shady woodland, learning more about these amazing birds from a passionate expert and enjoying the opportunity to get up close to these impressive raptors. Afterwards, perhaps take a stroll through the botanical gardens and visit the carefully designed aviaries to observe the birds at rest. Later, head northwest, arriving in the pretty seaside town of Tenby tucked on the stunning Pembrokeshire coastline.
Overnight: Tenby
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 4 - Boat Trip to Caldey Island
After a relaxed breakfast, head out on a fantastic boat trip to Caldey Island. One of Britain’s holy islands, Caldey’s old priory offers a glimpse into the island’s rich, religious heritage. With more than a thousand years of prayer and quiet living, the island is a place of peace and tranquillity, with the Cistercian monks upholding traditions which began in Celtic times. Enjoy exploring the island, before catching the boat back across the water to the mainland. This afternoon, head down the coast to St Davids – Britain’s smallest city and settle into your lovely hotel.
Overnight: St Davids
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 5 - Exploring St Davids
After a leisurely morning, head out to explore the unique, pretty city of St Davids. Visit the 12th-century cathedral and take the time to admire its stunning medieval architecture. With quaint, winding streets lined with artisanal and independent shops, enjoy strolling around and stopping for a coffee and a cake. This afternoon, you may wish to hike a spectacular section of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path – an 186-mile route which was established in 1970 and winds along the salt-stung cliffs. If the sun is high in the sky, you may like to head to Whitesands Bay, a beautiful beach of smooth white sand, rolling waves and craggy cliffs.
Overnight: St Davids
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 6 - Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber & Aberystwyth Cliff Railway
Head out today for a beautiful drive up the west coast towards Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park. Along the way, visit Pentre Ifan Burial Chamber, a remarkable dolmen predating Stonehenge. Continue the picturesque drive, stopping to visit Aberystwyth Cliff Railway – the longest electric funicular cliff railway in Britain. You may wish to wander around Aberystwyth, a university town that curls around a sandy bay. From vintage clothing boutiques to charming second-hand bookshops, it’s easy to spend a few hours browsing the town’s eclectic collection of independent shops. Hopping back in the car this afternoon, another short drive will take you to your lovely hotel and a comfy bed for the night.
Overnight: South Eyri National Park?
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 7 - Portmeirion & The World's Fastest Zip-line
Visit the unique village of Portmeirion today which was designed and built between 1925 and 1975 and is now owned by a charitable trust. Located on a private peninsula the village is a fantastic blend of rural Wales and the Italian Riveria. A fascinating, quirky place to explore, the buildings are colourful, the gardens lush, and there seems to be a charming detail at every turn. After lunch, enjoy an exhilarating experience, as you take to the skies on the world’s fastest zipline. Zoom above Penrhyn Quarry, reaching a speed of over 100mph, while also taking in the stunning views across the National Park. This evening, relax back at your hotel after a thoroughly enjoyable day.
Overnight: Betws-y-Coed
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 8 - Exploring Yr Wyddfa
Rising 1,085 m/3,560 ft over Eryri’s (Snowdonia’s) glacier-carved landscapes, Yr Wyddfa (or Snowdon to give it its English name) is the country’s highest peak. Take the train up the mountain’s impressive heights, soaking up the scenery and visiting Hafod Eryri Visitor Centre. Enjoy a walk across the rooftop of Wales, descending to Pen-Y-Pass and a small cafe on a trail that contours the edge of the hillside and provides spectacular views. Catch the Sherpa’r Wyddfa (Snowdown Sherpa) bus back down the remaining distance while enjoying the ruggedly beautiful landscape.
Overnight: Betws-y-Coed
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 9 - Travel to Chepstow & Visit Hay-on-Wye
Today, journey back south towards Chepstow. Your drive today will take you through Eryri’s glacier-scoured landscapes and allow time to stop and take in the magnificent views along the way. Perhaps stop for a short walk mid-morning, breathing in the fresh mountain air and enjoying the quiet wilderness that welcomes calm moments of reflection. Continue on, perhaps making a short detour to visit the village of Hay-on-Wye which lies just north of the Black Mountains. Full of independent and quirky artisanal shops, it has become famous for its secondhand and antiquarian bookshops – with some specialising in rare and out-of-print volumes. Later this afternoon, arrive in Chepstow, check in to your hotel and enjoy dinner.
Overnight: Chepstow
Meals Included: Breakfast
Day 10 - Depart
After breakfast this morning, drop off your hire car. Depending on your onward travel plans, you may wish to catch a train back east into London. With good transport links, it’s a straightforward journey that will take you across the border and back into England where you can either begin your journey home or continue on towards your next adventure.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Trip Details
- Inclusions
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- All accommodation from Day 1 to Day 8
- Meals as indicated above
- Services of an experienced and knowledgeable qualified guide from Day 1 to Day 8
- Ground transportation from Day 1 to Day 8
- All guided hikes and activities mentioned in the itinerary
- Personalised trip design and delivery
- Snacks throughout the trip
- 24 hour in-country support from the Wilderness Team
- Exclusions
-
- Flights
- Travel insurance
- Meals not mentioned in the inclusions
- Activities and entrance fees not mentioned in the inclusions
- Gratuities for the main driver guide
