Wales: Culture, Steam & Heritage

Day 1 – Welcome

We meet at The Queen at Chester Hotel for a welcome dinner and a 2-night stay in this charming Roman City.

Day 2 – Chester

Begin the day with a walking tour, focussing on the rich heritage and development of this city from Roman times through to modern day. We will then have free time to explore before we reconvene at our hotel for a sumptuous afternoon tea.

Day 3 – Llandudno, Llanberis & Llanfairpwll

By train to Llandudno to join our private coach for the day. Our first stop is the Great Orme Tramway – at over 110 years old, this really is an impressive feat of engineering. Our next stop is Penrhyn Castle where we enjoy lunch and visit the museum. En route to Llanberis, our home for the next 3 nights, we visit the famous Llanfairpwll Station.

Day 4 – Steam & Heritage

Today we experience heritage steam as we travel to the summit of Snowdon on the Snowdon Lily, followed by lunch at the National Slate Museum. We round off the day with some narrow gauge steam on the Llanberis Lake Railway.

Day 5 – Ffestiniog Railway

We visit Caernarfon Castle this morning, a mighty fortress whose main walls, towers and turrets remain largely intact. After lunch we travel by coach to Porthmadog for a return journey on the famous Ffestiniog Railway to Blaenau Ffestiniog, before returning to Llanberis by coach.

Day 6 – Welsh Highland Railway

Back on the rails today, this time on the Welsh Highland Railway. Enjoy a picnic lunch from Caffi de Winton on board the train, before travelling along the coast on the Cambrian Line to Machynlleth for a 2-night stay.

Day 7 – Vale of Rheidol Railway

Rail to Aberystwyth this morning for a journey that takes us to Devil’s Bridge where we reach a height of over 600ft and are rewarded with stunning views across the valley. Time to look around and collect our picnic lunch before boarding our train back to Machynlleth.

Day 8 – Tywyn for the Talyllyn

Travel by mainline rail to Tywyn for a return journey on the Talyllyn Railway with refreshments included at Abergynolwyn Station. There will be a workshop tour and free time to visit the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum before our transfer to Llandrindod Wells for a 1-night stay.

Day 9 – Elan Valley Dams

Explore the beauty of Elan Valley by coach and marvel at the remarkable Victorian engineering. A picnic lunch is included today. In the afternoon we visit the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway for a return journey before heading to Llangollen for a 2-night stay.

Day 10 – Llangollen Railway & Aqueduct

We begin the day with a relaxing canal boat cruise across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We have a ploughman’s lunch onboard before the Llangollen Railway takes us through the Dee Valley, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty – sit back and enjoy the view.

Day 11 – Homeward Bound

A free morning before our coach transfer back to Chester. We stop en route at Erddig Hall for a picnic lunch and a look around.