Compare Celtic Wales: Snowdonia and Pembrokeshire by Road Scholar
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| Trip |
4.5 | Great
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| Duration | 11 days |
| Price From | $ 2,899 |
| Price Per Day | $ 264 |
| Highlights |
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| Trip Style | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Standard |
| Physical Level |
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| Travel Themes |
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| Countries Visited | |
| Cities and Attractions |
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| Flights & Transport | Ground transport included |
| Activities |
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| Meals Included |
9 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches, 9 Dinners |
| Description |
From whence springs the distinct Welsh identity? From their proud language, world famous orators and choirs? Or the castles and prehistoric settlements that dot the bucolic countryside? From Snowdonia in the North and Pembrokeshire in the West, venture through a land of magnificent, varied scenery to experience the history and heritage of Celtic Wales and its ancient tradition of myths and legends. |
Day 1: In Transit to Program
In Flight
Day 2: Arrival Day, Manchester
Meals: Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Crowne Plaza Manchester Airport
Lunch: In the hotel dining room for those arriving by lunchtime. A light lunch with coffee, tea and water. Other beverages are available for purchase.
Afternoon: Arrivals continue, with free time for those who have already arrived. At 5pm we will have an Orientation in the hotel. The Group Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. This program is staffed with both a Group Leader, who will accompany us throughout the program and deal primarily with logistics, and a Study Leader who will lecture, conduct field trips and serve as an information resource on program-related topics. We will review the program theme, the up-to-date Daily Schedule and any changes, discuss safety guidelines, emergency procedures, roles and responsibilities and answer any questions you may have. We have set aside some free time in the schedule for your personal independent exploration. Please note that program activities, schedules and personnel may need to change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Dinner: A seated dinner will be taken in the hotel dining room with coffee, tea and water. Other beverages are available for purchase.
Evening: Free time to relax and prepare for the program ahead.
Day 3: Transfer to Betws-y-Coed, Bodnant Gardens, Conwy Castle, Betws-y-Coed
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Royal Oak
Breakfast: In the hotel. A wide range of hot and cold options, as well as coffee, tea, water and fruit juices.
Morning: This morning we transfer by motor coach to Betws-y-Coed via Bodnant Gardens, situated above the River Conwy and one of the finest gardens in the world.
Lunch: Served local fare at Bodnant Gardens.
Afternoon: Travel back to medieval times with a field trip to the imposing Conwy Castle. We’ll enjoy a lecture in the field on the Wars of Edward I, before exploring the castle. Conwy Castle was constructed by Edward between 1283 and 1289 to act as a key fortress in containing the rebellious Welsh. The views from the battlements are breathtaking, looking out across mountains and sea down to the roofless shell of the Great Hall.
Dinner: In the hotel.
Evening: Your Study Leader will introduce what you will see, learn and discover over the next eight days.
Day 4: Landscapes & Copper Mines, Betws-y-Coed
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Royal Oak
Breakfast: In the hotel.
Morning: This morning we board the motor coach for a field trip to Great Orme, Llandudno’s mountain, on a beautiful vehicular tram ride. The Great Orme Tramway has been operating since 1902 and was considered an engineering marvel of its age – it is still the only cable-hauled tramway operating on British public roads. We’ll follow this experience with a visit to Great Orme Copper Mines, a Neolithic mine originally abandoned circa 600 BC.
Lunch: This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to enjoy what you like. The Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions and give directions.
Afternoon: Investigate through two lectures “The Historical Landscape of the Celts” and “The Roman Invasion”.
Dinner: In the hotel.
Evening: Free time. Your Group Leader will be happy to offer suggestions should you wish to further explore the local area.
Day 5: The Isle of Anglesey, Betws-y-Coed
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Royal Oak
Breakfast: In the hotel.
Morning: Relax with some free time, or take a walk around the picturesque village of Betws-y-Coed.
Lunch: In the hotel.
Afternoon: Board the motor coach and discover the ancient island of Anglesey. We’ll explore Penmon, where you can see the Romanesque architecture of the island’s medieval monastery before continuing onwards to Beaumaris Village, Gaol and Courthouse. Be sure to keep an eye out for the tongue-twisting town of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, the second longest place name in the world!
Dinner: In the hotel.
Evening: Free time.
Day 6: Environment, Cultural Heritage, Industrial History, Betws-y-Coed
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Royal Oak
Breakfast: In the hotel.
Morning: Investigate the cultural heritage and environment of Wales during a lecture in the hotel, before boarding the motor coach for Snowdonia National Park and a ride on the Ffestiniog railway.
Lunch: In the hotel dining room.
Afternoon: Enjoy a lecture in the field on the Welsh slate industry at Llanberis Slate Museum and quarry followed by a field trip to the Royal Town of Caernarfon. Caernarfon’s royal connections extend all the way back to ancient Celtic chieftains still exist to the present day and the 1969 investiture of Prince Charles as the Prince of Wales. We’ll examine the role of King Edward I’s impressive medieval fortress, Caernarfon Castle, a seat of power and a symbol of English dominance over the subdued Welsh. Due to time constraints we will not be able to visit the castle.
Dinner: In the hotel.
Evening: Free time.
Day 7: Transfer to Lamphey, Beddgelert, Fishing & Churches
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Lamphey Court Hotel
Breakfast: In the hotel.
Morning: We board the motor coach and transfer to Lamphey, a peaceful village on the south coast of Pembrokeshire. En-route we will pay visits to the village of Beddgelert, and the beguiling fantasy town of Portmeiron.
Lunch: Taken at the National Library of Wales.
Afternoon: Take an expert-led look at the National Library of Wales, before learning about the importance of fishing and trade to the local community during a field based lecture in Aberaeron, with its Georgian houses and harbour.
Dinner: In the hotel.
Evening: This evening’s lecture reveals the Celtic history of the local area through the inhabitants’ religious convictions and introduces you to the architecture and landscape of the Pembrokeshire National Park.
Day 8: Castell Henllys, The Preseli Mountains, St. David’s, Lamphey
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Lamphey Court Hotel
Breakfast: In the hotel.
Morning: Today we’ll explore the archaeology of the region with a field trip to Castell Henllys via the mysterious Preseli mountains, where you will learn about the early history of Wales. Arriving at Castell Henllys, we’ll find an ancient and important Iron Age hill fort currently under excavation by archaeologists and home to some accurate reconstructions of Iron Age dwellings.
Lunch: Lunch will be taken in the town of Newport.
Afternoon: Further explore the themes of ancient Wales and early Christianity as you continue on to Britain’s smallest city, St. David’s. Situated on the far west coast of Wales and dominated by its 12th Century cathedral, it was granted city status due to its cathedral but is, in reality, a small and attractive village.
Dinner: In the hotel.
Evening: Relax and enjoy a performance from a local harpist.
Day 9: Laugharne, Locals, Mixed Voice Choir, Lamphey
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Accommodation: Lamphey Court Hotel
Breakfast: In the hotel.
Morning: Free time.
Lunch: On your own to enjoy what you like.
Afternoon: This afternoon the motor coach departs for the Drefach Felindre Woollen Mill in Carmarthen, before continuing on to Laugharne – a town perhaps best known for its associations with Dylan Thomas.
Dinner: In the hotel.
Evening: Meet and converse with locals and have the opportunity of experiencing one of the true joys of Welsh culture – a Mixed Voice Choir – during an evening of farewells to this beautiful country.
Day 10: Transfer to Heathrow, Caerleon Roman Fortress, London Heathrow
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Accommodation: Radisson Blu Heathrow Hotel.
Breakfast: In the hotel.
Morning: Leaving Wales for London Heathrow by motor coach, we will stop en-route at Caerleon. Caerleon is the site of one of Britain’s three Roman Legionary Fortresses, and some even believe it to be the location of King Arthur’s Camelot. In 830 AD Nennius wrote Historia Brittonum and included a list of King Arthur’s battles, one of which he located at “The City of the Legion” – this could well be Caerleon. The remains of some 75 amphitheatres have been located in the wider Roman Empire and Caerleon’s is the best preserved example in Britain.
Lunch: A packed lunch of sandwiches, fruit and a drink or similar will be provided to make the most of this busy transfer day.
Afternoon: The transfer continues.
Dinner: In the hotel dining room.
Evening: Free time.
Day 11: Program Concludes, London Heathrow
Meals: Breakfast
Breakfast: In the hotel. Some participants may depart prior to breakfast.
Morning: Shuttle bus to Heathrow Airport for onward flights. This concludes our program. If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future.
