West Wales Overnight Tour

Images kindly provided by Visit Wales (left to right) Solva Harbour, Carreg Cennen, Cardigan Bay & Pembroke Castle

Two days + one overnight Adult £99.00 \|Concession £89.00 \|Child £50.00
(Saturday & Sunday) 02-03 June 2012	PLACES AVAILABLE
(Tuesday & Wednesday) 31 July-01 August 2012	PLACES AVAILABLE
(Saturday & Sunday) 11-12 August 2012	PLACES AVAILABLE
(Saturday & Sunday) 01-02 September 2012	PLACES AVAILABLE
(Saturday & Sunday) 20-21 October 2012	PLACES AVAILABLE
Prices in Great British Pound (GBP)
Price includes Mercedes Mini-Coach, driver and tour manager
Price excludes 2x castle admissions and overnight stay at 3-star hotel with en suite facilities, 3-course dinner and breakfast. Total extra £54.00 Limited number of rooms with sea-view rooms and no single room supplement. Early booking recommended.
* Concession = Over 60s & Student \| Child = Over 5 years & Under 16 years
Additional dates available for groups.

Day 1

From Cardiff travel west to Carmarthenshire to visit one of the most striking Norman castles in Wales. The 13th century Carreg Cennen Castle, perched on a sheer limestone cliff, 300 feet above the Cennen river delivers breathtaking views of the Cennen Valley, surrounding farmland and in particular the Black Mountain ridges to the west of the Brecon Beacons National Park. The castle has underground appeal too, a vaulted passageway carved into the cliff leads to a natural cave deep beneath its foundation. Legend says that the site was originally used by Urien, one of King Arthur’s Knights of the Round Table. The castle is on the site of a working hill farm with pedigree Longhorn cattle, Welsh Mountain sheep, Welsh Cob horses and various poultry that like to roam the farmyard. The walk from the farm at the foot of the rock to the entrance of the castle is steep but well worth the effort. Alternatively you can spend more time visiting the craft shop which has a good selection of souvenirs and Welsh crafts, and excellent tea rooms with delicious food.

We continue our journey traveling northbound to the Preseli Hills, and the famous bluestone, that form Stonehenge, were transported from this upland region.

While several of Britain's National Parks have sections of the coastline, only the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park is almost all coastal in nature underlying just how spectacular and important the coastline is. The best beaches in the UK are here in Pembrokeshire. After lunch we head towards the coastal waters of Cardigan Bay to take a short walk to Pentre Ifan, a Bronze-Age megalithic site dating from 4000 BC. This is a one of the most spectacular and famous monuments of its type, the tilted capstone weighs over 16 tons and is 16ft 6in/ 5 m long and 8ft/2.4m off the ground, on three uprights stone. The location offers panoramic views of the Nevern Valley and stunning sweep of Cardigan Bay.

We travel along the Cardigan coastline to the Lower town of Fishguard, an archetypal fishing village, with houses clustered close to the waterfront mainly on the eastern side of the old harbour. This is undoubtably one of the prettiest coastal settlements in Wales and it was no surprise that it was chosen for the film version of Dylan Thomas’s "Under Milk Wood". The modern town was formerly a cluster of cottages until the 1800s, but gradually it expanded to become the main shopping centre of North Pembrokeshire. The Market Square is the centre of affairs, with the Town Hall and The Royal Oak inn, where the surrender documents were signed following the last invasion of Britain in 1797. Fishguard Harbour operates the Irish ferry service between Fishguard and Rosslare in Ireland.

St Non's Bay, named after the mother of St David (Dewi Sant) , the patron saint of Wales, a peaceful and stunning location on the cliff tops of the Coastal Path. The present St Non’s Chapel was built in the authentic early-Celtic style in 1934 using stones from the ruins of nearby Whitewell Priory. Nearby are the ruins of the 6th century chapel, known traditionally as the birthplace of St David, and St Non’s Well where use of its waters to cure various ailments continued to the 18th century. From the Coast Path is Ramsey Island, home to the largest population of Atlantic grey seals in the UK.

St David’s, Britain’s smallest city, afforded the title by Queen Elizabeth II due to the presence of the Cathedral. The pace of life here is noticeably slower, and the Welsh language plays a major part in everyday life.

Day 2

After breakfast we join our guide and the rest of the travelers and visit the 12th century St David’s Cathedral, (Wales' largest church) the focal point of the little city. Nestling in the secluded valley of the River Alun with it tower just visible from the open coast. Adjacent to the cathedral are the buildings of St Mary’s College and the remains of Bishop’s Palace, built by Bishop Gower in the 14th century. The Cathedral and Bishop’s Palace are marvels of medieval architecture, made all the more remarkable for the tranquility of this remote setting.

Just a short drive from St David’s we stop at two stunning photographic locations. The attractive and picturesque little village of Solva, built around a fine natural harbour where there was once a direct passenger service to New York. Newgale Sands, a broad expanse of golden sands and sweeping cliff landscapes, all exposed to the Altantic gales.

Our tour continues onto the ancient town of Pembroke. The small but charming walled town, built around the great fortress of Pembroke Castle is situated on the banks of the River Cleddau. The castle, once the seat of a succession of Norman Barons who played leading roles in shaping Britain's history. This historic showpiece is the birthplace of Henry Tudor, father to the infamous Henry VIII and grandfather of Elizabeth I. From the top of the distinctive round keep, enjoy magnificent views.

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