West Wales Day Explorer
Day tour departs from Cardiff every Tuesday April to October
Special Offer: Tuesday 29 July 2008 Buy 3 Adults @ £65 each and get one Adult place FREE! Price includes transport, driver, guide and entry fees.
Phone +44 (0) 1633 869700 or email jan@wherewhenwales.com
Tour Highlights: Pembrokeshire Coast National Park - Tenby - Newgale - Solva - St David’s Cathedral - Bishop's Palace - St Non's Well
Journey westbound to Tenby, the welsh name, Dynbych y Pysgod, means Little fortress of the fish, reflects its origins as a coastal fort. This delightful little harbour town is a great favourite with visitors and is one of Britain’s finest historic towns, containing over 300 buildings of special architectural or historic interest. The narrow streets of the medieval wall town are crammed with interesting shops, bars and restaurants. It stands on a rocky headland which divides its two main beaches with a picturesque harbour. The sandy beaches offer unlimited views of the monastic island of Caldey and panoramic views across Carmarthen Bay to Worms Head and the Gower Peninsula. On arrival we visit the 15th-century Tudor Merchant's House with its authentic furniture and fittings, recreate the atmosphere of the period and illustrate the manner in which a successful Tudor merchant and his family would have lived. Free time to explore in addition to guided tour of town and visit to the Tudor merchant house.
After lunch we travel to St David’s, Britain’s smallest city, surrounded by some of the finest coastline in Europe situated within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. With a population of around 2000 people, St David’s is really a village, and you will find the pace of life here is noticeably slower and the Welsh language playing a major part in everyday life. At the 14th century Porth y Twr our first full view of St David’s Cathedral, a breathtaking example of architecture built on the site of a 6th century monastery. Before descending the 39 steps see if you can spot the ‘Devils Footprints’. Much of the Cathedral's building dates back to the 12th century and was a popular pilgrimage destination throughout the middle ages. The cathedral housed the relics of the 6th century saint, David, the patron saint of Wales. In the Presbytery lies the tomb of Edmund Tudor, father of King Henry VII and half brother of King Henry VI. In the Cathedral Close we cross over a stream to the magnificent ruins of the medieval Bishop's Palace. Most of the buildings we see today were built by 14th century Bishop Henry de Gower, little in the way of new building work seems to have been done after de Gower’s death in 1347. Royal visitors include King William in the 12th century, King Henry II, Edward III and Queen Elizabeth II. Free time to explore the quaint shops and inns.
St Non’s Bay, to the ruins of the 6th century chapel, known traditionally as the birthplace of St David and St Non’s Well. In the late 16th-century the well was covered with a stone roof, with benches around the walls, where its popularity as a wishing well and the use of its waters to cure various ailments continued to the 18th century. Non, the saint to whom both chapel and well are dedicated, is said to be the mother of St David.
Depart for return journey to Cardiff
Prices from Adult £65/ Concession £60 (Over 60s & Students I.D. required) Price Inclusive of transport, driver, fully escorted English speaking guide, all admission charges and UK taxes and exlusive of lunch. Start 0830hr/Return 1930hr approx. Due to the ealier start & later return to Cardiff, the tour is not suitable for children. Pickup & Return Point: National Museum and Art Gallery of Wales, Cardiff.
+44 (0)1633 869700