ManchWalesMountLakes

Wales, derived from the Saxon word for foreigner. It was to these hills that England original Celtic inhabitants retreated before the conquering Roman, Saxon and Norman armies. Where 'foreigners' established their Celtic redoubt and preserved their culture. It is here that you find the living heart of the modern Welsh culture. The hills are alive, both with singing and the second oldest language spoken in Europe. But, despite the 'retreat' and preservation of an ancient culture made possible by the protection of the magnificent mountains, the invader left his tell tale sign in castles, settlement and industry.

On this tour you'll see the fantastic scenery of the Snowdonia National Park and the most impressive range of 12th Century castles of anywhere in the British Isles.

You'll enjoy the wonderful tranquility of a Victorian coastal resort and a steam train ride into the mountains. You'll see fabulous industrial heritage (this was the world centre for slate and a gold mining region). We'll show you prehistoric tombs and Roman remains. You'll see walled cities and beautiful gardens.

It's a tour that's simply so nice you'll want to do it again the very next week!

It also combines with our three-day tour of the Lakes District and Lancashire, and with our three day tour of the Lincolnshire Peaks. Those wishing to make it an eight-day tour of Wales can travel south by train to join our Southern Wales, four-day Red Dragon tour.

TENTATIVE ITINERARY	NIGHTSTOP

DAY ONE - SATURDAY
We depart central Manchester at 08.30. En route to North Wales, we stop at Chester to collect tour participants who are combining this tour with our previous three day Peaks and Cheshire Explorer. We'll enjoy a tour of the Roman walled town of Chester with its cathedral and medieval shopping 'rows' before continuing to Llandudno. Llandudno is an elegant Victorian seaside resort. The pier with its pier-end theatre, the wide, flower-filled promenade, the imposing Victorian buildings that face the sea and the covered shopping streets are all reminiscent of a bygone age. The town also boasts a funicular railway that takes us to the top of the Great Orme where we'll get splendid views of the Snowdonia we have set out to explore. We follow the coast a short distance to our second walled city of the day at Conwy. This wall was erected in the 12th century by Norman conquerors and with the massive castle dominating one corner, it makes this harbour town one of the most interesting in the UK. We'll find what claims to be Britain's smallest house, as well as an impressively restored mediaeval one. Climbing the turrets of one of Edward I's most imposing fortresses will not be forgotten in a hurry!	near Conwy
DAY TWO - SUNDAY
Today we explore the heart of Snowdonia. This National Park is one of dominating peaks (the highest in England and Wales), narrow mountain passes, flowing stream, cascading waterfalls, sheep-covered uplands and verdant, hidden valleys. It has been claimed that these secluded valleys were home to the real King Arthur. Certainly, an ancient Welsh culture and language still thrives here today. We'll explore it in true Back-Roads fashion taking you beyond the regular tourist haunts downs tracks and paths that will have you gasping!. Our day will also include a visit to the great slate mine at Blaenau Ffestiniog, or copper mine at Sygun, a steam train journey through the mountains on a half-gage railway, a woollen mill, Harlech and the Llewyn Peninsular.	near Conwy
DAY THREE - MONDAY
Following an obligatory visit to Caernarfon, we continue to the Isle of Anglesey, crossing the Menai Straits by Thomas Telford's famed suspension bridge - a wonder of the age of the industrial revolution. This ancient and mystic island offers an astounding wealth of attractions including prehistoric burial chambers and monuments, Celtic and Viking settlements, fabulous flora and forna, and the village with the World's longest name - Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerchwyrndrobwllllandysilliogogogoch. There's the fabulously pretty harbour of Beaumaris with its Victorian gaol (it has the only working tread-mill wheel in Britain), a magnificent 12th Century Norman castle, and a Roman Army museum, in addition to a 900 year old pub! The island's geography is a natural haven for birds, with its wildly contrasting variety of sheer cliffs, sheltered coves, estuaries, dunes, heaths, wetlands, lakes and woodlands. Along the coast you will discover major breeding colonies of puffins, guillemots, razorbills, terns and cormorants - among many other species. Spring and summer turn the Isle of Anglesey into a giant rock garden, carpeted with flowers of every hue. Seal colonies are a common sight on the rockier stretches of the coastline, whilst dolphins can sometimes be glimpsed from shore. We'll spend the full day exploring this unique corner of the British Isles.	near Conwy
DAY FOUR - TUESDAY
Garden lovers are in for a treat this morning with a visit to Bodnant gardens. Quoting from their own website, it's "one of the most beautiful gardens in the UK", spanning some 80 acres and is situated above the River Conwy on ground sloping towards the west and looking across the valley towards the Snowdonia range. The garden has two parts. The upper garden around Bodnant Hall consists of the terraced gardens and informal lawns shaded by trees. The lower portion, known as the "Dell" is formed by the valley of the River Hiraethlyn and contains the Wild garden. This afternoon we drive via Lake Bala to Llangollen. From the canal wharf you embark on either a horse drawn boat trip along the feeder for the main canal, or a motorised aqueduct cruise which takes you across the famous Pontcysyllte Aqueduct built by Thomas Telford. It's an unforgettable way to complete our North Wales explorer. We return to Manchester, dropping off those who are joining our Lakes and Lancashire Dales tour at our accommodation near Knutsford, Cheshire. Those travelling south to join our South Wales Red Dragon tour take the train from Crewe (16.30) to Newport (arr. 19.30) where they will be met by our local representative. You spend a leisurely few hours exploring the local village on the Wednesday morning before being collected at approx. 10.30 for the Red Dragon tour. Accommodation is included in South Wales if booking the two consecutive Wales tours. If you are not joining another tour with us, accommodation in Manchester is not included in your tour price. Accommodation can be booked on your behalf at a cost from £45 per person, B&B, for a twin room and £60 for a single. Airport transfers can also be reserved at a standard cost of £40 for a car with up to three persons sharing.