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Day 1 Wed Manchester to Llandudno
Pick-up from central Manchester or Liverpool and drive to Chester. You'll have a couple of hours to explore this lovely town before continuing to the hotel in Llandudno. Afternoon free time to relax and then meet for a welcoming drink and get-together before dinner (D)
Llandudno is a classic British seaside resort where the seafront is lined with a wide promenade and backed with rows of elegant Victorian pastel coloured facades, the entire scene framed between the cliffs of the Great and Little Orme Headland.
Day 2 Thu Llandudno, Great Orme, Bodnant Garden (NT), Evening Choral Concert.
A relaxing start with a walk along the promenade to board Britain’s only remaining Cable Operated Street Tramway which takes us up 680ft. to the Great Orme Country Park, a site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). We will have time to enjoy the magnificent views over the ocean, a walk, and visit the excellent information centre before leaving to visit to the magnificent Bodnant Garden (NT), this is one of Britain’s premier gardens. After dinner we attend a Male Voice Concert at St. John’s Methodist Church. (BD)
Day 3 Fri Mountain Farm, sheep and sheep dogs and ‘The Ladies of Llangollen’
Today our drive takes us through the upper reaches of the Conwy Valley to visit a mountain farm. Here we will learn how Border collie sheep dogs are trained and see them at work, meet the farmer, and enjoy a home cooked lunch. In the afternoon, we continue our journey to Llangollen, the small town that ‘Welcomes the World’ each year when it hosts the International Music Festival. We visit Plas Newydd, home of the legendary ‘Ladies of Llangollen’ from 1789 to 1829 and return via the scenic Horseshoe Pass. (BLD)
Day 4 Sat Conwy’s Medieval Castle, Traditional Woolen Mill, and Betws y Coed.
We depart our hotel mid-morning and travel to the classical walled town of Conwy. Its circuits of walls extend over three quarters of a mile and are guarded by eighteen towers. This is where we can step back in time and wander through the narrow streets, and enjoy the traditional shops and quaint houses of this ancient town. In the afternoon, we join our specialist guides for a tour of Conwy’s Mighty Castle constructed in the late 13C on the orders of King Edward 1st of England. Late afternoon our journey continues to Trefriw Woolen Mill, one of the few mills remaining that continue to operate traditional Dobcross looms. The present owners, Morgan and Elaine, are fifth generation of the Williams’ family to produce traditional Welsh double weaves (tapestry), bedspreads and tweeds at Trefriw. We join Morgan for a tour and demonstration before continuing the journey to Betws y Coed, our base for the next four days. After checking in, our guide will take us for a familiarisation walk before dinner. (BD)
Betws-y-Coed is a lively village located in the Conwy Valley where the River Conwy meets its three tributaries, the Llugwy, the Lledr and the Machno. It has a wonderful setting surrounded by dense woodland and magnificent mountain country that is further enhanced by cascading waterfalls, hill-top lakes, river pools and ancient bridges.
Day 5 Sun Pottery and Ancestral Home of the Wynne Family
Morning at Leisure. After lunch we journey to remote woodland by Porth Llwyd Falls to meet Vicky Buxton at her pottery studio and workshop where she makes a selection of ceramics, decorative stoneware and porcelain. We will have the opportunity to view Vicky at her work, and enjoy a cup of coffee. We then visit Gwydyr Castle, the ancestral home of the powerful Wynne family. Not a castle in the traditional sense, but a fine example of a courtyard or fortified Manor House. The property has been restored by the present owners Judy Corbett and Peter Wellford. A full account of the work is described in Judy’s book entitled ‘Castles in the Air’. (BD)
Day 6 Mon Art Gallery, Male Voice Choir Rehearsal
At 1.00 we begin our journey through the dramatic Llanberis Pass to visit the Slate Museum, where we gain an insight into the slate industry and the communities which grew around it through demonstrations and film.
We then drive to the Isle of Anglesey to visit Oriel Mon, a premier purpose built art gallery and showcase for local artists and craftspeople.
A visit to “Llanfairpwllgwyngychgogerychwyrndrobwyllllandusulioggogogoch” the small village with the longest name in the world is a must after which we will visit one of the traditional Pubs for a meal followed by a visit to the Penrhyn Male Choir at their rehearsal room in Bethesda. This choir is one of Wales’ oldest and best known male choirs. (BD)
Day 7 Tue Portmeirion, Beddgelert, and a very special Ice Cream
From Betws we take the road through the Lledr valley to the mountain town of Blaenau Ffestiniog to board one of the 'Great Little trains of Wales' on a twelve mile scenic journey through the vale of Ffestiniog to the sea. Then onwards to the ‘fantasy’ village of Portmeirion, created by the architect Clough Williams- Ellis between 1925 and 1972 and was the setting of the 1969’s television series “The Prisoner” After enjoying the village, garden and extensive woodlands our tour continues to Beddgelert, one of Snowdonia’s’ prettiest villages to taste Cadwaladrs’ homemade ice cream, take a river bank walk, and then enjoy the drive back to Betws y Coed through the Nant Gwynant pass and the rocky heights of Snowdonia. Tonight, we'll enjoy our Farewell Dinner. (BD)
Day 8 Wed Depart Betws-y-Coed
Check-out after breakfast and drive back to Manchester or Liverpool central hotels or railway station. (B)
Browse Land of My Fathers special September departure
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