WALES

EXPLORING WALES BY TRAINS, 

LAKE AND VILLAGE

 

Thursday, 10 September  -  Monday, 14 September, 2026.

 

Staying at the CELTIC ROYAL HOTEL, Caernarfon.  Behind its historic façade, the splendour of a royal story can be found, in 1832 Princess Victoria (soon to be Queen Victoria) and her mother stayed within the hotels very walls, earning it its deserved regal title.  The Hotel is situated in Caernarfon centre, just a 5 minute walk to Caernarfon Castle.   The bedrooms are bright and airy with comfy beds and offer tea/Coffee facilities, TV and bathroom with hairdryer.  The tastefully elegant Castell Restaurant takes the expertise of its Head Chef and marries it with locally sourced produce, resulting in classic dishes.  There is also an indoor heated swimming pool, sauna and steam room.  A lift serves all floor but there are still some steps to some rooms.   Evening Dinner consists of a choice of 4 starters, 4 main courses and 4 desserts plus tea or coffee and Breakfast is a Welsh Breakfast.  There will be live entertainment on 2 nights.  Bedrooms are Twin, Double Bedded Rooms with Single Rooms carrying a supplement of £140.00 and a Double or Twin Room will be for Sole Use.   Triple Rooms and rooms with walk-in showers are available on request on booking.

 

THURSDAY  -  Travelling via the motorway in our Executive coach with toilet, washroom and drink facilities, making a comfort stop at a services, then travelling on to LLANDUDNO, where we can have lunch, and we should arrive at THE CELTIC ROYAL HOTEL, in the afternoon, whilst we are checking in, our luggage will be taken up to our bedrooms.   Evening meal in the restaurant. 

 

FRIDAY  -  We meet the coach after breakfast for our excursion on the LLANBERIS LAKE RAILWAY, enjoy a gentle ride behind a vintage steam engine rescued from the nearby Dinorwic slate quarries.  The journey takes us along the shores of Lake Padarn with unrivalled views of Snowdon.  Starting at Gilfach Ddu the train passes Dolbadarn Castle and Llanberis Village, then the engine is changed and we travel in the opposite direction,  passing through Padarn Country Park then joining the slate railway route to Penllyn giving stunning views of Snowdon, before returning to Gilfach Ddu.   The trip takes 60 minutes and on our return our coach will meet us and return us back to Caernarfon, where you have the afternoon to explore the town.   

Evening meal in the restaurant.

 

SATURDAY  -  Our excursion today takes us from Caernarfon railway station and we travel by the WELSH HIGHLAND RAILWAY to Porthmadog.   The Welsh Highland Railway is the UK’s longest heritage railway and runs for 25 miles from Caernarfon, past the foot of Snowdon and the picture postcard village of Beddgelert, then through the stunning Aberglaslyn Pass and on to Porthmadog and takes 2 hours.  You ride in some of the most comfortable carriages on any heritage railway, you can step back in time to a more civilised age.

On arrival in Porthmadog our coach will meet us and transfer you to the famous PORTMEIRION VILLAGE.    Designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis, an eccentric architect, in the early 20th century, Portmeirion’s Riviera inspired houses, ornamental gardens and campanile are a beautiful pocket of madness.  You can explore the Italianate village’s unique architecture in areas like the Piazza  and discover the Town Hall, Hercules Hall, the Tudor Room and also see the Bristol Colonnade.  Battery Square this pretty plaza contains Caffi’r Sgwar, a café with outdoor tables, the Round House where Number 6 lived in the cult TV series starring Patrick McGoohan “The Prisoner”.  It is now a shop selling nostalgic memorabilia.

 

SUNDAY  -  Today our excursion is to the beautiful ISLE OF ANGLESEY.  Our first stop will be at BEAUMARIS which is a captivating seaside town.  Take a walk through the town starting with a stroll along the seafront, taking in the pier, from here you have splendid views over the Menai Strait and Snowdon, then through the charming streets where you will find plenty of cafes for a coffee and cake.   From here our coach will take us on a tour of the island, finishing at the famous village of : -

LLANFAIRPWLLGWYNGYLLGOGERYCHWYRNDROPBWLLLLANTYSILIOGOGOGOCH.   

In the afternoon, if time allows have one last wander around Caernarfon.

 

MONDAY  -   We meet the coach, after breakfast and commence our journey home.    A stop will be made at a services, giving you time to have lunch.  A further stop, nearer home will be made when the driver will give arrival home times so passengers who wish to be met can telephone.

 

PRICE FOR THIS 5 DAY TOUR IS:   £661.00 per person in Twin, Double Rooms in the Celtic Royal Hotel.

SINGLE ROOMS;  £801.00

 

Price includes return coach fare and ALL day excursions and all entrances, NO HIDDEN EXTRAS.

 

Bookings are taken over the telephone, followed by £50.00 per person deposit, paid by bank transfer or cheque.  With final payment 6 weeks prior to departure date.

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INSURANCE:   We suggest you take out your own insurance.