DESTINATION:
North Wales
Wales at its best is the most beguiling part of the British Isles. Its soaring mountain ranges, plunging, battered coastline, calm, lush valleys and old-fashioned market towns all invite long and repeated visits. In particular, North Wales exhibits perhaps the most varied of these characteristics, and is a showpiece of past Welsh defence and conquest.
Recommended duration - 4 nights/5 days
KEY VISITS (Recommended)
- POWIS CASTLE and GARDENS – built at the beginning of the 13th century by Welsh princes and owned and altered by successive generations of Herberts and Clives for 400 years, this medieval castle contains the finest country house collections in Wales.
- CONWY CASTLE – constructed by Edward I between 1283 and 1289, this is considered the most magnificent of the defence castles with a soaring curtain wall and eight huge round towers. The views across the battlements over the mountains and sea are breath-taking.
- CONWY – a classic walled town and considered one of the finest in the country with almost three quarters of a mile of wall, guarded by 22 towers.
- BODNANT GARDEN – created by the 2nd Lord Aberconway and arguably one of the finest gardens in Britain, featuring five Italian-style terraces and formal lawns, backed by a wooded valley, stream and wild garden.
- CASTLE OF BEAUMARIS – one of the ‘iron ring’ castles built by Edward I intended to stamp his authority on the Welsh. To this day it remains an unfinished masterpiece.
- CAERNARFON CASTLE – also built by Edward I in 1283 as a royal residence and seat of government for North Wales. It is the site of the investiture of HRH Prince Charles as Prince of Wales.
- PLAS NEWYDD – a handsome 18th century house set in a breath-taking location featuring dramatic and unspoilt views across Snowdonia. An interesting mixture of Classical and Gothic, with an interior re-styled in the 1930s, which is famous for its association with Rex Whistler.
- PENRHYN CASTLE – this dramatic castle was built by Thomas Hopper between 1820 and 1837 for the Pennant family, who had made their fortune from the local slate quarry. The extraordinarily grand staircase and extravagant stone carving of the interior create an almost cathedral-like atmosphere, and there is also interesting panelling, plasterwork and a good collection of Old Masters.
- LLANDUDNO – rapidly gained popularity as a resort during the Victorian era and retains much of the holiday spirit of the 19th century, exuding a cheerful and informal seaside atmosphere with very little of the flashing lights and bingo halls adopted by other resorts. Its pier, more than 700 metres long, and canopied walkways recall the heyday of seaside holidays.
- CHIRK CASTLE – completed in 1310 in a commanding position in the Welsh Marches, and in continuous habitation ever since, the castle’s austere exterior contrasts with the elegant state rooms within. Elaborate plasterwork, tapestries, portraits and superb Adam-style furniture are juxtaposed with a dramatic dungeon and delightful formal gardens.
- PORTMEIRION – a unique Italianate village built on a private peninsula at the top of Cardigan Bay, created by Welsh architect Sir Clough Williams-Ellis. Approximately 50 buildings surround a central Mediterranean piazza, piecing together a scaled-down nest of loggias, grand porticoes and tiny terracotta-roofed houses in styles ranging from Oriental to Gothic.
- LLANBERIS – the departure point of the Snowdon Mountain Railway. Take the train almost to the summit of Snowdon and climb the final 1000 metres, Hafod Eryri, for breath-taking views over the ancient mountains of Snowdonia.
ALTERNATIVE VISITS
- NATIONAL SLATE MUSEUM – located in the unique 19th century workshops of the Dinorwig Slate Quarry in Llanberis.
- LLOYD GEORGE MUSEUM – discover the life and times of David Lloyd George in his boyhood home which is now a museum. He was one of the great statesmen of the twentieth century and the museum has been recreated as it was when he lived there.
- GWYDIR CASTLE – a privately-owned country house set in fine surroundings with beautiful formal gardens and featuring a library with beautiful wood panelling.