Suggested Itinerary
Day 1 – Attingham Park
Board our private executive coach at your preferred pick up points – stop at a convenient property en route such as Attingham Park near Shrewsbury, an elegant 18th century mansion with magnificent Regency interiors and silver, period furniture and painting collections – continue to the 3* Celtic Royal Hotel in Caernarfon.
Day 2 – Caernarfon Castle & Plas Newydd
Guided tour of Caernarfon Castle, constructed in 1283 as the definitive chapter in Edward I’s conquest of Wales – guided tour of the National Trust’s beautiful 18th century house at Plas Newydd, home of the Marquess of Anglesey and a mixture of classic and Gothic styles with wonderful views of Snowdonia.
Day 3 – Lloyd George Museum, Ffestiniog Railway & Portmeirion Village
The Lloyd George Museum commemorates the life and times of David Lloyd George, Britain's first modern Prime Minister, who led the country during the World War I and includes a visit to Highgate, the Victorian cottage where he spent his childhood – take the scenic Ffestiniog Narrow Gauge Railway from Porthmadog Station to Blaenau Festiniog where we are met once again by our coach – transfer the short distance to Portmeirion, built by Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975 in the style of an Italian village.
Day 4 – Bodnant Gardens & Conwy Castle
One of the world’s most spectacular gardens, the National Trust’s 80 acre Bodnant Gardens located above the River Conwy features huge Italianate terraces and stunning views across Snowdonia – guided tour of Conwy Castle, completed in 1287 and one of Edward I’s chain of Welsh fortresses.
Day 5 – Powis Castle & Garden
The world famous garden at the National Trust’s Powis Castle and Garden was laid out under the influence of Italian and French styles and retains its original lead statues, while the medieval castle contains one of the finest collections of paintings and furniture in Wales – return to our original departure points with comfort stops en route.
Tour Features
Half board accommodation
All excursions & guided tours included
Blue Badge guide Days 2 to 4
Executive coach throughout
One free place per 10 paying passengers
Attingham Park
Caernarfon Castle - guided tour
Plas Newydd - guided tour
Lloyd George Museum
Ffestiniog Railway
Portmeirion Village
Bodnant Gardens
Conwy Cstle - guided tour
Powis Castle & Garden
Hotel
Four nights on half board basis at the 3* Celtic Royal Hotel. Located in the centre of Caernarfon, facilities at the hotel include a restaurant, bar and swimming pool and all rooms are en suite.
Tailor-make this tour
Your tailor made tour
Here are some more suggested places of interest you might like to include:
- Snowdon Mountain Railway - an awe inspiring journey by Britain’s only rack and pinion railway to the summit of Snowdon
- Pontcysyllte Aqueduct - boat excursion across the famous aqueduct built by Thomas Telford between 1795 and 1805 and which, according to UNESCO, represents a 'masterpiece of human creative genius'
- Penrhyn Castle - the first Lord Penrhyn, the owner of a nearby slate mine and also sugar plantations in the West Indies, filled his late 18th century neo-Norman fantasy castle with his amazing collection of paintings and other treasures
- Plas Mawr - built by Robert Wynn between 1576 and 1585, with elaborately decorated plaster ceilings and fine wooden screens, this is possibly the UK’s best preserved Elizabethan town house
- Gwydir Castle - built in the 1500’s by the illustrious Wynn family, a fine example of a Tudor courtyard house, incorporating reused medieval material from the dissolved Abbey of Maenan
- Plas Brondanw Gardens - not as famous as his village of Portmeirion, but widely regarded to be Sir Clough Williams-Ellis’ masterpiece
- The ‘Marble Church’ - the Church of St Margaret of Antioch in Bodelwyddan boasts an interior featuring marble from Ireland, England, France and Italy and fine Victorian stained glass windows
- Erddig - one of the most fascinating houses in Britain with an evocative range of outbuildings and state rooms displaying original 18th and 19th century furnishings
Tour Reviews
Reviews for Castles & Gardens of North Wales
I feel I must put in writing my thanks for the wonderful trip you organised for us in North Wales. We were fortunate with the weather and the whole group seem to thoroughly enjoy themselves. The holiday was a great success.
BW, Ascot May 2024
Our trip to North Wales with glorious castles and the beauty of Snowdonia started with a stop at the poignant National Memorial Arboretum. We saw a lot in limited time with a land train tour - genius. Also a fascinating slate museum and stunning gardens and National trust properties. There was something for everyone and the group loved every minute.
JL, Twickenham October 2022
Just to let you know that we had a very enjoyable trip to North Wales. Thank you for making all the arrangements for us which all went very smoothly. Even the weather was exceptionally kind! Our guide was very professional and her knowledge of everything Welsh second to none. She even managed to fit in an extra visit for us to The Slate Museum on Day 4 by leaving the hotel half an hour earlier. Our coach driver couldn’t have been more helpful. The itinerary worked well, making good use of our time but not too exhausting. Winterbourne House was a popular stop on the outward journey. The gardens were at their best and the catering arrangements good. In fact for all the gardens we couldn’t have timed it better. The laburnum arch at Bodnant was amazing. The hotel served our purpose well and convenient location in the centre of The National Park. The food was good and the staff were always helpful and friendly, even coming out to wave us off when we left. They were not servicing the rooms, possibly due to Covid or staff shortages but no one complained and I’m sure had we needed anything they would have obliged. Thank you again for arranging another successful tour.
Margaret W May 2022
Having recently returned from the holiday to North Wales I wish to express my appreciation of an excellent holiday. In particular, I would highly commend the Tour Guide. She showed great local knowledge, amusing anecdotes but also knew when to stay quiet. The coach driver was very helpful at all times and his driving was smooth and highly competent to cope with challenging narrow roads and difficult manoeuvres. Many thanks.
PL, Reigate October 2019
Our trip to North Wales was very successful. Thank you for all your organising and help on this. I am really impressed with the way in which Tailored Travel organise their tours. I had not been on one before and I was a little apprehensive beforehand but it turned out that I shouldn’t have worried about it as it all went very well. We were extremely lucky with the weather as it was much drier than expected. Mostly it rained in the evening or when we were on the coach. We didn’t get wet outside until Thursday when we were touring around Conwy Castle. Everyone liked the hotel. The staff were very friendly, the rooms were clean & the food was very good. The Blue Badge guide was very interesting & inspiring. She was very friendly & everyone seemed to like her. The coach driver was an excellent driver. He was also very friendly & lots of people enjoyed talking to him. With thanks from all of us.
KW, Brookwood October 2019
It is with great pleasure that I can tell you that we were all of us in the group very pleased with a wonderful journey to Wales. Everything went as we could have wished for, including the weather. Our guide was so good and a pleasant person as well, the coach was fine, the two hotels good and so on. All the sights and venues great and so much to see and experience. I would like to thank you, Michael and all the others who helped at Tailored Travel for all you did.
RS, Iceland September 2018
We had an excellent tour to North Wales in every respect (even the weather was better than we expected). The hotel was very comfortable; they were very well organised, obviously used to catering for more than one coach group in residence at a time. The rooms were a good size, clean and comfortable. The food was very good and the staff pleasant. We really loved our guide (knowledgeable and never boring, juicy gossip) and the driver. He drove magnificently through all sorts of tricky arches and windy roads and even had to get out and move a horse box at one point. If he and his coach are available next year for Amsterdam we would be very happy! Everyone on the tour seemed very pleased with it; we did not get any complaints. Another triumph for Tailored Travel's brilliant organisation! And thank you, Petra for your in depth information and attention to detail.
MD, Winscombe June 2017
We had a fabulous holiday to North Wales! The coach was extremely comfortable and the driver was superb. We were given the option to drive up though Wales from Bristol and we loved all the scenery as we made our way north to Caernarfon. The hotel was very comfortable and we enjoyed very good service, with many of us making the most of the swimming pool and sauna! The itinerary was good. Our highlights were Bodnant Gardens, the Lloyd George Museum and the rail and canal journeys, but each place on the itinerary was mentioned by someone in the review ‘a sentence about your highlight’ that I sent around the coach on the way home. Here are a couple of quotes; ‘Another absolutely wonderful holiday, everyday packed with fantastic highlights. Many thanks!’ ‘A most enjoyable holiday, much to do and the mountain scenery was stunning’. ‘Wonderful and helpful driver, and great company on board!’ So, as usual our thanks go to Tailored Travel for the superb organisation that gave us such a good holiday.
JH, Tavistock September 2016
We are all back and all enjoyed the holiday to North Wales. The hotel was of a very high standard and the staff most helpful. Amanda was a great guide and went out of her way to be helpful. Thanks you.
CL, Totnes October 2015
Just to let you know that everything went well on the North Wales trip. Guide, driver, hotel and all arrangements. Weather perfect except for cloud and light rain just as we were approaching the summit of Snowdon! Thank you for all you did to make the tour run so smoothly. Everyone had a great time.
AG, London October 2014
Thank you to you & all your 'team' for putting together a lovely holiday in North Wales. The hotel was super and the food excellent including a special coeliac diet for the one member - the staff were so helpful & obliging at all times. Amanda, the Blue badge guide was excellent and we thoroughly enjoyed her company along with all her knowledge. We had a lovely welcome at the Anglesey Federation by their chairman, Audrey Jones, whom I had met at a National Council Meeting some years ago! Again we were given a lovely lunch. Even the weather wasn't too bad! It was glorious when we went to Portmeirion with sun and blue skies! We even saw the top of Snowdon! All in all we had a good time with a lot of fun & laughter. Once again, many thanks to you all – it’s a pleasure working with you.
CK, Bristol April 2014
Call us on
020 7064 4970
to tailor this tour
for your group
Tailor make your group tour
Remember this itinerary is just our suggestion. Tailor make this tour exclusively for your group to suit your members’ budget or preferences. You could:
- stay at a 4* hotel
- for more (or fewer) days
- include different excursions – see ‘Tailor-make this tour’ tab for suggestions
- bring a specialist lecturer
- include all entrance fees & gratuities
Call us on
020 7064 4970
to tailor make the perfect tour
for your group
