North Wales - Mountains and Lakes
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North Wales - Mountains and Lakes from only
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920
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North Wales - Mountains and Lakes
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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 in this area, the home of the oldest spoken language in Europe. Departs Manchester every second Saturday from April 19th 2008 to October 4th 2008 inclusive. The TourDay 1 - SaturdayWe depart Manchester and en route to North Wales, we stop at Chester enjoying a tour of the Roman walled town 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! Day 2 - SundayToday we explore the heart of Snowdonia. This National Park has one of the dominating peaks (the highest in England and Wales) and covers narrow mountain passes, flowing streams, 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 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. Day 3 - MondayFollowing a 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. Day 4 - TuesdayGarden 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. 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. Whats Included?
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