Wales - Fly Drive - Self Drive Wales
As the signs say, "Croeso i Cymru", welcome to Wales. Wales is known not only as former home to Richard Burton, Catherine Zeta Jones, Laura Ashley and Tom Jones, but it has inspired the poet Dylan Thomas and other literary figures. Wales has over 400 castles, magnificent gardens, and its own Prince. It's known for its all-male choirs, unpronounceable town names, like Llanfairpwyllgwyngyll, and spectacular Snowdonia National Park. Our self drive Wales tours gives you the freedom to explore the far corners of Wales. Stay at a B&B's in Wales, a castle, or other charming hotels in Wales. Call +1-800-221-2474 9AM - 5PM Mon-Fri Eastern Time Please Email Us For InformationWales B&B's & Castle One Week
B&B tour - Self drive Wales
- What our B&B package deal to Wales includes:
- Self-drive standard car with unlimited mileage and tax for 7 days to visit Wales. Large cars, minibuses and automatics are available.
- 6 nights accommodations at your choice of B&B's, room with bath. You have more than 300 choices throughout Great Britain.
- One night at Ruthin Castle, room with bath
- Full hearty breakfast is served each day. This may include home-baked breads, farm-fresh eggs, cereal, sausage and bacon.
- Value-Added Tax (V.A.T.) and service charges.
- YES! You can stay longer. Ask for rates.
- Passport Case with "What You Need To Know Before You Go"
- Travel Insurance starts at $60
Call 1-800-221-2474 9AM - 5PM or Please Email Us For Information
Our Welsh Castle Hotel: Ruthin Castle (the "Red Fort"), is one of Wales most historic, romantic and enchanting castles situated in over 30 acres of beautiful parkland. Ruthin Castle, which dates from before 1277 and dominates the historic Welsh market town of Ruthin, close to Chester, Llangollen and within easy reach of the North Wales Coast, Snowdonia and picturesque Betws-y-Coed. The pink marble monumental lions reclining proudly on their plinths and the red welcoming carpet at the entrance immediately lets you know that Ruthin Castle is a special hotel, but special in a friendly, comfortable way rather than being grand, formal and intimidating.
| Murray the Hump, Al Capone's right hand man, was born in Carno in Powys. |
Wales has its own language, its own Prince, and some of the most beautiful
scenery in Britain. Its borders are lined with strongly fortified castles,
reminders of the time when English kings had to protect their western flank
from the fiery Welsh. Towns have tongue- twisting names like
Llanfairpwyllgwyngyll. Narrow-gauge steam railways puff contentedly through
glorious scenery, and you can see more castles per square mile than anywhere
else in Europe. The Welsh have always been fiercely independent and our
independent program gives you the freedom to explore history-steeped market
towns, idyllic villages, and the glorious gardens of Wales. Explore rugged
landscape combining bed and breakfasts, hotels, manors and even romantic
castles to form your perfect vacation! If you would like to stay at an unusual
out-of-the way hotel or inn not listed here, please ask. We will be happy to
plan any itinerary for you. Call 1-800-221-2474 9AM - 5PM or Please Email Us For Information
Wales B&B's One Week
B&B tour - Self drive Wales
- What our B&B package deal to Wales includes:
- Self-drive standard car with unlimited mileage and tax for 6 days to visit Wales. Large cars, minibuses and automatics are available.
- 7 nights accommodations at your choice of B&B's, room with bath.
- Full hearty breakfast is served each day. This may include home-baked breads, farm-fresh eggs, cereal, sausage and bacon.
- Value-Added Tax (V.A.T.) and service charges.
- YES! You can stay longer.Ask for rates.
- Passport Case with "What You Need To Know Before You Go"
Most B&B's are open April-October. During other months, availability may be limited.
Rates per person sharing a twin room
CHILD RATES APPLY WHEN A CHILD UNDER 12 SHARES A ROOM WITH 2 ADULTS. When your trip spans two time periods, higher prices apply. Blackout Periods: Dec. 13-Jan 06.Suggested 6 Day Wales self drive itinerary
7 Day Wales Self Drive Itinerary
Day 1 Make your first stop in Llangollen. It's an ancient market town situated on the banks of the beautiful River Dee under the watchful gaze of Castell Dinas Brân. If you're not lucky enough to be here for the International Musical Eisteddfod held each July, there's plenty to explore in its narrow streets.
Head to Conwy and to its castle - a great place to get lost. It has plenty of ramparts, towers, dark passages and dungeons. While you're in Conwy pay a visit to Plas Mawr, a restored Elizabethan townhouse and don't miss Britain's Smallest House.
Approx. distance: Llangollen to Conwy 49 miles (78.8 kms)
Approx. driving time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Overnight suggestion: Conwy, Caernarfon
Day 2
Start by heading south to Caernarfon Castle, a World heritage listed site. It's arguably the finest in Wales. Murder holes, five gates, six portcullises and a moat make for formidable lines of defence.
The Llanberis Road takes you past the foot of Snowdon, the highest mountain in England & Wales. Sir Edmund Hillary and his team trained here before embarking on their journey to the summit of Everest. If you stop at the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel, you'll see their signatures on the bar's ceiling.
Make sure you stop in Harlech and visit one of the 'Iron Ring Castles'. Situated high upon a rocky outcrop, its seaward side was defended by sheer cliffs, while a deep moat protected the other sides.
Visit Aberystwyth on your way south along the coast. Its a lively University town, and also home to the National Library of Wales - where many of the greatest literary treasures of Wales (and the other Celtic countries) are securely stored.
Approx. distance: Conwy - Caernarfon - Harlech - Aberystwyth 114 miles (183.5 kms)
Approx. driving time: 3 hours 15 min / 3 hours if starting in Caernarfon
Overnight suggestion: Aberystwyth
Day 3
A worthwhile detour inland takes you to Devil's Bridge, situated high in the foothills of the Plynlimon Mountains, 19 km east of Aberystwyth. The village has three claims to fame: the three bridges, the little narrow gauge steam railway, and the cascading waterfalls of the river Mynach.
The west coast is dotted with award winning beaches, rocky smugglers' coves and great cliff-top scenery. If you get close enough to the water, you may even catch a glimpse of the resident dolphins and seals.
Keep going south into Pembrokeshire. There are plenty of great places to visit in this area. Don't miss:- St Davids: the smallest city in Britain, more like a small village. This place is special, stuffed full of little art shops, galleries and tea rooms. And of course a cathedral. Tenby: wedged between two massive sandy beaches, it has a castle, town walls, a tiny harbour, and the best sand in Wales for making sandcastles.
Approx. distance: Aberystwyth - Devil's Bridge - Pembrokeshire 112 miles (180 kms)
Approx. driving time: 2 hours 30 minutes
Overnight suggestion: Tenby
Day 4
Take the coastal drive to Laugharne, where Dylan Thomas wrote 'Under Milk Wood'. You can still see his writing shed overlooking Carmarthen Bay.
Then drive towards Llanelli and the Millennium Coastal Park which occupies approximately 20 km of coastline on the Burry Estuary, overlooking Gower. It's a centre for lots of different leisure activities, including the continuous traffic-free cycle/footpath, championship golf course and watersports centre. The National Wetlands Centre of Wales is also located in the park. It’s Wales' best place to see wildfowl and waders.
Approx. distance: Tenby to Llanelli 58.5 miles (94 kms) Approx. driving time: 1 hour 35 minutes + 25 minutes if overnight at Swansea
Overnight suggestion: Llanelli, Swansea
Day 5
Explore Swansea and Gower today. The city's oldest building is the ruined Swansea Castle, standing out in more modern surroundings near the shopping centre. At the Dylan Thomas Centre you will find an intriguing exhibition on the poet's life and work. Just a few minutes walk from the city you'll find Swansea's Maritime Quarter. The former docklands have been redeveloped into an attractive waterfront, with its 600-berth marina as a centerpiece. The National Waterfont Museum is the place to learn about the industrial, maritime and social history of Wales and it's free.
Next, head to Gower. You'll soon find out why the 29 km long peninsula was designated UK's first Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Visit open moors, grazed common land, salt marshes and beautiful beaches. There’s also many historic churches, castles and prehistoric burial sites to explore. The Gower Heritage Centre based around an 800 year-old water powered mill, with craft workshops and tearooms is worth a visit.
Approx. distance: Swansea to Gower 8 miles (12.9 kms) Approx. driving time: 20 minutes Overnight suggestion: Swansea
Day 6
At Rhondda Heritage Park in the South Wales Valleys, ex-miners will take you to the pit bottom to explore the mine and experience life underground.
Continue north to Cyfarthfa Castle, set in 158 acres of parkland, in Merthyr Tydfil. There's lots of fine decorative art to admire in the museum and art gallery's Regency rooms. Find out about social and industrial history in the atmospheric basement.
Your next stop is the Brecon Mountain Railway, just three miles north of Merthyr Tydfil. These little, tall-stacked steam engines will take you on a seven mile trip through superb scenery in the Brecon Beacons National Park.
Approx. distance: Swansea to Abergavenny including stops 75 miles (120.7 kms)
Approx. driving time: 2 hours 15 minutes
Overnight suggestion: Abergavenny
Day 7
Make your way to the quaint market town of Crickhowell. Allow time to explore the town as it's a delight for quirky shopping. The social hub is The Bear Hotel, an ancient coaching inn dating back to 1432 which has twice won the Best Pub in Britain award.
Your last stop is Hay-on-Wye. If you choose to take the slower scenic route to Hay then stop at Llanthony Priory en-route. Hay-on-Wye is famous for one thing – books. There are millions of them, and they are everywhere. The castle's a book shop, the cinema's a book shop, the fire station's a book shop, the alleyways are book shops. It also hosts an annual festival in May/June and has placed the town well and truly on the world literary map.
Approx. distance: Abergavenny to Hay-on-Wye including stops 37.5 miles (60.3 kms)
Approx. driving time: 1 hour 45 minutes
Overnight suggestion: Hay-on-Wye
7 Day Self Drive Circle Wales, Roundtrip Cardiff
| Golden opportunities: Barafundle Bay, Pembrokeshire, recently won a beauty contest for Britain’s best beach. But we think it’s a close call: our 750-mile coastline has many runners-up. In fact, with 41 Blue Flag beaches, Wales has more top-rated beaches than anywhere else in Britain. |
