10 DAY TOUR
Our 10 Day Grand Tour of Wales captures almost every region of country. We’ll introduce you to the beauty of Wales, its hidden gems and uncovers the unique culture, along with its amazing history and the most amazing scenic landscapes. The tour provides an extensive journey through the three National Parks of Wales with Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire and the Brecon Beacons. We also route through five different Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, with the Isle of Anglesey, the Clwyd and Dee Valleys, The Llyn Peninsula, The Gower and the Wye Valley. You’ll get to visit and tour through some stunning landscapes, from beautiful coastal stretches to magnificent mountains and valleys. We will also touch on the industrial past of Wales, with the Slate and Coal industries and make visits to a couple of cities of contrast, with the capital – Cardiff to the smallest city in Great Britain at St. David’s. You’ll get to enjoy touring along some of the ‘Back Roads of Wales’ and discover the ‘Real Wales’ and each touring day offers a variety of interesting content. You’ll just love where we take you on your very own Boutique Tour of Wales! As it is your very own private tour, it can be custom designed, so if you want to change something around, or start later in the morning or finish earlier in the day, then we will work with you to design the very best possible touring days around your own personal requirements. But for now, here is our proposed outline for an exhilarating and fulfilling 10 Day Grand Tour of Wales.
Our most common start up location is in the city of Chester, where we meet outside the Queen Hotel, opposite the railway station entrance. Direct express trains take just 2 hours from London Euston, with trains departing at 07:10, 08:10 and 09:10. Some folk choose to come in the day before and stop over, so we pick up from the hotel where you are staying.
We can also provide a ‘Meet and Greet’ service at Manchester International airport, or at the port of Holyhead for the Irish Ferries arriving from Dublin.
Our private tours are completely flexible for start and end locations. See the various Start/End of tour locations in the pricing panel below.
You’ll very quickly start to discover why Wales is one of the best kept secrets of Britain! The first impression that hits you is all the ‘Greenery’ from lush rolling countryside to picturesque landscapes with scenic valleys. Croeso i Gymru (Welcome to Wales)!
The first day is spent touring a relatively unknown area of Wales in the North East area of the Borderlands, which is amongst one of the five designated areas or Outstanding Natural Beauty with the Clwyd and Dee Valleys.
We’ll tour you along some amazing back roads and take you to places where the tour buses can’t go and give you the best views in Wales! You can choose to take short (easy) walks in the hills along the unique Offa’s Dyke trail.
Our tour uncovers interesting historical and architecture sites and you will very quickly immerse yourself as you get to discover some amazing hidden gems of Wales.
Marvel at the civil engineering feat of the UNESCO Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the beauty of Llangollen set on the river Dee. Discover the home of the famous ‘Ladies of Llangollen’.
The evocative ruins of Valle Crucis lie in green fields beneath Llangollen’s steep sided mountains. Founded in 1201, the Abbey was caught up in many of the battles between the English and Welsh.
Our second religious attraction is a shrine! St Winefride’s Well has been welcoming royalty, pilgrims and visitors for over 1,300 years! Today its waters still provide miracle cures from sickness and infirmity and you can get the chance to taste the water and even step in to bathing pool if you so desire.
Our castle of the day is a beautiful riverside photo shot of Rhuddlan Castle before we make the short journey along the coast for our overnight stop in either Llandudno or Conwy.
Our tour highlights of the historic and Scenic Borderlands of Wales feature:
This itinerary is just an outline and we can custom tailor design the tour to suit.
Accommodation Options/Tour Concierge Service:
Your tour excludes accommodation.
Tonight, we recommend a lovely 4 star rated promenade hotel in the Victorian coastal resort town of Llandudno.
This morning we step into the history of Wales with a visit to the medieval walled town of Conwy. Conwy’s town walls are said to be the best preserved in all of Europe and one of the best ways to see the town is by walking the walls. Conwy is located on the river, with a magnificent medieval castle and a very unusual claim, with the ‘Smallest House in Great Britain’!
Our tour through the Snowdonia National Park captures beautiful glacial lake locations and stunning mountain passes. Our route takes us off track along a beautiful glacial valley, passing by local sheep farms as we introduce you to our version of a ‘Welsh Safari’! You’ll also get to tour along the most scenic road in Wales with views of the biggest mountain in Wales – Mount Snowdon. We’ll stop to visit a Slate Quarry and also stop at several lake side locations for photographs of the stunning Snowdonia landscapes.
During the afternoon, we leave mainland Britain to make a visit to the Isle of Anglesey. We cross onto the island via Thomas Telford’s Suspension Bridge and take time to view the architecture and the beautiful setting on the Menai Straits. Our lunch stop is at a lovely waterside restaurant.
No visit to Wales is complete until you’ve visited the famous town with the longest name in Europe and had a go at trying to pronounce it! We then make a transit journey right across the island to discover a spectacular corner with beautiful coastal landscapes, varying from small rocky coves to wide sweeping bays, along with sea cliffs and South Stack Lighthouse.
Our tour highlights of the Anglesey and Snowdonia feature:
This itinerary is just an outline and we can custom tailor design the tour to suit.
Accommodation Options/Tour Concierge Service:
Your tour excludes accommodation. Tonight, we recommend a choice of two Visit Wales 5 Star rated Boutique Country Houses, both with a restaurant on site.
We start the day with a visit to the UNESCO castle at Caernarfon, where you can step back into history and walk in the footsteps of royalty. Back in 1969, Her Majesty the Queen invested a young Prince Charles as ‘The Prince of Wales’, a tradition that was started by King Edward 1st back in the 13th century.
Our tour continues onto the Llyn Peninsula with a spectacular coastal cliff top landscape setting. You’ll get the chance to stretch your legs with a lovely coastal walk along the shoreline and make a visit to a local inn that is rated amongst one of the ‘Top Ten’ rated beach bar locations in the world!
Our next scenic stop is the coastal resort town of Criccieth where you enjoy a stroll along the lovely Victorian sea front promenade or take in a visit to the medieval castle ruins, which are set right against the sea.
As we exit the Llyn Peninsula we go onto visit a traditional 18th century Welsh Farmhouse, where you can discover the real culture of Wales in a wonderful setting. Afterwards, we go onto Harlech Castle for our second UNESCO castle visit of the day. Harlech’s setting is amazing, sitting elevated above the valley floor with the most commanding views.
Our final experience of the day is a coastal drive and a short walk across one of the most scenic estuaries along the UK coastline, with Snowdonia as its backdrop. Crossing the Mawddach river provides you with some of the most spectacular landscapes in Wales.
Our tour highlights feature
This itinerary is just an outline and we can custom tailor design the tour to suit.
Accommodation Options/Tour Concierge Service:
Your tour excludes accommodation. Tonight, we recommend an amazing setting on the beautiful Mawddach Estuary with a Visit Wales 5 Star rated Luxury Lodge and Spa, complete with its own restaurant (open Wed to Sat only).
Today’s tour works our way through Southern Snowdonia with a choice of options:
During the morning you can choose from two tour options:
Tour Option A: Wales is full of legends, myths and great stories. Some say King Arthur and his Knights are still hiding asleep in a cave somewhere in Snowdonia, where when they wake, they will once again defend Britain against an invading enemy! So, step aboard your boat on a tour underground, where your hooded boatman guides you through a labyrinth of underground tunnels through an old slate mine. You’ll sail through a cascading veil of an underground waterfall and discover a magical place where tales from the mists of time are retold. Tales of dragons, giants and the legendary King Arthur himself.
Afterwards we head for Aberystwyth where you can ride the unique cliff railway for a stunning view from the top of Constitution Hill of the Cambrian Coast.
Tour Option B: Further south there is the opportunity to experience one of the Great Little Steam trains of Wales. All aboard for a stunning scenic steam railway journey through ancient woodlands to Devil’s Bridge, home of the famous waterfalls, nestled in the magnificent Cambrian Mountains. The Vale of Rheidol Railway re-creates the Edwardian spirit of adventure aboard one of the restored steam trains for a stunning journey along the Rheidol Valley. Afterwards there’s time to visit the waterfalls before making our way across country to the coast.
Both tour options make it to the pretty Georgian harbour town of Aberaeron and further along the coast we pull in to visit the resort town of New Quay. Later on, you’ll step back to the ancient history of Wales with a visit to the largest and best-preserved Neolithic Dolmen in Wales, dating from around 3500 BC. Our coastal forage also captures the town of Fishguard. To round off a spectacular touring day we head for the beach and cliffs of the Pembrokeshire coast to visit a hidden gem – the Blue Lagoon.
Our tour highlights of the Cambrian Coast and Hills features:
This itinerary is just an outline and we can custom tailor design the tour to suit your requirements.
Accommodation Option:
Your tour excludes accommodation.
Tonight, we recommend a Visit Wales 5 Star rated luxury accommodation located on the spectacular St Davids Peninsula, which features a fine dining restaurant, awarded with two Rosettes.
Today we tour across the south west corner of Wales covering the stunning Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park. National Geographic magazine experts rate this coastline as the second best in the world which stretches out for 186 miles. St Davids is the smallest city in Britain and is no bigger than the size of a village! This is the spiritual home of Wales, with its magnificent Cathedral and the remains of the Bishop’s Palace.
Our tour today features two great options to chose from in the morning and both present the best of the Pembrokeshire coast.
Option A: Take to the water on a 90-minute boat ride* around Ramsey Island and witness the ocean wildlife. *Tickets not included and pre-booking recommended.
Option B: Take a short walk along a beautiful section of the spectacular Pembrokeshire Coastal path.
Whichever option you choose, you are amongst some of the most natural and unspoilt landscapes in Europe!
Afterwards we go onto visit Solva, a beautiful inland fjord setting and in contrast the beautiful expanse of sandy beaches run across St Brides Bay. At Pembroke you have an appointment with a king and a royal photo call with Henry VII himself.
We then go onto uncover more remote sections of the Pembrokeshire coast with some stunning hidden gems, featuring the famous ‘Green Bridge of Wales’ and the unique St Govan’s Chapel. You’ll also get to discover one of the top beaches in Britain with a cliff top walk and the touring day is complemented with a short visit to the popular resort town of Tenby with its beautiful harbour and cliff top setting overlooking golden stretches of sandy beaches.
Our tour highlights of the Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park feature:
This itinerary is just an outline and we can custom tailor design the tour to suit your requirements.
Accommodation Options/Tour Concierge Service:
Your tour excludes accommodation. For tonight we suggest an overnight accommodation stop in a lovely 5 star rated farmhouse* or a Welsh Vineyard with a restaurant on site.
*As there is no restaurant on site at the farmhouse, we will offer to provide transportation to and from a local quality restaurant located on the Coast.
Today’s tour starts out with a cultural visit where you learn about the custom in Wales of carving ‘Lovespoons’ out of wood. Afterwards we head for a beautiful area of the coast, with a visit to Laugharne, where we stop to view the castle and take a walk to visit to Dylan Thomas’s famous Boat House and writing shed, where he wrote ‘Under Milk Wood’.
The Gower Peninsula is one of the most beautiful corners of the British Isles and is one of the designated ‘Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty’ (AONB) in Wales. The Gower’s most iconic sight is a rocky promontory that snakes out into Rhossili Bay and the panorama is widely considered to be one of Europe’s most spectacular coastal scenes. The scenery is backed by lush green hillsides that bear the brunt of the Atlantic swells.
Our tour on the Gower Peninsula also includes visiting another top location at Three Cliffs Bay, where we take time to walk out to witness the scenic landscape. At Mumbles Pier, you can take a stroll to visit the local RNLI Lifeboat station. The pier has dominated the landscape of Swansea Bay for over 100 years and provides spectacular views to the local lighthouse. We then make photo stops at both Bracelet and Limeslade Bays before we go onto our accommodation for the evening.
Our tour highlights of the Pembrokeshire Coastal National Park feature;
Accommodation Options/Tour Concierge Service:
Your tour excludes accommodation. Our suggested accommodation tonight is a stunning small 5 star rated Country House. We also have lined up a top local restaurant which is around a 10 minute drive from the house and will provide transportation between the two locations.
The Brecon Beacon National Park is land locked and our scenic touring day captures the western region of the park area. We’ll tour across remote moorlands along single track roads amongst herds of grazing sheep, as we search for the wild ponies that roam freely.
Our first stop is at a local ‘Foley’ perched high on a ridge with the most stunning valley views.
We’ll be driving the valley floor as we follow the river to go onto discover one of the wildest and most remote castle locations in Wales.
Spectacular Carreg Cennen dominates the skyline for miles around and commands stunning views over the Carmarthenshire countryside. The castle provides a sense of drama as you take the walk to climb the hill that its perched upon.
Afterwards we take to the small country lanes, passing between the hedgerows as we pass through small villages and farms. We will work our way out to the moorlands of the Black Mountains, where the sheep graze freely along the roadside.
We’ll stop for lunch with a real ‘Taste of Wales’. Afterwards, we’ll make a visit to the Brecon Beacon Visitor centre to view the biggest mountain in South Wales – Pen-y-Fan.
We then step back in time to a fortified manor house and witness life as it was in the household during 1645. Enjoy the various stories from costumed members of the house, all set around the time of the English Civil War. Our tour then moves onto the biggest castle in Wales at Caerphilly, famous for its leaning tower and great moats (lakes).
Our tour highlights of the South of Wales touring day include:
*Entrance fee payable to attraction
This itinerary is just an outline and we can custom tailor design the tour to suit.
Accommodation Options/Tour Concierge Service:
Your tour excludes accommodation. Tonight, we recommend staying at a 5 Star Visit Wales rated Vineyard with its very own restaurant and the chance to sample the local wine during dinner.
After breakfast we rendezvous with a boat on the river Taff in the heart of the capital to take you on a cruise from the city centre of Cardiff through to the new Cardiff Bay. The port of Cardiff was once the coal capital of the world and has been completely regenerated to create one of the best waterfront settings for a European capital city. Your cruise will take you out past the Principality Stadium – the home of Welsh Rugby and once in the Bay you will see the landmark buildings of the Millennium Centre, The Pierhead Building, the Norwegian Church and the Senedd – home to the Welsh Parliament.
As we leave the capital, we take a short drive to step back nearly 2000 years into history to discover the best-preserved Roman amphitheatre in Britain along with the Roman Baths. We then go right onto the English border for one of the famous castle settings in Wales. Chepstow castle is classed as one of the oldest in Britain and sits high on the cliffs overlooking the River Wye, facing the English border across the river.
Progressing further along the Wye valley and just a short drive from Chepstow, we go on to discover the magical settings and iconic ruins of Tintern Abbey. Founded in the 12th century by Cistercian monks, Tintern Abbey became one of the most powerful Abbey’s in the country.
Our final stop along the Wye Valley is a visit to the market town of Monmouth, famous for its medieval stone gated bridge, which is the only one of its type remaining in Britain.
Our tour highlights of the Wye Valley Tour Day feature:
*Entrance fees applicable
This itinerary is just an outline and we can custom tailor design the tour to suit.
Accommodation Options/Tour Concierge Service:
Your tour excludes accommodation. Our recommended accommodation for tonight is a wonderful 4 star rated country inn with modern rooms. The inn has a fabulous restaurant to dine in.
Wales industrial past is reflected in the valleys of South Wales. The coal industry was at the forefront of the industrial revolution and Welsh coal was in demand right across the world! We meet up with a former coal miner, who takes us down 300 feet underground to see what life was like for the thousands of men who worked at the coal face.
When we resurface, we then route out to visit one of the oldest inns in Wales, dating back to the year 1110. The inn became famous for a judge sitting in house, where he sentenced folk to death by hanging. We then move back to the beauty of the Brecon Beacons with a scenic drive through the Vale (valley) of Ewyas, which features the ruins of an Augustinian Priory, along with a beautiful picturesque chapel.
Afterwards, we’ll get to tour you along an old ancient single-track road, literally just wide enough for our vehicle to fit as we follow the valley floor and climb out onto the highest road in Wales. Here we will be amongst the most stunning rolling countryside, which is towered over by the border Black Mountains of Wales.
This brings us nicely into the second hand book capital of the world, Hay-on-Wye. Here you can take time to browse the various book shops and challenge yourself to finding that novel or book that you’ve always wanted to buy.
The touring day finishes with a visit to a lake and discovering all about life living in a Crannog.
This ancient lake dwelling was a traditional defensive homestead built out on water and their origins go back around 5000 years in time.
Our Brecon Beacons National Park Tour features visits the following locations:
This itinerary is just an outline and we can custom tailor design the tour to suit.
Accommodation Options/Tour Concierge Service:
Your tour excludes accommodation. Tonight, we recommend stopping in a traditional town house in the town of Brecon. Rated 5 star by Visit Wales, you’ll find the house cosy and comfortable.
There is an option today to head back North through the backbone of Wales to your original starting point. Alternatively, we can use this day to position you in the Cotswolds, Devon or route you back to Heathrow airport for your overnight stay before flying home.
In heading North, we have put together an interesting day of touring through the backbone of Wales. We will touch the ‘Green Desert’ of Wales in the Cambrian Mountains and stop to visit a memorial dedicated to the last ‘true Prince of Wales’.
We then head to the lovely market town of Builth Wells, nestled along the banks of the river Wye. As we reach back into mid Wales, we come across the Welsh lake district in the Elan Valley. Set amongst the rugged Cambrian Mountains, the Elan valley is a beautiful and unspoilt area made even more compelling by series of man-made dams and reservoirs. Our tour through the Elan Valley takes in four of the dams and their reservoirs, where you can marvel at the engineering enterprise of the Victorians in building the dams.
Our afternoon highlight is a visit to a mid Wales farm for a unique experience. We’ll take cover in a ‘hide’ in a field of the farm where Red Kites are fed daily. You’ll get to witness a natural display with breath-taking feats of aerial piracy by the red kites as they compete with buzzards and ravens for their choice pickings.
Our final attraction on our Grand Circle of Wales Tour is a visit to the ruins of Montgomery Castle. Sitting in a commanding position overlooking the river Severn in the valley below, the castle strategically protected important routes into Western Wales from England.
The tour concludes by travelling back to Chester, Liverpool or Manchester Airport, where our tour services end. Of course, you can have the option to spend a last night in Wales, where we have a lovely country inn with a fabulous restaurant to experience.
Our Back-Bone of Wales Tour features the following locations:
* Entrance fee applicable
“Great 10 Day Experience of Wales with total value for money”
Thank you for considering Boutique Tours of Wales as your private tour provider for your visit to Wales. We are a small, family run business and every booking is extremely important to us.
In choosing to book directly with us, you are guaranteed the best rate, with the best service, along with the best touring experience available.
NO BOOKING FEES APPLY WHEN YOU BOOK DIRECT WITH US!
We accept payment by American Express, Mastercard and Visa Credit Cards, Debit Card or Electronic Bank Transfer.
Our private tour rates sit very competitively against the rates quoted by The Guild of Professional Tour Guides, along with the Association of Professional Tourist Guides and the Driver-Guides Association.
It’s your very own private tour and we can custom design the tour itinerary and arrangements to suit what you want to do and see. Our flexibility allows you to make changes to our itineraries. So take something out and add something more appealing to your desires. Alternatively combine an element of this tour with that of another tour. All you have to do is ask and if it is possible then it will be our pleasure to accommodate your wishes.
Take a look at these other exciting and interesting alternative tour options:
