An absolutely fulfilling touring day capturing cultural elements of history and life in Wales. Discover industrial life amongst the slate capital of Wales, where there is an option to go below the surface, walking down 500 feet underground to experience the life of the slate miners. Alternatively, you can stay on the surface and enjoy a walk out into a beautiful secluded valley that saw families move to obscure isolation in search of work.
All aboard, take a ride on a steam train operated by the world’s oldest railway company, following the route of the slate from the mountains to the coast, where it was exported all over the world. Over at Harlech, we visit the UNESCO 13th century castle, which provides a spectacular setting, overlooking the coast, with distant views of the Snowdonia Mountains. Farming is an important industry to Wales and our tour visits an 18th century traditional hillside farm. Here you can witness the simple and basic lifestyle, along with a fascinating story that captures the great cultural tradition of the national Welsh Eisteddfod.
Our tour then takes on an even more scenic routing, where we make a short stop at the medieval Dolwyddelan castle, home to the native Welsh Prince Llewellyn the Great. Then to capture the true culture of Wales, we take you to a quintessential Welsh village and return through scenic farmland, which features a stunning photographic stop on a beautiful remote hillside location, where you can experience our ‘Secret View of Snowdonia’.
The clock will turn back 160 years as you descend 500 feet underground. On your travels, you’ll meet the owner of the mine and some of the men and boys who spent up to 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, working underground in semi-darkness. *Entrance Fee Payable.
*PLEASE NOTE: The Deep Mine is a walking tour and you will be underground for around an hour and fifteen minutes. You need to be reasonably fit and be able to descend down 90 steps into the mine and walk on rough cut tracks through tunnels that may involve you having to crouch in places. Hard hats are provided and must be worn.
Blaenau Ffestiniog was formerly the slate capital of Wales, famous as the town that roofed the world. You’ll witness the small terrace homes of the close knit Welsh community. As an alternative to taking the deep mine underground tour, we offer a spectacular walk into a hidden slate valley, which captures life, culture, dedication and hardship of industrialisation buried deep in the hills and mountains of North Wales.
Take a ride on one of the ‘Great Little Steam Trains’ of Wales, operated by the oldest railway company in the world! A 13½-mile journey, where you descend over 700 feet in height, from the slate mountains, to the town of Porthmadog on the coast. *Train ticket Payable.
Subject to the operating timetable on the day, you can choose to ride for 30 minutes or the full line, which takes an hour and fifteen minutes.
HARLECH CASTLE
A UNESCO world heritage site, Harlech is one of the most spectacular locations for a medieval castle, with the battlements springing out of a near-vertical cliff-face, with amazing views overlooking the coast and the Snowdonia mountains. *Entrance Fee Payable
HISTORICAL TRADITIONAL WELSH FARMHOUSE
Step back in time to an 18th Century simple Welsh farmhouse. This traditional hill farm is set in the Snowdonia National Park, with beautiful views across the surrounding landscape. A fascinating story unfolds around the Welsh way of life and the culture of the country. *Entrance Fee Payable
DOLWYDDELAN CASTLE
This is a scenic photo stop at the ancestral home to the last true Prince of Wales – Llewellyn the Great.
Alternatively, you could choose to spend time walking up through farm tracks, along an ancient Roman road, that leads up to the castle. Allow 90 minutes.
‘QUINTESSENTIAL’ WELSH VILLAGE
A historic and picturesque Welsh village that captures the true essence of Wales This peaceful little village sits at a cross roads, with rolling hills, farmsteads and stunning scenery. It features a unique history and an ancestral connection to one of the famous Presidents of the USA.
THE SECRET VIEW OF THE SNOWDONIA MOUNTAINS
As we work our way back through Snowdonia, we’ll take you where the tour buses can’t go and other tour guides don’t even know! We climb high into the hills to a spectacular isolated ridge, high above the valley floor to witness ‘The Secret View of Snowdonia!’ Featuring a stunning panorama of the Snowdonia National Park mountain peaks. (This is subject to clear visibility/weather on the day).
The Cultural Tour of North Wales Tour can be custom designed to fit a
number of touring options such as duration and pick up/drop off locations.
This private tour can start out from Beaumaris, Bangor, Betws-y-Coed,
Caernarfon, Conwy, Holyhead, Llandudno, Ruthin, Llangollen and Wrexham areas.
If you are staying anywhere else in the North Wales region, then please contact us to discuss your tour requirements and we will be pleased to quote for our services.
We can also start/end the tour from Chester, Liverpool and Manchester
All our tours are custom designed and operate on a private basis.
Like most other professional private driver guide operators, our tour rates do not include:
Accommodation / Entrance fees to Attractions / Refreshments, Drinks, Meals / Gratuities.
By booking direct with us there are no booking fees or credit card charges.
We accept payment by American Express, Mastercard, Visa
Debit Card or by Electronic Bank Transfer.
It’s your very own private tour and we can custom design a tour itinerary to suit what you want to do and see. Our flexibility in designing a tailor made tour means you have the flexibility to make changes to any of our tour examples. So take something out or add something more appealing to your desires, or alternatively, add an element from another tour and combine it to create your perfect touring day.
All you have to do is ask and if it is possible, then it will be our pleasure to accommodate your wishes.