South Wales Tour

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April 17, 2010

$2795 (14-day) or $1995 (10-day)

(Price does not include airfare)

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Castles, abbeys, romantic scenery, it's all here in South Wales and the border with England -- a border that has moved back and forth over the centuries, leaving it's legacy in place names and ruins. Nearby is also the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, that time during which the Western world as we know it today was born.

We will arrive and depart from Manchester International Airport. Following a night in the Roman town of Chester, our tour will use two bases, the village of Mitchell Troy and the city of St. Davids. In Mitchell Troy, just outside Monmouth is a 450 year old farmhouse that will be our first "home". There are many castles in the area well worth a visit. Historic towns such as Hay-on-Wye with its world-famous bookshops are close by. There is a wealth of gentle walking in the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons. For a change of pace, St. Davids, our second base, is the smallest city in Britain, boasting a magnificent cathedral, winding streets full of Welsh character, and miles of rocky seacoast. There is ample scope for exploring the coastal path with its hidden fishing villages, cliffs and rock pools. Pembroke Castle with its wealth of history is close by. Boat trips can be made to Skomer Island, one of the premier bird-watching sites in Britain.

The 10-day option will shuttle back to Manchester from St. David's, while those on the 14-day option will be able to spend a few more days here as well as visiting the huge outdoor museum at Blist's Hill, in the heart of the Black Country - birthplace of the Industrial Revolution