Outdoor Adventures & Gourmet Experiences in Wales - 9 Days

Day 1: Explore the Welsh Borders

Welcome to Wales! On your first day, explore the Welsh Borders, a delightful patchwork of fields, hills, castles, and pretty villages filled with timber-framed houses, many dating back to the Tudor era. Take some time to enjoy the charming English market town of Ludlow, its bustling medieval network of narrow backstreets lined with historic properties including the ruins of a once-magnificent Norman castle. Tonight and tomorrow, you'll overnight in Ludlow.

Day 2: Taste Beer at Bishops Castle

Make a pilgrimage today to the Three Tuns Brewery at Bishops Castle, dating from the 17th century. After touring the brewery and tasting a few beers, visit the Ironbridge Gorge beside the River Severn, spanned by the world's first iron bridge. The nearby Shropshire Hills offer exceptional walking and cycling opportunities.                   

Day 3: Discover Snowdonia National Park

Snowdonia National Park occupies a unique place in Welsh history, tradition, and culture. Surrounded by magnificent medieval castles, its unique mountainscapes feature tumbling rivers and a dramatic coastline. Today you'll explore the park and experience a traditional British seaside tradition — walking out on the Victorian Llandudno Pier, which extends seemingly forever into the sea.

Day 4: Visit Conwy Castle

Get to know the beautifully preserved medieval town of Conwy, home to the 13th-century Conwy Castle. Walk around the castle walls and take in sweeping views of the surrounding mountains and countryside. If you'd like, go on a boat tour or a guided hike this afternoon. Or you can just relax in an open-air pub and enjoy the unique atmosphere. Another option is to ride the train to the top of Mount Snowdon to view the extraordinary panorama across this historic land of myth and legend.

This is the adventure capital of Wales, so mountain biking, canoeing, gorge scrambling, and canyoning are also possible. In the evening, visit a pub to sample wild foraged foods and local specialties like lamb and lobster.

Day 5: Tour the Villages of the Cambrian Coast

Explore the beautiful Cambrian Coast on day five. A loosely defined mountain-backed strip of land that runs from the Llyn Peninsular in the north to Cardigan Bay in the south, it's full of interesting villages. Fall for the architectural whimsy of Portmeirion, then discover the legends of Harlech, with its imposing medieval castle perched high over the Irish Sea. Be sure to stop in Barmouth, a delightful seaside town, and marvel at the beautiful Mawddach Estuary. The winding route south, famous for spectacular coastal views, takes you through the picturesque harbor town of Aberaeron with its appealing dockside bars and restaurants.

Day 6: Experience the Charm of Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire is world-renowned for the breathtaking seascapes along its extensive coastal path. Walk along soft sandy beaches, passing wooded valleys and lily ponds, on your way to Café Mor, where you'll dine on fresh lobster rolls and watch the Atlantic waves crashing. Take a boat to Skomer Island to see a puffin colony, or to the enchanting Caldey, a holy island inhabited by Cistercian monks. Tonight and tomorrow night, you'll sleep in the village of Narberth.

Day 7: Go Trekking in the Hills

You'll continue hiking and exploring the area today. Make time to visit tiny St. David's, home to a spectacular cathedral. Trek along the top of the rugged Preseli Hills, dotted with prehistoric sites and offering panoramic views across Pembrokeshire and the coastline. Tonight you'll eat at Coast Restaurant in Saundersfoot, famed for its local seafood menu and glorious views across Carmarthen Bay.

Day 8: Explore Brecon Beacons National Park

A scenic drive through Carmarthenshire takes you into the Brecon Beacons National Park and its wild landscape of high mountain grasslands and heather plateaus. Explore its many peaks and its impressive northern rim, characterized by glacier-worn hollows, glacial lakes, rushing streams, and spectacular waterfalls.

Later, stop at Penderyn Whisky Distillery to experience the creation of "liquid fire" distilled with fresh mountain spring water in a single copper still. Alternatively, you could visit a biodynamic winery. The Romans first introduced wine to Wales, and 2000 years later, the region produces some astonishingly good sparkling wine. Finish the day with a walk through the winding valley of the lower River Wye, passing through the delightful village of Tintern with its famous abbey.

Day 9: Depart Wales

Today the trip comes to an end. You'll head to the airport to catch a flight out. Safe travels!