Looking on advice for a five-day excursion including Chester and North Wales, this coming September. We will rent a car if necessary, but I'm wondering if there are some two- to four-day tours, either private or group, that we might book from Chester or from Conwy or elsewhere. Of interest in Wales from our research so far: Conwy, Bodnant Garden, parts of Snowdonia, Llandudno.
Many thanks for any guidance!
Posted by
2404 posts
It is possible to do a circuit of Wales by train in a day - though I would check the timings/connections carefully before deciding whether this is for you. Details of the special £36 ticket (Ffestiniog Round Robin) are here:>http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/pr9ef8ea0d8240bfae38accb393ae920.aspx
Here are some local tour companies that you may like to consider:>
I would consider a company who operate guided tours by mini-bus.
https://www.celticos.com/activities/sightseeing-tours/description
http://www.viptravelservices.co.uk/sightseeingtours.html
http://guidenorthwales.com/conwy-valley-tour/
This website will tell you how to get to places via public transport:> www.traveline.info
In Wales:>https://www.traveline.cymru
Of course, you may well prefer the freedom to drive yourself around N. Wales.
Posted by
Camano Island, WA, usa
1448 posts
I also recommend driving in N Wales. We have done it twice. The roads are easy...you may have to slow down for sheep in Snowdonia! But when you are driving yourself your schedule is your own and you can drive right up to a castle without having to stash your bags. By the way...for 5 days...take no more than 3 changes of clothes to rotate so that you will need only small bags. Take one rain layer for sure. Comfortable shoes only! Chester is a nice place to stay for an overnight...handy if you have flown into Manchester. Remember to buy a CADW pass at the first eligible site you visit...probably at Conwy Castle.
Posted by
1220 posts
We recently drove in N Wales and it was fine with nice flexibility. Stayed in Conwy and drove to Caernarfon, Bodnant, and Trefrew Woolen Mill from Conwy. I would get a car.
Posted by
not here anymore
631 posts
Conwy (the town), Bodnant and Llandudno are close enough to each other to reach by bike by some people!! Assuming that like me you aren't that energetic, Conwy-Llandudno is a local bus ride with frequent services. There are also local buses in the direction of Bodnant. A few actually call there, others drop you around 15 minutes walk away. Or get a pre-booked "mini cab" (private hire) - these are usually cheaper than taxis, ask the locals, but must be booked (doesn't have to be days in advance, a few minutes earlier over the phone is good enough but without pre booking they are not legal or insured ).
Local buses in the district of Gwynedd (which covers Snowdonia and the surrounding coasts), plus Conwy town, up to Llandudno and the routes 19 and X1 from Llandudno to Betws y Coed via Bodnant are all covered by the Red Rover day ticket for £6.95.
https://www.gwynedd.llyw.cymru/en/Residents/Parking-roads-and-travel/Travel-passes/Red-Rover-Tickets.aspx
Routes with numbers begining T are part of the Trawscymru network and are free at weekends.
To venture into Snowdonia there are two narrow gauge steam train routes, run by the same company, both serve Porthmadog on the west coast, sadly their schedules don't always connect with each other!!!
http://www.festrail.co.uk/index.htm
If you can work out a day when a through trip on both is possible in one direction then a round tour from Conwy/Llandudno can be done quiet cheaply using their Snowdonia Single ticket plus a Red Rover to link up the northern ends.