On our way home from Holland, we would like to spend a week in North and South Wales. We are in our 70s and not comfortable driving on the left, and at this stage in our life, would prefer not to use public transportation. So, I've been looking for a tour. There appear to be several 5 days from London and back which would be convenient, except I'm not finding any that include the North. I have my heart set on Bodnant Garden, especially. I have checked Road Scholar, but their tours start in May. I also looked at flying into Manchester, but it looks like from there they only cover the North. Right now it looks like the 5 day from London is the best but I hate to give up on going north. Any suggestions?
Posted by
Lynnwood, Washington
8899 posts
This company may have what you are looking for. They are highly recommended by some regulars on the forum.
Posted by
Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, USA
14767 posts
I have done that Road Scholar Wales tour and it was excellent. The Instructor was Conway Davies who is still running it and he is fabulous. The itinerary is essentially the same as when I did it although the hotel in the south is different - we stayed in Carmarthen and it now stays someplace different. The Mixed Voice Choir performance at Laugharne was amazing. I don't know if he does this every time but as we were walking back from Dylan Thomas' Boating/Writing Shed (where his wife used to lock him in so he would work), Conway was reciting "Poem on His Birthday". I've always had difficulty reading Thomas' writing but hearing Conway recite it as we walked along the estuary of the River Taf was very evocative. Plus he just recited the line that said "and a Curlew cried" and danged if we didn't immediately here a curlew, lol! Great timing! Conway is bi-lingual. Spoke Welsh at home growing up.
Of course if the times don't work for you then you'd have to make another trip!
I'm a proponent of Mark Seymour's tours but he only covers North Wales for 2025. I am signed up for his Marcher Castles of England and Wales for 2026 which will mostly follow the border from north to south but not really go much further west so not ideal if you are looking for a general tour of Wales.
I hope you find something that works for you. I've been to Bodnant Gardens twice, once on the Road Scholar tour and once on the Rick Steves Best of England/Britain tour. It's gorgeous.