Private Driver/Guide 4-5Days - Coes Robert Woods

The place you are trying to get to is very remote and down country lanes the width of 1 car. Cross Robert Woods parking space is only for up to 4 cars at a time. Raglan is probably the nearest place where you could stay and has a ruined castle.

You don't say where you are coming from into Cardiff Airport. If not using a taxi or private driver, the shuttle bus to the trains at Rhoose station (2 miles away) is the best bet for leaving the airport - although the trains are only *hourly into Cardiff. * 2 hourly on Sundays.

You don't need to go to such a remote location to find blue bells during late April and the first week of May as they can be found is vast swathes in woods - especially on the northern edge of Cardiff.

Suggest you take a local train from Cardiff Central or Queen Street to Lisvane & Thornhill. Walk out via car park & turn L and R at mini Roundabout & enter Cefn Onn Park (free). (Good place to eat just L of entrance). Here you will find blue bells amongst rhododendrons &azaleas under a temperate rain forest. Just below the big pond - path goes off to the R. If you take that path, you leave the park and eventually reach a ridge which has blue bells.

After Cefn-Onn-Park - return to Lisvane station and I suggest you take a train one stop N to Caerphilly which has a medieval castle. (You can tap in/out with bank cards for these local trains). https://cadw.gov.wales/visit/places-to-visit/caerphilly-castle

PS. Also note that this castle is on the hills in north Cardiff - take Stagecoach bus 132 to Tongwynlais and then 20 minute walk to castle - more bluebells & wild garlic in surrounding woods. https://www.visitwales.com/attraction/castle/castell-coch-cadw-516101
PPS. Should you choose the Cardiff option, I suggest you also visit St.Fagans Castle which is about 6 miles W of the city centre - Cardiff Bus 32 - but be sure you know when the last one comes back to the city.https://museum.wales/stfagans/castle-and-gardens/

Thank you very much James for your response! We are coming from New York and we still have to get our tickets. We will try our best to be in Cardiff end of April to first week of May when the bluebells are in full bloom. I’m in charge of our itinerary and will definitely change our location shoot to your suggested park closer to Cardiff. Our round trip airport transfer to our hotel in Cardiff will be with GetTransfer.

We are still in search of a driver/guide to drive us to the new and closer location and wait for us until we finish and drive us back to Cardiff; probably a 3-4 hour hire. Another possibility is getting a cab or Uber to take us, then another cab to drive us back to the hotel.

Once again, thank you for your quick response and your valued suggestions! Our first time trip to Wales is getting brighter everyday! THANK YOU!

You don’t say where else in UK you are planning to go or where you will land from New York? You may find it cheaper to fly New York to Dublin and then Dublin to Cardiff with Ryan Air. OK, I know they are a cheapskate airline and come in with low fares and then charge a lot for baggage in hold - but worth considering? Alternatively, check out Aer Lingus for flights between Dublin & Cardiff as well as from JFK to Dublin. So, might be worth having a night or 2 in Dublin en-route?

You can get some idea of fares for both flights via >https://www.skyscanner.net

If planning to visit north Wales, considering flying into Manchester. For Cardiff, London Heathrow or even Gatwick are OK. No flights go between London & Cardiff as the cities are linked with 125mph trains - every 30 minutes.

https://www.visitwales.com is the main tourism website run by the Welsh Government.

Hi James, we will take American Airlines from JFK to Cardiff via London. We are AA members and can use our mileage. As we are only shooting the bluebells, we we will have time to visit Isle of Man after our shoot. This way we can add two countries in our list of countries visited. Any recommendations?

Thank you once again James! This is getting very exciting as we are able to build up our itinerary with your suggestions and important information.

Now there is something that bit unusual- a side trip to the Isle of Man.

Easyjet have Monday and Friday flights from Bristol to Ronaldsway (the Isle of Man) which ties in nicely to Cardiff logistically.

They also fly to Liverpool, Manchester and Gatwick.

Loganair fly to Birmingham, Edinburgh, Liverpool, Manchester, London City and London Heathrow, also Aer Lingus to Dublin.

There are also ferries to Liverpool. Obviously the Isle of Man could just be a brief visit to tick a box, but equally you could also fill a week there with ease- depending on your available time and interests.

Technically the Isle of Man is a self governing crown dependency within the UK. But they and I won't object to it being deemed as a country. It's as good a reason as any to go there.

But Stuart - you'd be sending them to a country where the men have 3 legs!!! And they encourage motorcycle races around the island!!

... and (outside urban areas) no speed limit on much of the road network for anyone, subject to careless and reckless driving laws. So you can't drive as on an autobahn but also can drive as an adult. Oh, and they can start learning to drive at age 16, compared to 17 in the rest of the UK.

I've just looked bluebells on the Island up, as it's not what I would first think of on the Island. In order-
Ballaglass Glen, Glen Maye, Dhoon Glen, Silverdale Glen, Bradda Glen, The Calf of Man and Tholt-y-will (in the Sulby Valley- I add that as it's a new place name to me).

Hi Stuart and Nigel, we are not brave enough to drive on the other side of the road so we reached out in this Forum if we can hire a driver/guide in Cardiff and possibly in Isle of Man if we are lucky enough to get enough time from our tight schedule. If and when we are able to visit Isle of Man on this trip, we will join a local tour so we can avoid driving ourselves around. Thank you for your insight. I appreciate it!

The Wenallt woods on the northern edge of Cardiff have extensive areas with blue bells - usually in flower 27 April to around 11 May.
https://www.outdoorcardiff.com/parks/the-wenallt/

If and when we are able to visit Isle of Man on this trip, we will join a local tour so we can avoid driving ourselves around.

You don't need to drive or take a tour - the Isle of Man has an excellent (and cheap) bus service and you can reach most places quite easily on the bus . There's also the Manx Electric Tramway from Douglas to Ramsey as well as the Steam Railway from Doglas to Port Erin. I don't drive and have had several holidays on the Island just using public transport.

Thank you everyone for all your suggestions! I’m more confident now in planning our trip in April. I’m more equipped with all the information you have shared with me. Thank you!!!