We are arriving London Heathrow, 11:30 am on a Tues, mid Sept and have until Fri dinner time to be in Bath to start a structured tour of England (with a side trip to Tintern Abbey) and Scotland. We have considered going to South Wales but need recommendations for a landing place in order to take sidetrips from there. And what side trips to take. We're most interested in sacred sites, the mythology, and choirs of Wales. South Wales is closer to London by train, but have been looking at catching a train from London Euston to Chester or Conyw and taking off from there. Then traveling down to Bath on Fri afternoon. Is N Wales realistic in the two full days available with two travel days on either end? And which would be the "richer" experience?
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Do you intend to use a car once in Wales?
Bath is only 40 minutes from the Severn Bridge - which takes you into SE Wales. (Cardiff is just over 1 hour from Bath). If you are going to Tintern Abbey, you might as well continue further into Wales rather than go back into England.
To drive from Tintern Abbey (about 1 hour from Bath by car) to NW Wales takes about 4 hours.
Direct trains from Cardiff follow the border up to Chester & then along the north Wales coast to Holyhead (via Conwy). You do not have to return to London only to come out again from Euston.
If you don't want to go to north Wales, consider leaving Bath, visiting Tintern Abbey & then heading for a stay in the Brecon area for a few nights - providing you have a car.http://www.breconbeacons.org
http://www.visitwales.com/explore/national-parks/brecon-beacons