Brecon Beacons & Black & White Villages

Day 1

We depart home area and travel to Witney, a delightful town in Oxfordshire with plenty of shops and eateries for lunch to be obtained. We continue to our hotel with time to relax before our evening meal.

Day 2

Today, after breakfast, we head to Ludlow, an excellent starting point for our Black and White Villages guided tour. This term refers to the distinctive black and white timber-framed houses, common in the region. Ludlow has a wealth of beautiful period buildings, centrepiece to the town is the dramatic medieval Ludlow Castle, perched on a cliff overlooking the River Teme. Time to explore the numerous lanes and back streets packed with antique, book and craft shops. We continue our guided coach tour experiencing the medieval villages of Pembridge, often referred to as "The Jewel in the Crown" of the black and white villages, Leominster and Weobley. Dipping into their art galleries, cosy pubs and traditional tea rooms only adds to the sense of stepping back in time.

Day 3

After breakfast, we head to the Brecon Beacons National Park stopping in Brecon, situated on the edge of this outstanding national park, a pretty town situated alongside the River Usk with numerous delightful shops and cafes and a magnificent cathedral. We continue through the National Park known for its stunning landscapes and Black Mountains to Abergavenny, with plenty of shops, ancient inns and tea rooms. We end our day with a visit to Symonds Yat for a 45 minute relaxing cruise along the River Wye, famous for its river scenery as the river winds its way through the Symonds Yat gorge and village dividing it into East and West. Afterwards we enjoy tea/coffee and biscuits before we return to our hotel.

Day 4

Today an excursion through the Cambrian Mountains with a scenic drive around the Elan Dams, accompanied by a Ranger. Time at the visitor centre before continuing to Aberystwyth, a gorgeous town that has thousands of years of history. The town has a pier, beach, castle and the longest electric cliff railway in Britain. After time here to purchase lunch, we rejoin our coach to take us to the Vale of Rheidol Railway for a relaxing journey travelling through some of Wales’s spectacular scenery from Aberystwyth to Devil’s Bridge; the finest way to explore the Rheidol Valley. Time allowed to visit Devil’s Bridge (entry extra) or enjoy refreshments in the station café.

Day 5

After breakfast, we depart for home area, stopping in Broadway, one of the prettiest villages in the Cotswolds. There are many lovely tea rooms and shops to browse.

B=Breakfast Included, D=Dinner Included