Mysterious Wales

The Whole of Wales in One Tour

Photos - South Wales 2008 - South Wales 2009 - Anglesey 2005 - Anglesey 2006 - North Wales

Bryn Celli Dhu - View from the Clarence Hotel - Valley Crusis Abbey

Wales is a country of ageless myths and legends, stretching back into the mists of time. The lands are scattered with memorials in stone from over 5,000 years ago, the times of the great Neolithic Builders. Some of the best preserved Ancient sites in the World can be found throughout Wales. These beautiful hills and valleys are an ancient and historical gold mine.

The diversity of sites to be found here reflects a long and varied history and the Welsh take their history and their myths and legends seriously. This is a land which brings King Arthur to life and we will visit areas of this beautiful country connected directly with Arthur, Merlin and other members of the story. We will visit a hill top castle, thought to be the once hiding place of the Holy Grail. We will discover a wonderful ancient abbey thought to be the first church of Joseph of Aramathia.

As we explore the magnificent hills and valleys of Wales we will encounter fascinating characters from Welsh history, including monks, abbesses and early saints and Welsh kings and queens and will visit ancient, mystical and historical sites associated with their wonderful stories. We will visit the island, which was the last stronghold of the religious and mystical sect of Druidism and the narrow stretch of sea, which had allowed the Druids to fend off the encroaching Roman invaders until a final and furious standoff in 60AD, when the Roman legions faced the terrifying sight of the painted warring Druids.

8 Days - price probably £595

A limited amount of single rooms are available please ask about the supplement

Carreg Samson Chambered Tomb

Days 1- 3

South Wales

It is well known that the spectacular valleys and rugged coastlines of the South Wales, Pembrokeshire National Park are amongst the most beautiful lands of Europe. What is not as widely known is that it is also one on the Worlds epicenters of ancient and sacred sites, which can be found scattered around the landscapes. It is from the Pembrokshire, Preseli mountains that Stonehenge's 'blue stones', where brought. Does this indicate an ancient land of the ancestors, who built some of the World's most spectacular stone monuments. South Wales boasts a whole variety of amazing historical and pre-historical sites and we will be visiting many examples throughout our time here, including Abbeys, Hermitages, Cathedrals and many Neolithic Chambered Tombs, Holy Wells and other megalithic sites. We will have free times in some of the historical fishing villages and small towns of the area including, Fishguard, St. David's and of course Tenby, where the sea front Clarence Hotel will be our home for the next three days.

Reconstructed buildings at the Museum of Weeks Life

Day 1 - On our way to Pembroke we will take in the Museum of Welsh Life in Cardiff. This vast complex is truly unique and contains historic buildings from throughout Wales and from throughout history, brought to the museum and rebuilt. Not far from the museum we will find the two enormous cromlech chambered tombs of Tinkinswood and St Lythans, lying within a mile or so of each other. We will then head for the picturesque walled town of Tenby, where we will book into the Clarence Hotel on the towns spectacular sea front Grand Promenade in time to take in the air before dinner. The hotel may have entertainment and it is only a short walk through the walls to the old town. (Dinner bed & breakfast whilst in Tenby)

Day 2 - After exploring an amazing cliff top hermitage we will continue our exploration of the Pembroke Peninsular with a tour of the town of St David's, the location of the historical Abbey and Cathedral. Throughout our tour we will visit many sites and places of mythical and historical interest, such as the ancient Well Holy Wells & Sacred Spring of Llandeloy and St. Nicholas.

Day 3 - Today we will visit the old Welsh fishing town of Fishguard, the location of the Dylan Thomas's Under Milk Wood, before visiting some wonderful sites such as the Pentre Ifan and Carreg Samson Burial Chambers and an atmospheric stone circle. We will aim to get back to Tenby in time to take in the town before dinner.

Day 4 Mid Wales

Day 4 - After checking out of the Clarence and saying good buy to Penny (our friendly hotelier), we will head north into the heart of Mid Wales, where we will visit some intriguing sites on our journey to Anglesey. We will Pass the Tregaron-Bog, where the mysterious 'Beast of the Bog', is said to roam the surrounding countryside. Traversing the Gorge of the Mynach Falls, where the River Mynach drops 300 feet to meet the River Rheido, we will see the amazing triple bridge structure known as the 'Devil's Bridge'. This amazing feat of engineering is a true wonder. We will call at the Welsh town of Ysbyty Cynfyn, where the church yard is a must for all Megalithic Travelers. Here we can experience at first hand a Christianised ancient site still showing the original Stone Circle from thousands of year before Christianity. We will then pass through the lands of Arthur, which we will explore at great length in a couple of days. But on this journey we will visit the home of the magician Merlin, the Dark Age hill fort of 'Dinas Emrys' which, as legend tells was the location of the infamous fight of the Red and White Dragons. It will then be time to head for Menai Strait and the Isle of Anglesey, the ancestral home of the Druids, were we will spend the night on a B&B basis.

The Tripple Devils Bridge - Menai Strait Bridge - Dinas Emrys Hill Fort - Ysbyty Cynfyn from 1902

Days 5 - 6 Anglesey

White Knight says to Alice,
I heard him then, for I had just completed my design.
To keep the Menai Bridge from rust.
By boiling it in wine.

(Lewis Carrol, Through the Looking Glass)

Across the narrow stretch of sea known as the Menai Strait or 'Afon Menai' is Anglesey, a mystical oasis which was the last strong hold of the ancient Druids, who held the island against the Roman invasion and apparently insurmountable odds. In later years then the islands sacred heritage continued with the settlement of the two monks, St Cebi the Dark and St Seiriol the Fair, who set up monasteries at Holyhead and Holy Penmon. Ancient and sacred monuments abound on this most special and beautiful of islands and we will take in as much as we can during our exploration.

Images of Anglesey

Days 5 & 6 - We will traverse the Isle of Anglesey taking in the most fascinating of sites the island has to offer. At Holy Penmon we will explore the historic home of St. Seiriol. With defined time lines, you can still experience St Seiriol's hermitage, situated next to an ancient well. From later years, you can explore the remains of the Abbey and inside the adjacent church, we will find a small museum with a Shiels-na-gig and other interesting carvings. All this and a historical Dove Cot.

At the Lligwy region, time will flash before your eyes as we visit three very different, yet some how connected sites. Beginning with Lligwy Chromlech, from over 5,000 years ago, we will climb a small hill to find the amazing ancient settlement of Din Lligwy hiding, from the last couple of centuries BC in a small forest, but with spectacular views over the Bay. Then back down the hillside we encounter the remains of the Hen Capel Lligwy, an ancient 12 centaury church, which serves to re-enforce the well defined time line connecting these sites.

Bryn Celli Dhu is known as the 'Stonehenge of Wales', and is the gem in Anglesy's crown, yet this is only one of many such chambered tomes, henges, standing stones and associated ancient and sacred sites. We will also take in the 'Oriel Ynys Môn Museum' before heading back across the strait and heading off to Llangollen

Images of Anglesey

Days 7-8 North Wales

The beautiful landscapes and panoramic coastlines of North Wales hide a treasure trove of historical sites ranging from sacred waterfalls and the Wells, to man made Stone Age monuments such as the standing stones, ancient crosses and chambered tombs and cairns. These are also the lands of King Arthur and the source of some amazing history and legends. Over the next couple of days we will be immersing ourselves in all of these. The small Welsh town is at the center of Arthurian history, the Grail myths and the visit of Joseph of Arimathia and it will be our home for the next tow days.

Day 7 - On our way to Llangollen we will take in a couple of interesting ancient and mystical sites such as the finely preserved 'Caplel Gorman - Chambered Tomb' and the enigmatic stone row in the church yard at Gwytherin. As we pass into the lands of Arthur we will firstly visit the 'Stone of Huail', and will hear the story of the duel fought between Arthur and the Knight Huail on this exact spot. Then after following the breathtaking 'Horse-Shoe Pass', we will encounter the legendary Valley Crusis Abbey, with associations with, Vortigen, Arthur, Gwinevere and Joseph of Arimathia and with the Pillar of Eliseg standing near by. If all that was not enough we will then visit the hill-top castle of Dinas Bran, overlooking the town of Llangollen and which is thought to be the one time hiding place of the Holy Grail its self.

Day 8 - Today we will be looking into some wonderful sites, all well immured in Welsh history and mystery. Our discoveries will include, Maen Achwyfan, a wonderfully carved Christianised Ancient Cross, two of the earliest Templar graves to be found in Britain, an ancient and sacred waterfall and a holy healing well, said to be the 'Lourdes of Wales' and around which a whole town has developed.

Dinas Bran Castle - Gwytherin Church yard - Knight Templar graves - the Stone of Huail