Day 1
Arrive at the hotel and settle in. Explore the locality before enjoying dinner in the restaurant and your first overnight stay.
Day 2
Head to the Isle of Anglesey, home to the newly wed Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Explore Plas Newydd Country House and Gardens, the ancestral home of the Marquess of Anglesey. Enjoy glorious views across the Menai Strait to Snowdonia while strolling through rhododendron gardens and along the marine walk. Further north, visit the great unfinished masterpiece that is Beaumaris Castle. Inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, the castle was originally begun in 1295 by Edward I but, as money and supplies ran out before the fortifications reached their full height, the ambitious venture was never completed. After leaving the island, finish your day of sightseeing with a visit to Penrhyn Castle. This enormous 19th-century neo-Norman castle sits between Snowdonia and the Menai Strait and is crammed with fascinating items, including a one-ton slate bed made for Queen Victoria. The 60 acres of grounds include parkland, and an exotic tree and shrub collection, as well as a Victorian walled garden. Return to your hotel for a second night.
Day 3
Begin your day with a visit to one of the most impressive castles built by Edward I. Caernarfon Castle is one of Europe’s greatest medieval fortresses and, in more recent times, gained world fame as the setting for the Investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales in 1969. In 1986, it was also inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Head south to enjoy a visit to Plas yn Rhiw, a delightful 16th-century manor house with Georgian additions. The gardens are truly stunning, no matter what the season, and the views out across Cardigan Bay are among the most spectacular in Britain. A delightful coastal drive takes you next to Criccieth Castle. Standing in a commanding position on a rocky promontory overlooking Cardigan Bay, this is one of the greatest testaments to Welsh castle building. Enjoy a stroll along one of the two beaches either side of the castle; and why not treat yourself to a fish and chip supper on the promenade? Return to your hotel for a third night.
Day 4
Begin your day by driving through the beautiful scenery of the Snowdonia National Park. Bodnant Garden is sure to be a highlight of your Welsh experience. This world-famous garden has been created by five generations of one family and is superbly positioned to afford visitors spectacular views across Snowdonia. It features huge Italianate terraces and formal lawns on its upper level, with a steeply sided wooded valley, stream and waterfall below. Continue your journey north to the fascinating coastal town of Conwy. A tour of the mighty Conwy Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1986, will give you a wonderful taste of years gone by; you can then continue on to Aberconwy House, which is believed to be the oldest town house in Wales. Dating back to the 14th century, it has been carefully restored to show daily life from different periods in its history. In a town bursting with a plethora of historic houses, take a peek inside Plas Mawr (meaning the Great Hall), the best surviving town house of the Elizabethan period to be found anywhere in Britain. Begin your journey home.