WILD WALES WALKABOUT May 15-21, 2027
May is truly one of the best times to visit North Wales, the Puffins have returned, the spring flowers are out, and bluebells carpet the forest floors.
There is no pressure with Wild Wales Walkabouts to hike on our tours everyday, or all day. If your choice is to curl up with a book in the hotel, sit on a bench watching the sea, talk to the locals, you are on your holiday! You need to relax in the way that works for you! Each evening we will gather for supper at our guest house or in one of the pubs in the small hamlet where we will be staying.
Puffins
Saturday, May 15, Noon
We will meet you at the café at the Railway Station in Bangor, North Wales, or at your hotel The Management Center, at Bangor University and board our mini bus for a short ride to Caernarfon. A visit to the castle built by Edward 1 to attempt to subjugate the Welsh in the 13 century. Aberdaron is a small sea-side village where we will be staying for our first three nights in a comfortable home next to the sea. Tonight we will be dining at Ty Newydd, a pub overlooking Cardigan Bay.
Sunday, May 16, 9am
Along with our lunch we will be hiking up in the hills to ‘Tre Ceiri’ an ancient hillfort going back to the Iron Age overlooking the Irish Sea. One of the finest iron age sites in the British Isles.
Monday, May 17, 9am
Weather permitting we will visit Bardsey Island, the island where 20,000 saints have been buried, and also a Puffin colony. Colin a local fisherman, farmer and postman to the island will take us over on his boat, it’s a short ride. You will need cash to pay for this return journey of 45GBP plus a landing fee of 7.50GBP, cash only for the trip over, but you can pay the landing fee by credit card. Tonight Wild Wales tours will be treating you to a lobster dinner caught by a local fisher. If you do not eat seafood, there will be other options.
Tuesday, May 18, 10am
We will head up to Beddgelert, a very scenic hamlet in the center of the Snowdonia National Park, at the base of the ‘Wyddfa’, (Snowdon) for the next three nights. Along the way a stop in the seaport town of Porthmadog for lunch, and a stroll up the high street. Beddgelert sits at the confluence of the Colwyn and Glaslyn rivers. Tonight Mair Tomos Ifans a triple harpist and singer will perform for us.
Wednesday May 19, 9am
Today and tomorrow we will set off with our packed lunch for the day hiking. There will be two hiking guides, you will have a choice of the hike that will suit you.
One option weather permitting, to climb y Wyddfa the highest peak in Wales and England. Some might like to hike along the river paths. Lots of choices to hike here in Bedd Geleret. Tonight Wild Wales Tours will be buying you dinner at Saracens Head a pub next door to the Manor House where we will all be staying.
Thursday May 20, 9am
Today possibly a visit to Dinas Emrys, site of a former Roman fort, and years later where Merlin of the legendary King Arthur fame arranged a duel between the red dragon of Wales, and the white dragon of the neighbors, the Saxons. The red dragon slayed the white dragon and this is why the flag of Wales proudly displays a red dragon!
Sometimes guests take a day off and spend the day reading, relaxing and meeting locals in cafes. Tonight after supper a visit to the slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog where we will listen to Cor y Brythoniad, an award winning male voice choir practicing in the high school. Many of our guests often mention that this experience is their highlight of their visit to Wales!
Friday May 21, 9am
After breakfast and taking pictures we will bid farewell to our newly made friends, and head for the railway station in Bangor for your onward journey.
Llyn Padarn
TRANSPORTATION TO WALES
We recommend that you fly to Manchester in England. Most overnight flights from the U.S. arrive mid or late morning U.K. time. At the Manchester airport, you will be able to catch a train to Bangor in North Wales. There are twenty trains a day from the airport, and they run every hour. The journey takes about two and a half hours. You may also fly from the U.S. to London and catch a fast train from London to Bangor. (3.15mins)
We will all meet at the Railway Station in Bangor, North Wales at noon on Saturday, May 15, 2027. Arriving a day early is highly encouraged, if at all possible. As most of you know these days, it is very common to have a late or cancelled flight, or luggage that shows up late. Coming a day early reduces that stress. Wales and England are 6 hours ahead of Central Standard Time. The flight across the Atlantic takes 7-8 hours from the Midwest and around six hours from the East Coast. If you can afford the time and an extra night’s lodging at a small hotel or B&B, you will not likely regret it. We highly recommend the Management Center at Bangor University (a four-star hotel at a very reasonable cost).
PAYMENTS
The cost of the trip will be $2874. We will email invoices which can be paid online with a credit card. A deposit of $958 per person ($1916 per couple) is required to secure your place, followed by a payment of $958 ($1916 per couple) October 16, 2026. The final payment of $958 per person ($1916 per couple) is due on January 1, 2027. The single room supplement is $500.
The price above includes your accommodations, breakfast, two suppers one being a lobster dinner, transportation, entrances to castle, walking guides.
You will be paying for your airfare, five lunches, four dinners, and all drinks & snacks and ferry ride to Bardsey Island 50GBP(weather permitting).
Please do let us know if you have any special dietary needs.
REFUNDS
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You may cancel your Wild Wales Walkabout for a full refund, minus a $200 processing fee, if you do so more than 4 months prior to your scheduled tour (Jan 15, 2027.
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If you cancel between 3 and 4 months before your scheduled tour, you will receive a 50% refund, minus a $200 processing fee, ONLY if your slot can be filled.
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If you cancel fewer than 3 months (February 15, 2027) prior to your scheduled tour, and your slot cannot be filled, no refund will be given.
PASSPORTS
If your passport isn’t in order, it can take up to 10 weeks to process. However, it normally takes two to three weeks. If you have had your passport for years, make sure it does not expire in 2027.
VISA
You will need a visa to enter the United Kingdom (ETA). You can register online a simple form to fill, a cost of around $28 and lasts for two years.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
It is highly recommended you consider purchasing travel insurance. It covers almost everything involved with your trip: flights, bags, delays, healthcare, etc. And if, for any illness or family related reason, you have to cancel after the refund deadline, the insurance should cover it. One company to consider is TravelGuard.
LAUNDRY & TEMPS
We will be near the sea often and it will be breezy, so we need to dress accordingly. The normal temperatures in May range from 50F to 75F degrees. The tour is casual and there is no dress code. Do bring gloves, a hat and a swimsuit if you are up for a dip in the Irish Sea!
There will be appliances to wash and dry your clothes where we will be staying.
Suggested clothing for our Walkabouts:
A waterproof hooded raincoat and pants.
A good pair of waterproof hiking shoes.
Three pairs of hiking socks.
Wool hat and gloves.
Knapsack to carry your lunch and snacks.
Some walkers like to use hiking sticks.
Head light. I always get asked why a headlight by guests! Well, if you happen to be sharing a room with someone, it’s friendlier in the middle of the night if you decide you need to get up. No, the Walkabout does not include spelunking!
Tre Ceri Lleyn
WALKING PREPARATION
In order to enjoy the walkabouts, you need to be able to walk between four and six miles a day. We suggest that you prepare for the tour by walking between ten and twelve miles per week for three months prior to the trip. We all walk at a different pace, and you will have ample opportunity to walk in pairs, in groups or alone.
ELECTRICITY
Electricity runs on a different current system in Wales and England. You will need a converter for all U.S. appliances. They can be bought on-line or in airports. All hotels will have a hair dryer, an iron and ironing board.
MEDICAL INSURANCE
We strongly recommend you buying a medical insurance plan during the time you will be hiking with us.
PHONES AND INTERNET
If you have an iPhone you can call your provider and make arrangements for your phone to work in the U.K. for a small fee. You will be able to call and receive calls from home, send emails and text approx. It works very well, automatically taking place when your airplane touches down. Calling cards can also be bought very easily. Most of our hotels will have Internet, as will most of the cafes we will visit for tea and coffee.
Hywel Taff Roberts the director of Wild Wales Tours & Walkabouts will be leading the tour, a native Welshman who speaks fluent Welsh. We also will have Anita Diamond and Elen Huws both expert and certified Snowdonia guides to share their expertise on the park and the natural surroundings. We want to immerse you with this magical homeland we call Wales!
Come join us!
Taff Roberts
Hywel “Taff” Roberts
