Wild Wales Walkabouts, May 15-22, 2019
King Arthur's Way
There will be 8-10 people only on this tour, $2395 for a double occupancy. Please inquire about single supplements. A deposit of $800 is required to hold your spot on the tour. December 1, 2018 is the second payment of $800 is due, and February 15, 2019 is the final payment of $795 is due. Invoices will be emailed for the final two payments. Single supplement payments will be split between the two final payments.
The legends of King Arthur and Merlin, recorded by storytellers and bards over the generations, are very much alive in Wales! His enemies the Saxons would have called him Wealas (a foreigner) which is how the word “Welsh” originated.
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Our hiking adventure begins on the northwest coast of the island of Angelsey, in North Wales. We will be visiting a neolithic burial chamber, an ancient hill fort, standing stones and mystical lakes. Our first two nights will be at a family friendly hotel near the hamlet of Rhosneigr. Here we will be close to the the Welsh Coastal Path at Cymyran Beach and can walk there from our hotel within minutes!
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Along the way we will visit Ffynnon Cegin Arthur (King Arthur’s kitchen well), south of the small village of Llanddeiniolen. For three nights we will be staying at a historic guest house, a short walk from the picturesque village of Beddgeleret in the heart of the Snowdonia National Park. Nestled into the hillside and built of solid stone with exposed walls, oak beams, and inglenooks, this manor house sits on 22 acres and was built in 1644.
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During our three-day stay here we will visit Castell Dinas Emrys which was once an ancient Iron Hill Fort, and later in the 5th century a retreat for the legendary Celtic warrior Vortigern, who was claimed to have fled into Wales to escape the Ango-Saxons invaders. The legend claims that he employed Myrddin Emrys (Merlin Ambrosius) to help his cause. Merlin predicted that of the two dragons that lived in an underground pool under the fort, the red Welsh dragon would defeat the white dragon of the Saxons.
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On one of our days, Gareth Lloyd Roberts, a local historian and storyteller, will guide us to Lake Idwal and Lake Teryn. Weather permitting, there will be an opportunity to climb Mount Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales and England.
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Our last two nights we will spend in the medieval market town of Dolgellau. Here we could hike along the Ffordd Ddu (Black Road), an old Roman Road above the Crogennan Lakes, or hike the Mawddach Estuary down to Barmouth. Triple harpist and storyteller Mair Tomos Ifans will entertain us during our stay here. On our last day we will travel through the Tal-y-Llyn pass down to Castell y Bere built by Llewelyn the Great in the 1220’s. In the afternoon we will visit the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth for a presentation by an Arthurian historian.
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King Arthurs Excalibur, Llanberis
May 15, Wednesday. Holyhead, Isle of Angelsey
We will meet you at the ferry boat in Holyhead this morning or afternoon when your boat comes in. There are many ferries leaving Dublin for Holyhead (see schedule below). If arriving by train we will pick you up at the railway station. Another option is to fly to Manchester in England and catch a train from the airport to Holyhead and we will pick you up at the train station.
For the next two nights we will be staying out in the country at our family friendly guest house, in Rhosnegir a twenty-minute ride from the ferry. This evening we will all share a meal at our hotel and get to know each other. Wild Wales Tours will be buying the dinner this evening.
May 16, Thursday
9 a.m. After breakfast our mini bus will pick us up and transport us to Din Lligwy on the northeastern shore of the island. Our visit here will be to the Celtic-Roman village (late Roman period 4th century A.D.) and Lligwy Chapel, an early 12th century place of worship. Today we will be hiking the Welsh Coastal Path. Tonight you can eat at the hotel or walk down to the village for supper.
May 17, Friday
9 a.m. After breakfast our mini bus will pick us up to meet our presenter and guide for the next two days Gareth Roberts. Our first stop will be at Bryn Celli Ddu a neolithic 3000 B.C. burial chamber on the south eastside of Angelsey. We will enter the Snowdonia National Park and enjoy lunch in Llanberis before we make our trip over the Llanberis Pass to our hotel for the next three days in the hamlet of Beddgeleret. Tonight we can all go out to a local pub for supper.
May 18, Saturday
After breakfast Gareth will guide us along walks in the Snowdonia National Park following some legendary Arthurian trails. Tonight we will all be eating supper at a cozy local pub. Wild Wales Tours will be paying for this meal.
May 19, Sunday
Possibly a day for some of us to hike Snowdon. Some folks might want to take a more leisurely day and walk down to Beddgelert and hang out in a local cafe for some excellent food! There are short walks along the river Glaslyn that are very scenic.
May 20, Monday
9 a.m. After breakfast we will be transported to Dolgellau (twenty miles) to stay for two nights at our hotel. At lunch time we will be serenaded by Mair Tomos Ifans playing her triple harp and weaving tales of Arthur. After lunch those who would like to walk can join us to climb the iconic Cader Idris or along an ancient Roman Road above the Crogenan Lakes. Others might like to walk around the medieval market town and meet some of the locals.
Tonight you might join other folks for a meal at one of the many local pubs in town.
May 21, Tuesday
9 a.m. After breakfast our mini bus will transport us to Castell y Bere and then onward to the medieval market town of Machynlleth for lunch. Our next stop will be the National Library of Wales where we will be given a presentation on King Arthur by an Arthurian scholar.
We’ll walk along the promenade in Aberystwyth and stop for tea or coffee and cakes before we return to Dolgellau! Tonight we will all eat at an award winning tapas bar around the corner from our hotel. This last night together Wild Wales Tours will be buying supper and we all can share what we have learned and experienced along the way!
May 22, Wednesday
8-9a.m. We will say our goodbyes to our-new made friends and you will be transported to the railway station in Barmouth or the bus station in Dolgellau for your onward travels. We can help you with all the details to get you on your way.
Llyn Peris
PACKING
Travel as light as possible. Bring one medium sized suitcase, and a carry-on or two.
The mini bus will have limited baggage space, and more small bags are easier to pack than one large bag. We will be near the sea often and it will be breezy, so we need to dress accordingly. The normal temperatures in May is from 50F to 75F degrees. The tour is casual and there is no dress code. If necessary, we will be able to dry our clothes at our hotels. Laundry services will also be available for a fee. Do bring gloves and a hat as well as a swimsuit if you are up for a dip in the Irish Sea!
Suggested clothing for our Walkabouts: We suggest rainproof gear (not shower proof).
• A waterproof hooded raincoat and pants
• A good pair of waterproof hiking shoes
• Three pairs of wool hiking socks, medium thickness
• Wool hat and waterproof gloves
• Low or hiking gaiters
• Knapsack to carry your lunch and snacks
• I strongly suggest walking sticks as they are very useful for balancing coming downhill
• Head light
• Binoculars
WALKING PREPARATION
In order to enjoy the walkabouts, you need to be able to walk between seven and eleven 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.
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Most days we will be walking from 7-11 miles. Its really up to you how much you would like to hike. After breakfast we will set off for the day and after lunch we can arrange for you to return to the guest house or hotel to relax, on most days. This is your vacation and if you need to take a day off to walk around by yourself we can make it work for you. If some folks want to walk further than the eleven miles we can arrange that also.
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. $30 for the month. It
works very well, automatically taking place when your airplane touches down.
The cost of the eight days and seven nights includes accommodations, all transportation, visits to the museums, all breakfasts, three dinners, one lunch, presentations and tips.
You will be paying for four dinners, six lunches and any drinks.
Most of the time we can pick up sandwiches or have them freshly made at our guest house. Sometimes we stop in a pub for lunch.
The cost for the above is $2395, double occupancy. Please inquire about single supplements. A deposit of $800 is required to hold your spot on the tour. December 1, 2018 is the second payment of $800 is due, and February 15, 2019 is the final payment of $795 is due. Invoices will be emailed for the final two payments. Single supplement payments will be split between the two final payments.
There are two ferry companies: Irish Ferries and Stena Lines. Please check schedules as times may change because of high tide. Irish Ferries is the only one that has the hover craft and makes the crossing in 1 hour and 40 minutes. The traditional boat takes 3.5 hours.
We suggest that you fly into Dublin, spend the night there, and catch the ferry the following morning from Dublin to Holyhead in Wales. Another option is to fly to Manchester England and catch a train or taxi to Holyhead. It is about two hours by taxi or about three by train from Manchester, Piccadilly.
Some might want to arrive a day earlier in Dublin, as most flights will be overnight and arrive early in the morning. Dublin is six hours ahead of CST. We recommend a hotel for you while staying in Dublin.
“Wild Wales Walkabouts” is delighted to be offering this eight-day seven-night journey into the world of the legendary “King Arthur”! Our presenters and guides on the ground in North Wales are very excited to share their knowledge and passion with you on the tales of this illustrious warrior, whose legend is still very much alive in Wales!
Please email us if you have any questions or concerns.
Hywel Taff Roberts: wildwalestours@gmail.com
Hywel “Taff” Roberts
