Walking in Wales (9 Day Tour)

DAY 1: MEET IN CENTRAL BRISTOL, VISIT TINTERN ABBEY, WALK THE WYE VALLEY

Terrain: rocky paths, forest track, fields |  7 miles

You will be met with a warm welcome in Bristol. Today we visit Tintern Abbey: standing proudly beside the River Wye, since 1131, this beautiful ruin is enchanting and magnificent. The Abbey and the Norman monks who inhabited it became victims of the dissolution in 1536. We make our way across the river and follow a disused railway line through woodlands, gaininig some height to enjoy wonderful views of the Valley. Making our way along the path towards the Devils Pulpit, we will stop to admire the breathtaking views. From this point the devil was said to have attempted to lure away the monks of the Abbey.

Overnight: Clearwell, Gloucestershire. Meals Included: Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 2: HIKE SKIRRID IN THE BLACK MOUNTAINS, TRAVEL TO CRICKHOWELL

Terrain: forest track, riverside path, open hillside | Elev gain 1000ft. | 5 miles.

Standing on the edge of the Black Mountains in Monmouthshire, the Skirrid, or the ‘Holy Mountain’, is a place rich in myths and legends.the Skirrid rises dramatically out of the landscape, at 486m high. The name ‘Skirrid’ comes from the Welsh ‘Ysgyryd’, which means to shake or tremble. You can see where this name came from, when you look at the massive landslide on the hill’s northern edge. 

Overnight: Crickhowell in the Brecon Beacons, Powys. Meals Included:  Breakfast and Lunch.

DAY 3: ONE OF THE CLASSIC BRECON BEACON HIKES: CORN DU AND PEN Y FAN

Terrain: stony tracks, forest paths | Elev 1500 ft. | Walking Distance 5 miles.

This is the best hike in the Beacons, tackling the two highest peaks, Corn Du and Pen y Fan. We climb steadily to the peaks with magnificent vistas all around. The broad expanses of the beautiful Wales countryside are laid out below. The walk is completed as a spectacular horseshoe ridge circuit. We will be joined by local expert mountain guide Kevin Walker.

Crickhowell, Brecon Beacons, Powys. Meals Included:  Breakfast and Lunch.

DAY 4: WALK TABLE MOUNTAIN AT CRICKHOWELL, TRAVEL TO TENBY

Terrain: forest tracks, open moors | Elev 1150 ft. | Walking Distance 6 miles.

We will take a walk from Crickhowell this morning. To the north of Crickhowell lies Table Mountain: it was once an important hill fort, and its Welsh name, Crug Hywel (the Fort of Hywel) has become anglicised to Crickhowell. Later in the afternoon we will travel west to Tenby on the Pembrokeshire coast.

Overnight: St Florence, Pembrokeshire. Meals Included:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 5: PEMBROKESHIRE COAST PATH:  TENBY TO SAUNDERSFOOT

Terrain: Beach and Coastal Path |  Elev 800 ft. | Walking Distance 8 miles.

Today we walk the Pembrokeshire coast between Tenby and Saundersfoot. The seascapes are lovely, but there are a couple of steep ascents. As far as mileage goes, this is a short walk, but we will take our time to enjoy the views and take photographs. Then there will be an opportunity to explore the interesting town of Tenby with its scenic harbour and beaches.

Overnight: St Florence, Pembrokeshire. Meals Included:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 6: PEMBROKESHIRE COAST PATH

Terrain: beach, coastal path, woodlands, fields | Elev 200ft. | Walking Distance 10 miles.

Our walk today starts in the designed landscape of the Stackpole Estate owned by the National Trust. We walk alongside the lakes through woodland to the stunning Broad Haven South Beach where we join the coast path. Following the route over the headlands and discovering hidden beaches and coves: not to be missed is Barafundle Beach, voted the World’s second best beach by National Geographic Magazine. The walk ends at Manorbier Castle, the C12th home of Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald of Wales), with fishponds and mill leats, in the village of Manorbier.

Overnight: St Florence, Pembrokeshire. Meals Included:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 7: TRAVEL TO GOWER PENINSULA, WALK AT REYNOLDSTON AND CEFN BRYN

Terrain: sandy beach, country lanes, woodland, open moors | Elev 600ft. | Walking Distance 9 miles

Beginning at the quiet village of Reynoldston. We travel up to the moors and the high point of the Gower at Cefn Bryn. We’ll travel down to the spectacular beaches and dunes of Three Cliffs Bay where we’ll have lunch. We then walk over the dunes to a great lookout point Three Cliffs Bay and Oxwich Bay. Then making our way through the dunes and burrows, we reach Nicholaston Woods. We enter the Penrice Estate where we can admire the Norman ruin of Penrice Castle. Our circuit ends back at Reynoldston where we can enjoy a lovely pub meal at the King Arthur.

Overnight: Penmaen, Gower Peninsula, West Glamorgan. Meals Included:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 8: HIKE THE GOWER PENINSULA

Terrain: beach, country lanes, moorland | Elev 633ft. | Walking Distance 9 miles

Our walk will take us to Rhossili Bay at the far end of the Gower Peninsula. We start at the rugged coastal paths at Mewslade: weaving in and out of the rocky outcrops with extensive, dramatic sea views. Tides permitting we may be able to make our way out to Worm’s Head, joined to the mainland by a causeway. For those with more energy, we can continue with the second part of the walk, beginning with a wonderful stroll along the extensive sandy beach of Rhossili. We then cut through the sand dunes to walk up along the ridge overlooking the bay at Rhossili Down.  Note there is a shorter option of just walking 4.5 miles.

Overnight: Penmaen, Gower Peninsula, West Glamorgan. Meals Included:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.

DAY 9: GOODBYE TO WALES AS WE TRAVEL BACK TO BRISTOL AIRPORT.

The end of our tour today. We will travel back to Bristol, a journey of approximately 2.5 hours.

Meals Included:  Breakfast.