Honeymoon in Wales

Spend the night before in London, or head out west straight from Heathrow. Tour the borders of England and Wales and discover an impressive fortress and romantic ruin. 

Chepstow Castle is a wonder to explore, discover and dream of the Medieval world. Erupting out of the jagged limestone cliff, it towers over the river wye, the guardian of the main river crossing from England to Southern Wales. Wales is the land of dragons and castles. The principality has a turbulent past; raids have come from both sides of the border, invasion by the Anglo-Normans and English Kingdoms eventually made Wales part of an Anglo-Welsh dominion; This is a story of rebellion, power, and Royal politics, enjoy the tales. 

Cistercian monks founded Tintern Abbey in 1131. Now all that remains of this once-thriving monastery is a romantic ruin, lost in time. The ecclesiastical architecture is a skeleton of the Abbey, intricate and fragile. Its ethereal elegance is perhaps, more beautiful ruined than whole, and indeed more poignant. 

Overnight: South Wales - Recommended Hotel: Llangoed Hall Hotel.

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Walk through emerald glades, with tumbling water to high rushing waterfalls, the Four Falls Trail is sublime. This circular walk will become famous; it is still lesser-known, and now is the time to enjoy the serenity. The pathways are uneven, and there is some mild hiking around rocky shorelines and an opportunity to walk behind a picture-perfect sheet of cascading water. Walk out of the gorge and look carefully for hovering birds of prey, buzzards, and Red Kites. 

The bountiful Brecon Beacons National Park covers 520 square miles along the Wales-England border. It feels like you’ve stepped into Tolkein’s middle earth. The folds of giant mountains frame emerald green vistas. This place is every outdoor lover's paradise, you can experience epic mountain bike adventures, hiking in an environment where you will meet more sheep than people. It’s glorious isolation with breathtaking scenery. 

Watch for shooting stars from the atmospheric ruin of Llanthony Priory, nestled in the Black Mountains. All you need are snuggly and warm clothing and a flask of hot tea, and you can lie back watch one of the world’s most magnificent displays. On a clear night, you can see the Milky Way and this is why the Brecon Beacons is one of eleven International Dark Sky Reserves. We can make these arrangements on the day depending on the weather. 

Overnight: South Wales - Recommended Hotel: Llangoed Hall Hotel.

Unique Places to Stay
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Situated on a steep rock ridge, Powis Castle is a medieval Welsh fortress.  The gardens and parkland, include a deer park. Within Powis is the Clive Museum, home to a collection of Indian and Far East artefacts. The pieces ranged from the 17th Century and made up of a variety of material such as gold, ivory, textiles and silver.  The 'Cat and Snake' marble sculpture in the museum is perhaps the most eccentric piece dating from Roman times. The coach house and stables are relatively modern were built in the 17^th century and contain a grand state coach still used today for family ceremonies. 

Powis Garden attracts visitors from around the world and all year; they come to see the Italian and French baroque style garden surrounding a colossal fortification. The yew trees in the terraced gardens flow downhill like an immense wave. The drive north into Snowdonia National Park is genuinely stunning, forests, mountain passes, and deep valleys.

The drive north is genuinely remarkable, forests, mountain passes, and deep valleys.

Overnight: South Snowdonia National Park, North Wales - Recommended Country Hotel and Restaurant: Pale Hall. 

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Enjoy the grounds of Pale Hall, your romantic country house retreat. Options include riverside walks, Fly Fishing, or more energetic experiences such as a 4X4 driving experience.

The Elan Valley is an area of outstanding natural beauty with a series of five reservoirs with elaborately constructed dams adorned with beautiful industrial buildings. These Victorian masterpieces of engineering are impressive and beautiful in equal measure, constructed when style and aesthetics were of vital importance. The region is quiet and the ideal place for a picnic. We will make all the arrangements if required. 

Stop at a farm shop and try local produce before heading back the hotel for relaxation.

Overnight: South Snowdonia National Park, North Wales - Recommended Country Hotel and Restaurant: Pale Hall. 

Unique Places to Stay
Castles and Manor House Hotels
Classic and Britain’s Finest Hotels
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Covering over 800 square miles, Snowdonia National Park breaks the horizon and clutches the skyline with the Snowdon Massif dominating the view.  The most famous mountain and the highest peak is Snowdon, followed closely by Garnedd Ugain.

Many hikers train on Snowdon in preparation for climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and Everest. For those not in training, we suggest we opt to travel up the mountain by steam locomotive, operated by the Snowdon Mountain Railway. 

Options include; Sea Fishing, Zip Lining and Fly Fishing. 

Conwy town and Castle surrounded by the protective outer walls of the Castle, Conwy is a market town dating from the 13th Century. Ancient houses still exist along with the well-preserved Castle, imposing and magnificent.  Built by King Edward I in the 13th Century, the primary purpose was protecting the town while managing and governing the local area.  The details add to the medieval charm of the Castle's decoration, whereas the arrow-slits on the towers add to the structure's serious roll.  Climb the turrets and town walls for the panoramic view of the town and Snowdonia. The chapel, kitchens, and chambers are intact and demonstrate life within the Castle.

Overnight: Conwy, North Wales - Recommended Manor House Hotel: Bodysgallen Hall.

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In the foothills of Snowdonia, with views of the Conwy valley and mountains beyond lies one of the most beautiful and impressive gardens in the world, Bodnant Gardens is a horticultural realm. The roots of this magnificent garden planned in the 19th century by Industrial Chemist, Henry Davis Pochin, who entirely re-landscaped this Georgian estate. 

Discover elegant Italianate terraces, ornamental ponds, the longest laburnum arch in the world, that turns bright yellow with flowers in the spring. Behold the vibrant pinks and reds of the rhododendron forests, Himalayan blue poppies, and more. Head down to the dell of cascading waterfalls and pantheon of champion trees; see Asian and American conifer, giant Californian redwoods, holly, pine and maple. The 'dell' is a heavenly space to visit in fall- autumn. 

Penrhyn Castle, a fantasy Neo Norman fort with industrial and colonial foundations. The unique architecture, opulent interiors and beautiful art collection financed by the sugar and slate industries. North Wales quite literally roofed the world with its abundance of high quality slate. The roofing slate was mined and shipped around the globe generating fortunes for the owners of the mountain. See the intricately carved stone walls and staircases with flora, faces, and elaborate patterns. It is a wonder to behold.

Overnight: Conwy, North Wales - Recommended Manor House Hotel: Bodysgallen Hall.

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Chatsworth House, in its golden, neoclassical splendour, is an accurate illustration of the vast power and wealth of the British aristocracy. This stately house and grounds, comprising of 126 rooms is everything you hope to experience from a stately home. It has ornately decorated interiors, the finest art and furniture and a rich tapestry of family history. It is thought that Jane Austen visited Chatsworth in 1811 and when writing Pride and Prejudice and used it as her inspiration for Darcy's house, Pemberley. The grounds and gardens are vast enough to truly get lost, walk the labyrinth pf paths and marvel at the Emperor fountain. 

Stop for afternoon tea before heading to the Cotswolds. The Duchess of Bedford invented the culture of having tea in the afternoon. It was a friendly event to be sociable, gossip and fill the gap between lunch and dinner.

Overnight: The Cotswolds - Recommended Luxury Village Spa Hotel: The Lygon Arms Hotel.
Overnight: The Cotswolds - Recommended Country House Hotel: Buckland Manor.
Overnight: The Cotswolds - Recommended English Estate Spa Hotel: Dormy House.
Overnight: South Cotswolds - Recommended Country House Spa Hotel: Whatley Manor.
Overnight: South Cotswolds - Recommended Country House Spa Hotel: Calcot Manor.

Unique Places to Stay
Castles and Manor House Hotels
Classic and Britain’s Finest Hotels
Townhouse and Boutique Hotels
Luxury Guesthouse and B&B’s

 Stay an extra night, or head off to Heathrow. The chauffeur-driven transfer to Heathrow journey time is around 2 hours.