The Old Ways – an exploration of the splendour & mysteries of ancient Wales ~ Cymru
May 2021
Highlights
- Have a private tour by its owners of a stunning medieval court that was home to Dick Whittington.
- Walk besides beautiful waterfalls in ancient woodlands.
- Discover the lair of reputedly the last dragon of Wales.
- Be amazed by ancient standing stones and holy wells mentioned in the 11th century Domesday Book.
- Journey to the wild and dramatic site that is the source of stones used to build in inner circle of Stonehenge.
- Visit some extraordinary and best preserved Neolithic sites in Wales.
- Learn from its builder about the construction, using traditional methods, of a stunning stone circle nestling below the beautiful and sacred Hill of the Angels.
- Explore a church with the most perfect examples of an ancient Celtic cross and stones inscribed with Ogham script.
- Journey through an incredible green wilderness.
- Walk in the footsteps of monks at a grand medieval abbey – a place of pilgrimage.
- Feel the ancient power of Wales’ most romantic ruined castle and explore a sacred cave.
- Canoe through a gorge on a beautiful river past a medieval castle.
- Feast on delicious offerings of Welsh hospitality.
This is a fully guided tour led by experts in landscape interpretation through archaeoastronomy, folklore, ancient history and storytelling bringing the places you visit vividly to life and showing you the hidden secrets of these places. Your guides for this tour are Ros Briagha and Sarah Ewing. For more information on your guides, please see about your guides page and for more detailed information on the tour please get in touch.
“When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.”
John Muir
Pricing and Booking
The total cost of this 7 day tour is £1295.
This price is based on double occupancy, all rooms can be either twin or double so sharing is possible, and some rooms are available on a single occupancy basis on request for an extra fee of £300.
A deposit of £250 per person will secure your place on the tour; reservations are accepted on a first come first serve basis. The balance must be paid in full 2 months 60 days before the start date of the tour.
To book this tour, please click on the link below and you will be taken to a registration form and upon completion to the payment page for PayPal’s secure payment to pay your deposit and secure your place on this tour.
We very much look forward to welcoming you on your journey through the land of the dragon!
- Extremely comfortable 4 star accommodation* that has been carefully selected for high standards of comfort and beautiful locations. Fees are based on double occupancy, single occupancy at extra charge.
- Intimate tour group 10 people maximum
- Hearty Welsh breakfasts
- Lunches on the first, third, fourth and sixth days, dinner on the second day and a feast on the last day!
- Spirit and Cheese Tasting
- Admissions to all attractions listed on the tour itinerary
- Personal full-time tour guides with expert local knowledge
- All Transportation
* please note accommodation on the first night is at a drovers inn, which though comfortable, tastefully decorated and with great character is a 15th century droving inn and is 3 star standard.
For more details please see the additional information tab
Additional Information
What is included in the tour?
- Overnight accommodation in 4 star accommodation that have been carefully selected for high standards of comfort and beautiful locations. Fees are based on double occupancy, single occupancy at extra charge.
- Intimate tour group 10 people maximum
- Personal full-time tour guides with expert local knowledge
- Hearty Welsh breakfasts
- Lunches on the first, third, fourth and sixth days, dinner on the second day and a feast on the last day!
- Spirit and artisan tasting
- Admissions to all attractions listed on the tour itinerary
- All transportation
What is not included?
- Airfare (we can offer guidance on best ways to book)
- Expenses before and after the tour
- Teas, Lunches and dinners (except where specified)
- Any side trips or excursions guest do outside of the set itinerary
- Gifts, souvenirs, laundry, cleaning, telephone calls, telexes, faxes, cables, wines, liquors, beer, mineral water, soft drinks and incidental expenditures
- Porterage – we carry our own bags, always
- Tips for tour guides, hotel staff
Good to Know
Walks on some of the routes are on rough paths. Please bring good walking boots with you and water proof clothing.
The walk up to the bluestones is on an unmade path and is uphill, but not very steep. If there are members of the group who do not wish to make the climb we will take them to other nearby megalithic sites, leaving the rest of the group to walk up to the ancient pilgrimage route.
What is the Mabinogion?
The Mabinogion is s set of eleven Welsh tales first passed down orally over countless generations then written down in the fourteenth century in Welsh. The first four stories are called the branches and tell the lives of early Welsh kings and mythical creatures. Although they are mythic tales they are set in places that exist today in Wales, mainly Gwynedd and Dyfed, namely Caernarvonshire and Pembrokeshire. The majority of the other stories are about King Arthur and his knights in a similar land of enchantment, filled with giants and fabulous beasts. One tales an example of how the tales relate to today is about a Roman Emperor and his chair on the Preseli Hills, which we visit and his wife Helen, a Welsh princess who gave her name to an important early highway that we travel along, it is great way of linking into the past and all its myths.
Weather
Wales is a land of sunshine, mists, wind, rain and anything else it feels like doing. Conditions can change quickly but tours will not be cancelled due to poor weather. There might be slightly altered itineraries but tours will still go ahead. The most important thing is to be prepared for all weather conditions to ensure you are comfortable. Some of the most amazing photos can be taken just before or after storms the light can be incredibly intense and certainly brings you closer to nature!
What to bring
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- Walking pole (if required)
- Sturdy shoes or walking boots
- Rucksack
- Diary and paints if you like to record your trip
Which terminals are you picking up from at Heathrow?
We are picking up from outside terminal 3 at 9am. Most US flights come into terminals 2 or 3. If you require accommodation the night before we recommend The Premier Inn, Bath Road. If you require any help with your accommodation prior to the tour or after the tour please ask.
How long does it take to get from Swansea train station to London?
Trains run every hour during the day from Swansea train station to London, the journey time is roughly three hours, we recommend you book a seat for your journey, but please speak to us first about which train you book to ensure you will be at the train station in time.
https://www.thetrainline.com
What is the Cancellation Policy?
In the event of cancellation before 1st February 2020. Your deposit will only be refunded if your place is filled by someone else, in which case it will be refunded minus an administration fee.
In the event of cancellation on or after 1st February 2020 no refunds will be issued unless your place is filled by someone else, in which case it will be refunded minus an administration fee.
All cancellations must be received in writing.
Smoking Policy
Please note all properties we stay in, follow a strict no smoking policy, no smoking is allowed on or near the properties or whilst in transit from site to site. Scotland has strict no smoking laws. It is now illegal to smoke in and around accommodation and public interiors. To make it comfortable for all on our tours no smoking is allowed at the tours sites either.
Travel Insurance
We recommend you take out travel insurance.