Wales 7 Nights

Your adventure starts today, close to Liverpool

We can provide pickup from Liverpool or Manchester to our base, making your vehicle meet hassle free. Here, you will collect your Land Rover, (where we also offer free secure parking). 

After a short safety briefing, you will head out on the road, guided either with our in-car tablet based APP (standard), or by our expert local guide and safety vehicle (optional). You will head South to a beautiful castle close to the Welsh border.

Your Accomodation

An impressive Cheshire castle marries exquisite architecture, elegant spaces and extensive grounds. Once part of the ‘Welshman’s way’, the salt trade route to Wales, the countryside in this part of the world is typically English with rolling hills & green fields.

Built in the 1850’s for John Tollemache, the largest landowner in Cheshire at the time, it’s easy to imagine the rumblings of horse-drawn carriages that must have crossed into the castle gatehouse in times gone by......its design was that of a medieval castle. It has a gatehouse, a portcullis, a dry moat, external windows that are little more than arrow slots.

In 1851 The Illustrated London News said that it "seems to exhibit the peculiar beauties of Carnarvon Castle without its inconveniences"  It is regarded as "the last serious fortified home built in England" possibly to protect against any revolution by the masses from nearby Manchester or Liverpool. 

Bed & Breakfast 

Today, we leave our Castle and 4x4 Training Ground behind, to enter Wales and cross to the island of Anglesey.

After breakfast you can stroll the castle grounds or take a one hour / or half day Land Rover training experience from the castle, with expert instructors, new Land Rover Defenders, and a challenging off road course.

Its then time to take to the road and head south into Wales with a coffee or lunch stop at the Great Orme Cliffs at Lllandudno or nearby gateway to Wales, Conwy. The construction of Conwy began in 1283, and the impressive castle here was an important part of King Edward I's plan  of surrounding Wales in "an iron ring of castles" to subdue the rebellious population.  

You will then take the easy coastal road towards the island of Anglesey. Connected to the mainland by Thomas Telford’s Menai Suspension Bridge (started in 1818) and Robert Stephenson’s Britannia Bridge,  both are marvels of Victorian era engineering.

The Strait is a unique environment with strong, reversing tidal flows, rapid currents and swirling whirlpools.  From the Anglesey side, there are lovely views of the Snowdonia and Carneddau mountain ranges, Conwy Bay and the towns of Bangor through to Caernarfon.

You will overnight in the shadow of Beaumaris Castle, begun in 1295, the last and largest of the castles to be built by Edward 1, it is possibly the most sophisticated example of medieval military architecture in Britain.

Your Accomodation

A stylish seaside coaching Inn welcomes you for the night.  Mixing old with new, traditional with contemporary, with a style and food you’d least expect in two 400-year-old buildings. This 5 star accommodation offers award-winning food and chance to unwind in the snug, lively bar. 

Bed & Breakfast 

Today we journey From Anglesey, back to the mainland and on to the Llyn Peninsula.

After crossing back to the mainland, your journey takes you deeper into the Welsh Countryside, and the choice of the mountainous route inland via high tarns, or the flatter coastal route south. Either way your guaranteed spectacular views and a lovely drive towards Nefyn and the Llyn peninsula, for a taste of some of the nicest beaches in Wales.

A short but steep off road route takes you to a delightful picnic spot, high on a rocky promotary overlooking the coast in both directions, before a steep descent down the cliffside to Nant Gwrtheyrn. 

Nant Gwrtheyrn or “the Nant” as it is often called, is now home to the National Welsh Language and Heritage Centre, a remote magical place, located in a former quarrying hamlet, in a secluded cove. You will be staying in one of the restored quarrymans cottages, overlooking the bay. The coastal walk here is lovely, as are the sunsets, and you are left with the place to yourself once the small cafe has closed.

Your Accomodation

A restored quarrymans cottage, with spectacular sea views

Optional evening BBQ available on site (*pre order pack)

Bed & Breakfast.

Today, its all about beaches and islands, as we head to the tip of the LLyn Peninsula  

Relax and enjoy our list of lovely beaches and coves to choose from. 

There is a great optional boat trip out to the Holy Island of Bardsey, located 2 miles off mainland.  On this naturally protected site was the first religious house in Wales, founded by the Celtic St. Cadfan in the early 6th century

A place of pilgrimage in the Middle Ages and later a haunt of pirates, Bardsey Island is now a major British nature reserve and bird sanctuary.  According to tradition, Bardsey Island is the burial place of 20,000 saints and the last resting place of King Arthur and Merlin, home now to just 4 inhabitants. 

In the village next to your hotel is the lovely Church of St Hywyn, dating from the 12th century, although its origins date to the 5th to the 7th centuries, when Viking raids here were commonplace. Its graveyard overlooks the beach, and there are numerous walks and trails from the village center.

Your Accomodation

A comfortable contemporary small seaside hotel. Spectacular ocean views from the rooms. Situated right on the beach, with a great bar and restaurant serving locally sourced produce.

Bed & Breakfast 

Today is a big adventure day as we travel to Llechwedd and Slate Mountain, near to Blaenau Ffestiniog

This location is adventure central, and among other things offers Europes fastest Zipline and a 500ft descent on Britains steepest cable railway into a 200 year old slate mine.

Its an enjoyable route through Criccieth and its ancient castle by the sea, to Portmeirion, set in 70 acres of sub tropical gardens and woodland with guided walks or train tours taking in the exquisite architecture, and stunning surroundings. The hotel here makes an ideal lunch stop, with perfect views over the estuary from the patio cafe.

From Portmeirion you will climb into the mountains and reach the Llechwedd mine. Once checked in, you will be given a map and instructions on how to reach your accomodations for the night!

Comfortable off grid glamping pods sited into the mountainside are a two hour off-road adventure away. You will navigate through the quarry and accross the mountains in your Land Rover on some fairly challenging narrow tracks. With steep inclines, declines, and water crossings to reach your remote bolt-hole, you can then relax and enjoy views of Snowdonia, and Harlech Castle far below.

Your Accomodation

Off Grid Glamping Pods, situated with views of Snowdonia reachable only using 4x4 vehicles.

Bed & Breakfast.

Today you leave the slate and mountain scenery of Snowdonia National Park, and descend to the beautiful Mawddach estuary, in the shadow of Cadair Idris for a night of real luxury.

The route heads South to Harlech, site of the famous 14th Century castle, fringed by a huge beach with the chance to see dolphins offshore. The nearby "Rhinogs" are probably the wildest place in the UK with exception of the North West Scotland.

Y Maes & St Twangs offers a small beach, backed by a 13th Century chapel built on a 5th century site, (and one of the oldest Christian locations in Britain) or St Tecwyns offers equally stunning scenery, tarns, and views over the sand flats. The quiet nearby harbours were used by the earliest Irish Saints and pilgrims, and where haunts of Vikings pre-Christianity.

There are beautiful treks into the mountains to remote tarns, glassy lakes and waterfalls (all detailed on your in-car travel App), where you can take a quiet swim and admire the scerenity of this off the beaten track region of Wales. Here you will find 4000 year old stone circles, 5000 year old bronze age burial chambers, and truly breathtaking views, which you will have pretty much to yourself other than the kites, falcons and buzzards.

Towards the end of the day the route takes you along the estuary road towards the small seaside town of Barmouth, and one of the UK's most unusual and luxurious small boutique hotels. 

Your Accomodation

Lovingly restored, with beautiful gardens and walks at the rear of the acclaimed property, each room is individually designed with mood lighting, spa features such as steam baths, and state of the art in- room music systems, where treatments are available at your request. Owned and run by the man who designed the Aston Martin Vantage, no detail is left to chance and every luxury is taken care of, all with lovely views of the estuary and mountains as a backdrop. A fine Tuscan themed restaurant, and a fascinating wine list round off this unique experience.

Bed & Breakfast. 

Today, we head for a contrast from our previous accomodations to an atmospheric Yurt and a laid back drive through the mountains.

After a relaxing breakfast, you will cross the Mawddach estuary on an old wooden toll bridge built in 1879 to replace a ferry crossing. The George III pub on the other side makes and ideal coffee or lunch stop (try the wild boar sausages or dressed crab), with some easy trail walks and bike trails in the area. 

Alternatively , take the Fairborne steam train. Its been running from Fairbourne village to the mouth of the Mawddach Estuary, connecting with the ferry to Barmouth for over 100 years. It started as a horse-drawn tramway which was then converted to a narrow guage railway in 1916. 

Nearby Dolgellau is a handsome, dark-stoned market town, set beneath Cader Idris, the legendary ‘Chair of Idris’, and a good place for a traditional pub or cafe lunch. From here you can take the aptly named Precipice Walk and Mawddach Trail along the waterside for 9½ miles to Barmouth. Cycling and horse riding are also available locally and Dolgellau has a fine range of road and off-road routes. The Coed y Brenin Forest Park is nearby, with mountain biking trails for all abilities plus a host of other outdoor attractions

In the afternoon, head up the tiny lanes from Dolgellau, via Creggennan lakes to explore the sublime Lynnau Cregennen. With stunning sea views, waterfalls and mountain vistas, this a joy of a drive, eventually descending down to Arthog and your overnight accommodation.

Your Accomodation

Funky, and unforgetable are the best descriptions for your cozy Yurt, (traditional mongolian tent) complete with woodburning stove, four poster bed, and views to die for. This delightful location will be a highlight of your trip, as you sit under the stars, with a burning log fire, listening to sound of the owls in the nearby wood. Your view stretches below you out to the estuary and harbour at Barmouth and waking up here is an equal delight. Alternatively you can choose Jones the Shepherd's hut. The beautiful hand crafted welsh hardwood interior is unique and again, the location is gorgeous.

Bed & Breakfast.

Today we journey further south, for our final destination, and the UK's most infamous off-road trail, the finale to your Welsh Adventure.

After leaving your overnight location, you can take some lovely single track lanes over the mountain and down to the small coastal village Tywn, on to Aberdovey, and then hugging the coast to Aberdyfi. 

You then cross the Cambrian landscape known as the "green desert of Wales" an area of peaks, forests and lakes, with lots of beautiful options to stop at pools and waterfalls along the way (detailed in your trip APP). 

There are a couple of great Nature Reserves on the way, with such highlights as otters, leaping salmon, and red kites (hunted to near extinction, and now making a remarkable recovery). 

Near one of the reserves is Ynyshir Restaurant, rated one of the top 5 finest restaurants in the UK, with Chef and owner Gareth Ward serving "terroir" focused food to Michelin Star levels, (currently one and tipped to soon be 2). He was named 2019 Good Food Guide chef of the year. Try the lunch tasting menu which starts at 1pm. Pre booking essential.

Your ultimate destination today is a Cistercian Abbey from 1182, called Strata Florida, which is also the name given to probably the most famous off-road trail section in the UK, and an option for your last afternoon.

This challenging guided 4x4 route is not for everyone, and not to be done alone. It will  test both you and your vehicle, with some truly epic river crossings. Your expert local guide will be on hand to assist throughout, and there is a real sense of achievment in completing this off road challenge. 

Note, this route can only be attempted when weather conditions allow, and is entirely at the discretion of your guide.

There are some equally excellent trails 4x4 trails to navigate in the area, that are not quite so gnarly, and offer a fun, yet exciting way to round off your trip, even if the weather is not not co-operating. 

Tomorrow, you will head north east into the Brecon Beacons and the Elan Valley, on some superb off road trails, culminating in your final stop at Claerwen Dam. This was the famous scene of the BBC Top Gear - Land Rover Series 1 winch up the vertical wall of the Dam and an iconic Land Rover historical location.

Finally,  you will head back to our base, via Lake Bala, and the finish of your Welsh Overland Adventure.

Your Accomodation

A lovely welsh farm, with even lovlier views offers warm hosts, cosy rooms, and hearty locally sourced food. This is a popular haunt for adventure riders and drivers who come here to explore the Cambrian Mountains and the Brecon Beacons on the numerous off road trails in the area.

Bed & Breakfast + Dinner