Castles & Gardens

Day 1

Depart from home for the Spa town of Llandrindod Wells and the family owned 4 AA Star Metropole Hotel and Spa, your home from home for the next 4 nights. Remember your swimming costumes as this elegant hotel has a spacious swimming pool in a Victorian style conservatory.

Day 2

Travel north to Welshpool and the spectacular National Trust property of Powis Castle. The world-famous garden, overhung with clipped yews, shelters rare and tender plants. Laid out under the influence of Italian and French styles, it retains its original lead statues and an orangery on the terraces. High on a rock above the terraces, the castle, originally built circa 1200, began life as a medieval fortress. Our return to the hotel will include a stop at Coed-y-Dinas. Set in the Severn Valley just south of Welshpool it was originally the ‘Home Farm’ for Powis Castle. Recognising that there was potential with the magnificent set of buildings, great care was taken to restore them sensitively. With many of the unusual features remaining, Coed-y-Dinas is a unique and beautiful shopping centre.

Day 3

A half day with the afternoon set aside for you to enjoy the splendour of Llandrindod Wells, its lovely garden walks and spectacular Victorian Lake. In the morning you will have a short drive towards the charming town of Hay-on-Wye, known as the “Town of Books.” Explore the many independent bookshops and browse the vast collections of literature on offer.

Take a walk along the River Wye and visit the ruins of Hay Castle, a 12th-century fortress that offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside. Then enjoy the arts and culture around the town and before you leave, make sure to try some of the delicious local food on offer, such as Welsh cakes or a traditional Welsh rarebit. With its picturesque setting and rich literary history, Hay-on-Wye is a must-visit destination in Wales.

Day 4

A full day touring across the Cambrian Mountains to the National Trust Property of Llanerchaeron via the picturesque Elan Valley. Enjoy the scenery of the fabulous Dams of the Elan Valley and its wonderful visitor centre and café. Your drive will then take you to Devils Bridge and on down to the coast road to Llanerchaeron. This 18th-century Welsh gentry estate – with house, walled gardens and home farm. This rare example of a self-sufficient 18th-century Welsh minor gentry estate has survived virtually unaltered. The villa, designed in the 1790s, is the most complete example of the early work of John Nash. It has its own service courtyard with dairy, laundry, brewery and salting house, and walled kitchen gardens (with all its produce for sale when in season). The pleasant grounds and ornamental lake and parkland provide peaceful walks. The Home Farm complex has an impressive range of traditional, atmospheric outbuildings and is a working organic farm with Welsh Black cattle, Llanwenog sheep and rare Welsh pigs.

Day 5

Following a hearty Welsh Breakfast we will return home via (depending on the direction of travel one can suggest a number of stops. Eg Erddig nr Wrexham, Berrington Hall nr Leominster).