Wine Trail Wales

Wales is fast developing a reputation for wines of excellent quality. The hard work of dedicated viticulturists from Anglesey to Pembrokeshire and across to Monmouthshire is being rewarded with prestigious national and international awards, which have created headlines and put Wales on the world wine map.

Welsh vineyards produce around 100,000 bottles of wine each year and many welcome visitors for tours with tasting sessions as part of Wine Trail Wales. It’s a great way for viticulturists to share their passion and for visitors to learn about the complete winemaking process. Visit a vineyard and taste the quality.

1. TY CROES VINEYARD
Dwyran, Anglesey LL61 6RP
Come to Anglesey and enjoy a taste that is normally associated with sunnier climates… or stay longer in our family-run campsite.

2. PANT DU VINEYARD
Ffordd y Sir, Penygroes, Gwynedd LL54 6HE
Come and relax in our café with panoramic views and a bottle of Pant Du wine, cider or apple juice on the slopes of Dyffryn Nantlle.

3. PENARTH VINEYARD
Penarth House, Pool Road, Newtown, Powys SY16 3AN
Penarth Vineyard is situated in a riverside location in Montgomeryshire. Visit our delicatessen Quince’s in Newtown to taste our wines, chocolates and local produce.

4. KERRY VALE VINEYARD
Churchstoke, Powys SY15 6HU
Kerry Vale Vineyard was planted in 2010 by husband and wife team Geoff and June Ferguson. From July 2013 the vineyard will open its vineyard shop for tastings and tours.

5. LLAETHLIW VINEYARD
Neuadd Lwyd, Aberaeron, Ceredigion SA48 7RF
This new family run vineyard in sunny Aberaeron has great plans for the future, but meanwhile the vines need tending! Visit our facebook page for updates.

6. JABAJAK VINEYARD RESTAURANT & ROOMS
Banc Y Llain, Llanboidy, Whitland, Carmarthenshire SA34 0ED
West Wales vineyard with 5 star, Welsh Rarebit restaurant and rooms. Locally sourced food philosophy, great wines and civil ceremony licence for romantic weddings.

7. CWM DERI VINEYARD & ESTATE
Martletwy, Narberth, Pembrokeshire SA67 8AP
Working small-holding surrounded by Pembrokeshire National Park

8. MEADOWVIEW VINEYARD
Crossways, Llanblethian, Cowbridge CF71 7LJ
Rich clay loam soils and cosseted grapes allow this family run vineyard to produce unique sparkling wines by traditional methods.

9. GLYNDWR VINEYARD
Llanblethian, Cowbridge CF71 7JF
Hidden in the heart of the Vale of Glamorgan, this picturesque vineyard, the oldest established in Wales, produces an exciting range of quality wines…

10. LLANERCH VINEYARD
Hensol CF72 8GG
A laid-back, luxurious location just 20 minutes from Cardiff city centre, popular with locals, day-trippers and holiday makers alike.

11. BRYN CEILIOG VINEYARD
Beggan Farm, Leckwith CF11 8AS
A vineyard and cider apple orchard that forms part of three farms and woodland covering some 300 acres in the Vale of Glamorgan.

12. PARVA FARM VINEYARD
Monmouth Road, Tintern, Chepstow NP16 6SQ
Leave the crowds behind. Stroll among the vines with amazing views of the Wye Valley before trying our wonderful, award winning, Welsh wines.

13. WERNDDU ORGANICS
Wernddu Farm, Pen y Clawdd, Monmouth NP25 4BW
Escape to the country amongst the rolling hills set around an Organic Welsh Vineyard, relax and have a glass or three.

14. ANCRE HILL ESTATES
Rockfield Road, Monmouth NP25 5HS
Home of the Bollicine del Mondo world winner – visit our family run, biodynamic vineyard & taste our award winning, world class wines.

15. WHITE CASTLE VINEYARD
Llanvetherine, Abergavenny NP7 8RA
A dream has become reality with genuine red, white and rose-tinted glasses... come visit the passionate couple behind the reality of this tranquil vineyard!

16. SUGARLOAF VINEYARDS
Dummar Farm, Abergavenny NP7 7LA
Our picturesque vineyard nestles in amongst the rolling Welsh hills – taste and tour in glorious surroundings whilst listening to the hum of the babbling brook.



Fancy Welsh Wine? Start planning your vacation to Wales with Celtic Tours World Vacations

5 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Wales

An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) is a precious landscape whose distinctive character and natural beauty are absolutely outstanding. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty have varied landscapes ranging from rugged coastline to water meadows to gentle downland and upland moors. There are 38 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England and Wales and an additional 8 in Northern Ireland. Created by the legislation of the National Parks Access to the Countryside Act of 1949, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty represent 18% of the Finest Countryside in England and Wales. We are sure you will fall in love with these 5 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Wales:

The Anglesey Coast
Almost the entire 201 km coastline of Ynys Mon, the ancient Isle of Anglesey, is designated as an AONB. The island contains a great variety of fine coastal landscapes. The AONB coincides with stretches of Heritage Coast. Some of the oldest rocks in Britain, the pre-Cambrian Mona Complex, form the low ridges and shallow valleys of Anglesey's sea-planed plateau. Holyhead Mountain is its highest point (219m) with superb distant views to Snowdonia. Low cliffs, alternating with coves, pebble beaches and tucked-away villages, line the island's northern shores. The east coast's sheer limestone cliffs, interspersed with fine sandy beaches, contrast with the south's wilderness of sand dunes that roll away down to Aberffraw Bay.

Clwydian Range
The Clwydian Range is a 35 km long chain of undulating hills, rising between the Vale of Clwyd to the west and the Dee Estuary to the east. Often known as the northeastern rampart of Wales, the steep western escarpment and switchback skyline of the range contrast with the lush green vales at its feet.

Gower
Chosen for its classic coastline and outstanding natural environment, Gower was the first AONB to be designated. Except for the small, urbanised eastern corner, the entire Gower peninsula is an AONB. Complex geology gives a wide variety of scenery in a relatively small area. It ranges from the south coast's superb carboniferous limestone scenery at Worms Head and Oxwich Bay to the salt-marshes and dune systems in the north. Inland, the most prominent features are the large areas of common, dominated by sandstone heath ridges including the soaring sweep of Cefn Bryn. Secluded valleys have rich deciduous woodland and the traditional agricultural landscape is a patchwork of fields characterised by walls, stone-faced banks and hedgerows.

The Llyn Peninsula
Nowhere is far from the sea on the long, low peninsula of Llyn, which is famous for the unspoilt beauty of its coastline. The AONB, covering a quarter of the peninsula, is largely coastal, but extends inland to take in the volcanic domes which punctuate the plateau.

The Wye Valley
The Wye Valley, winding sinuously down from Hereford to Chepstow, is both one of the finest lowland landscapes in Britain and one of the few lowland AONBs. In the north, the river meanders through the broad meadows, dotted woods and hedgerows of the Hereford plain. Its most dramatic limestone scenery, including the famous Symonds Yat, lies downstream from Ross-on-Wye. Deeply incised meanders have cut into the plateau to form sheer wooded limestone cliffs with superb views down to the valley floor. Between the gorges are broader valley reaches, with rounded hills and bluffs and a gently rolling skyline.

We are sure you will fall in love with these Areas of Outstanding Beauty in Wales. Start planning your outstanding vacation with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Brecon Beacons National Park

From the depths of its limestone caves to the grandeur of Pen y Fan and Cribyn, its highest peaks, there’s plenty to explore in this gem of a national park. By day, there are moorlands, trails and towns to discover, while by night, you can feast your eyes on the stars.

Carved out in the Ice Age, the mountains, hills and valleys of the Brecon Beacons National Park have been moulded by nearly eight millennia of human activity. Many dozens of prehistoric monuments dot these weathered slopes. There’s a rich agricultural tradition in and around the park and the region’s one of a kind towns – outdoorsy, walker friendly Crickhowell, jazzy Brecon, food-loving Abergavenny and book mad Hay-on-Wye – are genuinely refreshing.

Separated from Snowdonia by the 40-mile-long Cambrian Mountains, its uplands stretch almost as far from west to east as Snowdonia National Park does from north to south, but have a quite different atmosphere. While the rocky remains of long-dead volcanoes dominate much of Snowdonia, the Brecon Beacons National Park is full of grassy moorlands, heather-clad escarpments and Old Red Sandstone peaks, softened by weather and time.

Start planning your vacation to Wales with Celtic Tours World Vacations

3 National Parks of Wales

Together, the three Welsh National Parks – Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire Coast and Brecon Beacons – protect an impressive 20 percent of Wales, including precious landscapes, habitats, villages and heritage sites. They’re perfect for active weekends and holidays in the glorious outdoors. 

The Brecon Beacons National Park

The grassy, heather-clad mountains of the Brecon Beacons National Park have been moulded by nearly eight millennia of human activity. Today, this is a fantastic place for an activity holiday, with superb walking, mountain biking and horse riding trails, caves, forests and a historic canal – plus characterful towns, pubs, farmers markets and Michelin-starred restaurants.

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park

The Pembrokeshire coast is wild, gorgeous and beautifully looked after. For family activity holidays, it’s a nature lab one minute and an adventure playground the next. It’s heaven for wildlife-watching, watersports and walking, and lovely for romantic escapes, too. When you’re ready to chill out after all that fresh air, there are cozy pubs, spa treatments and fabulous sunsets to enjoy.

Snowdonia National Park

With wild landscapes and villages steeped in history, Snowdonia National Park is a breathtaking destination for activity holidays, short breaks or days out with family and friends. It’s best known for hiking, but there’s plenty more to enjoy, from waterfalls, lakes and world-class mountain biking to a vintage steam railway that climbs the highest peak in Wales.


Start planning your vacation to Wales with Celtic Tours World Vacations

South Wales - beyond the cities

Americans who have seen the classic John Ford film, "How Green is my Valley" will find the history and landscape of Southern Wales familiar. The valleys of the largely English-speaking south were where the Welsh mining industry took hold over a hundred years ago and from the Victorian era to the 1980s, this industry defined the area. Today, the mining industry is largely gone with less naturally invasive businesses like technology taking its place. The valleys of South Wales are green again!

Venturing out from the metropolitan areas of Swansea, Newport and Cardiff, travelers will find some of the world's most intriguing landmarks. Tintern Abbey, a ruined Cisterian Monastery in the Wye River Valley, inspired William Wordsworth to write some of the most recognized lines in English poetry; and JMW Turner's waterfolors of the scenic ruin changed the course of modern painting. Wander these exquisite ruins yourself, and then journey to nearby Hay on Wye in Mid Wales, a town of books where 30 antiquarian bookshops keep the legacy of the printed page alive. Also in the Wye Valley are Chepstow Castle and Caerwent Castle, two landmarks where King Arthur's Welsh ancestry can be traced. Be sure to also visit Caerleon, another location long-associated with the legend of King Arthur.

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Mid Wales - Nestled Between Snowdonia and the valleys of Southern Wales

Nestled between the rugged Snowdonia landscape and the valleys of Southern Wales are the country roads, green pastures and charming villages and market towns of Mid Wales. Mid Wales includes the 519 miles of the Brecon Beacons National Park, home to Pen y Fan, the highest mountain in the Brecon Beacon range. The Brecon Beacons divide Southern Wales from Mid Wales. The landscape here includes snow-capped mountains, pristine mountain waterfalls and rolling hills dotted with sheep. And don't think that Mid Wales is landlocked. Charming seaside towns to the west like Aberaeron with its gaily painted Georgian buildings abound along the coastal crescent between the Southwest and the North.

To get even closer to the earth, spend a day caving at Porth yr Ogof, one of the world's longest caves. Spelunkers have been challenging themselves in its depths for years. Neophytes can go underground with experiences guides who will steer them through this fascinating world of stalagmites and stalactites, blind, incandescent fish, glittering walls of fool's gold and other amazing sites.

The Mid-Wales Town of Llanwrtyd Wells is known throughout the world as the quirky town of "Bog Snorkeling" "Ale Wobbling" and other unique sports competitions.

Learn more about traveling to Wales on our website: www.celtictours.com/VisitWales

Where to Stay in Wales

Around every corner in Wales, experience the unexpected. You’ll stumble across restaurants, rustic fishing villages, mountain vistas and cliff-top trails. Discover little gems in the coziest of places, stay in cute little cottages, majestic manor homes or luxury hotels. Here are just a sampling of hotels you can stay in Wales.


Ty Mawr Mansion, Mid Wales
Crowning the Aeron Valley, that sweeps towards Wales' Heritage Coastline four miles away, Ty Mawr Mansion holds national awards for its outstanding restaurant and exquisite accommodation

The imposing exterior of the Grade II listed building reveals a beautifully restored interior, offering a unique fusion of Georgian splendour with contemporary facilities

Falcondale, Mid Wales
The Falcondale hotel and 2AA rosette restaurant (awarded for 6 consecutive years) located near the University town of Lampeter, now known as Univeristy of Wales Trinity Saint David. Only 30 minutes from the coastal villages of Cardigan Bay and hilly, marshy regions of the Cambrian Mountains. A wealth of walking, cycling, fishing in the Teifi River, and open gardens are within easy reach of this central location in Mid Wales.

Lake Country House, Mid Wales
This award winning Luxury Spa Hotel in the Heart of Mid Wales is the perfect destination for a luxury hotel break or romantic getaway. See our hotel vouchers for the perfect gift. The Kingfisher Spa offers a range of Health and Beauty treatments and is equipped with an indoor pool, sauna and jacuzzi overlooking the lake. Fly Fishing on the river Irfon, golf and various walks are available on site and there is a good range of other golf courses and open gardens in the area. Horse riding, the Elan Valley and of course the Brecon Beacons are all nearby.

Caerwylan Hotel, North Wales
The Caerwylan is a landmark Victorian building which faces south with stunning views over the main beach, Tremadog Bay and towards the ruins of Criccieth Castle. From our vantage spot we probably enjoy some of the best seaside views in North Wales.

Since we bought The Caerwylan at the end of 2007 we have rebuilt the entire building to create 24 comfortable, individually designed en-suite bedrooms and a fine dining restaurant, Tonnau Restaurant.

St. George's Hotel, Llandudno, North Wales
Occupying a prime position on the Promenade, overlooking the beautiful Bay of Llandudno, St Georges Hotel offers some of the best views of any hotel in North Wales.

Bodysgallen Hall & Spa, North Wales
Bodysgallen Hall & Spa lies at the end of a winding drive in 200 acres of wooded parkland and beautiful formal walled gardens. Magnificent views encompass the sweep of the Snowdonia range of mountains and the hotel looks down on the imposing medieval castle at Conwy.




Wolfscastle Country Hotel
 Popular with business and holiday travellers alike, we're within easy reach of the county's main towns, and in a great location for exploring the St. Davids Peninsula, Preseli Mountains and attractions of South Pembrokeshire. Hotel reception is always happy to offer travel and holiday advice.



These are a just a few of the beautiful hotels and accommodations we have in Wales. For more information on traveling to Wales, visit our website www.celtictours.com/visitwales

Let There Be Light - Lighthouses in Wales

Or let there be lighthouses, to be more precise.

Wales  looks to the sea and with 750 miles of coastline, you are rarely that far from the water. Wales’ seaside resorts, like Mumbles, Tenby and Llandudno have character and style and are popular with holiday makers. Our big cities are on the coast too. Cardiff with its vibrant Bay area and Swansea with its Maritime Quarter, all have connections with the sea. And where there is sea, there are lighthouses. Here are just a few of the stunning lighthouses you can see in Wales.

South Stack Lighthouse
South Stack is set in a spectacular location to the north-west of Holyhead. The lighthouse acts as a waymark for coastal traffic and a landmark and orientation light for vessels crossing the Irish Sea to and from the ports of Holyhead and Dun Laoghaire.

Caldey Lighthouse
Caldey Lighthouse is located on the south end of Caldey Island, three miles off the south Pembrokeshire, Wales coastline, a small island inhabited by a Cistercian monastery

Mumbles Lighthouse
For over 200 years the Mumbles Lighthouse has guided vessels along the coast and into Swansea Bay, past the hazards of the Mixon Shoal ½ mile to the South. This unmanned lighthouse is built on the outer of two islands, known as Mumbles Head, lying about 500 yards to the E.S.E. of the mainland known as Mumbles, Swansea. The station is accessible by foot at certain states of the tide or by boat at high water.

Trwyn Du Lighthouse
Trwyn Du Lighthouse is a lighthouse between Dinmor Point near Penmon and Ynys Seriol, or Puffin Island, south east Anglesey, at the north entrance to the Menai Strait and marking the passage between the two islands.

Flatholm Lighthouse
The lighthouse on the windswept Flatholm Island in the Bristol Channel.

These are just a few of the Lighthouses to see in Wales. Interested in traveling to Wales? Travel with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Where to eat in North Wales

Whenever you travel around Wales and hunger strikes, it's worth hunting out some of these great places to eat.

Castle Cottage
A pair of rugged Medieval buildings are home to a delightfully contemporary restaurant-with-rooms.
http://www.castlecottageharlech.co.uk/

Old Bull's Head
This historic inn has a fine dining restaurant and a chich contemporary brasserie, right next to beautiful Beaumaris Castle. http://www.theoldbullshead.co.uk/

Plas Bodegroes
The food, the art, the rooms, the location - everything is just about perfect at this Pwllheli favorite.
http://www.bodegroes.co.uk/

Tyddyn Llan
Michelin-starred restaurant with rooms set splendidly in the Clwydian hills. http://www.tyddynllan.co.uk/

This summer get swept away by Wales. Around every corner, expect the unexpected. Experience the land of magic, myth and dragons as you climb towers, walk ancient walls and explore dungeons of any of Wales’ 641 castles. You'll stumble across cozy country inns and magnificent manor homes, rustic fishing villages, delectable restaurants and a country full of breathtaking views. www.celtictours.com/visitwales

South Wales and England - Self-Drive Vacations

Experience the best of South Wales and England. This 6 night independent vacation pairs 3 nights in Cardiff, Wales with your choice of 3 nights in England. Choose from The Cotswolds, Bath, the Lake District or Oxford & Cambridge. This package comes complete with entrances to some of the best sightseeing attractions in the UK and breakfast daily.

Your South Wales & England Tour Highlights:

• 3 Nights in South Wales 
• Breakfast daily 
•  Entrances to: Cardiff Castle, National Museum of Cardiff, National Coal Mining Museum, Cosmeston Village, Rhossili Visitor Centre, and the Aberdulais Falls
•  3 Nights in England area of choice: The Cotswolds, Bath, the Lake District or Oxford & Cambridge.
•  England Entrances based on England Package chosen.
•  6 Day Car Rental based on Ford KA manual car with CDW. (Upgraded car available).

Travel to South Wales and England on this self-drive vacation package

Visit Wales Video

Travel to Wales with Celtic Tours World Vacations

Dublin and South Wales - Self-Drive Vacation

Experience the best of Dublin and South Wales. This 6 night independent vacation pairs 3 nights in Dublin with 3 nights in Cardiff, Wales. This package comes complete with entrances to some of the best sightseeing attractions in Wales and breakfast daily.

Your Dublin and South Wales Tour Highlights:

• 3 Nights in Dublin 
•  3 Nights in South Wales 
•  Breakfast daily 
•  Entrances to: Cardiff Castle, National Museum of Cardiff, National Coal Mining Museum, Cosmeston Village, Rhossili Visitor Centre, and the Aberdulais Falls 
• 3 Day Car Rental based on Ford KA manual car with CDW. (Upgraded car available).

Visit Dublin and South Wales on this self-drive vacation

The Great Unfinished Masterpiece - Beaumaris Castle, Wales

Beaumaris Castle on the Isle of Anglesey is the great unfinished masterpiece.

Following his conquest of Wales in the 13th century, Edward I, King of England, built Beaumaris Castle as part of his formidable 'Iron Ring' of castles. The Iron Ring is a slew of colossal fortresses in an attempt to subjugate the Welsh people. Edward I's fearsome Iron Ring represents Europe's most ambitious and concentrated medieval building project. Beaumaris Castle is only one of the castles in Edward I's Iron Ring.

Seven centuries ago when they began planning and building, the population of Llanfaes was forcibly moved 12 miles (19km) away to Newborough to make way for Edward’s new castle. It was also his last. Money and supplies ran out before it reached full height. Despite this, Beaumaris Castle is regarded by many as the finest of all the great Edwardian Castles in Wales. The concentric design of Beaumaris Castle meant the outer curtain was overlooked entirely by the castle's inner ward. The castle is praised by UNESCO as a "unique artistic achievement" for the way in which is combines "characteristic 13th century double-wall structures with a central plan" and for the beauty of its "proportions and masonry".

The unfinished castle of Beaumaris, located on the Isle of Anglesey, northeast of the Menai Bridge. The name Beaumaris is derived from the French for beautiful marsh, le beau marais. The fortress sits contentedly in a scenic setting overlooking mountains and the sea, partially surrounded by a water-filled moat.

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Harlech Castle, Wales

Constructed atop a spur of rock, close to the Irish sea, in the seaside resort in Gwynedd, Wales lies Harlech Castle.

Having stood the test of time, UNESCO considers Harlech Castle to be of  "the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe." Harlech Castle was built by Edward I during his invasion of Wales between 1282 and 1289. Over the next few centuries, the castle played an important part in several wars.

The fortification was built of local stone and is concentric in design, featuring a massive gatehouse that probably once provided high-status accommodation for the castle constable and visiting dignitaries.

Access via the stairway to the sea and crucial supplies kept the castle’s besieged inhabitants fed and watered. When it was first built, a channel would have connected the castle and the sea. You could have sailed a boat up to the moat. Seven hundred years later, the sea has receded and you could say the castle appears almost stranded, waiting for the tide to turn once more.

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Top 4 - Must See North Wales

North Wales - Pristine and unspoiled landscape, punctuated by Wales' tallest mountain, Mount Snowdon.

Top 4 Must See in North Wales

1. Climb Mount Snowdon, some say the final resting place of King Arthur.

2. Visit the Isle of Anglesey, home of HRH Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton. The Isle of Anglesey is also the last outpost of the Druid culture.

3. Visit the UK town with the longest place name Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwymdrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.

4. Visit the Victorian resort town of Llandudno and see where Alice in Wonderland spent her summer vacations.

Learn more about Wales travel

North Wales & Snowdonia

The further you get to North Wales, the more you hear the locals speaking the ancient language of Welsh. North Wales is considered the most traditional part of the country in terms of langiage, legends and lifestyle. The Druids themselves made their last stand against the Romans here, on the windswept island of Angelesey and the whole of the north feels as if it is still under their spell.

North Wales' pristine and unspoiled landscape is punctuated by Wales' tallest mountain, Mount Snowdon. Railway lovers will find paradise aboard the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. North Wales is also home to HRH Prince William of Wales and Kate Middleton. The Prince lives on Anglesey, a sea-girt island at the edge of Wales' northwest border.

Four Welsh castles collectively form a UNESCO World Heritage site: Harlech, Beaumaris, Conwy and Caernarfon. Edwardian invaders left these imposing fortresses, still some of the world's most striking examples of medieval architechture. Follow in royal footsteps at Caernarfon Castle where Prince Charles was invested as the Prince of Wales in 1969. Or stay the night at Ruthin Castle, once owned by King Henry VIII and later by Queen Elizabeth I. Nearby, wander the atmospheric ruins of Denigh Castle and the town's ancient walls.

Learn More About Wales: http://www.celtictours.com/visitwales

Visit Wales

Around every corner, experience the unexpected. You'll stumble across cozy inns and restaurants, rustic fishing villages, mountain vistas and cliff-top trails.

Wales in home to 641 castles, more than any other country in Europe. You're encouraged to visit them: climb towers, walk ancient walls and explore dungeons. This is the land of magic, myth and dragons.

Wales is home to HRH Prince William of Wales. Royal connections abound, and everyone can be spoiled by staying in hotels formerly owned by kings and queens. Across the country, the art of old-fashioned hospitality is thriving, albeit with modern amenities and a contemporary Welsh style.

Escape to a country full of breathtaking views, quaint towns, Celtic heritage and endless culture.

Visit our website to learn more about Wales. http://www.celtictours.com/visitwales