Prices: Adult: £45 & Student & Seniors £42.50

             Children under 12: £25

Today’s tour starts with a peripheral view of the three main Castles of South Wales.

Our first experience is Cardiff Castle. The castle is a combination of building work from more than one period of time. Built by the Romans in the mid first century AD, it was their main residence when they controlled Wales and was a site of strategic value along the network of Roman roads. The castle was a subject of a Norman invasion in the 11th century, with the first Norman castle built on the site in 1091.

We leave Cardiff and head towards the village of Tongwynlais. Here we stop for 30 minutes to walk around Castell Coch, translated back as ‘Red Castle’. Situated at the gateway to the Rhondda Valleys the castle was built in the 1870’s, and is known as the fairy tale castle which was built as a country retreat for the 3rd Marquess of Bute.

Our last castle sighting is Caerphilly Castle. We stop for an hour to admire the second largest castle in Great Britain. Built in the late thirteenth century, it is still surrounded by large scale water defences. In 1403 the castle was captured by Owain Glyndwr, who was the last Welsh Prince of Wales, an occupation which lasted only 100 days.

We leave Caerphilly and continue our journey to Merthyr Tydfil and visit Cyfartha Castle. The castle was commissioned in 1824 by local iron master William Crayshaw and it tells the story of industrial revolution in Wales. Set in glorious parkland and now a museum we take an hour out from travelling to roam around the buildings, and learn of the history of Merthyr Tydfil. Here we can enjoy light refreshments before the next stage of our journey.

Suitably refreshed we leave Cyfartha Castle and drive to the village of Penderyn, located in the foothills of the Brecon Beacons National Park. Here we find the home of Welsh Whisky. You will get the chance to visit one of the smallest distilleries in the world and the only one in Wales. We will learn the history of whisky making in Wales, see the still and bottling line in action and then continue to the tasting room to experience the finished product.

The final stage of our tour takes us deep into the heart of the Brecon Beacons - one of Wales’ three national parks. We will visit the Brecon Beacons National Park’s visitors centre which is known locally as “The Mountain centre “. Accepted as the most popular visitor attraction in the National Park the centre is situated 335 meters above sea level where its location affords magnificent views of the highest mountain in South Wales - Pen Y Fan (886 meters above sea level).

In the unlikely event of inclement weather, or restricted trading hours at the National Park, as an alternative you will be given the opportunity to spend free time to explore the historical town of Brecon. Famous for the world renowned Jazz Festival (held every August), its Georgian architecture and it ancient Cathedral. Previously Brecon Priory, it became Brecon Cathedral following the disestablishment of the Church in Wales in 1920, and the creation of the Diocese and Swansea and Brecon in 1923.

Links:

Cardiff Castle

Castell Coch

Rhondda Valleys

Caerphilly Castle

Visit Caerphilly

Visit Merthyr

Brecon Beacons National Park

Penderyn Distillery