Snowdonia, North Wales & Chester
3 day tour

  • Chester
  • Llanberis Slate Mine
  • Conwy
  • Snowdonia National Park
  • Harlech Castle
  • friends on tour

Let the Welsh wonders take your breath away on this rail and mini-coach tour through national parks, castles, and coastal towns.

Tour map

Tour Highlights

Conwy Castle - Set near an impressive pair of bridges, this brilliantly preserved 13th-century fortress is a visual treat.

Llanberis Slate Mine - This museum stands as testament to the people who worked in the mines of Elidir mountain.

Llandudno – Stroll along the longest pier in Wales and soak up the atmosphere of the seaside resort that oozes Victorian charm.

Snowdonia National Park - Discover the jagged peaks of Wales’ premier national park.

Portmeirion - The Italian Riviera meets North Wales in this spectacular village, home of the cult TV series The Prisoner.

Harlech Castle - UNESCO described this castle as one of "the finest examples of late 13th-century military architecture in Europe".

Chester - This ancient border city is a fascinating collection of Roman, Medieval, Tudor and modern city planning.

 

Your journey
 

There’s an old Welsh saying; “the best shortage is a shortage of words”.

And we can understand why.

Because when you travel through Snowdonia, the beautiful mountains leave you speechless. The Welsh castles’ battle-torn passageways are simply indescribable. And a lot of the destinations are as unpronounceable as they’re unbelievable.

So, on this trip, you take a relaxing rail journey from London to Manchester and join our mini-coach heading to the best bits of North Wales.

You venture through the inexpressibly beautiful valleys of a famous national park; discover a town designed like an Italian village; and learn about Chester, an English town first settled by the Romans.

Let the sights speak for themselves and join our tour of North Wales and Chester.

 

If you love this itinerary but want to start in Manchester, have a look at this tour.

Rail & Trail Journey

This trip combines a return train journey with one of our tours. It's a fast and sustainable way to get you to where you want to go.

Tour Details

Starts
Check-in closes at 00:45 (tour departs at ) - ,
*Train times may vary a little. We'll email you your exact departure time before your tour.
Finishes (approx.)
- ,
Luggage
You're restricted to kg (0lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus one small bag for onboard personal items.
Discounts

Students, seniors over 60, and children between 5 and 15 (unfortunately, we don't carry children under 5 years old).

Important information
  • Pack your waterproof clothing and walking shoes
  • After booking your tour, we'll contact you about your train journey
  • Attraction tickets may need to be purchased in advance. More information is provided in your booking confirmation e-mail
Tour inclusions
  • Transportation by a 16 seat Mercedes mini-coach
  • Air conditioning as standard
  • The stories and services of an English-speaking driver-guide
  • Avanti West Coast 2nd class return rail travel from London Euston Railway Station
Tour exclusions
  • Entry fees to visitor attractions
  • Tour accommodation

Itinerary

Day 1

  • Savour the seaside life in the castle-crested town of Conwy
  • Wind through mountains and mines in the Snowdonia National Park

Start your day with a high-speed rail journey to the city of Manchester where you join your mini-coach for the next three days. Once on board, you leave Manchester behind and head straight for the border of Wales.

Your first stop of the day is Conwy. This little town deserves to win awards for most picture-perfect harbour town. There’s a castle perched by the sea, the ‘world’s smallest house’, and lots of little restaurants boasting the best fish and chips.

After you’ve soaked up the sea air, you travel to the Llanberis Slate Museum. It’s a little less cute here, but the history of the second largest slate mine on the planet will stay in your memory for a long time.

Beddgelert in Snowdonia is your next stop. This place is known as the most ‘lovely’ village in Snowdonia. And you must agree, the stone houses and arched bridge are simply beautiful.

You travel through Snowdonia as the light softens and arrive at your overnight stop in Llandudno in the evening.

 

Day 2

  • Discover the rugged natural beauty of the Isle of Anglesey
  • Feel like you’re in the Mediterranean in one of Britain’s most idiosyncratic towns, Portmeirion

This morning, you can either stay in Llandudno and explore this seaside town and the Great Orme or join us as we head onto the Isle of Anglesey.

If you choose to come with us, you cross the world’s first modern day suspension bridge across the Menai Straits and onto Anglesey Island. Prior to its construction, cattle farmers would have to persuade their herd to swim across the Menai Straits on their way to market.

We head for the most westerly point of North Wales to marvel at the South Stack Lighthouse, sea cliffs, and nature reserve.

After a refreshing walk along the cliffs, we travel to Llynnon Mill, the last working windmill in Wales. This outstanding example of a Welsh windmill has been milling wheat since 1775 and gives you a unique insight into long forgotten era.

We then venture to one of the most charming and unique villages in Wales, Portmeirion.This town is the brainchild of Welsh architect Clough Williams-Ellis. He wanted to demonstrate how a naturally beautiful location could be developed without spoiling it. The result is a stunning piece of the Mediterranean transported into North Wales.

You arrive back in Llandudono in the early evening.

 

Day 3

  • Capture the medieval spirit of Harlech Castle
  • Wander through the fine, historic alleyways of Chester

Your first task of the day is to watch Snowdonia’s mountains fly by as you head to Harlech Castle. This is one of our favourite castles in the whole of the UK. It boasts epic sea views and an amazingly war-torn history that involves a lot of dynamite.

You stop for lunch in the little village of Betws-Y-Coed before heading to one of England’s most historic towns, Chester. There’s a lot to do here, but we’d advise you just head to the Cathedral, you could spend a whole week in this fine building and not get bored.

You arrive in Manchester in the evening where you join the express train service back to London Euston.

Accommodation

Where does this tour stay overnight?

You stay two nights in the historic market town of Llandudno.

How can I book accommodation?

Accommodation is not included in the price of your tour. To book accommodation, there are two options: either Rabbie’s Tours can book it for you, or you can book your own. For information on how to do this, please see the ‘Accommodation’ tab on FAQ page HERE.

Alternatively, please email us your questions at tours@rabbies.com or call us on +44(0)131 226 3133.

Information you can find on the FAQ page, under the ‘Accommodation’ tab: types of accommodation, room types, the booking process, getting to and from your accommodation, and cancellation terms.

How much will the accommodation cost?

We book accommodation with third-party providers on your behalf and each property sets their own rates. Rates vary considerably depending on the accommodation standard, facilities, location, and local demand. We therefore can’t tell you exactly how much your accommodation will cost until your request has been allocated to a specific property.

As a guide, you can expect to pay the following prices, per person per night:

 

Approximate prices, per person per night

Overnight Location

 

Sole Occupancy

Multiple Occupancy

 

(1 person per room)

(2+ people per room)

B&B Standard

£60 - £90

£40 - £60

UK & Northern Ireland

€65 - €95

€45 - €70

Ireland

B&B En-suite

£80 - £120

£45 - £85

UK & Northern Ireland

€80 - €130

€50 - €95

Ireland

Hotel

£90 - £170

£75 - £140

UK & Northern Ireland

€100 - €215

€75 - €130

Ireland

NOTE: Prices quoted are for guidance only and may be higher on some occasions, especially for last-minute bookings and when demand is high (E.g. peak season, weekends, holidays, special events etc)

Breakfast will be included unless otherwise noted. The type of breakfast provided will vary from place to place so you may receive either a full cooked breakfast, a continental style breakfast (E.g., toast, fruit, cereal), or a packed breakfast bag or tray (E.g., porridge pot, fruit, granola bar).

FAQs

Where does the tour depart from?

Your tour departs from Euston Station, London. You first take the train to Manchester Piccadilly Station and then make your way the short distance to the departure point on Store Street where your guide and mini-coach will be waiting for you next to the NCP car park. On the last day of your tour, your driver-guide takes you back to Store Street, just round the corner from Manchester Piccadilly Station where you catch the train back to Euston Station.

 

How do I get to London’s Euston Station?

Depending on where your London accommodation is located, there are several ways to get to the station. You can easily access the station using the underground network, local buses, or a taxi.

 

What time does the tour depart?

The train departs London’s Euston Station at 07.20. We recommend you try to arrive by 06.40 in case there are delays or cancellations on your journey. Leaving plenty of time also gives you a chance to collect your tickets and purchase refreshments. Your ticket is only valid on the 07.20 departure. If you miss this train, you’re responsible for purchasing new tickets for the next departure.

 

Where do I collect my tickets?

At the train station, insert any credit or debit card into one of the self-service ticket machines and enter the Ticket Collection Reference Number in the email we send you. If you have problems with this, please go to a manned ticket window with your booking confirmation or phone the Avanti helpline on +443455280253. Allow 20 minutes for ticket collection and ensure you collect all the tickets for your journey. Once you’ve collected your train ticket, it’s non-amendable and non-refundable unless the service is cancelled or delayed.

 

Do I have reserved seats?

In most cases, you have pre-assigned and reserved seats. The details are provided on your tickets. If you booked your ticket within one week of departure, you may not have a seating reservation. But don’t worry, there are usually plenty of unreserved seats available.

 

Do the names on tickets matter?

Not at all. We use the name provided at the time of booking, but it doesn’t matter whose name is on the ticket.

 

Can I buy food and drink on the train?

Each train has a café on board which provides a selection of food and drinks. If you require anything in particular, we recommend you pick up what you need from one of shops at Euston Station.

 

What platform does the train leave from?

The platform changes every day. Your train’s destination is Manchester Piccadilly Station. Please watch the electronic departure board for notification of your platform. The platform will be announced about 15 – 20 minutes before departure. The departure gates close five minutes before the train leaves, so please make your way to the train once you’ve seen which platform the train is departing from.

 

In the case of delayed or cancelled train services:

If your train is delayed by more than 15 minutes or cancelled, please seek advice on the status of your journey from a railway staff member. Once informed, please contact us and we’ll help arrange public transport alternatives. Depending on the circumstances and transport options, your itinerary may be rearranged to bring you to an alternative meeting point. If this happens, we’ll provide compensation for any missed portion of your tour.

 

How long is the train trip?

The train takes a little over two hours.

 

Where do I meet the tour bus?

Your train arrives at Piccadilly Station at 09:30am, and your driver-guide will meet you at the bus stop located outside Piccadilly Gate on 26-32 Store Street (near the NCP car park) at 10:00am. All you need to do is to exit the station by the main exit, turn right and walk up to Café Nero. You will come to a set of lights, turn left and go down the street. Walk under the footbridge and take the first left under the tunnel and you should be able to see your driver in a white branded mini-coach. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the guide may not be at the bus stop to meet you. Don’t worry, they’ll be there as soon as possible. If you have problems finding your bus, just give us a call on +44(0)131 226 3133.

 

How much time do I get off the bus?

We want you to enjoy Britain and Ireland. And we believe the best way to do this is to get you off the mini-coach and out exploring. So, we give you plenty of time to take photos, go walking, and explore ancient ruins.

 

Why do you exclude visitor attractions?

We exclude visitor attractions in your tour price because it lets you travel your way. It means you can pamper yourself with a luxury lunch or skip an attraction whenever you feel like it.

 

Do I need to bring my own lunch?

You don't need to. We stop in small towns, villages, and rural eateries where you can choose whatever meal pleases both your taste buds and your budget.

 

Should I tip the driver-guide?

Let's be honest, our driver-guides would never refuse a cheeky bonus. But it's up to you, and the amount is entirely at your discretion.

 

Restrictions

Children
We regret we dont carry children under the age of 5 years old on our scheduled tours.

If your child is less that 1.35m tall, you should let us know and we will provide a suitable booster seat.
Luggage
You're restricted to kg (0lbs) of luggage per person. This should be one piece of luggage similar to an airline carry-on bag (approximately 55cm x 45cm x 25cm / 22in x 17in x 10in) plus one small bag for onboard personal items.

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