Welsh Whisky, Mines, Mint & Steam

DAY 1

Journey from your home station to Cardiff and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Radisson Blu Hotel, our hotel for the next five nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together.

DAY 2

After breakfast this morning, we travel by coach to St Fagans Museum, a large open-air museum where we can explore the story of Wales and take time for lunch before continuing to the Royal Mint Experience. Here, we enjoy a guided tour to discover how metal becomes coins, observe the striking hall, and may have the opportunity to strike our own coin (small charge). Following our visit, we continue to the nearby Rhondda Heritage Park for our Welsh Mining Experience where we gain fascinating insights on our guided tour with a former miner.

DAY 3

Today, we journey by rail and enjoy free time to explore the picturesque town of Chepstow, a town steeped in history with its quaint cobbled streets, impressive castle, and hidden gems. This afternoon, we continue over the English border to Lydney, transferring to nearby Norchard for our visit to the heritage Dean Forest Railway. We will discover the fascinating museum before boarding our train for a nine-mile return steam journey through beautiful woodland travelling south to Lydney Junction and north to Parkend with stops at both ends of the line.

DAY 4

After breakfast, we enjoy a full day at leisure to discover Cardiff and its many attractions including Cardiff Castle, the National Museum, and Bute Park.

DAY 5

This morning, our coach takes us to Pant for a return steam journey on the narrow-gauge Brecon Mountain Railway, formerly part of the Brecon & Merthyr Railway. Our journey will take us through Pontsticill along the full length of the reservoir before climbing to Torpantau, high in the Brecon Beacons, stopping at Pontsticill Reservoir on the return. We enjoy a buffet lunch when we return to Pant Station's Tearoom and time to view the locomotive workshop before heading to Penderyn Distillery where we enjoy a guided tour and tasting of award-winning Welsh whisky.

DAY 6

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Cardiff and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys.

*Important Note: Whilst the arrangements for all described steam train travel are in place, we do reserve the right to make substitutions should it be deemed necessary for whatever reason.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner