Wales is a land of enchantment where pastoral scenes abound. Whether its fluffy white sheep dotting a pasture, or a 12th Century castle rising dramatically from a windswept coastline, this charming country is elegantly picturesque. Did you know that Wales has more castles per square mile than anywhere else in Europe? Perhaps while wandering among castle ruins, if you listen very closely you can almost hear the horses’ hooves in the courtyards…

It would be easy to stay longer in this enchanting land, but other wonderful places await us in England… 12th c. Fountains Abbey, magnificent Durham Cathedral, and Holy Island. Northumberland, or the Kingdom of Northumbria, is known as "England's Border Country,” a land of history and heritage set amidst some of the loveliest scenery in all of Britain.

                  We hope you can join us on another one of our Celtic Journeys!

Sept 8  Evening flight from Newark International Airport.

Sept 9  Arrive Heathrow in the morning.  After going through customs and collecting our luggage, we’ll be on our way. Tintern Abbey, one of the greatest monastic ruins of Wales, will be the first place to visit once we leave the airport. Then on to the country’s capitol, Cardiff. Cardiff has blossomed into one of the most inviting cities of Britain and known as one of the major scenic beauty spots of South Wales. We’ll spend all the afternoon exploring this lovely city, with its charming arcades, castle, and of course the architecturally beautiful National Museum.
Overnight near Cardiff

Sept 10  This morning we will be traveling through the Vale of Glamorgan, a rich fertile area of Southern Wales. In the middle of this unique area lies a small coastal town of Llantwit Major, often called "the most beautiful of places". It is a quaint old town, dating as far back as the Neolithic period. We’ll see St. Illtud's Church, the Town Square, Old Swan Inn, and St Donat’s Castle. We could stay longer, but St Davids awaits us. The medieval Kingdom of Dyfed is just another name for St Davids Peninsula, an area of natural beauty you won’t forget.
1st Overnight St Davids

Sept 11  A leisurely day spent in and around this charming village. We will attend Church at St David’s in the morning, and meander around the area in the afternoon. St David’s Cathedral has been the dominant presence in this area since the 12th century. This jewel of a church was a popular pilgrimage destination throughout the Middle Ages and indeed remains so to this day, attracting thousands of visitors every year. Adjacent to the cathedral stand the magnificent ruins of the medieval Bishops Palace. Nearby, sitting high above the water, is St Non’s well and the legendary birthplace of St David.
2nd Overnight St Davids

Sept 12  After one of those full Welsh breakfasts, we are on the road once more. Nevern, a little village tucked away in the valley of the River Nyfer, and St Brynach’s Church will be on our route today. The site of this sweet church is one of the earliest Christian places of worship and pilgrimage in the country, founded by St Brynach in the 6th century. A 13 foot high elaborately designed Great Celtic Cross catches one’s attention, perhaps the finest in Wales. The Pentre Ifan Dolman, one of the most impressive Neolithic cromlechs in the United Kingdom, is nearby. We can’t miss the opportunity to experience both these wonderful places.
1st Overnight Snowdonia

Sept 13  Snowdonia. With its breathtaking beauty and fantastic scenery, this area boasts the highest range of mountains in England and Wales, and is one of the most ancient and hauntingly beautiful areas in Europe. Called Eryri (the place of eagles) in Welsh, it has been said that Snowdonia is the soul of Wales. On toward the ancient island of Anglesey, first stopping to visit Beaumaris Castle, possibly the most sophisticated example of medieval architecture in Britain, and for some, it is the most beautiful castle in all of Wales. Anglesey is an island steeped in history from Neolithic times to the present day, its peaceful mystic beauty providing a haven for many. A very tranquil spot on the eastern tip of Anglesey is the site of a monastery dating back to St Seiriol (6th c.) A holy well on the grounds is believed to have its origins in this period. Penmon Priory is nearby, refuted to have been founded by St Seiriol.
2nd Overnight Snowdonia

Sept 14  An early departure today as we have to make tracks! . We’ll drive through the medieval town of Chester, then on to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal, Yorkshire’s first World Heritage Site. A huge estate of beauty, contrasts and surprises, these grounds offer the largest abbey ruins in the country and one of England’s most spectacular Georgian water gardens.
Overnight Durham

Sept 15  Durham Cathedral has been described as ‘one of the great architectural experiences of Europe’. The Cathedral was built as a place of worship, specifically to house the shrine of the North's best-loved saint, Cuthbert. Begun in 1093 and largely completed within 40 years, it is the only cathedral in England to retain almost all of its Norman craftsmanship, and one of few to preserve the unity and integrity of its original design. It is absolutely awesome… After spending a leisurely morning up on the close at the University of Durham, we’ll be taking the coastal route to Holy Island.
1st Overnight Holy Island

Sept 16  Lindisfarne, or Holy Island, is a tidal island, accessible by car and coach at low tide. But when the tides come in, this tiny island is transformed, enfolded in stillness. Steeped in history going back as far as the Saxon period, many well-known saints were associated with Lindisfarne, the island almost taking on an aura of its own (Aidan, Cuthbert, King Oswald, the Lindisfarne Gospels!). Lindisfarne is internationally famous both for its medieval religious heritage and also its picturesque 16th century castle. Many visitors are also attracted by the peace and tranquility which pervades this very special island.
2nd Overnight Holy Island

Sept 17  Having the tides with us, we have to leave this storybook island. We’ll take the opportunity to visit Dryburgh Abbey, founded about 1150. Nestled along the banks of the River Tweed, the sense of seclusion this lovely setting brings is one of the great joys of these revered ruins. You can begin to gain some sense of what a life of contemplation might have been like for the monks who lived and worshipped here. And being so nearby, a visit to Melrose Abbey cannot be overlooked. St Aidan first established a monastery at Old Melrose, to the east of the present town of Melrose, around 650AD. St Cuthbert, a shepherd from the Lammermuir Hills, was an early novice at the abbey. But it was King David I who invited Cistercian monks in 1136 to rebuild the abbey (the original had been destroyed by the Danes). They decided to create a new building at Little Fordell (now Melrose).
Overnight near Edinburgh International Airport

Sept 18  Morning flight back to the states from Edinburgh International Airport. We hope you enjoyed another one of our Celtic Journeys! Hope to see you again… God Bless.

Pictures of Wales click here