North Wales Explorer

Overview

Nestled at the foot of the Snowdonia Mountain range, The Royal Victoria Hotel has been welcoming guests to the idyllic lakeside village of Llanberis for over one hundred years. The Llanberis hotel sits in a unique position, with 30 acres if it’s own gardens and woodlands (including the historic Dolbadarn Castle) that makes it the ideal destination for everyone to enjoy the unmissable North Wales attractions.

Our 5-day North Wales Explorer tour includes 4 nights Bed, Breakfast and Evening Meal accommodation.

A full excursions programme will include visits to :

• The Snowdon Mountain Railway – Take a once in a lifetime adventure on the Snowdon Mountain Railway which has been described as one of the most scenic railway journeys in the world. Trains depart from Llanberis Station and begin their climb up Snowdon, Yr Wyddfa, a journey experienced by some 12 million travellers since 1896. With stunning scenery and awe-inspiring views it’s all part of a great day out in North Wales.
• The Llanberis Lake Railway – Little steam engines take you on a five-mile return journey alongside Lake Padarn, right in the heart of Snowdonia.

  The journey takes you past the 13th century Dolbadarn Castle, across possibly Britain’s shortest river and past Llanberis’ twin lakes. From Llanberis the train runs non-stop through the Padarn Country Park, joining the 1845 slate railway route to run along the shores of Lake Padarn to Penllyn, and giving stunning views of Snowdon, the highest peak in England and Wales.

  There’s a short stop at Cei Llydan, a beautifully tranquil place that’s ideal for a lakeside picnic, and at Gilfach Ddu, where you can visit the National Slate Museum, watch the driver stoking the fire, the engine taking water, or spend some time in our gift shop and cafe.

  The five mile return trip takes around 60 minutes, and all advertised trains are scheduled to be hauled by one of our vintage steam engines rescued from the nearby Dinorwic slate quarries and lovingly restored.

• Beaumaris Castle – Beaumaris on the island of Anglesey is famous as the greatest castle never built. It was the last of the royal strongholds created by Edward I in Wales – and perhaps his masterpiece.Here Edward and his architect James of St George took full advantage of a blank canvas: the ‘beau mareys’ or ‘beautiful marsh’ beside the Menai Strait. By now they’d already constructed the great castles of Conwy, Caernarfon and Harlech. This was to be their crowning glory, the castle to end all castles.The result was a fortress of immense size and near-perfect symmetry. No fewer than four concentric rings of formidable defences included a water-filled moat with its very own dock. The outer walls alone bristled with 300 arrow loops.

  But lack of money and trouble brewing in Scotland meant building work had petered out by the 1320s. The south gatehouse and the six great towers in the inner ward never reached their intended height. The Llanfaes gate was barely started before being abandoned.

  So the distinctive squat shape of Beaumaris tells of a dream that never quite came true. Still it takes its rightful place on the global stage as part of the Castles and Town Walls of King Edward in Gwynedd World Heritage Site.

  Because this castle is special – both for the scale of its ambition and beauty of its proportions. Gloriously incomplete Beaumaris is perhaps the supreme achievement of the greatest military architect of the age.

• Plas Cadnant Hidden Gardens -A historic garden under restoration, situated between Menai Bridge and Beaumaris on the Isle of Anglesey.In 1996, the present owner bought the 200 acre Plas Cadnant Estate and work began on the restoration of the historic garden and grounds. Since then large parts of the gardens have undergone a spectacular transformation and have been restored to their former glory.Described as one of North Wales best kept secrets is the hidden world of Plas Cadnant Gardens, situated at the side of the Menai Strait, hidden from view near to Menai Bridge on the Isle of Anglesey.Former owners of Plas Cadnant were related to the Tremayne family of Heligan House, now famous for its Lost Gardens.

  A new garden is being created on an historic site, becoming a plantsman’s paradise. Now considered amongst the liveliest twenty gardens of Wales, and featured in a new book ‘The Finest Gardens of Wales’ by Tony Russell’. Also featured in ‘Discovering Welsh Gardens’ written by Stephen Anderton and photographed by Charles Hawes.