The Mountains & Coasts of South Wales 2025/2026

This morning, you have free time to explore Tenby at your leisure. You have time to walk down the steps to the beach; take in the views of the sea as you walk along the cobbled streets; or wile away the morning in one of the local bakeries.

Departing Tenby, you continue along the Welsh coast and make your way onto Laugharne, on the estruary of the River Tâf. Here, your guide will show you the route to Dylan Thomas’s Boathouse, the home of the lauded Welsh poet who spent the final years of his life in this peaceful coastal town; or perhaps you would prefer to wander outside the imposing castle with a coffee in hand.

We take another drive heading north, heading away from the sea and deeper into the rolling hills of the countryside. In the afternoon, you visit Careg Cennen Castle. Perched on a limestone crag above the River Cennen, you can see for miles around as you explore the dramatic hilltop castle, and delve into the unique natural cave that cuts deep into the hill. You also have time for some traditional Welsh cawl (soup) in the farmhouse.

Once you’ve had your fill of history, it’s time to take a scenic drive through the wild and rugged Bannau Brycheiniog National Park, the spectacular mountain range in the south of Wales. With a photo stop or two along the way, you travel to Abergavenny, another small but popular market town, known as the “Gateway to Wales”. This is your home for tonight.

Your overnight accommodation will be in Abergavenny (B)

It’s the final day on tour; and we’re leaving Abergavenny. You leave the hills of the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park behind, and travel to the world’s first book town, Hay-on-Wye.

Your morning is spent meandering the cobbled streets of Hay-on-Wye, exploring the many themed book shops, Thursday market stalls, and maybe have a coffee or two as you relax in the UK’s first book town. With your bags filled with books, soon you will be making your way over the border back into England.

Crossing the border into England, you weave through apple orchards to the market town Ross-on-Wye, in the heart of the Wye Valley. You can have lunch at one of the local delis, and peruse the independent shops. After lunch, you continue through the valley and dip back into Wales, to visit Tintern Abbey. Located on the banks of the River Wye, there is plenty to discover about the 12th-century abbey. This masterpiece of Gothic architecture fell into a beautiful ruin after the Reformation; dominating the peaceful and scenic valley, it’s easy to see why this has become a national icon.

Continuing through the Wye Valley, the final stop of the day is in Chepstow. This historic town sits on the River Wye and on the English-Welsh border – a perfect photo opportunity as you walk from England into Wales over the Old Town Bridge, and back again! The river here has one of the largest tidal ranges in the world; if the tide is low, you will get some dramatic views over the estuary, and you’ll have time for some photos of the Norman castle and historic city walls, before you continue back to Bristol. (B)