Welcome to the Brecon Beacons
Sitting at the top of the glorious Brecon Beacons National Park in the heart of south Wales is the bustling market town of Brecon and our base for this five-day adventure. We’ll cruise the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal which hugs the mountainside, travelling by narrowboat through the intricate lock system to move uphill over the River Usk. Learn all about the mining heritage of Wales, the birthplace of the industrial revolution, and experience the smells and sounds of the ‘Big Pit’ deep underground with a tour packed with history and anecdotes told by a former miner. We’ll also visit the majestic 17th century Hensol Castle which houses a full-scale gin distillery where you’ll be guided through the process and offered a taster at the end. Finally, our trip wouldn’t be complete without a behind-the-scenes visit to The Royal Mint, which has served the crown for over 1,100 years and where you’ll get the chance to strike your own coin!
Tour Highlights
- Travel deep underground on a guided tour of the ‘Big Pit’ at the National Coal Museum
- Cruise the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal and experience the engineering genius of the locks
- Listen to stories of ghosts and ghouls at Llancaiach Fawr Manor
- Strike your own coin at The Royal Mint
- Tour the gin distillery at Hensol Castle and get to taste Welsh gin
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Dates & Prices
October 28 - November 1, 2024 (5 days)
Standard Blind Price: 745 GBP Contact us for availability
Discounted Sighted Price: 545 GBP Book Now
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What's Included
- 4-star accommodation
- Cream tea on arrival
- All breakfasts, all lunches, all dinners
- Specified excursions
- Services of local guides
- Services of a Traveleyes tour manager
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Excursions
- Guided tour of the Big Pit and visit to the National Coal Museum
- Narrowboat trip on the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal
- ‘Key to the Mint’ tour at The Royal Mint
- Hensol Castle Gin Distillery tour
- Llancaiach Fawr Manor ghost stories experience
Below is the itinerary for the holiday. Please click each day for more information.
Monday 28th October
We’ll meet at Nythfa House, a short walk away from the beautiful market town of Brecon. After checking in from 4pm onwards, we’ll get to know each other over a delicious cream tea. We’ll then have time to explore this charming country house, which will be our home over the next five days, and the local area.
Cream tea and dinner included. Overnight in Nythfa House.
Tuesday 29th October
This morning we head out to UNESCO-listed Blaenavon and the Big Pit National Coal Museum for a glimpse into the mining heritage of south Wales. Kitted up with hat and head lamp, we’ll descend 300 feet underground with a local miner to learn what life was like for the thousands who worked down the pits. On surfacing, enjoy a mutli-media tour of the Pithead Baths and historic colliery buildings.
In the afternoon we’ll return to Brecon to cruise on a narrowboat along the Monmouthshire and Brecon Canal. We’ll travel through the intricate lock systems to raise the boat onto the Brynich aqueduct which carries the canal over the River Usk.
Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Nythfa House.
Wednesday 30th October
A free day to explore the beautiful town of Brecon and its surroundings. You might want to visit the Royal Welsh Regimental Museum which houses displays from the 300-year- history of the regiment, or perhaps visit the 900-year old Brecon Cathedral. Alternatively, you can enjoy a leisurely wander of the cobbled streets, maybe stopping off for a coffee and a Welsh cake.
After a slightly earlier dinner, we’ll head out to Llancaiach Fawr Manor, known as one of the most haunted manor houses in the UK. Here, we will gather around the fireplace in the servants’ quarters to listen to ghost stories of the past… but no need to fret… we’ll escape before the witching hour arrives!
Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner included. Overnight in Nythfa House.
Thursday 31st October
Having survived an evening of ghosts and ghouls, today takes us to The Royal Mint for a behind-the-scenes tour. We’ll travel through more than 1,100 years of history and learn all about how UK coins are made, even getting the chance to strike our own.
We’ll then travel to Hensol Castle, a spectacular 17th century Grade I listed building, now home to an artisanal gin distillery. Here we’ll tour the distillery, learning all about how Welsh gin is made and smelling the botanicals used to give it that distinct flavour, before finishing off in the castle bar where you’ll have an opportunity, if you so wish, to enjoy a gin yourself.
Breakfast, packed lunch and Dinner. Overnight in Nythfa House.
Friday 1st November
After breakfast we depart Nythfa House at leisure.
Breakfast included.
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HOLIDAY ENQUIRY
Do you have a question about this holiday? When you submit your query using our holiday enquiry form, we will do our best to respond within 24 hours. Alternatively, you can reach us by phone. Click Contact Us for our full list of international phone numbers.
