Experience more than a just a transfer with a Mid Wales Tour from Cardiff to Llandudno, or Llandudno to Cardiff, along the A470 through the heart of Wales.
Travel North to South Wales
Travel South to North Wales (or North to South Wales) through the unspoilt beauty of Mid Wales, stopping for lunch in the heart of the country, and visiting some picturesque villages and sites on the way.
Travel South to North Wales
Your driver for your road trip will meet you outside your hotel in Cardiff at around 10:00 am. You will then join the A470, and begin your travel from south to north Wales.
Leaving Cardiff behind you will be driven through the Taff Valley and past the former mining town of Pontypridd, and Iron Town of Merthyr Tydfil. At Merthyr Tydfil, you venture into Bannau Brycheiniog (Brecon Beacons) and be driven through Wales’ 2nd largest national park, passing Pen-y-Fan on the way.
Bannau Brycheiniog will give way to Mid Wales, and your Tour will head along the Wye Valley as you make your way too, and through, the historic market town of Builth Wells. You will continue travelling north, following the river Wye, and make your way to your first stop on the tour Rhyader in the heart of Wales.
After lunch, you will continue your journey north, travelling through towns such as Llanidloes, the first town on the River Severn, and Caersws, as you make your way towards Eryri.
As you reach the village of Dinas Mawddwy in Southern Eryri (Snowdonia) you will be travelling underneath the flight path of the famous “Mach Loop“. A low altitude training loop used by the RAF and other NATO air forces, and you may witness fighter jets and other military aircraft flying right above your head.
You will continue through Eryri as you make your way to your second stop of the day. Cymer Abbey.
Here you will have a short stop, and the chance to get out of the car, stretch your legs, and explore the remains of the 12th Century Abbey, and the peaceful surroundings, a far cry from the business of Cardiff. Whilst at Cymer Abbey, you would also have the chance to visit Pont Llanelltyd built in the 18th Century
You will then continue travelling north, through Eryri. You will head through Blaenau Ffestiniog, and past the Llechwedd Slate Quarry as you make your way to one our favourite places in Wales, Betws-y-Coed. Your driver will stop near Pont-y-Pair Bridge. Here you will have some time to view the rapids of Afon Llugwy rushing over the rocks near Pont-y-Pair Bridge.
You will then embark on the final leg of your journey, as you travel along the river Conwy, and make your way to your hotel in Llandudno, arriving at your new hotel around 5:00-6:00pm
Here you will have a short stop, and the chance to get out of the car, stretch your legs, and explore the remains of the 12th Century Abbey, and the peaceful surroundings, a far cry from the business of Cardiff. Whilst at Cymer Abbey, you would also have the chance to visit Pont Llanelltyd built in the 18th Century
You will then continue travelling south through Eryri, as you near Dinas Mawddy, you will be travelling along the world famous “Mach Loop“. A low altitude flying training loop used by the RAF and other NATO air forces. As you are driven along, you may come face to face with a fighter jet or other military aircraft as they swoop around the mountains of Eryri.
Soon after Dinas Mawddy, the forests and mountains of Eryri will begin to give way to more open pasture land and rolling hills as you leave North Wales behind, and venture into Mid Wales. Although largely uninhabited you will still travel though small villages and towns such as Caersws, and Llanidloes as the A470 weaves its way through Mid Wales, connecting the other wise remote, villages with each other. .
After la short stop in Brecon, you will begin the final leg of your road trip. As you head into Bannau Brycheiniog, you will deviate slightly from the A470. Instead you will travel parallel with the A470 and take an even more scenic journey through Bannau Brycheiniog, where you will be taken to some of the best viewpoints, and some of the more remote parts of the national park.
Near the base of Pen-y-Fan, you will re-join the A470, and continue through Bannau Brycheiniog. As you exit Bannau Brycheiniog on the southern side of the park, you will notice an immediate change, as the mountains of Eryri and Bannau Brycheiniog and rolling hills and woods of Mid Wales are replaced by the more industrialised and urbanised South Wales.
You will travel past Merthyr Tydfil, once the Iron forging capital of the world. You will head through the Taff Valley and past Pontypridd, once a major coal mining town during the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.
You will eventually arrive in the Welsh Capital, Cardiff. Wales’ most densely populated city. A true capital city and a world away from the calm and and quiet of North and Mid Wales. Your driver will take you directly to your hotel, arriving here at around 5:00-6:00pm and the end of your road trip.
Outside your Cardiff hotel, your driver will say goodbye and leave you to embark on your South Wales adventure.
- This tour is to start or end in Cardiff, and start or end in Llandudno or Conwy
- We can create a tailor made tour based on this, to start or finish anywhere in North or South Wales, but the stops, timings and fee may be different
- This tour if for up to 4 people, and the fee is per group, regardless of the number of people on the tour
- This tour can be booked either as a stand alone road trip / transfer tour, or as part of a multiday tour including South and or North Wales. If booked as part of a multi-day tour, additional fees will be payable
- We are unable to recommend where to have lunch in Rhyader, but there are multiple places to choose from. We recommend you carry out your own research. If you book anywhere in Rhyader for lunch, please advise us in advance, as we may need to adjust the tours start time, to ensure you arrive in time for your booking.
- Your driver would not normally accompany you for lunch in Rhyader, at Cymer Abbey, Betws-y-Coed or Brecon, and you will be free to enjoy your lunch and explore the various locations on your own at your own pace.
- Cymer Abbey is free to enter
- Whilst we are able to amend this tour to include different stops, start location or end location, any stops of start or finish locations more than a couple of miles from the A470 may incur additional charges.