The Call

We'll be honest with you, we love Wales and the Lake District! And they are the part of Britain with the lowest international profile, so they're also our secret gem! We guarantee you'll return home filled with glorious memories, and you'll be telling all your friends they really must visit too.

It's little wonder that the dragon is Wales' national animal used on their flag, as it was associated with King Arthur and other Celtic leaders.

Wales is majestic and otherworldly – lush green valleys filled with morning mist, craggy mountain peaks reaching through the clouds, sacred sites that span five thousand years and a formidable reputation founded on legends of Druids, wizards, dragons and witches. As one of the last retreats of the inhabitants of ancient Celtic Albion, the Welsh are still connected to the ‘olde ways’. Even today, this depth of history and tradition is present in the very fabric of the land. Although the Welsh language is spoken in some areas, everyone speaks English (and the money is British Pounds), and so it's a very traveller-friendly country to visit.  

The Lake District is a national park in Cumbria, northwest England, famous for its stunning landscapes of rugged mountains (fells), ribbon lakes, and traditional villages. It's a popular destination for outdoor activities, literary inspiration, and scenic drives. We'll be staying in the 700-year-old market town of Keswick, which is still a market town today. There is evidence that it was also occupied in prehistoric times, evidenced by the many stone circles in the area. These stand majestically amidst the peaks and the valleys,  indicating that our ancestors were aware of the landscape setting to create the most auspicious ceremonial sites. We'll visit Castlerigg stone circle as well as Long Meg & her Daughters Circle - their mysteries await! 

 

The Journey

From your arrival at Cardiff Airport, you'll be met by Glenn and Cameron, your guides. We'll head directly west to the historic city of St David’s, the smallest city in Britain (traditionally, you had to have a cathedral to be called a city in Britain!), and home to some remarkable and magical historic sites. Some of these are sitting on clifftops with panoramic views over the ocean, while others are inland, including the Preseli Mountains, where archeologists have found the origins of the first Stonehenge and its bluestones. Following the stunning west coast, you'll head to the Snowdonian National Park, north to the Isle of Anglesey, to the Royal town of Caernarfon and onto the Lake District. We'll visit ancient dolmens and cairns, the ruins of a legendary abbey, traditional historic towns, wells, waterfalls and dragon earth energy currents!

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Tour price includes -

• Pick up from Cardiff Airport and Return to Manchester Airport

• All land transportation

• Accommodation in quality hotels

• All breakfasts & six evening meals 

• All normal admission charges to sacred sites

• All tour guide fees

• Gratuities on included meals & taxes on accommodation & included meals

• Third-party liability insurance

• All rooms have ensuite bathroom facilities, and tour prices are based on sharing a twin/double room. A limited number of single rooms are available for which there will be a single supplement charge as specified on the Prices & Booking page.

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Tour Leaders

Glenn Broughton

Cameron Broughton

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Itinerary

Day 1 – Wed, July 15th

Collection from Cardiff Airport and transfer to Britain's smallest city, St Davids, in Pembrokeshire, where we will stay for two nights. This charming medieval city is the home of St David's Cathedral, still in use today, and is a short walk from some of the most stunning coastline in all of Wales. St Davids is Wales most westerly peninsula, jutting out into the Celtic Sea. With this quaint city at your doorstep and the stunning Welsh coastline a walk away, you will feel as though you've stepped through time and arrived in another world.

After lunch, we'll visit the medieval Cathedral of St Davids, founded by St. David. The present cathedral, started in 1130, was built on the site of St David's monastery, which he founded in 600AD. Heading down a country lane, we find St Non's Holy Well and Chapel, where, according to legend, the well first sprang up as Non gave birth to St David. The views across St Brides Bay into the open ocean are wonderful from here. 

Welcome dinner at the hotel

 

Day 2 – Thurs, July 16th

We start the day by heading to a beautiful small harbour from where we walk up a path to the clifftop and Carreg Samson, a dolmen set high on a bluff overlooking the Irish Sea, where we will begin to discover Wales' rich Neolithic history. Simply being at these sites is a transformational experience, and we are great believers in allowing enough time for you to absorb the atmosphere and energy of sacred sites as well as learning about their history and significance. 

Stopping in a quaint village for lunch, we will head for Pentre Ifan, Wales' most celebrated ancient monument, beneath the Preseli Hills. Brought back to another time, we will connect to our Neolithic ancestors and the energy of the land. Close by, we visit Waun Mawn, and the source of the original Stonehenge and bluestones. 

Free choice dinner not included

 

Day 3 – Fri, July 17th

This morning we'll depart our hotel in St. David’s, following the dragon adjacent to the coast to Snowdonia National Park, where we’ll have lunch and take the train to the top of Snowdonia! Our day will conclude at our hotel for a three-night stay within the historic walls of the Welsh royal town of Caernarfon.

Dinner at hotel

 

Day 4 – Sat, July 18th

Today we cross the narrow stretch of sea, known as the Menai Strait or 'Afon Menai', to Anglesey. This mystical isle was the last stronghold of the ancient Druids, who held the island against the invading Romans. Ancient and sacred monuments are everywhere on this special island, and we spend the next day and a half exploring some of them.

At Holy Penmon, we will see St Seiriol's Hermitage with an ancient well. We’ll learn of the importance and energetic properties of water. We also explore the remains of the Abbey and its associated ancient dovecote. 

Then we head across the isle to visit Barclodiad y Gawres, a remarkable cairn containing carved megalithic stones. This cairn is located on a headland by the ocean, creating wonderful mountain and sea views.

Free choice dinner not included

 

Day 5 – Sun, July 19th

At Lligwy, we first see the cromlech from over 5,000 years ago before we climb a small hill to find the atmospheric ancient settlement of Din Lligwy hiding in a small forest, but with spectacular views over the Bay. Back down the hillside, we encounter the remains of the Hen Capel Lligwy, a twelfth-century church. 

After lunch, we visit Bryn Celli Dhu, a dolmen with astronomical alignments, known as the 'Stonehenge of Wales’, and considered the gem in Anglesey’s crown.

Dinner at the hotel

 

Day 6 – Mon, July 20th

We start the day with a visit to the massively imposing thirteenth-century Caernarfon Castle that dominates the town. It gives a glimpse into medieval life in Wales. We then check out of the hotel. On our way to Llangollen, we will visit the enigmatic stone row in the tranquil churchyard at Gwytherin. 

Check into our new hotel base in Llangollen for two nights.

Free choice dinner not included

 

Day 7 – Tues, July 21st

The beautiful landscapes of North Wales are reputedly the lands of King Arthur and the source of some amazing history and legends. The small Welsh town of Llangollen is at the centre of Arthurian history, the Grail myths and the visit of Joseph of Arimathea.

Atop the hilltop castle of Dinas Bran, overlooking the town of Llangollen, we are present at one of the reputed hiding places of the Holy Grail itself. We make a pilgrimage trek up to the top of this truly atmospheric ruined fort and are rewarded with spectacular views.

Our next visit is to the legendary Valle Crusis Abbey that has associations with Vortigen, Arthur, Gwinevere and Joseph of Arimathea, and with the Pillar of Eliseg standing nearby. 

This evening, we follow the breath-taking Horse-Shoe Pass on our way to Ruthin, where we find the Stone of Huail in the marketplace where King Arthur and the Knight Huail fought a bloody duel. 

We will then step back in time to the days of chivalry, knights and maidens as we feast on a medieval banquet at Ruthin Castle.

 

Day 8 – Wed, July 22nd

Today we move base heading north to the Lake District (for 3 nights). Our journey to the Lakes will take us through the middle of the Yorkshire Dales National Park so prepare yourself for lots of spectacular views and Kodak moments… 

Our new hotel base is a Country House Hotel in the popular market town of Keswick. The Lake District is England’s largest National Park and is primarily an area of mountains, lakes and forest and therefore much visited by outdoor pursuits enthusiasts; walking, hiking, cycling, canoeing and mountain climbing among them, and in our case, sacred site visiting!

Dinner at the hotel

 

Day 9 – Thurs, July 23rd

We are now in the county of Cumbria. Just outside the market town of Penrith are two henges close to one another - Mayburgh Henge and King Arthur’s Round Table. They were constructed between two rivers and close to a spring, so water seems to have been important in their siting and use. King Arthur’s Round Table is an open area surrounded by a ditch and bank, similar to other henges in Britain. However, Mayburgh henge has a bank constructed from river stones but no ditch making it unusual for a Neolithic henge. A third henge close by has almost completely disappeared now but implies that this area was an important sacred/ritual landscape. Astronomical alignments exist at both sites.

Long Meg & her Daughters will be waiting for us in a lovely rural location at the end of a farm track. This stone circle (the daughters) comprises 69 stones with the tall Long Meg situated outside the circle to the southwest. There are spirals and concentric circles carved on the side of Meg facing her daughters and crystals embedded in the side facing the setting sun. 

The rest of the day is free time.

Free-choice dinner not included

 

Day 10 – Fri, July 24th

Today we take a scenic drive north-south through the Lake District National Park to visit two of the most impressive stone circles in northern England. Located just outside Keswick, Castlerigg may well be the most beautifully located stone circle in the country, its forty stones being surrounded by low mountains on all sides. Often shrouded by mist in the early morning this atmospheric site is a real gem and displays multiple solar and lunar alignments. 

To the south of the National Park, we find Swinside stone circle. The fifty-five stones make a near complete circle set in a stunning high moorland setting. Nearly intact, it makes a profound impression on all visitors, what will you feel there?

Amongst the many dramatic sights you’ll see today is Scafell Pike, at 3,209 ft it is England’s highest mountain! 

Farewell dinner at the hotel

 

Day 11 – Sat, July 25th

Depart for Manchester Airport for flights departing no earlier than 2:00PM for your flight to London Heathrow Airport or to another destination. 

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