Valleys & Railways of Mid Wales

Our Welsh holiday begins today at the Metropole Hotel and Spa in Llandrindod Wells. You can check in anytime from 2pm, and then you're at leisure to start exploring this attractive town in mid-Wales.

Colloquially known to locals as 'Llandod', the town boomed in the 19th century as a spa town and retains plenty of grand Victorian and Edwardian architecture in its small centre, including our historic hotel. Regularly voted among the UK's happiest places to live, there are many green spaces to explore. Take a stroll round the peaceful lake, admiring the rugged scenery, or walk among the mature woodlands of the Grade II-listed Rock Park - founded in the 1960s and still featuring a spring and the original Pump Room.

This evening, return to the hotel to meet the Tour Manager and your travel group, and then we enjoy our first dinner together.

• Dinner

After breakfast, a coach transfer takes us to the traditional rural village of Abergynolwyn, where we board the steam-hauled* Talyllyn Railway. Tucked away in the wildflower meadows of southern Snowdonia, this beautiful railway paints a cheerful red trail through forests and over bridges. Originally opened in 1865, the seven-mile journey takes us past waterfalls, streams and mountains.

With time at leisure in Tywyn at the end of the line, you can soak up the town's coastal charm. Visit the Narrow-Gauge Railway Museum and see the fascinating artefacts on display, or stroll along the beachfront promenade taking in the attractive seaside views. Our coach then takes us down the road to Aberdovey at the mouth of the Dyfi Estuary, where you can explore at your own pace. This picturesque village has a sandy beach and a small harbour backed by colourful cottages and traditional shops.

We drive back through the rolling hills of the Welsh countryside to our hotel later this afternoon, arriving with time to relax before dinner.

*Trains are steam-hauled where possible, however due to timetable changes or weather conditions, heritage diesel locomotives may be running instead.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Boarding a coach after breakfast, we head into beautiful Elan Valley, where a local ranger joins us for a guided tour. The area is known as the 'Welsh Lake District' and is made up of several man-made lakes connected by six dams. The most impressive, Craig Goch, is built in the Birmingham Baroque style, with elegantly curved walls and a series of narrow arches.

Our coach tour ends at Devil's Bridge, a remarkable 18th-century stone bridge shrouded in myth and legend. Here, we join the steam-hauled* Vale of Rheidol Railway for a scenic journey through 12 miles of captivating landscapes, admiring lush valleys, cascading waterfalls and rugged mountains from vintage carriages. Arriving in historic Aberystwyth, we head to its esteemed university. Well-known as the school where King Charles studied Welsh, this is the perfect place to gain an insight into Welsh heritage, with an 'Introduction to Welsh Language' lesson.

Afterwards, there's time at leisure to explore the stunning beaches, charming architecture and culture of Aberystwyth before we head back to our hotel by coach for dinner this evening.

*Trains are steam-hauled where possible, however due to timetable changes or weather conditions, heritage diesel locomotives may be running instead.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today, we head into the historic county of Montgomeryshire at the northern edge of Powys.

Our first destination is medieval Powis Castle. The castle dates back to the 13th century, and its gardens are a paradise steeped in history, still proudly displaying ancient statues and beautiful Italianate terraces. For centuries, talented artists have added to the castle's collection of paintings, sculptures, furniture, and tapestries, which you can discover as you explore at leisure.

Afterwards, our coach takes us to nearby Welshpool, where we board the steam-hauled* Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway. Opened as a heritage railway in 1963, this charming route is one of the British Isles' most historic rail journeys, as an evocative green steam engine hauls vintage carriages through a canvas of dense woodland and rolling hills.

Back at our hotel this evening, our dinner is accompanied by a stirring performance by the Builth Wells Ladies Choir, who show us why Wales is known as the 'land of song'.

*Trains are steam-hauled where possible, however due to timetable changes or weather conditions, heritage diesel locomotives may be running instead.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Mid-Wales and its heritage railways have been a joy to uncover on this charming holiday. From the Talyllyn Railway through southern Snowdonia and the Vale of Rheidol Railway to coastal Aberystwyth to the rolling countryside that passed by on the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway, these engaging routes transported us through delightful scenery.

Walking through the landscaped gardens of Powis Castle and a ranger-led tour of the remote Elan Valley showcased the region's impressive nature, while a Welsh language lesson and a choir performance helped us gain an understanding of Wales' proud and engaging culture.

As your journey comes to an end this morning, you are free to head home or continue exploring this heritage-filled region independently.

• Breakfast