Portmeirion & Llanberis

This is a fantastic panoramic tour around the stunning Snowdonia National Park. This series of dramatic mountain peaks, separated by beautiful valleys, is dotted with pretty towns and villages. We visit the fascinating village of Portmeirion, which will appeal to anyone with an interest in architecture, gardens, and the famous Portmeirion Pottery.

Departing Holyhead, we travel through the lush countryside of the Isle of Angelsey and across the Menai Straits, a spectacular narrow strip of cascading seawater, separating Isle of Anglesey from Wales. Passing through Caernarfon, with its dramatic 13th century castle, we skirt the Snowdonia National Park and arrive at the picturesque private village of Portmeirion, near the town of Porthmadog.

Portmeirion was built between 1925 and 1978 by Clough Williams-Ellis, an eccentric architect whose vision was to build an ideal village to enhance, rather than blend into, its surroundings. The result is continually surprising with hidden entrances, distorted perspectives with tantalizing glimpses of the sea or the sands, revealed as you walk through the buildings. Mr. Williams-Ellis’ daughter, Susan, established the famous Portmeirion Pottery in 1960. The “Botanic Garden” series is one of the most popular in the range and features different plants on each piece along with butterflies and other insects and the famous triple leaf motif on the outside.

Departing Portmeirion, we head inland into the heart of the national park, passing through more wild and rugged scenery and travelling through the Pass of Llanberis in the shadow of Mount Snowdon, the highest of all the peaks in Wales and England. We stop at the village of Llanberis in its delightful lakeside setting, the departure point for the Snowdon Mountain Railway and the easiest way to climb the mountain!

From Llanberis, the countryside becomes less mountainous as we head back to the coast. Finally, we re-cross the Menai Straits and return to Holyhead.