Wales tours for seniors.

Cymru am byth! Wales Forever!

“Wales” and “Welsh” were names imposed by the Normans. According to Jon Gower in his book The Story of Wales (Penguin Random House, 2012), the terms come from Old English and translates to “foreign land” and “foreigners”. As Gower says, “The Welsh had their own name for themselves, the Cymry–derived from the Celtic which means “fellow countryman”–“but it was the Norman label that stuck in the end” (p. 83).

Tours of Wales

Crafted tours for mature World Travellers

Pre-guaranteed
Prehistoric Britain small group history tour

21 days

Aug

Prehistoric Britain small group history tour including standing stones

Visiting England, Scotland

This guided tour invites you to explore UNESCO World heritage sites at Skara Brae in the Orkneys, Isle of Skye, and Stonehenge in a prehistoric tour. This escorted tour has trips to key sites in Scotland, and the Irish sea in Wales such as Gower Peninsula and National Museum in Cardiff and England. Each day tour is supported by local guides.

From A$16,750 AUD

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Whitby Abbey walking britain

22 days

Sep, Jun

Rural Britain | Walking Small Group Tour

Visiting England, Scotland

A walking tour into England, Scotland and Wales provides small group journeys with breathtaking scenery to destinations such as Snowdonia national park , the UNESCO world heritage site Hadrians wall and the lake district. each day tour provides authentic experiences often off the beaten path from our local guides.

From A$15,880 AUD

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Industrial revolution

23 days

Oct, Apr, Sep

Canals and Railways in the Industrial Revolution Tour | Tours for Seniors in Britain

Visiting England, Scotland

A small group tour of Wales, Scotland & England that traces the history of the journey that is the Industrial revolution. Knowledgeable local guides and your tour leader share their history with you on this escorted tour including Glasgow, London, New Lanark & Manchester, Liverpool and the Lake district.

From A$17,860 AUD

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Exploring Wales on foot, mature travellers small group walking tours

13 days

Aug

Exploring Wales on foot : small group walking tours for seniors

Visiting Wales

A Walking tour of Wales with spectacular views across as you walk the millennial path across the Irish sea or up in Snowdonia national park. This guided tour that provides insight into the history of each castle visited and breathtaking scenery enjoyed before exploring the capital of Wales, Cardiff with day tours of Wales from Cardiff. For seniors, couples or Solo interested in small groups.

From A$11,340 AUD

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Snowdonia National Park Sunset

17 days

Mar, Sep

Tour of Wales

Visiting Wales

Join Odyssey Traveller on this tour small group guided tour of Wales, an unforgettable travel experience through varied landscapes from south Wales to north Wales and back, travelling on the coast overlooking the Irish Sea and through picturesque Welsh villages, starting in Cardiff city centre.

From A$14,375 AUD

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Thaxted Windmill

23 days

Apr

Agrarian and Industrial Britain | Small Group Tour for Mature Travellers

Visiting England, Wales

A small group tour of England that will explore the history of Agrarian and Industrial period. An escorted tour with a tour director and knowledgeable local guides take you on a 22 day trip to key places such as London, Bristol, Oxford & York, where the history was made.

From A$16,450 AUD

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A long human history has shaped the land – from stone circles laid out in prehistoric times to the over six hundred ancient castles dating from medieval times. Meanwhile, the landscape remains stunning – all mountains, river valleys, and lush meadows. The coastline – which is now virtually entirely lined by paths, perfect for a (bracing) walk – is cruelly underrated. Surrounded by this rich history and natural beauty, perhaps you’ll end up experiencing what the Welsh call ‘hireath’ – or longing for the green, green grass of your temporary home.

Articles about Wales

Aberystwyth Castle Ruins

Aberystwyth, Wales

Aberystwyth is a small ancient market town and stunning seaside resort in Ceredigion on the west coast of Wales. Established as a castle town in the Middle Ages,

2 May 20 · 3 mins read
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Beaumaris Castle

Beaumaris Castle, Wales

Beaumaris Castle, Edward I of England’s architectural masterpiece built from 1295 to protect his territorial gains in the region. The historic castle is a world heritage listed site considered to be one of the most significant and sophisticated surviving examples of medieval military architecture.

2 May 20 · 4 mins read
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Pont-y-Pair Bridge and River Llugwy in Betws-y-Coed

Betws-y-Coed, Wales

Betws-y-coed is North Wales’ most popular inland resort and accommodation provider. The village has been attracting visitors for centuries to experience its scenic beauty and numerous outdoor activities.

1 May 20 · 5 mins read
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brecon beacons wales

Brecon Beacons, Wales

Brecon Beacons, Wales The Brecon Beacons are a mountain range running through South Wales, including the two highest peaks in the region, Pen y Fan and Corn Du. Pen y Fan (“the top peak”) has…

31 Jan 20 · 3 mins read
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Lacock Abbey, Britain's National Trust

Britain’s National Trust role for successful small group history tours

Britain’s National Trust: Historic houses, gardens and natural wonders Britain is home to many attractions, many of them rich in the region’s history. Sites and artefacts are preserved beautifully, and kept safe from future development.…

31 Jul 17 · 10 mins read
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Caernarfon Castle in Snowdonia, Wales

Caernarfon Castle, Wales

Edward I's massive Caernarfon Castle was a display of English might on Welsh territory. Caernarfon Castle was built on the shoreline, consisting of a castle, a walled town, and a quay all built at the same time. Construction of this massive project took 47 years to complete.

9 Jan 20 · 3 mins read
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Aerial view of Cardiff Bay

Cardiff, Wales

The History of Cardiff By Marco Stojanovik The city of Cardiff is the capital of Wales, surrounded by beautiful scenery at its location on the Bristol Channel at the mouth of the River Taff. From its…

2 May 20 · 4 mins read
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Castell Coch - Cardiff

Castell Coch, Wales

Castell Coch is a 19th-century gothic revival castle built above the village of Tongwynlais in South Wales, just outside of Cardiff. The original castle built on the site was a Norman stronghold to defend the newly conquered town of Cardiff

2 May 20 · 3 mins read
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New Quay Cei Newydd in Wales

History of Wales: The Definitive Guide for Senior Travellers

History of Wales The Anglo-Saxons fell to the Normans in 1066, but it would take more than two centuries before England’s rulers–starting, crucially, with Edward I–turned their attention to dominating Wales. In this article, we…

17 Oct 19 · 11 mins read
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Chambered Tomb

Lumps and Bumps: How to Read the British Landscape

The British landscape has been worked and re-worked. It is secrets of this palimpsest landscape is revealed through drainage patterns and prehistoric features all the way through to the modern day. These small group tours for mature and senior travellers examine the landscape from the Neolithic, to Roman, through the seven ages of Britain in walking tours and history tours of Britain.

5 Oct 21 · 10 mins read
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National Cycle Network Route 4, Millennium Coastal Park

Millennium Coastal Path, Wales

The Millennium Coastal Path was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II at the turn of the new millennium in 2000. It was part of the Millennium Coastal Park, a parkland transformed from around 20 kilometres of industrial wasteland along the Carmarthenshire coastline.

9 Jan 20 · 3 mins read
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Snowdonia National Park

Snowdonia National Park, Wales

Snowdonia is home to Mt Snowdon, the highest peak in the British Isles outside of Scotland.

16 Jan 20 · 3 mins read
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Touring Wales

The need to know

Getting Around

Odyssey usually travels by coach and occasionally uses local transport, including trains and ferries. Specifics are always outlined in your tour itinerary. Because Wales’ geography is fairly rugged, the transport paths are largely confined to the most populous areas. As with the rest of the UK, its railway network was developed during the nineteenth century, and provides travel between most major centres. The only urban rail exists in the Welsh capital, Cardiff. There is also a bus network that provides transport, mainly around South Wales.

Accommodation

In major cities, Odyssey Wales tour stays in centrally located 3-4 star hotels, with easy access to public transport. In smaller towns or welsh countryside, we usually stay in family-run hotels or guesthouses. On our long stay tours, during which you spend the length of the tour in a single location, we use serviced apartments.

Tour Guides

Odyssey always engages local guides with regional knowledge to ensure an authentic experience during which you can learn as much as possible about welsh history and culture of places you visit while enjoying the stunning coastline and the welsh countryside.

Geography, environment & weather

On the rugged coastline in western part of Great Britain, Wales covers only 20,000 square kilometres. Like most of the UK, the geography in Wales is variable, with valleys, coastal plains and mountain ranges. In fact, most of Wales is mountainous, reaching its apotheosis in the area known as Snowdownia or Eryri, places providing stunning scenery on group tours wales.

Wales’s climate is above all distinguished by its changeability and variation. Because of its geography, the mountains can shape the weather in swift and unexpected ways. Travelling in Wales, you’ll always need to be prepared for rain and wind, especially in the autumn and the early winter months, and whenever you’re walking hilly areas. In winter, the temperature averages around six degrees Celsius, but can head up to 24 degrees in summer!

World Heritage Sites

The United Kingdom boasts 31 UNESCO World Heritage Sites, many of which are located in Wales. You can view the official list of the sites here. It is well worth visiting every site, if you are able. But here’s a few highlights from the bunch:

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and Canal – Built over 200 years ago, this acqueduct holds 1.5 million litres of water. The structure itself comprises 18 arches, and is the oldest and longest navigable aqueduct in Great Britain.

Caernarfon Castle – This 13th century medieval castle, build by Edward I, is a stunning site and contains some fantastic exhibtions rooms in which you can discover its history.

Blaenavon World Heritage Site – This town was originally built up around an ironnworks, and is now home to the Big Pit: National Coal Museum. It is an extraordinary place to discover in detail how the industrial revolution came about and changed everything.

Festivals & events

As with all countries that suffer through harsh winters, summer is the season for festivals in Wales.

The Hay Festival occurs around late May to early June, in Hay on Wye. It is a world renowned literature festival that takes place in the Brecon Beacons National Park, attracting guests and visitors from around the world. Not far from Wye is Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty a perfect place to walk on rolling hills and along the river.

The Gwyl Greynog Festival is a long running classical music festival with a new them each year. And the Wales Airshow is a free annual airshow which features aerobatic displays from vintage and contemporary aircraft.

Reading list

  1. The Owl Service by Alan Garner
  2. On the Black Hill by Bruce Chatwin
  3. A History of Wales by John Davies
  4. The Matter of Wales by Jan Morris

Eating & Drinking

The Welsh fiercely protect their customs and traditions, and this is reflected in their cuisine, too. For a time, traditional Welsh food was difficult to come by, but an initiative called “Wales, the True Taste” was introduced in the 2000s and led to something of a renaissance in the industry. This particular initiative was scrapped in 2013 as concerns over business growth and development arose. But there remains a proud passion for sharing Wales’s signature dishes, and it is well worth seeking them out on your travels.

Welsh lamb and beef feature prominently in this cuisine, along with local caught seafood including salmon, brown trout and lobster. A very traditional dish is cawl, a soup from a base of bacon, leek and cabbage that varies according to region and season.

Look out for laverbread: it is made from edible seaweed, sprinkled with oatmeal and served warmed with bacon for breakfast or supper.

There is an abundance of soft cheeses made with goats’ and sheep’s milk from local farms.

If you have a sweet tooth, you will be pleased to learn that the Welsh observe “teatime”, and serve various cakes flavoured with honey, cinnamon, caraway seed or fruit.

Traditional spiced Welsh cakes are similar to scones, but cooked on griddle plates (bakestones) and served with just a dusting of sugar, hot or cold.

Health & safety

While much of Wales is usually safe to travel around, it’s important to stay alert to anything unusual. Also, you will often see signs warning of pickpockets in areas popular with tourists, so it’s important to keep a close eye on your belongings at all times.

Electrical Supply

Whenever you travel overseas, it’s always wise to take an appropriate travel adaptor. The electricity supply runs at 230V, 50Hz. British plugs have three flat, rectangular pins which form a triangle. These are shared by Ireland, Malta and some former British colonies, but Australia is not one of them.

Tour Reviews

Wife Brenda and I just completed Odyssey tour in UK entitled “Canals and Railways” led by Mal Bock. Absolutely superb, and Mal’s leadership faultless. Extremely good value considering only seven guests, superb local guides and drivers, a most comfortable coach with seating for 24. . Hotels chosen were excellent, most with real character, not places one would have chosen without local knowledge and recommendation, . My wife and I have visited the UK many times- I was born there, but we saw so many places which were new to us. Thank you Odyssey!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ian Sanderson

Canals and Railways in the Industrial Revolution Tour | Tours for Seniors in Britain

Overall the trip was great and met my expectation.

Errol H. June 2017

Rural Britain | Walking Small Group Tour

We found all the guides in each place excellent, some more than others, but always knowledgeable and obviously in love with their chosen careers. David our coach driver was excellent also, coping with some difficult situations with a cool head and providing us with a running commentary on a country he knows so well - especially Norfolk his home county!

Sally and Angus H. June 2017

Rural Britain | Walking Small Group Tour

Excellent itinerary, transport and local guides!

Participant 2016

Prehistoric Britain small group history tour including standing stones

FAQs

What is the time zone for Wales?

Wales has a single time zone, Greenwich mean time. The nation observes daylight saving time from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October.

Is Tipping customary?

If you’re on an Odyssey tour, we take care of tipping so you don’t need to give it a second thought. However, in your free time, or if travelling independently, it’s essential that you make sure you tip an appropriate amount for services, as is the case throughout much of Europe. It’s customary to tip 10-15% of the bill at restaurants, or 1 to 3 GBP at a more casual establishment. It’s polite to round a bill up to the nearest whole figure or leave the change when buying drinks. It’s also customary to tip 10% in taxis, and leave a note or two with hotel porters and concierges.

What is the internet like for Wales?

Internet access is easily accessible, and most hotels and many cafes will be able to offer it.

Can I use my mobile in Wales?

Check with your cell phone provider to see whether you’re able to make calls and use data while in Wales. Many providers will offer a daily fee that allows you to make calls and check the internet while only being charged your regular rates. However, be certain to inform your provider that you’re heading overseas, because just like a bank they can turn off your service as a result of unusual activity.

Articles about Wales published by Odyssey Traveller.

For all the articles Odyssey Traveller has published for mature aged and senior travellers, click through on this link.

External articles to assist you on your visit to Wales.

Responsible Travel Tips for Wales.

  • If sightseeing in rural areas, remember to be respectful of residents and locals. As well as being tourist attractions, these are peoples’ homes!
  • Learn at least the local greetings to break the ice. Although everyone speaks English, the more you know of the native Welsh language, the greater your experience of the country will be.
  • Carry a business card in your wallet or purse from your local hotel, to assist you with the return journey if you do become lost.
  • Always ensure that you are covered by travel insurance. If you need advice on this feel free to contact Odyssey and we’ll be able to help.
  • When travelling independently, make sure you check the opening hours of shops and museums so that you don’t miss out! Museums and galleries are often closed on Mondays. Also be certain to check whether your trip coincides with any public holidays, so you can plan accordingly.
  • Consider contacting your bank to inform them that you may be making purchases overseas. Otherwise, they may flag any activity on your account as suspicious. Also, check which ATMs and banks are compatible with your cards, to ensure you can withdraw cash with minimal fees.
  • Before departing, make sure you have a number of euros in a range of denominations. You don’t want to be carrying around enormous amounts of cash, but take enough to make it easy to pay in locations that might not accept credit card. It will also help you avoid card transaction fees, and it makes tipping a breeze.

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