Valleys & Railways of Mid Wales

Our Welsh holiday gets under way 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 surrounding scenery or walk among the mature woodlands of the Grade II-listed Rock Park - set out in the 1960s and still featuring a spring and the original Pump Room.

This evening, we gather at our hotel to enjoy our first dinner as a group.

• Dinner

After breakfast today, we board the steam hauled Talyllyn Railway in the traditional rural village of Abergynolwyn. 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, babbling streams and delightful 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. Alternatively, you could 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 to our hotel later this afternoon through the verdant rolling hills of the Welsh countryside.

*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 this morning 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.

After some time at leisure to explore the stunning beaches, charming architecture and culture of Aberystwyth, 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 that 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, we're accompanied during dinner 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

Our wonderful mid-Wales holiday comes to an end this morning. After breakfast, you can say farewell to your Tour Manager and fellow travellers and head home - or continue exploring independently.

As you make your way back home, thoughts can turn to the fantastic sights we discovered in Wales and the charming heritage railways. 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.

• Breakfast