International Expeditions
Lighthouses of Wales
Dates
July 9, 2008 through July 22, 2008
Itinerary
July 9, 2008
BRISTOL - CARDIFF
Arrive at Bristol, UK Airport. Board coach to our hotel in Cardiff. Tour participants will have the option to go shopping and visit Cardiff Castle [walking distance from hotel] along with taking the coach to Cardiff Docklands. This is a fifteen-minute drive to see new Welsh Assembly Building, Norwegian Seaman's Church and a Trinity House Light Vessel [LV12] that is now a floating church and get on board for a short tour. We will have our Welcome Dinner that evening at the hotel. Overnight in Cardiff.
July 10, 2008
CARDIFF - SWANSEA
Breakfast at the hotel. Board coach to Nash Point Lighthouse. Meet attendant and tour the lighthouse and fog signal room. Lunch at Welsh Pub in Mumbles. Travel to Mumbles Lighthouse for a photo opportunity [A hard walk out if tide is out!]. Travel and visit the Trinity House Depot in Swansea. Visit Helwick Light Vessel and Swansea Maritime Museum. Transfer to hotel. Overnight in Swansea and dinner at the hotel.
July 11, 2008
SWANSEA - PEMBROKESHIRE
Welsh breakfast at the hotel. Depart hotel for the Whitford Point Lighthouse. Photo opportunity from shore. Travel to Burry Port Lighthouse. This is a small harbour light so just a photo opportunity. Lunch at a pub. Board coach to St. Ann's Head Lighthouse at entrance to Milford Haven. Our tour leader is the attendant here so we can visit the tower, lantern room with Chance 1st Order lens, control room, fog signal room and historic engine room, see the wildlife and passing shipping and be a lighthouse keeper for the afternoon. We can even brew tea in the mess room. Also see in the distance Skokholm Lighthouse [five miles across sea and if you have exceptional eyesight and weather is clear the Smalls Lighthouse 18 miles offshore]. Board coach back to Pembroke Dock to check in at our hotel with views of Ferry Port and Haven Waterway. Dinner at the hotel where we will be entertained by a Welsh Male Voice Choir, a harpist and maybe a storyteller. This is called a Nosen Llawen so we will probably receive some Welsh lessons!
July 12, 2008
PEMBROKESHIRE
Welsh breakfast at the hotel. Coach will take us to Tenby Harbour and if the weather is suitable, we will take a boat trip to Caldy Island. Here we will land and spend the day on the island, visit Caldey Island Lighthouse, monastery, gift shop [The monks make perfume!] and visit a tea shop. The lighthouse is a walk across the island but we might be able to organize transport for those who do not like exercise in the bracing Welsh air. Boat returns to Tenby. We will then have a chance to look around the old walled town. Return to the hotel and have a leisurely dinner there.
July 13, 2008
PEMBROKESHIRE - BEAUMARIS
Welsh breakfast at the hotel. Coach leaves for Fishguard (50 min drive). Visit to Strumble Head Lighthouse. Meet the attendant and see the fully operational lighthouse with its rotating 1st Order lens. The light will be on as it is lit 24/7. See also the engine room with its standby diesel engine. The lighthouse is on an island so be prepared to walk across a bridge and climb the path to the entrance. There may be dolphins and seals near the lighthouse. Board coach. We will have a packed lunch on board the coach though we might stop on our way north at a beautiful spot overlooking the Irish Sea. Coach will take us into old towns of Conway and Caernafon to see the castles before crossing the Brittannia road bridge on to the Isle of Anglesey. A quick stop in the small Welsh town, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, just so that you tell your friends that you have been there! Check into our hotel at the islands capital, Beaumaris. Dinner at the hotel. Enjoy the spectacular views over the Menai Strait to the mountains of North Wales.
July 14, 2008
ISLE OF ANGLESEY - YNYS MON - BEAUMARIS
Welsh breakfast at the hotel. Board coach across Island of Anglesey. Visit two lighthouses at Holyhead. One we will visit by traveling on the Breakwater Railway to also see the maritime museum, the other on Salt Island is a photo opportunity. Board coach to South Stack Lighthouse which involves another bridge across the sea and this time a climb down the cliff path. Great views as we rest a while on the way down but remember what goes down must come up. Board coach for a trip round the coast of Anglesey, to see Amlwch Lighthouse, Point Lynas Lighthouse, and Trwyn Ddu Lighthouse, all are photo opportunities though we may get into Point Lynas if owner and time allows. Travel back to hotel at Beaumaris. Dinner at the hotel.
July 15, 2008
BEAUMARIS - WIRRAL PENINSULAR - LIVERPOOL
Welsh breakfast at the hotel. Board coach back to mainland to Wirral Peninsular, visit Great Orme Lighthouse Llandudno. Then take Funicular Railway to the top of Great Orme to see Lens in Visitor Centre. Lunch in Café on Great Orme. Board coach to Wirral Peninsular and visit Point of Air Lighthouse (disused small light on a beach). Visit Perch, Leasowe and Bidston Lighthouses (photo ops). Visit Hoylake Lighthouse (now a private home). Check into our hotel in Liverpool and dinner at leisure.
July 16, 2008
LIVERPOOL - DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN (IOM)
Breakfast at the hotel. Board coach to maritime museum. Visit the Liverpool Maritime Museum then board Superseacat II for high speed crossing to Douglas, Isle of Man. Arrive Douglas, IOM and check in at our hotel. This is our base for the week in IOM, rest of day in Douglas. Visit Manx Museum, go on a horse tram on Promenade and go shopping. Walk to harbour and see its lights. We will have dinner at the hotel and have a talk on Manx Lighthouses.
July 17, 2008
DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN
Breakfast at the hotel. Board 1940s Vintage Coach. Visit the Point of Ayre Lighthouse. Lunch at Ramsey. Visit Ramsey Harbour Light and then the Maughold Head Lighthouse. Return to Douglas. We will have dinner at the hotel and then head to the Gaiety Theatre where we will see the performance of a current play.
July 18, 2008
DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN
Breakfast at the hotel. Board 1940s Vintage Coach to Laxey. Board Snaefell Mountain Railway [coach and rail parties will be at separate times]. Lunch at Laxey. Visit Laxey Wheel and Harbour Light. Time also to visit craft center. Return by train to Douglas. Arrive back at the hotel and have dinner.
July 19, 2008
DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN
Breakfast at the hotel. 1940s Vintage Coach will take us to our boat at Port Erin. Arrive Calf of Man - walk on island - visit Calf of Man Lighthouse and Chicken Rock Lighthouse offshore. Packed lunch on the Island. Boat returns to Port Erin, see Thousla Rock beacon en route. Visit Port Erin Harbour Light. Arrive back at the hotel and have dinner.
July 20, 2008
DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN
Breakfast at the hotel. Board 1940s Vintage Coach. Drive to Peel Harbour and see Peel Harbour Light along with Peel Castle. Lunch at Peel. Drive to Langness and visit Langness Lighthouse. Then depart to Castletown Harbour Light and Port St. Mary Lighthouse. Arrive back at the hotel and have dinner.
July 21, 2008
DOUGLAS, ISLE OF MAN - BRISTOL
Breakfast at the hotel. Board 1940s Vintage Coach. Visit Douglas Head Lighthouse. Visit Tynwald Hill. Lunch at the hotel. Depart and arrive at Ronaldsway, IOM Airport to board scheduled flight to Bristol. Arrive Bristol Airport. Check into the hotel near Bristol Airport for our final night. Farewell dinner at the hotel.
July 22, 2008
BRISTOL
English breakfast at the hotel. Check out of hotel, depart for Bristol Airport.
Double - $6,962
Single - $4,450