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Dinas Bran ruins on a mindulf adventure in North Wales

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Mindful Adventure

Find yourself and reconnect, while immersed in the stunning nature and heritage of North East Wales

Far away from the stresses of modern life, this slow adventure gives the time and space to truly find yourself. Accessible to all abilities, the carefully selected experiences will connect you to this glorious landscape, and to yourself. Delicious local food, spellbinding stories, adventurous activities and breathtaking vistas await you.

North Wales 5 days May & September
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North East Wales has so much to offer with its centuries old association with healing and wellness. Throughout history people have retreated here, taking part in activities to help with focus, creativity and growth. You don’t need to be an outdoor adventurer, simply have an open mind and a willingness to release from distractions. Own your fears and emotions to unlock your potential. Shift your perspective and experience a side of Wales you’ve never seen before. And truly find yourself.

 

4 nights, zero-hassle and all this included:

  • Canoe over the world’s highest aqueduct and UNESCO World Heritage site
  • Take part in the ancient Fijian technique of arrow breaking
  • Guided walk to the magical 13th century Castell Dinas Bran
  • Guided tour of a medieval market town
  • Unique dining experience in the gardens of a 15th Century house
  • Walk in the footsteps of pilgrims
  • Abseil, forage and enjoy an outdoor feast
  • 4 nights living in a Welsh community in quality accommodation
  • Breakfast every day, plus 3 lunches and 2 group evening meals
  • Professional, local, English speaking guides
  • All transport between activities

Check out the full itinerary in the tab above!

For adventurers who:

Want to connect with themselves, nature and the fascinating heritage of North East Wales on a slow adventure.

Perfect for solo travellers, couples and friends.

Friday

Live like a local

You’ll be staying in comfortable family-run guest accommodation during your stay here in North East Wales. You’ll have a great insight into life in Wales and a real opportunity to experience rural living.

Once you’ve arrived at your host’s home, you’ll have time to unpack and freshen up from your journey before we take you out for a delicious local meal in a nearby pub. It’s the perfect way to start your adventure, getting to know your guide and the small group you’ll share the next few days with.

Saturday

Slow travel with a head for heights

After enjoying a delicious wholesome breakfast at your accommodation, you’ll be taken to your first mindful adventure location, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.

They say the journey is as important as the destination and that’s never more true than when you’re winding your way through the Clwydian Range Area of Outstanding Beauty and over the famous Horseshoe Pass. Soak up stunning views of Eglwsyg valley and the majestic Eglwsyg escarpment, the only place in the world you’ll find the Llangollen Whitebeam tree (Sorbus cuneifolia). As you descend into Llangollen look out for the impressive ruins of the Cistercian Valley Crucis Abbey, built in 1201. The artist Turner found this area so beautiful, many of his paintings depict scenes from around here.

On arrival at Thomas Telford’s magnificient feat of engineering, the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, you’ll be briefed on your unique canoe trip. Completed in 1808, the sheer innovation of this construction led to it being designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. And at over 38m high, the view from it is spectacular – it’s a case of mind over matter to dare look down!

 

Chapels, castles & crows

Once your palpitations have subsided we will enjoy lunch in the beautifully converted Chapel Tearooms, before taking you back to the picturesque riverside town of Llangollen. Home to the Llangollen Steam Railway, horse drawn barges, tranquil canal-side walks and boutique shops and eateries, it’s like stepping back in time to when life was slower.

From here you’ll enjoy a guided walk to Castell Dinas Brân – the Crow’s Fortress – crowning a craggy hilltop high above Llangollen. This is one of the most dramatically-sited and legend-haunted strongholds in Great Britain. Set within the corner of an Iron Age hillfort, it’s one of the few surviving Welsh-built stone castles, constructed in the 13th century by Gruffudd ap Madoc, ruler of northern Powys. Your guide will share stories and legends from a bygone era; testing the fables of visits from King Arthur and the whereabouts of the ‘Holy Grail’.

At the end of your walk you’ll be transported back to your accommodation where you will enjoy a free evening.

Sunday

Holy footsteps

After breakfast at your accommodation, you’ll be collected for the journey to today’s first experience location, Holywell.

You’ll be walking in the footsteps of pilgrims who have journeyed through this area for many centuries. Accompanied by your guide, you’ll pay homage to St Winefride’s Well, a natural spring whose waters are said to have healing powers. Saint Winefride was a virgin martyr, beheaded by Caradoc, a local prince, after she spurned his advances. It’s said the spring rose from the ground at the spot where her head fell.

Continuing your journey of mindfulness you’ll pass through Greenfield Heritage Park, known for its woodland and reservoirs, ancient monuments and rich industrial past, to reach the Grade 1 listed Besingwerk Abbey ruins. Founded in the 12th century, the abby belonged to the Order of Cistercians before it was abandoned following the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1536.

 

Stepping back in time

Enjoy a lunch of delicious local produce at a local craft centre before we pick up the pilgrim’s route further along, leading us to the hill fort on Penycloddiau. Built around 500 BC, the hill fort encircles one of the most prominent peaks in the Clwydian range. Near the summit is a Bronze Age burial mound, dating back even further to around 2000 BC. A mindful reminder that people were living in this area an incredible 4,000 years ago!

Penycloddiau hill fort is the largest of several forts built along the highest peaks in the Range, and one of the largest in all of Wales. Your guide will delight in sharing some of the many myths and legends that abound here.

At the end of your pilgrimage, you’ll be taken back to your homely accommodation where you’ll have a free evening to relax and dine at your leisure.

Monday

Steady as a rock

Relax over breakfast before we collect you for your final full day of mindful adventure.

This morning you’ll test your nerves as you experience abseiling down a sheer rock face. Set on the edge of a beautiful beech forest, this former limestone quarry has been calling climbers and abseilers for decades. The views from the top are spectacular. So even if you’re not usually one for heights, there’s plenty of reasons to conquer your fears and give abseiling a try here.

 

Tasting the landscape

Once your feet touch the ground below, your expert guide will teach you the art of foraging and bushcraft skills. Nothing connects us with nature better than understanding how to harvest its delicious bounty. Suddenly everyday plants take on a new character as you learn what’s safe and delicious to eat from our hedgerows and fields.

You’ll have definitely worked up an appetite by now, ready to tuck into a delicious ‘posh picnic’. With all the food sourced and produced locally, where better to serve it than in this beautiful wild space.

 

Power of the mind

Still on a high from your accomplishments so far, you’ll have the opportunity to further unlock your potential with the Fijian technique of arrow breaking. Your expert guide will lead you through a series of exercises designed to release distractions. Harnessing your fears and emotions provides the focus and embodying breath to enable you to snap an arrow on your throat!

 

Feast & folkstories

Your mindful adventure will culminate in an evening feast, stories and entertainment in the gardens of the Grade 1 listed building Nant Y Dre, Ruthin. The oldest dated timbered town house in Wales, it was built in 1435 and is now beautifully restored to take you on a journey through the seven ages of its life. Winner of the Visit Wales Hidden Gem Award in 2017 and 2018, you’ll have exclusive access to a unique pop-up dining experience in this historic place.

When the celebrations are over, you’ll be returned to your accommodation for your final night in North East Wales.

Tuesday

A fond farewell

Enjoy a delicious breakfast before you make your own way home. You’ll be feeling truly connected to the nature and heritage of this beautiful region of Wales. And you’ll have a new motivation and focus for your future ambitions and wellbeing.

What's Included

  • Canoe over the world’s highest aqueduct and UNESCO World Heritage site
  • Take part in the ancient Fijian technique of arrow breaking
  • Guided walk to the magical 13th century Castell Dinas Bran
  • Guided tour of a medieval market town
  • Unique dining experience in the gardens of a 15th Century house
  • Walk in the footsteps of pilgrims
  • Abseil, forage and enjoy an outdoor feast
  • 4 nights living in a Welsh community in high quality accommodation
  • Breakfast every day, plus 3 lunches and 2 group evening meals
  • Professional, local, English and speaking guide
  • All transport between activities

What you need to bring

  • Sturdy, waterproof walking boots and walking socks
  • Day backpack – to carry snacks and essentials when out walking
  • Comfortable clothing and flat grippy shoes (trainers are ideal) for your abseiling and foraging experience
  • Waterproof clothing – even if the forecast looks good, the weather can be very changeable in the mountains
  • Warm layers – even in summer it can be chilly in the hills, especially in the evening
  • Sunscreen for when the sun comes out to play

What you need to know

  • The trip beginning 1st May 2020 is based at the Old Mill Holiday Cottages, Nannerch – this self catering accommodation provides a hamper of local breakfast delicacies and the facilities you need to prepare your own meals. There’s also a pub serving food just a few minutes walk away
  • The trip beginning 25th September 2020 is based at the Old Rectory, Clocaenog – this Bed & Breakfast accommodation provides breakfast each morning. You will need to use local dining options for dinner on two of your evenings (a car is advisable, though there is a pub within walking distance)
  • Please ensure you bear the above accommodation types in mind when booking your preferred date
  • You’ll need to make your own way to and from the accommodation. Due to the rural location, we recommend driving – directions will be provided upon enquiry / booking
  • We don’t believe in charging people more for exploring our world solo, so we’ll always match you up with a likeminded traveler to share with. If you would prefer your own room we can usually accommodate that, though an extra charge would apply – please enquire before booking
  • This trip requires a minimum of 8 people to run
  • The total group size will not exceed 8, to ensure you enjoy a small group experience
  • Please note, this trip may be rearranged or cancelled if fewer than 8 people are booked. We’ll let you know at least 30 days in advance

At Adventure Tours UK, we set out to create the kind of breaks people like us go wild for. People who get their thrills in the outdoors and want to care for it too. Who want to disconnect from the daily grind and reconnect with nature. If you’re in search of adventure, you’ll find it with us.

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