South Wales by Steam

You meet your Tour Manager at your hotel in friendly Swansea, where you spend the next five nights. Set amidst the rolling hills and golden sands of Swansea Bay, the city is an ideal base for exploring South Wales. After checking in, you're at leisure to start exploring before dinner with the rest of your group this evening.

Just a short walk from your hotel, in the city centre you'll find a lively atmosphere mixed with historic charm. You could head to the popular Indoor Market, which has over 100 stalls, to sample a variety of local delicacies. Or you could simply wander through the range of shops, cafes, and restaurants that line the bustling streets.

• Dinner

This morning, your group is introduced to the beautiful countryside of South Wales on the Brecon Mountain Railway. A coach drops you off in the village of Pant to board the heritage railway for a round trip. On the journey through dramatic landscapes, the vintage steam locomotive winds through leafy countryside and alongside the Taf Fechan Reservoir. It continues, climbing to the summit of the original line, Torpantau, high in the Brecon Beacons, where you can admire the wild vistas from the observation carriages.

Back in Pant, your group boards the coach to St Fagans National Museum of History. The museum stands on the grounds of the magnificent St Fagans Castle and Gardens, a late 16th-century manor house donated to the people of Wales by the Earl of Plymouth in 1948. With time at leisure, you can explore over 2,000 years of Welsh history on display, and see craftspeople demonstrating their skills in this remarkable living museum. There's time for you to get some lunch before the coach takes your group back to the hotel ahead of dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Today you can discover Swansea at your own pace. You could gain an insight into the city's rich cultural history at the fascinating Swansea Museum, or step back to the 1800s at the National Waterfront Museum which celebrates the industrial and maritime history of Wales. If you're a poetry fan, you could visit the Dylan Thomas Centre which is dedicated to the life and works of the literary giant. Nearby these attractions, the Swansea Bay waterfront has many shops and cafes where you could enjoy lunch and try a traditional Welsh dish like rarebit or laverbread.

Alternatively, you could adventure beyond the city centre. The enchanting Clyne Gardens offers a quiet and relaxing day amidst beautiful flora. A collection of magnificent parks, the gardens are blooming with rare and exotic plants - the perfect escape from the bustling city. This evening enjoy dinner at the hotel with your group.

• Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, the coach takes your group to Abergwili Junction this morning for a journey on the Gwili Steam Railway. This preserved heritage line harks back to a time when life moved at a slower pace, taking you on a round trip alongside the River Gwili, past rocky outcrops and the Gwili Falls. Your group is treated to a 'Welsh Elevenses', enjoying tea or coffee accompanied by traditional Welsh cakes.

You then rejoin the coach and head to the Gower Peninsula's stunning coastline. This beautiful headland juts into the Bristol Channel, creating a stretch of rugged cliffs, topped by woodlands and fringed by sandy beaches. The area was designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in 1956 - the first place in the UK to receive the title.

Along the coast lies Mumbles, a pretty little seaside town with a delightful name. This beloved area has a range of attractions you can explore at leisure. Marvel at the 18th-century Lighthouse, stroll along the Victorian Pier, or visit Oystermouth Castle which sits on a hilltop with fabulous views overlooking the sea. For lunch you could indulge in some 'fresh off the boat' seafood, followed by an ice cream from one of the Welsh-Italian ice cream parlours. The coach takes your group back to your hotel with plenty of time to relax before 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

This morning takes you to the tiny city of St David's. Named after the patron saint of Wales, this is Britain's smallest city and has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries. Your group visits the city's iconic 12th-century cathedral, built from pale purple sandstone and set in a wild and beautiful part of St David's - the site of a church since the 6th century.

This afternoon, the coach drives your group to the charismatic seaside town of Tenby where there's time to explore at leisure. Surrounded by 13th-century walls and known for its sandy shores, pastel-hued houses, and winding cobbled streets, the town is steeped in history. You could sample some delicious local fish and chips for lunch, the perfect accompaniment to a day spent exploring the magnificent Welsh coast. Later this afternoon, the coach takes your group back to the hotel in time for dinner this evening.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Your holiday comes to an end this morning. After breakfast, say goodbye to new friends and once you've checked out, you can make your way home or continue exploring more of wonderful Wales on your own.

• Breakfast