Beaumaris & The Isle of Anglesey

According to Celtic folklore, the Roman invaders of 60 AD were scared witless by Anglesey's fearless Celtic druids. These days visitors are welcomed more warmly to beautiful 'Ynys Mon' (the Isle of Anglesey), off the mainland's northwest coast. You can't miss the Menai Suspension Bridge, built by Thomas Telford and opened in 1826. It was the first modern suspension bridge in the world and it connects the mainland to Menai Town.

This special Spring getaway offers an insight into the history and traditions of Anglesey, once the home of the Prince and Princess of Wales and stays in the stunning Bulkeley Hotel in the heart of historic Beaumaris.

Departure points to suit you...
Crusader Holidays uses an interchange system, taking place at either Beaconsfield Services (M40), South Mimms Services (M25/A1M) or Thurrock Services (M25).

Here you may have to change to your holiday coach and we are renowned for ensuring that this is smooth and efficient.

The holiday coaches typically depart from Beaconsfield Services at 11.15, Thurrock Services at around 09.30 and South Mimms Services at 10.30. Some customers find it more convenient to join direct at the interchange, please let is know when booking if this is the case.

*Due to increased operational costs, from Monday 16th October 2023 Dover, Folkestone, Canterbury & Ashford joining points will be subject to a £25.00 per person supplement on all 2024 UK Tours.

NOTE: Pick up points are a guide so please refer to your holiday confirmation for specific locations as details are subject to change.Itinerary
Day 1 - After joining your tour coach, head off to North Wales with comfort stops en-route. Check in to the welcoming Bulkeley Hotel in Beaumaris for 4 nights DBB

Days 2 - 4 At leisure in Beaumaris with two included excursions

Enjoy a day at leisure in the captivating seaside town of Beaumaris with its mix of medieval, Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian architecture. Its name is based on the Norman 'beau marais', meaning 'fair marsh', a description of the site chosen by Edward 1 for the last of his 'Iron ring' of castles, constructed in his bid to control the Welsh. A 'must' is to take a walk through the town, starting with a stroll along the seafront, taking in the pier and the views over the Menai Strait and Snowdonia then continuing through the charming streets with their picturesque cottages, many painted in soft pastel colours.

Beaumaris Castle is a United Nations World Heritage site and an unfinished masterpiece, constructed between 1295-1330 to form perfectly symmetrical concentric lines of fortification (open daily 09.30 - 17.00 in April - entry £8.30 in 2023). You may also like to take an 80-minute cruise out to Puffin Island with an entertaining and informative commentary to point out places of interest. Weather permitting, cruises leave daily from the pier (directly opposite the hotel - usually at 11.00 and 14.00 - £18 pp approx. in 2023). Hear about the local history as well as spotting the different birds and wildlife. Puffin Island is now a bird sanctuary and a nesting site for many species of breeding seabirds and in April you are likely to see common guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes and, of course, puffins. Beaumaris town has lively cafes, pubs and restaurants with good food to suit every taste as well as some excellent shopping marked by quality independent traders.

INCLUDED EXCURSIONS
Halen Môn Anglesey Pure Sea Salt & Plas Newydd House & Gardens
Go behind the scenes with a trained guide at innovative artisan food company Halen Môn - Anglesey 'Pure' Sea Salt, to get a true taste of the culinary Welsh 'gold' sea salt that began life in a saucepan on the family aga and is now enjoyed by chefs and celebrities alike in 22 countries around the world. The award-winning Saltcote and Visitor Centre is a unique building on the banks of the Menai Strait in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the tour takes approx. 45 minutes and finishes with a tutored tasting.

Onto Plas Newydd House & Garden, once the home of the Marquess of Anglesey, a historic waterfront mansion on the north bank of the Menai Strait with spectacular views of Snowdonia. Enjoy a tour of the house - a feast of ornate Neo-classical rooms, many with intricate wallpaper and fabrics and packed with unusual furnishings. Perhaps the most remarkable exhibit is a vast 58-foot mural painted by artist Rex Whistler who was a regular visitor to the house in the early 20th century. The Grade I listed garden features the Italianate Terraces, rhododendron garden, Australasian arboretum and extensive woodland. There is an accessible path route but some steep gradients. There is no lift access to the upper floors of the house.

Penrhyn Castle & Conwy
Visit Penrhyn Castle, the vast neo-Norman fantasy castle built between 1820 and 1837. The dominating stone façade of Penrhyn Castle hides more than just its internal red-brick construction. The unique architecture, opulent interiors and fine art collection sit alongside a history of sugar and slate fortunes, of social unrest and the longest-running industrial dispute in British history. The main castle is 450m from the visitor centre via an uphill, gravel path. There is no lift inside the castle with steps to the upper floors and down to the Victorian kitchens and scullery. After a guided tour of the castle, take a stroll through Penryhn's ground and gardens from the peace and tranquillity of the formal Walled Garden to the jungle-esque Bog Garden. There is also a Railway Museum displaying rails, coaches and a locomotive from the era of Penryhn slate quarry.

Onto the historic town of Conwy with its epic World Heritage-listed castle which dominates the town. The medieval town walls are amongst the most complete in Britain and Thomas Telford's elegant 1826 suspension bridge was one of the first of its kind in the world. Conwy is a true one-off where the well-preserved ancient walls enclose a town of narrow cobbled streets, nooks and crannies chock-full of historic buildings.

Day 5 - After breakfast it's time to bid farewell to Anglesey and head back to interchange with a refreshment stop en-route. Arrive back in your hometowns this evening.

Highlights
- Hotel for 4 nights in Beaumaris with dinner & breakfast- Porterage- Tea / coffee after dinner - Tour & tasting at Halen Môn- Tour of Plas Newydd House & Garden- Guided tour of Penrhyn Castle- Visit to Conwy- Day at leisure in BeaumarisBulkeley Hotel Beaumaris
Built during the golden age of hospitality in 1832 as a Georgian showpiece to accommodate Princess Victoria on a royal visit to the stunning Isle of Anglesey, this historic 3* hotel retains the period charm of a bygone era. Set in the heart of Beaumaris directly opposite the beach and pier and within yards of Beaumaris Castle, guests can enjoy panoramic views of the Menai Strait and Snowdonia Mountain Range. Comfortable guestrooms are all shapes and sizes with no two the same but all come with TV, telephone, tea / coffee making facilities, hairdryer and WiFi. Facilities include an elegant coffee lounge, a smart restaurant, a bar & grill as well as an art gallery exhibiting the works of local artists. There is a lift

Hotels
• Bulkeley Hotel (Beaumaris) - View Information