We travel to Wales via the Dun Laoghaire/Holyhead ferry and stop in mid-afternoon in the seaside resort of Llandudno, a favourite destination for Ulsterbus Short Breaks patrons.

We leave the north coast this morning and travel into the heart of the country, through marvellous sounding places such as Betws-y-Coed, Blaenan-Ffestinog and Llandrindod Wells, to Cardiff in the far south. Our hotel is located in the city centre.

We have a full day in the city today, with a local guide to point out the main attractions, ending with a visit to the splendid castle. Each room tells its own fascinating story and the towering Norman Keep gives a wonderful view over the whole city.

The afternoon is free to explore on your own.

Our guide returns this morning for an excursion into the Valleys, starting at the Rhondda Heritage Park. Discover how coal shaped the lives of the people of South Wales, and the legacy it has left behind. Later we continue over the Rhigos Mountains to Hirwaun and back to Cardiff via Merthyr Tydfil.

We leave Cardiff this morning and begin our return journey following the old border route along Offa’s Dyke, past Tintern Abbey and through Hereford, in England.

Our route later takes us back into Wales, where we visit fascinating Powis Castle before finally leaving the principality and checking into our last hotel, at Daresbury near Liverpool.

Daresbury Park, Daresbury ****
(1 Night)

After a relaxing breakfast we leave the Daresbury and travel directly to Holyhead where we catch the afternoon ferry back to Dublin Port and arrive in Belfast around 7.30pm.