Event Information
Sold out! If you are interested in finding out about cancellation tickets please email giveitago@cardiff.ac.uk.
The dates of the trip are 7th April 2024, meeting at Cardiff Student Union at 6:10am. We will return to Cardiff Student Union by approximately 7:30pm on 9th April.
From flowing waterfalls and hidden villages, to Victorian seaside resorts and medieval castles, North Wales and Eryri/Snowdonia is a unique corner of the United Kingdom. The region is a stronghold of Welsh culture, with magnificent but varied landscapes and you’ll likely to hear Cymraeg (the Welsh language) being spoken. You can expect walled towns, wild goats, spectacular views and even an Italian village – but more on that below!
Event Information
What’s included?
Travel in an executive coach, with air conditioning, a toilet and reclining seats.
Three days in North Wales, with a full itinerary
2 nights’ accommodation at the Travelodge Llandudno
Entry to Portmeirion, an Italian-style Baroque village on the Dwyryd estuary
Entry to Swallow Falls, a waterfall in Eryri/Snowdonia
An optional trip on the Snowdon Mountain Railway (additional cost, more information in the itinerary)
An experienced Give it a Go trip leader
The Hotel
You will stay in a three person room at the Llandudno Travelodge, which is centrally located in the town. It is a 5 minute walk to the pier and the beach, two highlights of Llandudno. There are a variety of restaurants and pubs located around the hotel and a small supermarket is just a two minute walk away.
We will try to accommodate requests for being in same sex rooms or rooms with friends as best we can but this cannot be guaranteed.
The Itinerary
Day 1
Departing from the SU, you’ll head towards Eryri/Snowdonia, with a breakfast stop along the way with facilities.
Our first stop in Eryri/Snowdonia will be at Swallow falls, in the heart of North Wales. It is a charming waterfall set against beech and birch trees. Entry to the falls is included. From here we’ll make our way to Betws-y-Coed, a small and traditional Welsh village, where we’ll stay for just over an hour. We suggest having lunch here and wandering to the quaint Pont-y-Pair bridge that crosses Afon Llugwy, the small river that flows through the village.
Once we depart, we’ll be heading to the Victorian resort town of Llandudno, on the North Wales coast. There will be time to settle into your room and you’ll then have the option of either free time or to walk with the group to the pier, which is only five minutes away from the hotel. You’ll be free to have dinner of your choosing – perhaps a classic fish and chip supper on the beach.
In the evening, we will be doing a free optional walk up the Great Orm, the hill overlooking the town. You’ll see the wild Kashmiri goats roam free along this hillside, though they keep their distance from people! Starting on the aesthetic Marine drive, we’ll then head up the Orm which 360 degree views of the bay and the Coastline. If we’re lucky, there will be a beautiful sunset to match!
For more information about the walk, please see the ‘is there anything else I need to know’ of the page.
Day 2
We’ll start the day heading to Llanberis, the village right at the base of Yr Wyddfa/Mount Snowdon. From here, there are a number of options. You could visit the National Slate museum, to explore the impact that slate has had on the lives of local residents and the landscape, or explore national park one of numerous walks. Note that there would not be enough time to climb to the peak of Yr Wyddfa/Mount Snowdon, as this is a 14.4km walk up the highest mountain in Cymru/Wales.
Should you wish, you can join us on an optional trip up the Mountain Railway for an easy way to climb Yr Wyddfa/Mount Snowdon! Tickets are not released until approximately Jan 2024 but we will be selling tickets through Give it a Go when we are able. We will not be charging any more than you would pay the mountain railway directly. The train will go to Clogwyn station, approximately three-quarters of the way up. In April, ice and snow prevent the train from safely reaching the summit.
In the afternoon, you will visit Conwy, a walled town, marked by a grand castle. It is also home to Plas Mawr, the finest Elizabethan house in the UK. Contrastingly it is home to one of Wales’s most quirky attractions, the smallest house in the UK. All of these are open to the public. Boats also travel along the river, either out to sea or inland back towards Yr Wyddfa/Snowdon for a unique way of sightseeing in the area.
Leaving Conwy, the coach will make the short ride back to the hotel in Llandudno, where you’ll have a free evening. After a dinner of your own choosing, why not take an evening stroll along the promenade, perhaps enjoying an ice cream – a seaside must!
Day 3
Leving Llandudno behind, we’ll head along the coast towards Portmerion, a fascinating baroque Italian village built on the Afon Dwyryd estuary. It was built from 1925 all the way through to 1975, inspired by the Mediterranean coastal towns. You can explore this unique village and the surrounding countryside on short walks. Entry fee is included.
From here we’ll make our way back to Cardiff, with a comfort break en-route. The coach is expected to arrive back in Cardiff at approximately 19:30.
Is there anything else that I need to know?
You do not need a passport or visa for this trip.
Should you wish to buy travel insurance, which we would recommend, you will need to arrange this yourself.
When you purchase a ticket, you will be send a link to a typeform. Please fill this out as soon as possible so that we have all the information we need. This should not take more than about 5 minutes.
We’d expect the walk from the hostel to the Great Orm to take approximately 2 hours from leaving the hotel to returning. This includes a reasonable break at the top for photos and a short rest. The route is about 4 miles in total and includes uphill and downhill segments but we don’t expect this to be challenging for people with reasonable levels of fitness. Please note that dependant on weather, we may move this to the second night if it would be a better experience.
If you are joining us on the mountain railway, it will be a two hour scenic round trip, with a stop at Clogwyn station. There are no toilets or facilities during the trip.
The schedules of Conwy boat trips cannot be confirmed prior to one day in advance due to tides, though the boat company do expect to be running trips on the date of our visit.
Bed lining, towels and basic toiletries will be provided
Each room will initially be given one key card but reception will provide more on request
You can buy a ticket online or in person from the finance office. This is located on the 3rd floor of the Student Union and is open weekdays 10am – 4pm. From the stairwell turn left, past the Sabb bowl (large fishbowl-like office) and left again. The finance office is at the end of the corridor, clearly marked by an orange sign. The Give it a Go desk is located along the corridor, marked by a green sign, so do speak to us if you have any questions!
If you want to discuss anything further or have additional questions, please email giveitiago@cardiff.ac.uk and we will always be happy to help.
Terms and Conditions
If you can no longer attend, you may be able to get your money back if you can either find a replacement or if we have someone willing to go from a waiting list. Terms to this are below:
- There will be £10 admin fee for the person unable to attend.
- The person replacing you may have to be the same sex, depending on rooming requirements at the time. Please check with giveitago@cardiff.ac.uk if this will apply at the time you are looking at transferring a ticket.
- Transfers need to go through Give it a Go. Only people with named tickets will be allowed on the trip.
- The earlier you contact us, the more likely a ticket transfer is. It may not be possible to transfer tickets after 22nd March. If you wish to do so after this time, please still contact us and we shall try our best to assist.
- Ticket transfers are never guaranteed
If the trip cannot go ahead due to a force-majeure (such as a lockdown or natural disaster) you would be provided with a full refund. We would also try and reschedule, so it may be possible for you to simply transfer your ticket to the new date instead.
In the event of a force-majeure where the trip can go ahead but we need to make changes, alternative arrangements of an equivalent or higher standard to the initial booking may be made.
The trip is subject to minimum numbers. If it does not meet minimum requirements, the trip may be unable to go ahead. In this case a full refund would be provided.
Food is not included.
Entry is only included where stated. Should you with to enter other attractions, this would be at your own cost.
Please be on time for the coach. If you are late and the coach leaves without you, we are not responsible for your transportation and you will not receive a refund. This applies each time we use the coach. If you do not wish to take the coach for any journey, please let the trip leader know. If you are not taking the coach from the Student Union to North Wales, please email giveitago@Cardiff.ac.uk
You will need to bring your Cardiff student card and carry it to attractions, as some may need proof of your student status. If you do not carry your card with you and there is an additional charge, you will be responsible for the price difference.
The itinerary and estimated timings may be subject to change due to circumstances beyond our control (including but not limited to weather and traffic conditions).
We will share your first name, surname (family name) and phone number with the hotel.
Image Credit: Ian Kelsall on Unsplash