Scotland and Wales, April & May, 2023
Last year we embarked on a new sort of adventure – we took a small group (14 people) over to the UK to explore Wales and Scotland, and it was wonderful! So wonderful, we’re doing it again in 2023, using everything we learned last year to tweak our itinerary so that we experience as much as we possibly can in each place. We’ll be revisiting some of the places we absolutely adored, skipping over anything that was not quite as fabulous as we had hoped (looking at you Harry Potter train!), and adding on a few things we didn’t get a chance to do previously.
A group of this size, traveling by a combination of local trains and a comfortable Sprinter van (with a few ferries thrown in for fun) gives us the agility to get to places inaccessible by large buses, the flexibility to empower everyone to explore their individual interests, and the delightful camaraderie of gathering together at local pubs and family-run restaurants to review the day’s adventures.
For 2023 we are planning two trips (which can easily be combined into one): one to Scotland and one to Wales. You can sign up for one, or sign up for both and receive a discount.
AS OF JANUARY 6TH 2023 THESE TRIPS ARE SOLD OUT, BUT PLEASE SIGN UP FOR OUR WAITING LIST HERE, AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN AND IF WE HAVE OPENINGS.
Note: If it better suits your travel plans to arrive in the UK in London, we can help you organize your transfer to Edinburgh – It’s an easy train ride through some lovely countryside.
Thursday, April 27: Edinburgh to Beauly. This morning we’ll hop the train for a stunning trip through the Perthshire countryside to the delightful village of Beauly, one of our unplanned discoveries from last year. We’ll probably hop of the train in Inverness for a visit to the Scottish Kiltmakers Visitor Center https://www.highlandhouseoffraser.com/exhibition/ , then continue on to Beauly for the night. After settling into our cozy hotel right on the village square and within steps of the stunning Beauly Priory https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/beauly-priory/ , we’ll have time to take a walk through the old growth forest of Reelig Glen https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/reelig-glen before returning to town for dinner and a few pints at the hotel pub. Overnight in Beauly.
Friday, April 28: Beauly and environs. One of our great discoveries last year was the incredibly rich culture of local farmers and food producers as well as artisans and craftspeople in this region, so we’ll spend this day with a local innkeeper/restaurateur/historian/whiskey expert who will take us on a tour of some of his favorite regional producers and artisans to sample everything from local cheeses to organic beers, with stops at some of the best artisan cooperatives and studios. The day winds up with a fabulous multi-course whisky tasting dinner at The Downright Gabbler, where Garry and his family will feed us a spectacular menu with ingredients sourced from many of the producers we’ve just visited, and then he’ll take us through a fascinating narrative tour of the history of whisky in Scotland, and of Scotland itself. Even for those who aren’t whisky drinkers, it’s a wonderful evening of story-telling and great food. And the beer and wine list is pretty great too. Overnight in Beauly.
Saturday, April 29: Beauly to Ullapool to Stornaway – the Outer Hebrides! This morning we’ll head out through the Highlands and along the shores of Loch Broome to Ullapool on the western coast of the Scottish Highlands and board the CalMac ferry to Stornoway on the island of Lewis and Harris to launch our exploration of the Outer Hebrides. We’ll arrive on the island early enough to explore the northern tip of the island, it’s dramatic windswept beaches, the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village http://www.gearrannan.com/see-and-do/village-attractions/ and the legendary Callanais Standing Stones https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/calanais-standing-stones/ A well-earned dinner, a few wee drams and a good night’s sleep await us at our hotel on the harbor. Overnight Stornaway
Sunday, April 30: Lewis and Harris, the Uists and Barra. Using the network of ferries, causeways and single track roads, we’ll weave our way down this interconnected chain of islands as far as we can in a day, exploring the incredible variety of grasslands, moorlands, rocky coastline, neolithic cairns, seal rookeries, seabird colonies, and the epic stretches of uninhabited sandy beaches. Back to Stornoway for the night, we’ll rest up for our journey to Skye in the morning.
Monday, May 1: Tarbert to Uig. We board another ferry crossing the charmingly-named ‘Little Minch”, landing on the isle of Skye in Uig. We’ll take the scenic drive to our hotel – traversing the island through the dramatic mountains of the Quirang https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-quiraing , and winding down the eastern shore, stopping at the blustery Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls, and if the iconic Old Man of Storr https://www.isleofskye.com/skye-guide/top-ten-skye-walks/old-man-of-storr isn’t completely socked in by fog this year (as it sadly was in 2022), we’ll get our chance for some pretty epic photographs. Evening finds us at the end of a gravel road (sheep have the right of way) the delightful Redwood House on the banks of Greshornish Loch, where the grounds are home to dozens of frolicking lambs and stunning views across the water. Overnight Greshornish.
Tuesday, May 2: Isle of Skye. Today we’ll have a ramble around the island, popping in at artists’ studios (bicycle-powered weaving loom anyone?), epic castles https://www.dunvegancastle.com/ , maybe a tasting at one of Skye’s up and coming artisan gin distilleries, or a a late lunch at the Sligachan Hotel. For those who wish to do some hiking, we can coordinate trailhead drop offs and pick ups. This is a day in which the benefits of traveling with a small group become evident – we have the flexibility to adjust our itinerary to the interests of the group. Another night at the Redwood House sets us up for our epic day of travel tomorrow!
Wednesday, May 3: Skye to Mallaig, through the Trossachs National Park to Oban. We’ll use every mode of transport we can as we travel today – we’ll drive down to Armadale to the southeastern tip of Skye, hop the ferry for a short trip over to the mainland and Mallaig, where we’ll board the train and travel across the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct and into Fort William, where our van will pick us up. Then we’ll hug the coastline down to the perfectly horseshoe-shaped bay of the town of Oban, where we’ll collapse into our comfy beds at our waterside hotel.
Thursday, May 4: Final push to Glasgow. For those interested, we can squeeze in a visit to the Oban Whisky distillery before hopping on the train to head through the absolutely jaw-dropping scenery of the Trossachs National Park, threading our way through Ballachulish and the remarkable formations of the Three Sisters of Glencoe, waving encouragement to those far more industrious than we who are hiking the Great Trossachs Path. We’ll skirt the banks of Loch Lomond before making our final push into Glasgow, our home for the night.
Friday, May 5: Transition day. Those who are leaving to head home or on to further independent adventure can either fly directly out of Glasgow or take a quick one-hour train ride directly to the Edinburgh airport, or even perhaps spend some time in ether city to continue your exploration. We'll be happy to consult with you on the many options available.
PLEASE NOTE -- SINCE WE ORIGINALLY ROUTED THESE TRIPS, THE KING'S CORONATION HAS BEEN SCHEDULED IN LONDON FOR MAY 6TH (THE NERVE!! DIDN'T HE KNOW WE WERE COMING?!?), WHICH HAS CREATED A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SHORTAGE OF AVAILABLE HOTELS, CURTAILED OR CANCELED TRANSIT OPTIONS, AND ALL THE OTHER INCONVENIENCES YOU CAN IMAGINE FOR AN EVENT OF THAT SIZE AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE. OUR SOLUTION IS TO RE-ROUTE THOSE CONTINUING ON TO THE WALES TRIP AND THOSE BEGINNING THE WALES TRIP TO MANCHESTER. THIS WILL GET US OUT OF THE CHAOS AND HASSLE OF THE CORONATION DISRUPTIONS IN LONDON, BUT ALSO LEAVES PEOPLE TO EXPLORE LONDON AT THE END OF THEIR TRAVELS WITH US IF THEY SO CHOOSE.
Those who are continuing on to the Wales portion of the trip can opt to stay another night in Glasgow, take the hour-long train ride to Edinburgh to fill in the sightseeing gaps from our first pass through, or take the train down to Manchester for a day and night of independent exploring before the Wales trip “officially” starts. Whatever works best for you, we can help you arrange.
On this trip we’ll be joined by the irrepressible Jon Langford, son of Wales, founder/member of virtually every interesting punk band that ever punked, acclaimed painter, prodigious collaborator, and just the most delightful traveling companion (he can help us pronounce the street signs!). Jon will grace us with his music throughout the trip - a concert in Newport and some more informal guitar slinging in pubs along the way.
Saturday, May 6: Manchester arrival. (For those who might want a day to deal with jet lag and do some independent exploring, we can arrange pre-trip hotel nights at our group rate.) We'll gather for a brief orientation and check-in before heading out to explore dinner options and our local surroundings.
Sunday, May 7: Manchester – Newport, Wales. We board the train at Manchester's Piccadilly Station and head south into Wales. passing through the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, skirting the edges of the Brecon Beacons National Park and into the ancestral lands of our pal Jon Langford. We’ll disembark in Newport – Wales’ historic coal port - and check into our downtown hotel before heading out for a quick explore. Newport is a city that has re-imagined itself from its days as the center of Wales’ coal exporting industry, and is developing a great downtown scene of independent shops, music venues, pubs – including Le Pub, a community arts and music collective in which Mr. Langford has a stake, so we’ll have a festive evening there. Other possible activities: a ride across the River Usk on the Transporter Bridge (only one of six still in operation worldwide), a visit to the first of many Welsh castles, a stroll along the Newport Public Art Trail. Overnight in Newport.
Monday, May 8: Newport – St Davids. Those who wish to rise early and learn about the history of Welsh coal mining can hop on the van for a side jaunt to the Big Pit Mining Museum, or the ruins of the ancient Roman legionary fortress of Caerleon. Once those folks return, we’ll head west toward Cardiff to explore the magnificent Cardiff Castle, then perhaps we’ll have time for a brief stop at the Dylan Thomas Boathouse in Laugharne and a chance to sample some Welsh Cakes at the tearoom. Time-permitting, we can stop in the beautiful seaside town of Tenby (Oh look! Another castle!) for an ice cream and a leg stretch along one of its magnificent beaches before we head straight to St. Davids, our home for the next two nights. Our charming hotel overlooks the town square and the stunning St. Davids Cathedral. Overnight St. Davids.
Tuesday, May 9: St. Davids and environs. St. Davids is perfectly situated for exploring the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail, a walking trail traversing 186 miles of the most spectacular coastal scenery in Britain. There are a number of walks/hikes of varying lengths and degrees of difficulty, and we highly encourage everyone to get out and give it a go. The vistas from the cliffside paths are unforgettable. In the afternoon we can spend the time the St. Davids Cathedral really deserves, guided by a local historian who can put it all into perspective for us. Overnight St. Davids.
Wednesday, May 10: St. Davids to Porthmadog. After a delicious breakfast at our hotel, we’ll head up to Aberystwyth, where we’ll board the Vale of Rheidol Railway, the first of a series of charming little narrow gauge steam trains that we’ll be riding over the next few days. Our route climbs up into the Cambrian Mountains to Devil’s Bridge, where we can either take a short hike to the waterfalls or relax with a nice cup of tea and a Welsh Cake in the station tea room before boarding the train back down the mountain. We’ll head deep into Snowdonia National Park, emerging in the seaside town of Porthmadog, our home for the next two nights.
Thursday, May 11: Porthmadog and environs. We have a lot of options today! Those who are in the mood for another train ride can join us for another narrow gauge heritage railway trip up into the mountains of Snowdonia to the town of Blaenau-Ffestiniog (nope, still can’t pronounce it), a World Heritage Site for the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales. It’s a stunning ride, twisting and curving up the steep mountainside with spectacular views in all directions. Others may prefer spending the day exploring Porthmadog and taking a side trip out to Portmeiron, the incongruously charming Italianate village, created by Welsh architect, Sir Clough William-Ellis between 1926 and 1976 and which also served as the filming location for the 1960s cult classic TV series, The Prisoner. Late afternoon finds us at the lovely beachfront B&B, Rose Cottage, owned by Jon Langford’s cousin, where we’ll have a proper Welsh Tea, joined by some of the family’s friends and neighbors for some song-swapping and storytelling with a panoramic view overlooking Tremadog Bay. Overnight Porthmadog.
Friday, May 12: Porthmadog to Conwy. This morning we’ll hop another steam train to traverse an entirely different landscape – across rolling farmland and through lush oak forests to the town of Bedgellert, where our van will pick us up and whisk us off for a visit to the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel for a late lunch, afternoon tipple, or whatever fits with our timing. The hotel served as the training base for Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay as they prepared for the first successful ascent of Mount Everest in 1953, and is packed with mountaineering ephemera and hosts the legendary Resident’s bar. We’ll wind our way down from the mountains and into the lovely seaside town of Conwy, home to the stunning Conwy Castle, where we’ll settle into our hotel for the night. Overnight Conwy.
Saturday, May 13: Conwy to St. Asaph. We’ll have time for some early morning castle exploring before we head up to the classic Victorian seaside town of Llandudno, with a stop at the Penderyn Whisky Distillery where we can take a tour and do some sampling. Time permitting, we can take Britain’s only funicular up to the stunning limestone headlands of the Great Orme for some sweeping views over the Irish Sea. A stroll down the legendary Llandudno Pier will give us a nice leg stretch before we hop back into the van and head for our final stop of this epic adventure -- a restful night in a classic country house manor hotel in the hills of Denbighshire.
Sunday, May 14: Departure Day. We'll get you to the local rail hub from which we'll all scatter to the four corners of the earth – some heading to London or Edinburgh to catch flights home, some to continue on with their own exploration. As your individual travel plans evolve, we can help you make arrangements to get to your departure city – most are an easy train ride away.
PRICING
Two Trip Package: We've got a special discount for those who want to do both trips, and as always we are happy to take a deposit, then set up an interest free monthly credit card payment schedule for you. Both trips combined: $8128.00 per person (a savings of $250.00 – discounted further if you pay in full at time of sign-up). Includes 17 nights hotel accommodation (single occupancy for solo travelers), rail and motor coach ground transportation, admission to all scheduled attractions. Please note that the hotel on 5/6 is not included in the two-trip pricing, however we are happy to arrange that night at our group rate at either our Glasgow or Manchester hotel – depending on where you'd like to spend your time.
AS OF 12/10/22 THE TWO-TRIP PACKAGE IS SOLD OUT, BUT WE ENCOURAGE ANYONE WITH A SERIOUS INTEREST TO SIGN UP FOR THE WAITING LIST HERE. THINGS MAY SHIFT BETWEEN NOW AND MAY AND WE'D LOVE TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE TO DO SO.
Scotland: Includes 9 nights hotel accommodation (single occupancy for solo travelers) rail and motor coach ground transportation, admission to all scheduled attractions. $4189.00 per person.
Wales: Includes 8 nights hotel accommodation (single occupancy for solo travelers), rail and motor coach ground transportation, admission to all scheduled attractions. $4189.00 per person.
AS OF 12/10/22 THE WALES TRIP IS SOLD OUT, BUT WE ENCOURAGE ANYONE WITH A SERIOUS INTEREST TO SIGN UP FOR THE WAITING LIST HERE. THINGS MAY SHIFT BETWEEN NOW AND MAY AND WE'D LOVE TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE TO DO SO.
TO PURCHASE
Pay in full for maximum savings! 2% discount It makes our life much easier if trips are paid in full, and we pass the savings in time and bookkeeping on to you.
If you'd rather pay a deposit to hold your space(s): $300.00 per person per trip deposit:
Within 30 days of deposit, pay your remaining balance through our online store:
TRAVEL INSURANCE ON UPCOMING TRIPS
Since the advent of Covid-19, and its impact upon travel, we feel purchasing travel insurance has gone from wise precaution to fiscal necessity. Going forward, we are requiring that all patrons must carry trip insurance that provides, at a minimum, coverage for the following:
THE FINE PRINT
Our customers are extremely important to us, and when travel disruptions occur, we are committed to working with you to minimize the financial impact. In the event that you need to cancel a trip for whatever reason, we will work with you to try and find a buyer for the space you are needing to give up. Often this works out well for all: the person needing to cancel recovers most, if not all, of their investment, and a person who might have been on a waiting list gets to go on the trip - however, there are no guarantees.
We understand that the new realities of travel are such that we need to be more flexible than ever before. We are also an extremely small business with many fixed costs that can't always be recovered if a trip needs to be postponed or cancelled due to health and safety concerns. We will be completely transparent if a scheduled trip looks like it needs to be adjusted in any way that might impact your enjoyment of the experience. Please read through our cancellation policy carefully and feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.
Cancellation policy: Deposits, whether paid separately or as part of a full payment up front, are non-refundable. Outside of deposit and credit card fees, full refund will be given up until 90 days prior to start of trip. 50% refund 60-89 days. No refund less than 60 days prior to start of trip. Reservations are fully transferable to another person.The payment of a deposit or any part or full payment for a reservation shall constitute consent to all the provisions contained herein.
Flying Under Radar, LLC shall not be held responsible for property loss or damage and/or any damages resulting from illness, personal injuries or death which may be sustained by reason of, or while engaged on, any trip or tour whether due to the ownership, maintenance, use, operation or control of any vehicle, hotel, common carrier or any other conveyance used in carrying out these tours. We can assume no liability due to any cause whatsoever whether caused by failure or delay or other irregularity, acts or omissions occurring during a tour under which the means of transportation or other service thereby is offered or supplied by owners, operators or public carriers for whom Flying Under Radar, LLC acts only as agent. Flying Under Radar, LLC reserves the right (at its discretion) to alter or omit any part of the itinerary, or change any reservation, feature and/or means of conveyance without notice or for any reason whatsoever and without allowance or refund and with extra costs, if any, resulting therefrom paid by the passengers. We reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. Flying Under Radar, LLC shall not be responsible for any injury to person (whether or not resulting in death) or damage to property.
Baggage is at the owner's risk entirely. The transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not aboard their carriers or conveyances. The passenger contract in use by the carriers concerned (when issued) shall constitute the sole contract between the transportation companies and the purchaser of these tours and/or passage. By accepting the ticket the passenger also agrees to its terms and conditions. By forwarding of deposit, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers. Flying Under Radar, LLC reserves the right to cancel or withdraw any person as a member of the tour at any time. Flying Under Radar, LLC and Roots on the Rails management reserve the right to refuse service to anyone whom it considers incompatible with the best interests of its services or its guests.
A group of this size, traveling by a combination of local trains and a comfortable Sprinter van (with a few ferries thrown in for fun) gives us the agility to get to places inaccessible by large buses, the flexibility to empower everyone to explore their individual interests, and the delightful camaraderie of gathering together at local pubs and family-run restaurants to review the day’s adventures.
For 2023 we are planning two trips (which can easily be combined into one): one to Scotland and one to Wales. You can sign up for one, or sign up for both and receive a discount.
AS OF JANUARY 6TH 2023 THESE TRIPS ARE SOLD OUT, BUT PLEASE SIGN UP FOR OUR WAITING LIST HERE, AND WE'LL LET YOU KNOW WHEN AND IF WE HAVE OPENINGS.
Scotland: Highlands and Hebrides
Edinburgh - Beauly - Ullapool - Outer Hebrides - Skye - Oban - Glasgow
Wednesday, April 26: Arrival in Edinburgh. We arrive in Edinburgh and check into our downtown hotel. Depending on everyone’s arrival plans, we’ll head out to take in some of the city’s legendary museums and historical sites before heading out for dinner and a wee bit of pub crawling. Let’s go find some great traditional Scottish music! Overnight in Edinburgh.Note: If it better suits your travel plans to arrive in the UK in London, we can help you organize your transfer to Edinburgh – It’s an easy train ride through some lovely countryside.
Thursday, April 27: Edinburgh to Beauly. This morning we’ll hop the train for a stunning trip through the Perthshire countryside to the delightful village of Beauly, one of our unplanned discoveries from last year. We’ll probably hop of the train in Inverness for a visit to the Scottish Kiltmakers Visitor Center https://www.highlandhouseoffraser.com/exhibition/ , then continue on to Beauly for the night. After settling into our cozy hotel right on the village square and within steps of the stunning Beauly Priory https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/beauly-priory/ , we’ll have time to take a walk through the old growth forest of Reelig Glen https://forestryandland.gov.scot/visit/reelig-glen before returning to town for dinner and a few pints at the hotel pub. Overnight in Beauly.
Friday, April 28: Beauly and environs. One of our great discoveries last year was the incredibly rich culture of local farmers and food producers as well as artisans and craftspeople in this region, so we’ll spend this day with a local innkeeper/restaurateur/historian/whiskey expert who will take us on a tour of some of his favorite regional producers and artisans to sample everything from local cheeses to organic beers, with stops at some of the best artisan cooperatives and studios. The day winds up with a fabulous multi-course whisky tasting dinner at The Downright Gabbler, where Garry and his family will feed us a spectacular menu with ingredients sourced from many of the producers we’ve just visited, and then he’ll take us through a fascinating narrative tour of the history of whisky in Scotland, and of Scotland itself. Even for those who aren’t whisky drinkers, it’s a wonderful evening of story-telling and great food. And the beer and wine list is pretty great too. Overnight in Beauly.
Saturday, April 29: Beauly to Ullapool to Stornaway – the Outer Hebrides! This morning we’ll head out through the Highlands and along the shores of Loch Broome to Ullapool on the western coast of the Scottish Highlands and board the CalMac ferry to Stornoway on the island of Lewis and Harris to launch our exploration of the Outer Hebrides. We’ll arrive on the island early enough to explore the northern tip of the island, it’s dramatic windswept beaches, the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village http://www.gearrannan.com/see-and-do/village-attractions/ and the legendary Callanais Standing Stones https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/calanais-standing-stones/ A well-earned dinner, a few wee drams and a good night’s sleep await us at our hotel on the harbor. Overnight Stornaway
Sunday, April 30: Lewis and Harris, the Uists and Barra. Using the network of ferries, causeways and single track roads, we’ll weave our way down this interconnected chain of islands as far as we can in a day, exploring the incredible variety of grasslands, moorlands, rocky coastline, neolithic cairns, seal rookeries, seabird colonies, and the epic stretches of uninhabited sandy beaches. Back to Stornoway for the night, we’ll rest up for our journey to Skye in the morning.
Monday, May 1: Tarbert to Uig. We board another ferry crossing the charmingly-named ‘Little Minch”, landing on the isle of Skye in Uig. We’ll take the scenic drive to our hotel – traversing the island through the dramatic mountains of the Quirang https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-quiraing , and winding down the eastern shore, stopping at the blustery Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls, and if the iconic Old Man of Storr https://www.isleofskye.com/skye-guide/top-ten-skye-walks/old-man-of-storr isn’t completely socked in by fog this year (as it sadly was in 2022), we’ll get our chance for some pretty epic photographs. Evening finds us at the end of a gravel road (sheep have the right of way) the delightful Redwood House on the banks of Greshornish Loch, where the grounds are home to dozens of frolicking lambs and stunning views across the water. Overnight Greshornish.
Tuesday, May 2: Isle of Skye. Today we’ll have a ramble around the island, popping in at artists’ studios (bicycle-powered weaving loom anyone?), epic castles https://www.dunvegancastle.com/ , maybe a tasting at one of Skye’s up and coming artisan gin distilleries, or a a late lunch at the Sligachan Hotel. For those who wish to do some hiking, we can coordinate trailhead drop offs and pick ups. This is a day in which the benefits of traveling with a small group become evident – we have the flexibility to adjust our itinerary to the interests of the group. Another night at the Redwood House sets us up for our epic day of travel tomorrow!
Wednesday, May 3: Skye to Mallaig, through the Trossachs National Park to Oban. We’ll use every mode of transport we can as we travel today – we’ll drive down to Armadale to the southeastern tip of Skye, hop the ferry for a short trip over to the mainland and Mallaig, where we’ll board the train and travel across the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct and into Fort William, where our van will pick us up. Then we’ll hug the coastline down to the perfectly horseshoe-shaped bay of the town of Oban, where we’ll collapse into our comfy beds at our waterside hotel.
Thursday, May 4: Final push to Glasgow. For those interested, we can squeeze in a visit to the Oban Whisky distillery before hopping on the train to head through the absolutely jaw-dropping scenery of the Trossachs National Park, threading our way through Ballachulish and the remarkable formations of the Three Sisters of Glencoe, waving encouragement to those far more industrious than we who are hiking the Great Trossachs Path. We’ll skirt the banks of Loch Lomond before making our final push into Glasgow, our home for the night.
Friday, May 5: Transition day. Those who are leaving to head home or on to further independent adventure can either fly directly out of Glasgow or take a quick one-hour train ride directly to the Edinburgh airport, or even perhaps spend some time in ether city to continue your exploration. We'll be happy to consult with you on the many options available.
PLEASE NOTE -- SINCE WE ORIGINALLY ROUTED THESE TRIPS, THE KING'S CORONATION HAS BEEN SCHEDULED IN LONDON FOR MAY 6TH (THE NERVE!! DIDN'T HE KNOW WE WERE COMING?!?), WHICH HAS CREATED A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT SHORTAGE OF AVAILABLE HOTELS, CURTAILED OR CANCELED TRANSIT OPTIONS, AND ALL THE OTHER INCONVENIENCES YOU CAN IMAGINE FOR AN EVENT OF THAT SIZE AND HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE. OUR SOLUTION IS TO RE-ROUTE THOSE CONTINUING ON TO THE WALES TRIP AND THOSE BEGINNING THE WALES TRIP TO MANCHESTER. THIS WILL GET US OUT OF THE CHAOS AND HASSLE OF THE CORONATION DISRUPTIONS IN LONDON, BUT ALSO LEAVES PEOPLE TO EXPLORE LONDON AT THE END OF THEIR TRAVELS WITH US IF THEY SO CHOOSE.
Those who are continuing on to the Wales portion of the trip can opt to stay another night in Glasgow, take the hour-long train ride to Edinburgh to fill in the sightseeing gaps from our first pass through, or take the train down to Manchester for a day and night of independent exploring before the Wales trip “officially” starts. Whatever works best for you, we can help you arrange.
Wales: The Welsh Valleys, Pembrokeshire Coast, Snowdonia, and Northern Coast
Manchester - Newport - St. Davids - Porthmadog - Conwy - St. Asaphs
AS OF 12/10/22 THIS TRIP IS FULL, BUT WE ENCOURAGE ANYONE WITH A SERIOUS INTEREST TO SIGN UP FOR THE WAITING LIST HERE. THINGS MAY SHIFT BETWEEN NOW AND MAY AND WE'D LOVE TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE TO DO SO.On this trip we’ll be joined by the irrepressible Jon Langford, son of Wales, founder/member of virtually every interesting punk band that ever punked, acclaimed painter, prodigious collaborator, and just the most delightful traveling companion (he can help us pronounce the street signs!). Jon will grace us with his music throughout the trip - a concert in Newport and some more informal guitar slinging in pubs along the way.
Saturday, May 6: Manchester arrival. (For those who might want a day to deal with jet lag and do some independent exploring, we can arrange pre-trip hotel nights at our group rate.) We'll gather for a brief orientation and check-in before heading out to explore dinner options and our local surroundings.
Sunday, May 7: Manchester – Newport, Wales. We board the train at Manchester's Piccadilly Station and head south into Wales. passing through the Shropshire Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, skirting the edges of the Brecon Beacons National Park and into the ancestral lands of our pal Jon Langford. We’ll disembark in Newport – Wales’ historic coal port - and check into our downtown hotel before heading out for a quick explore. Newport is a city that has re-imagined itself from its days as the center of Wales’ coal exporting industry, and is developing a great downtown scene of independent shops, music venues, pubs – including Le Pub, a community arts and music collective in which Mr. Langford has a stake, so we’ll have a festive evening there. Other possible activities: a ride across the River Usk on the Transporter Bridge (only one of six still in operation worldwide), a visit to the first of many Welsh castles, a stroll along the Newport Public Art Trail. Overnight in Newport.
Monday, May 8: Newport – St Davids. Those who wish to rise early and learn about the history of Welsh coal mining can hop on the van for a side jaunt to the Big Pit Mining Museum, or the ruins of the ancient Roman legionary fortress of Caerleon. Once those folks return, we’ll head west toward Cardiff to explore the magnificent Cardiff Castle, then perhaps we’ll have time for a brief stop at the Dylan Thomas Boathouse in Laugharne and a chance to sample some Welsh Cakes at the tearoom. Time-permitting, we can stop in the beautiful seaside town of Tenby (Oh look! Another castle!) for an ice cream and a leg stretch along one of its magnificent beaches before we head straight to St. Davids, our home for the next two nights. Our charming hotel overlooks the town square and the stunning St. Davids Cathedral. Overnight St. Davids.
Tuesday, May 9: St. Davids and environs. St. Davids is perfectly situated for exploring the Pembrokeshire Coast Path National Trail, a walking trail traversing 186 miles of the most spectacular coastal scenery in Britain. There are a number of walks/hikes of varying lengths and degrees of difficulty, and we highly encourage everyone to get out and give it a go. The vistas from the cliffside paths are unforgettable. In the afternoon we can spend the time the St. Davids Cathedral really deserves, guided by a local historian who can put it all into perspective for us. Overnight St. Davids.
Wednesday, May 10: St. Davids to Porthmadog. After a delicious breakfast at our hotel, we’ll head up to Aberystwyth, where we’ll board the Vale of Rheidol Railway, the first of a series of charming little narrow gauge steam trains that we’ll be riding over the next few days. Our route climbs up into the Cambrian Mountains to Devil’s Bridge, where we can either take a short hike to the waterfalls or relax with a nice cup of tea and a Welsh Cake in the station tea room before boarding the train back down the mountain. We’ll head deep into Snowdonia National Park, emerging in the seaside town of Porthmadog, our home for the next two nights.
Thursday, May 11: Porthmadog and environs. We have a lot of options today! Those who are in the mood for another train ride can join us for another narrow gauge heritage railway trip up into the mountains of Snowdonia to the town of Blaenau-Ffestiniog (nope, still can’t pronounce it), a World Heritage Site for the Slate Landscape of Northwest Wales. It’s a stunning ride, twisting and curving up the steep mountainside with spectacular views in all directions. Others may prefer spending the day exploring Porthmadog and taking a side trip out to Portmeiron, the incongruously charming Italianate village, created by Welsh architect, Sir Clough William-Ellis between 1926 and 1976 and which also served as the filming location for the 1960s cult classic TV series, The Prisoner. Late afternoon finds us at the lovely beachfront B&B, Rose Cottage, owned by Jon Langford’s cousin, where we’ll have a proper Welsh Tea, joined by some of the family’s friends and neighbors for some song-swapping and storytelling with a panoramic view overlooking Tremadog Bay. Overnight Porthmadog.
Friday, May 12: Porthmadog to Conwy. This morning we’ll hop another steam train to traverse an entirely different landscape – across rolling farmland and through lush oak forests to the town of Bedgellert, where our van will pick us up and whisk us off for a visit to the Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel for a late lunch, afternoon tipple, or whatever fits with our timing. The hotel served as the training base for Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay as they prepared for the first successful ascent of Mount Everest in 1953, and is packed with mountaineering ephemera and hosts the legendary Resident’s bar. We’ll wind our way down from the mountains and into the lovely seaside town of Conwy, home to the stunning Conwy Castle, where we’ll settle into our hotel for the night. Overnight Conwy.
Saturday, May 13: Conwy to St. Asaph. We’ll have time for some early morning castle exploring before we head up to the classic Victorian seaside town of Llandudno, with a stop at the Penderyn Whisky Distillery where we can take a tour and do some sampling. Time permitting, we can take Britain’s only funicular up to the stunning limestone headlands of the Great Orme for some sweeping views over the Irish Sea. A stroll down the legendary Llandudno Pier will give us a nice leg stretch before we hop back into the van and head for our final stop of this epic adventure -- a restful night in a classic country house manor hotel in the hills of Denbighshire.
Sunday, May 14: Departure Day. We'll get you to the local rail hub from which we'll all scatter to the four corners of the earth – some heading to London or Edinburgh to catch flights home, some to continue on with their own exploration. As your individual travel plans evolve, we can help you make arrangements to get to your departure city – most are an easy train ride away.
PRICING
Two Trip Package: We've got a special discount for those who want to do both trips, and as always we are happy to take a deposit, then set up an interest free monthly credit card payment schedule for you. Both trips combined: $8128.00 per person (a savings of $250.00 – discounted further if you pay in full at time of sign-up). Includes 17 nights hotel accommodation (single occupancy for solo travelers), rail and motor coach ground transportation, admission to all scheduled attractions. Please note that the hotel on 5/6 is not included in the two-trip pricing, however we are happy to arrange that night at our group rate at either our Glasgow or Manchester hotel – depending on where you'd like to spend your time.
AS OF 12/10/22 THE TWO-TRIP PACKAGE IS SOLD OUT, BUT WE ENCOURAGE ANYONE WITH A SERIOUS INTEREST TO SIGN UP FOR THE WAITING LIST HERE. THINGS MAY SHIFT BETWEEN NOW AND MAY AND WE'D LOVE TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE TO DO SO.
Scotland: Includes 9 nights hotel accommodation (single occupancy for solo travelers) rail and motor coach ground transportation, admission to all scheduled attractions. $4189.00 per person.
Wales: Includes 8 nights hotel accommodation (single occupancy for solo travelers), rail and motor coach ground transportation, admission to all scheduled attractions. $4189.00 per person.
AS OF 12/10/22 THE WALES TRIP IS SOLD OUT, BUT WE ENCOURAGE ANYONE WITH A SERIOUS INTEREST TO SIGN UP FOR THE WAITING LIST HERE. THINGS MAY SHIFT BETWEEN NOW AND MAY AND WE'D LOVE TO MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL WHO WISH TO PARTICIPATE TO DO SO.
TO PURCHASE
Pay in full for maximum savings! 2% discount It makes our life much easier if trips are paid in full, and we pass the savings in time and bookkeeping on to you.
- Scotland/Wales package $7965.55 per person (includes the two-trip discount plus pay-in-full discount)
- THIS PACKAGE IS CURRENTLY SOLD OUT
- Scotland: $4105.22 per person
- Wales: $4105.22 per person
- THIS TRIP IS CURRENTLY SOLD OUT
If you'd rather pay a deposit to hold your space(s): $300.00 per person per trip deposit:
- $300 per person Scotland deposit
- $300 per person Wales deposit
- $600 per person Scotland/Wales Package deposit
Within 30 days of deposit, pay your remaining balance through our online store:
- Two-trip Package Balance
- Scotland Balance
- Wales Balance
- or Contact Sarah at sarah@rootsontherails.com or 802-258-1397 to set up a convenient interest-free monthly credit card draw.
TRAVEL INSURANCE ON UPCOMING TRIPS
Since the advent of Covid-19, and its impact upon travel, we feel purchasing travel insurance has gone from wise precaution to fiscal necessity. Going forward, we are requiring that all patrons must carry trip insurance that provides, at a minimum, coverage for the following:
- Cancellation for Covid-19 illness
- Trip Cancellation
- Trip Interruption
- Cancel for Medical Reasons
- Medical Coverage for Covid-19 (often included under Emergency Medical Care)
- Emergency medical care
- Medical Evacuation
THE FINE PRINT
Our customers are extremely important to us, and when travel disruptions occur, we are committed to working with you to minimize the financial impact. In the event that you need to cancel a trip for whatever reason, we will work with you to try and find a buyer for the space you are needing to give up. Often this works out well for all: the person needing to cancel recovers most, if not all, of their investment, and a person who might have been on a waiting list gets to go on the trip - however, there are no guarantees.
We understand that the new realities of travel are such that we need to be more flexible than ever before. We are also an extremely small business with many fixed costs that can't always be recovered if a trip needs to be postponed or cancelled due to health and safety concerns. We will be completely transparent if a scheduled trip looks like it needs to be adjusted in any way that might impact your enjoyment of the experience. Please read through our cancellation policy carefully and feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns.
Cancellation policy: Deposits, whether paid separately or as part of a full payment up front, are non-refundable. Outside of deposit and credit card fees, full refund will be given up until 90 days prior to start of trip. 50% refund 60-89 days. No refund less than 60 days prior to start of trip. Reservations are fully transferable to another person.The payment of a deposit or any part or full payment for a reservation shall constitute consent to all the provisions contained herein.
Flying Under Radar, LLC shall not be held responsible for property loss or damage and/or any damages resulting from illness, personal injuries or death which may be sustained by reason of, or while engaged on, any trip or tour whether due to the ownership, maintenance, use, operation or control of any vehicle, hotel, common carrier or any other conveyance used in carrying out these tours. We can assume no liability due to any cause whatsoever whether caused by failure or delay or other irregularity, acts or omissions occurring during a tour under which the means of transportation or other service thereby is offered or supplied by owners, operators or public carriers for whom Flying Under Radar, LLC acts only as agent. Flying Under Radar, LLC reserves the right (at its discretion) to alter or omit any part of the itinerary, or change any reservation, feature and/or means of conveyance without notice or for any reason whatsoever and without allowance or refund and with extra costs, if any, resulting therefrom paid by the passengers. We reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure, in which case payment will be refunded without further obligation on our part. Flying Under Radar, LLC shall not be responsible for any injury to person (whether or not resulting in death) or damage to property.
Baggage is at the owner's risk entirely. The transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not aboard their carriers or conveyances. The passenger contract in use by the carriers concerned (when issued) shall constitute the sole contract between the transportation companies and the purchaser of these tours and/or passage. By accepting the ticket the passenger also agrees to its terms and conditions. By forwarding of deposit, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers. Flying Under Radar, LLC reserves the right to cancel or withdraw any person as a member of the tour at any time. Flying Under Radar, LLC and Roots on the Rails management reserve the right to refuse service to anyone whom it considers incompatible with the best interests of its services or its guests.