Castles & Tales of South Wales 2026

Duration

5 Days

Departure Dates

16th May 2026, 12th September 2026

Prices from

£660 Per person

Discover the rich history and magnificent castles of Wales staying in the vibrant capital of Cardiff. Explore the medieval Caerphilly Castle, the fairytale Castell Coch, and the historic Cardiff Castle on fascinating tours to learn the stories and tales of South Wales.

Overview
Itinerary
Further Information
Departure Dates
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Cardiff 1 ©Shutterstock

5 days from £660

DEPARTS

Saturday 16 May 2026

Saturday 12 September 2026

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Visit the historic town and medieval fortress of Caerphilly
Explore the fairytale Castell Coch
Discover 2,000 years of history at Cardiff Castle
Learn of Margam Abbey and the fascinating Stones Museum
Tour the spectacular Margam Castle
Enjoy free time in the vibrant capital of Cardiff

Also included in your Tour Fare:

4 nights’ bed & breakfast plus 2 evening meals
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

DAY 1

Journey from your home station to Cardiff and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Majestic Hotel, our hotel for the next four nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together.

DAY 2

After breakfast this morning, we journey by rail to the historic town of Caerphilly where we greet our tour guide and discover the medieval fortress of Caerphilly Castle, Wales' largest castle with towers to explore, a maze to negotiate, and a dragon's den. Afterwards, we continue to our second castle of the day, Castell Coch, where we learn the fascinating story behind this fairytale castle which has been a plaything for the rich and powerful for over 700 years!

DAY 3

Today, we visit the extraordinary Cardiff Castle and enjoy a guided tour to view the spectacular rooms, lavish decoration, and Victorian interiors whilst learning the history that is 2,000 years in the making. The rest of the day is free to explore Cardiff, you may wish to visit the local attractions including the National Museum and Cardiff Bay, discover independent boutique shops, or unwind in the fabulous green spaces before dining at leisure this evening.

DAY 4

Today, we travel to Port Talbot and transfer to the magnificent Margam Country Park. We begin with a visit to Margam Abbey Church and the Stones Museum, learning its medieval history and exploring the sculptured and inscribed stones dating from the Roman period. We continue our day with a guided tour of Margam Castle exploring spectacular features and gaining an insight into the history of this Victorian mansion house before retracing our steps to Cardiff in time for our final evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 5

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Cardiff and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

HOTEL

Majestic Hotel, Cardiff

Located in the heart of the city within walking distance of the railway station, the Majestic Hotel offers unrivaled views of the city skyline plus the on-site Glas Restaurant, Bar & Lounge serves a fresh and flavourful mix of British and continental cuisine. The modern rooms provide an en-suite bathroom with a rainfall shower, a hairdryer, ironing facilities, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

FARES

Fare Region	First*	Standard
London: Paddington	£879	£789
Greater London	£889	£799
South of England	£905	£809
East Anglia	£875	£795
South West	£979	£785
Heart of England	£825	£769
Midlands	£775	£729
Yorkshire	£925	£789
North East	£995	£819
North West	£925	£799
South Wales	£735	£715
North Wales	£935	£779
Scotland	£1,065	£875
Join & Leave at Hotel	£665
Single Traveller Supplement	£240
Deposit	£75

*Please Note: Some local and regional train services are Standard Class seating only and First Class ticket holders will travel in standard class accommodation for these sections of their journey.

£5 tour discount for holders of National Railcards

September Departure Supplement £30

4 nights’ bed & breakfast plus 2 evening meals

Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class)

Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described

All excursions & admissions as detailed

Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

Important – Please select the number of passengers before proceeding to ‘Book Now’

Number of passengers:

Date	From Price	Book Now	Callback
16th May 2026	£660 Per person	Book Now	Callback
12th September 2026	£690 Per person	Book Now	Callback

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Majestic Hotel, Cardiff

Cardiff 2 ©Shutterstock

Caerphilly Castle ©Shutterstock

Castell Coch 1 ©AdobeStock

Castell Coch 2 ©Shutterstock

Cardiff Castle 1 ©Shutterstock

Cardiff Castle 2 ©Shutterstock

Margam Abbey Church ©Shutterstock

Margam Castle 1 ©Shutterstock

Margam Castle 2 ©AdobeStock

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