Grand Castles & Ruined Abbeys Along the Welsh Border
Depart Bath on an adventure to the romantic Welsh borderlands to discover Chepstow Castle, one of Europe's great mediaeval fortresses, the romantic ruins of Tintern Abbey & much, much more!
Available all year round | Start time 9:00 amPick up from your accommodation | Private only
"The Best of the Best" - Andrew B. Read more reviews.
Tour Overview
Discover one of the most beguiling, time-frozen regions of the UK, the Wye Valley. Forming the border between England and Wales for over a millenia, venture to this ancient and evocative land to discover some of the greatest mediaeval marvels the UK has to offer.
Marvel at the impossibly romantic ruins of Tintern Abbey, once one of the greatest and grandest monasteries in northern Europe. Hear fascinating tales of monastic life whilst gazing at the searing stonework set deep within the stunning, steep-sided valley of the Wye.
Relish a fabulous lunch at an ancient inn in a village that was once a great, bustling town before the Black Death sent it on its way to becoming the tiny back-water it is today.
Spend the afternoon exploring the magnificent Chepstow Castle, first begun in the late 1000s and continually improved until the English Civil War in the 1600s. Climb its thick, stone towers and peer across the river over to England from its imposing walls.
Enjoy stunning countryside, hidden gems and extraordinary drives on a relaxed, yet immersive day out, of the kind that most visitors seek but few encounter.
What's Included
Tour Itinerary
9:00 am1. Pick up from your accomodation.
1 hour2. Head to Wales
Travel west from Bath over the great River Severn and across the Wye river into Wales.10:00 am3. Explore Tintern Abbey.
The remarkable, romantic ruins of Tintern Abbey in the Wye Valley.25 minutes4. Get off the beaten track into ancient, untouched authentic England & Wales.
11:30 am5. Visit an extraordinary historic village that was once a bustling mediaeval town.
12:15 pm6. Enjoy a fabulous lunch
In a atmospheric, characterful country inn.30 minutes7. Travel through breathtaking countryside on a scenic drive off the beaten track.
2:00 pm8. Explore the spectacular Chepstow Castle
One of Britain’s greatest mediaeval fortresses!1 hour9. Travel back to Bath crossing back into England.
4.15-5:00 pm10. Drop back at your accommodation.
Arrive back in Bath, exhilarated yet relaxed and having enjoyed a day that has exceeded your expectations.
Testimonials
★★★★★
- 2022, A1142DDjohne
Stimulating trip.
“Max, our guide, gave our group a great experience. His commentary made the trip down to Stonehenge fly by and kept everybody engaged. It hardly needs to be said that he shared his considerable knowledge of Stonehenge’s history and apparent purpose and put it all in context of the bigger archaeological picture of the Downs.” - 2022, A1142DDjohne
★★★★★
- 2023, Guide09542727233
A Great Day Exploring Stonehenge & More
"From my very first email enquiry, In & Beyond Bath we’re very helpful. Roland met us at Bath Spa train station (coming from London) in the morning and dropped us at our accommodation at the end of the day. We went to Stonehenge, lunch in a gorgeous country pub and then to Wells with many interesting features along the way. Roland was very friendly and knowledgeable about the area and its history. A great day. Thanks" - 2023, Guide09542727233
★★★★★
- 2024, Sonja P
Heading into the dark ages!
“We had a wonderful trip to the hidden Cotswolds with Ralph as our guide. He was extremely knowledgeable about the area; very accommodating, picking us up at our location. He also contacted me the day before our trip to discuss details and give us an idea what we would be doing for the day. I won’t divulge the locations we visited because it’s a secret and you’ll be very happy to see such lovely spots! Ralph gave us plenty of time to look around. He gave us the background details about the area which was fascinating for history buffs. We also saw an especially stately home, which was absolutely stunning. And the artwork was mind blowing! This is really a perfect trip when you don’t have a lot of time or don’t wanna hassle with rental cars and driving but letting someone else show you around. I certainly did not want to attempt to drive around myself as an US driver! Ralph is an excellent and safe driver who inspired confidence and made us feel safe and secure. It was just an important concern for us after our hair raising taxi journey the previous day. Lol I’m so glad we did this journey with Ralph as our guide. I recommend this trip 100%.” - 2024, Sonja P
★★★★★
- 2024, Sandra M
Don’t Miss Avebury!!!
"We actually spent four days with Simon from In & Beyond Bath, starting with his picking us up at the airport in Bristol. What a great guy. He even stopped at a market so we could take provisions to our rental flat in Freshford. We did the.Avebury tour, along with the Stonehenge tour and a walking tour of Bath. Every time, Simon took us places we would never have discovered on our own, charming villages, and pubs off the beaten path that are frequent by locals, not tourist. The food was always fantastic. Simon was incredibly informative, helpful, and an all-around great guy. He patiently showed our 16-year-old all of the Harry Potter places, and was just as patient with the 70-year-old who loves Jane Austen. Normally, I’m fearless about renting a car, but I didn’t feel confident driving on the left side of the road. What a great decision that was! We could never have gotten as much out of this trip as we did without Simon guiding us. He was awesome. We strongly recommend In & Beyond Bath. And Don’t miss Avebury!!!" - 2024, Sandra M
