Getting close to our UK trip!

[Rajah]

My mom and I are getting very close to our UK trip, and getting very excited! We leave in just over 2 weeks now.

Some of y'all requested that when we got closer to the departure date, I post a thread in here so we could see if there's any possibility of meeting up while we're up there.

Here's our schedule, what do y'all think?

Apr 29 - 1: London

May 2: Hampton Court Palace

May 3: Stonehenge, Avebury, Salisbury / Winchester cathedral (not sure which yet), tour with hired guide

May 4: Bath, Cotswolds

May 5-8: (order uncertain)
Cotswolds
Stratford Upon Avon
Oxford
Warwick Castle (going to the Kingmaker's Feast one night, I think the 6th)
resting day

May 9: Cotswolds -> Cardiff

May 10: Cardif -> Betws-y-Coed
(including Cardiff Castle & Castle Coch, if we haven't already seen them)

May 11-13: (Order uncertain)
Snowdonia
Betws-y-Coed
Tu Hwnt i'r Bont (No, I can't pronounce it... A tearoom)
Conwy Castle
Caerphilly Castle
Bodnant Gardens
Maybe Chester, England
Another resting day


May 14: Betws-y-Coed -> Loch Lomond, almost no touring.

May 15: Loch Lomond & Glencoe

May 16: Glencoe & Loch Ness

May 17: Cairngorms

May 18: Blair Castle & Stirling

May 19: Edinburgh Royal Mile & Roslyn Chapel

 

[Cochise]

That is a brilliant itenarary.

I am so glad you are visiting Betws, I would have recommended this to you if you would have asked me on planning. It is a jewell in Wales.

From there you have a big drive (for us UK people) up to Scotland. Have you considered booking a night in Keswick or Windermere (I prefer Keswick every time) at all? It is about 6 hours or so from Betws and will certainly split up the driving. It is a lovely town with plenty to see and do for a evening and possibly the next half a day before you continue North.

 

[Rajah]

We considered splitting that drive, yeah, but unfortunately to fit everything in that was on our MUST list, just can't do it. So our drive is going to be LONG that day. I suspect our resting day in Betws is going to be the day before that drive.

Oh, and I got Caerphilly and Caernarfon castles mixed up. Caerphilly's on our list near Cardiff, Caernarfon is on the "wanna do if possible" list near Betws.

I'm just afraid Gaelic (?) doesn't stick in my memory too well.

 

[Oddjob]

Either before or after the visits to Scotland you should see The Lake District..

 

[Rajah]

No time for that, either. Not unless we can see it from the highway as we drive through without having to add a lot more time to the day. But it's definitely on our MUST SEE NEXT TIME list.

 

[Cochise]

Caernarfon castle will be difficult on the day you plan to drive so far. It is a truly magnificent castle but is gonna add about 2-3 hours on that day. It is North West as opposed to either driving East on the A5 or North then due east on the A55. It must be a hard choice as whenever we visit the area we would have a day in Caernarfon and stay in Betws anyway.

Personally as i have vast experience on this, i dont live near but have visited every year of my life.

Try to arrive at Betws for tea time on the arrival day, sample the night atmosphere which is really good.
Then on the next day drive to Caernarfon, taking in the castle for a while and move onto Conway. Again a couple of hours here but i would really recommend Llandudno for a couple of hours too. This is one of the best Victorian resorts in the UK and was home to Lewis Carroll for a period of time. Take the sublime trolley ride up the Great Orme, this is something not to be missed.

The set off day from Betws, have a mull around the shops for an hour, get some breakfast in the Tan Lan and head off on the long journey to Scotland.

Perfect....any other info PM me, i could go on all day.

Oh yeah get a Welsh Tea.

 

[Minniespal]

Tammi ~ Can't make any of the days you are in Scotland. Hope you and your mom have a fantastic time and a wonderful trip.

 

[Queenie]

If you're driving from Wales to Scotland you should go through the Lake District (if my geography is correct - which it's very likely to not be!) The scenery on your big drive will be stunning if the weather holds out so it shouldn't be a boring day even though you'll be driving a lot.

 

[carolfoy]

fabulous itinerary, you really will get to experience some of the best areas of the UK
have a great time.

 

[KayleeUK]

Tammi

What a wonderful trip you have planned

 

[Verity Chambers]

Souns fantastic, hope you have a wonderful trip.

 

[TracyK]

Sorry I won't be able to meet up but just wanted to say have a wonderful time. It's a really great itinerary, some of my favourite places in there.
Tracy