4 Night Snowdonia Discovery Tour
A trip fit for royalty, our Snowdonia (Eryri) Discovery Tour explores the UNESCO-listed castles of North Wales. On this short break you’ll get to explore the imposing riverside fortress of Caernarfon. There’ll be time to enjoy the world-famous gardens at Powis Castle and discover the history of slate at the National Slate Museum. And to cap it all, there’ll be a train ride aboard the Snowdon Mountain Railway to the summit of Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) itself.
What you’ll love
- Discovering the royal history of Wales
- Admiring Powis Castle and its world-famous gardens
- Enjoying a scenery-rich journey on the Snowdon Mountain Railway
- Exploring the National Slate Museum
- Visiting Caernarfon Castle
- Staying at Dolserau Hall, our Victorian country house
What’s included
- Comfortable en-suite accommodation in our country house
- Cream tea on arrival day
- Cooked or continental breakfast every morning
- Daily packed lunches
- Three-course evening meals, plus tea & coffee
- Guided sightseeing with an experienced HF Holidays Leader
- All transport to and from sites of interest
- Easy-to-follow routes, maps, and information in our Discovery Point if you want to explore independently
Please note - Entrance fees are not included. See Essential Info tab for details.
Trip Notes
Easy to download as a PDF, our trip notes provide detailed information for every holiday. Please click below to find the trip notes for your departure date.
All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take alternative routes or adapt the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.
You're welcome to check in from 4pm onwards. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea on arrival.
The 13th century medieval Powis Castle houses an enchanting collection of paintings, sculptures, furniture, and tapestries. You’ll get a sense of its historical and strategic importance for Wales as you visit the rooms and world-famous gardens - first built by a Welsh prince and now cared for by the National Trust.
Their theatrical mix of dramatic terraces, sophisticated flower borders, and precise topiary combined with jaw-dropping views never fail to impress.
Then in the afternoon, we’ll stop off at RSPB reserve on Lake Vyrnwy and have time to explore the market town of Bala.
Today we make tracks for Llanberis where if the weather’s kind we’ll take a trip on the Snowdon Mountain Railway, described as one of the most scenic railway journeys in the world.
On a clear day, you’ll trundle past plunging waterfalls and open mountain vistas as you journey through valleys climbing towards the top of Snowdon. You’ll not want to miss a second.
At the National Slate Museum, we gain a fascinating insight into the history and lives of the slate workers, and there'll also be the option to take a ride alongside the shores of Llyn Padarn on the Llanberis Lake Railway.
Our fourth castle provides a fitting finale to the holiday – a building that’s hailed as one of the greatest of the Middle Ages. We’ll visit Caernarfon Castle, a royal fortress-palace, which has witnessed its fair share of rivalries, feuds, and storied history throughout the centuries.
The location itself is steeped in history too. Add to that the sheer scale of this extraordinary castle and you’ve got a sight to behold - climb the Eagle Tower and you’ll have an eagle’s-eye view over it all.
In more recent times, the investiture of HRH The Prince of Wales, now King Charles III, was held here in 1969.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.
Dolserau Hall
Arresting countryside views dominate at this characterful Victorian manor house at the southern end of Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park. The location is idyllic; think ancient woods and craggy uplands in all directions (parts of the park served as the inspiration for Middle Earth in JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings). There’s no shortage of things to do, either, including following the Mawddach Trail along the edge of the Mawddach Estuary, discovering the compact range of hills known as the Rhinogs, and climbing the rugged foothills of Cader Idris – the highest mountain in southern Snowdonia (Eryri) at 893 metres. You’ll also be close to Dolgellau, the small market town best known for its once flourishing woollen industry (ruins of the Pandy fulling mills used to remove fats and grease from the wool cloth can still be seen along the Afon Aran River).
Rooms
Designed with your comfort in mind, Dolserau Hall has 23 well-appointed guest rooms available in two categories: Classic and Premium.
Classic Rooms are comfortable en-suite guest rooms, ideal for a peaceful night's sleep. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, and shower gel), and a TV.
Premium Rooms are more spacious en-suite guest rooms. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers, and comfortable mattresses.
We love: The rooms in the main house or converted coach house. Some come with standout views of Snowdonia (Eryri) National Park.
The Choose Your Room service is available at our UK country houses, allowing you the option of choosing and confirming a specific room for an extra charge of £30 per room. This is subject to availability. Upgrade supplements apply.
Check in & check out
You are welcome to check in from 4:00pm at the earliest. On arrival, you’ll enjoy a complimentary cream tea and get to meet your fellow guests, our HF Holidays Leaders, and the rest of the friendly team.
On the day of departure, we kindly ask all guests to check out by 10:00am. You’ll be asked to settle your bill prior to leaving. You may, of course, make a charitable donation to our HF Holidays Pathways Fund if you wish. Please note that we only accept card payments.
Room supplements
| Premium single | Premium double/twin | Choose your room |
| £20 pppn | £20 pppn | £30 per room |
About your stay
A warm welcome
We want you to feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. You’ll find a welcome pack in your room with guest registration forms, menus, order forms for dinners and picnic lunches, the Wi-Fi password, and the front door code. Our houses are locked at night, so we recommend noting the Duty Manager’s number on arrival in case of an emergency (or getting locked out).
Evening entertainment
While evening entertainment varies from house to house, the HF Holidays Big Pub Quiz held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays Leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided walking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions.
Walks talks
Our HF Holidays Leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s walking delights (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.
The walking day
Prior to setting off on walks, your HF Holidays Leader will run you through a short safety briefing. There’s also an up-to-date weather forecast on display at the house to ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear. If you choose to do your own walks or are on a self-guided walking holiday, we ask that you please complete an Independent Walker Card each day. These can be found near the Discovery Point in the house.
Food & drink
Led by experienced chefs, we serve a wide range of dishes made with fresh and seasonal ingredients. We always aim to source the best produce available and use home-grown herbs and vegetables from our own gardens whenever possible. Additionally, we have a licensed bar with beers, soft drinks, and a superb selection of spirits. Full-board comes as standard and includes a cream tea on arrival and a hearty breakfast on departure day.
HF Holidays understands the importance of managing allergens effectively to ensure food is safe for guests with food allergies. Whilst we are always able to confidently inform guests which allergens are present in our ingredients and dishes, we are unable to guarantee absolute freedom from the 14 main allergens in our kitchens. Vegetarian and vegan menu choices are available. If you have allergies, food intolerances, or any special dietary requirements, please inform our reservation team at the time of booking.
Accessibility
For accessibility and assistance information, please contact our expert team on 020 3974 8865 or view the accessibility information online for Dolserau Hall
Getting to Dolserau Hall
Find out more about this location including travel details and room types.
More InformationEssential information
Please note
Just to let you know, admission fees aren’t included in your holiday price and are payable locally. *With the exception of the Snowdon (Yr Wyddfa) Mountain Railway (4 & 7 night).
If you have an Cadw (C) / English Heritage (EH) / National Trust (NT) membership, you’re entitled to free or reduced-price entry to some of the attractions we’ll visit. If you have either of these, be sure to bring your membership identification with you.
Please see an approximate total of the entrance fees you can expect to pay during your holiday below:
|
Approx. cost of entrance fees |
3 night holiday |
4 night holiday |
7 night holiday |
|
C members |
£0 |
£26 |
£32 |
|
NT members |
£21 |
£21 |
£37 |
|
C & NT members |
£0 |
£11 |
£11 |
|
No memberships |
£21 |
£32 |
£53 |
Essential information
The UK has a famously unpredictable climate so it's best to be prepared for weather that’s sunny one minute and raining the next. To make it easier, here’s a list of items you should consider packing.
Essentials
- Suitable, sturdy footwear with a good grip. You’ll be on your feet for much of the day
- Waterproof jacket
- Waterproof overtrousers
- Sunhat
- Rucksack
- Water bottle (at least 1 litre capacity)
- Sunscreen
- Mobile phone
- UV sunglasses
Recommended
- First aid kit, including plasters
- Sit mat
- Waterproof pouch for valuables
- Rubbish bag (remember to always leave no trace)
- Wallet/purse
Optional extras
- Walking poles,
- Flask for hot drinks
- Durable lunch box
- Waterproof rucksack liner
Dolserau Hall Calendar
- Guided Walking
- Self-Guided Walking
- Special Interests
- Unavailable to Book
For July 2024: Jill Durnford
A big fan of Britain’s history, geology and wildlife, Jill is an HF Holidays Leader and certified Blue Badge Tour Guide who likes to share her passion with others. She’s lived in southeast England, the West Country, Scotland, Cumbria, and now finds herself in Wales. Being an HF Holidays Leader is a real labour of love for Jill and she’s happiest when showing guests around the stately homes and gardens she’s most fond of.
For August 2024: Graham Horn
Geographer by qualification, explorer by instinct, Graham is a seasoned HF Holidays Leader and certified Blue Badge Tourist Guide. He loves discovering out-of-the-way places and giving our guests an insight into an area’s industrial heritage. As part of the HF Holidays team, Graham has led walks across several of our UK country house destinations.
Guest reviews
All holidays are subject to availability. Supplements may apply.
Non-member fee: £30 per person.
All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take an alternative route, or vary the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.
Holiday prices
| Date (Start - End) | Itinerary | Double / Twin Room | Single Room | Notes / Offers | Trip Notes | Book | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | ||||||||
|
08 Jul - 12 Jul 2024 4 nights |
Discovery Tour
Single Call to Enquire
Double from £789 £764 pp |
from £789 £764 pp |
Call to Enquire | Save £25 Per Person | Trip Notes | Book Now | ||
|
19 Aug - 23 Aug 2024 4 nights |
Discovery Tour
Single Call to Enquire
Double from £789 £764 pp |
from £789 £764 pp |
Call to Enquire | Save £25 Per Person | Trip Notes | Book Now | ||
