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Spirit of Wales - On the Trail of Merlin Itinerary
June 24th to July 5th, 2010

Day One

We meet in a fine country manor hotel just outside Cardiff, the capital city of Wales. This evening there will be an orientation and spiritual attunement for the journey ahead, followed by a welcome dinner. The next morning we begin our tour at St Fagans National History Museum, one of Europe's foremost open-air museums representing the life and culture of Wales for thousands of years. Then it’s westwards to Dinefwr Castle in the Towy Valley, a place especially associated with Merlin. After an invocation to Merlin on the castle heights, we head for the west coast and reach our hotel set in secluded gardens on the St Davids peninsula, a place of inspiring natural beau

Day Two

In the morning we take a walk along the cliffs to the beautiful chapel and sacred spring of the Celtic holy woman, Non, who may once have been a goddess of the waters. In the afternoon, there will be a guided tour of St David’s Cathedral, then time to explore the city on your own. This evening we will enjoy live traditional Welsh music from a Welsh harper.

Day Three

We explore the magical landscape of the southwest coast, joined by a local guide who will take us to a little-known hill-fort associated with Celtic warrior women. After lunch in a traditional fishing village, we also visit other amazing megalithic sites of this area and visit a remote village with a lovely old Celtic church, holy well and processional path leading to a dolmen overlooking the sea.

Day Four

Driving up the scenic west coast, we visit the picturesque village of Nevern with its famous old church, ogham stones, Celtic ornamented cross, and legendary bleeding yew trees. After lunch in a traditional village pub, we visit a marvelous reconstruction of an Iron Age village at Castell Henllys, experience how the Celtic peoples of this area used to live, and listen to the tales of a local storyteller. Tonight we stay at a secluded country mansion hotel in the beautiful Teifi River valley.

Day Five

Today we take a walk through the faery woods of Ty Canol to Pentre Ifan, the most famous cromlech in Wales, overlooking Cardigan Bay. Then down to the attractive little town of Newport for lunch and a wander through its streets. This afternoon, we meet with our guide, author Robin Heath, who will take us to the holy mountain of Carn Ingli and other ancient sites on the Preseli Hills, where the bluestones were dressed for Stonehenge thousands of years ago.

Day Six

We head north to mid-Wales, first to Strata Florida Abbey, one of the legendary homes of the Holy Grail and resting-place of Dafydd ap Gwilym, Wales’ most renowned poet of the Middle Ages. The monks of the abbey – or some say it was the Knights Templar – built the original bridge now known as Devil’s Bridge, where we shall see one of the most spectacular waterfalls in Wales – also associated with a Merlin legend. This afternoon we arrive in North Wales and the Snowdonia National Park. We will pay a visit to the picturesque village of Beddgelert, then drive through the mountains to our retreat centre in its lovely lakeside setting that will be home for the next four nights.

Day Seven

We approach the stronghold of Dinas Emrys, the hill that is the scene of one of the most famous Merlin legends. Here we meet up with storyteller Eric Maddern who will guide us up the hill and tell the story of Merlin’s prophesy at this place. Afterwards, Eric will take us to his home at Cae Mabon, a magical place of Celtic roundhouses in a beautiful forest setting, and regale us with Bardic stories round the hearthfire. Back to our Snowdonia retreat centre tonight.

Day Eight

We head north for a day on Anglesey, or Ynys Môn, the Druid isle. This island offers a fascinating panorama of Wales’ history laid out on the landscape: There are an enormous number of ancient sites, from Neolithic burial chambers and Bronze Age cromlechs, standing stones and an Iron Age (Celtic) settlement. In the fine Victorian seaside town of Beaumaris is one of Wales’ most splendid castles. After lunch in town, we’ll visit 6th century Penmon Priory, with its decorated Celtic crosses, sheela-na-gig, and beautiful holy well, famed for its healing powers. Back to our retreat centre tonight.

Day Nine

We travel down the Lleyn Peninsula, sometimes called, “the Dragon’s Tail,” a wild and beautiful place where the mountains reach the sea and home to many holy wells. At the headland, we can look out over Bardsey Island, the sacred isle where Merlin was said to have brought the Thirteen Treasures of Britain, and burial place of over 10,000 Welsh holy men and women. Weather permitting, we may sail across to the island. In the afternoon, we may visit the unique fairytale village of Portmeirion.

Day Ten

Our journey takes us eastwards to the town of Llangollen and hill of Dinas Bran, home of the god Bran, and also said to be the legendary Castle Corbenic of the Grail legends. This afternoon we drive to a high hill in the Welsh border country for a closing ceremony at a fine stone circle with views all over Wales. Circling round south once again, we reach historic Caer Beris Manor in the heart of the Welsh hills, our last hotel where we celebrate our journey with a special farewell dinner.

Day Eleven

Fond farewells and parting hugs as we return to Cardiff Airport for flights home.