Wales - Castles, Coast & Steam Trains with Midi & Netty

 Wales - Castles, Coast & Steam Trains

Our JollyDays group set off for a week of history, scenery, and steam-powered fun in beautiful Wales. Steam trains were a highlight of the holiday. Riding the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway, we savoured the gentle chug of the engine, the fresh countryside air, and the nostalgic views of fields, valleys, and wildflowers. A scenic stop at Devil’s Bridge offered the thrill of watching steam engines puff along the Vale of Rheidol Railway and the drama of waterfalls plunging 90 metres into the gorge below.

We visited Hay Castle in Hay-on-Wye, a place where Norman fortifications meet Jacobean elegance. We wandered through restored rooms, enjoyed drinks on the terrace overlooking the Black Mountains, and even took part in some playful role-play with castle “royalty.” 

Borth Beach and Aberystwyth’s seafront gave us sun, sea, and sand, with a paddle in the waves and ice creams to cool off from the summer heat.

Evenings were spent unwinding with BBQs and hot tubs under the summer sky.

We also explored Powis Castle, a stunning medieval fortress with terraced gardens, exquisite interiors, and one of Britain’s finest private art collections. Wandering through shadowed corridors, marveling at painted ceilings, and tasting fruit straight from the orchards, we felt transported through centuries of history. The gardens alone, cascading down the hillside in dramatic terraces, offered breathtaking views over the Severn Valley.

The next day, the Brecon Mountain Railway took us higher, through the Beacons, past reservoirs and sheep-dotted slopes, with plenty of photo stops and the chance to watch the locomotive being turned on its loop — pure railway magic.