Return To The Metropole, Mid Wales.

We depart from Sussex and make our way up on to the motorway network. Having made a suitable comfort stop we break our journey in the Cotswolds where we have an extended stop for lunch. We then continue to our hotel arriving late afternoon.

This morning we visit The Judges Lodging at Presteigne, once called ‘the most commodious and elegant apartments for a judge in all England and Wales' (Lord Chief Justice Campbell, 1855), decay beckoned Radnorshire's disused Shire Hall into obscurity. Now, aided by an interior hardly touched by time and original furnishings discarded in attics, extensive research and restoration has re-awakened this ‘Victorian fossil'. From the stunningly restored judge's apartments to the dingy servants' quarters below you can explore their gaslit world. Damp cells remind you of the building's true purpose, along with the vast courtroom where your imagination is captured by the echoing trial of William Morgan, local duck thief !!  After our visit we drive to Knighton, a small market town sitting astride the border between Wales and England. An historic town set in the lush rolling country of the Marches. The Welsh name for the town is “Tref-y-Clawdd”, the town on the Dyke.  Knighton is the only town to lie on the line of Offa’s Dyke and is the home to the Offa’s Dyke Centre and the mid point of the Offa’s Dyke National Trail.  Time to find lunch and have a browse before we catch our train on the scenic Mid Wales Line back to Llandridnod Wells a journey of about 35 minutes passing over The Knucklas Viaduct and through lovely countryside. The coach will be waiting to take you across town to the hotel.

Croft Castle NT sits deep in the heart of the Herefordshire countryside surrounded by 1500 acres of historic woodland, farm and parkland. This intimate house became the Croft family home before the Domesday Book. In the castle you can live life as Sir James Croft and find out how the family bought back their home in 1923.  Explore the family photographs or sit and read through the auction catalogues. Look out for the 1950s photographs and memorabilia which detail how Croft was at risk of demolition before 1957 and what it was like here then. Big kids and little kids can find out or relive some 1950s games and toys in the family room, complete with costumes for dressing up. Step outside and explore the working walled garden complete with historic orchards, vineyard and take a peak inside the 1908 glasshouse restoration project. Look out for the Georgian stable block and uncover some of the stories of how horses were cared for during the war years. From Croft Castle we make the short drive to Ludlow. The town centre is a like a backdrop from a lavish TV period drama in the best tradition. It’s a 900 year-old Norman market town with medieval streets that survive to this day almost intact. The streets are lined with the kind of architectural gems that most towns would be lucky to have one or two of! Georgian, Tudor, Jacobean and Norman buildings give the town an amazing character. There are more than 500 listed buildings in Ludlow. The shops here also deserve a special note. Yes, there are the usual high-street names, but interestingly, there are still many thriving independent and idiosyncratic little shops selling antiques, art, fashion, crafts, books, traditional toys - it’s a real curiosity trail.

Today we head south to the edge of the Brecon Beacons to Brecon where we board our narrow boat (all weather) for a two and half hour canal cruise on the Brecon and Monmouthshire canal. Enjoy a commentary explaining 200 years of history whilst enjoying the suberb views of the Brecon Mountains high above the River Usk.  After the cruise you will be able to find lunch and enjoy some free time in Brecon, where you may like to visit the impressive Brecon Cathedral and Heritage centre or just browse in the town. Mid afternoon we return to our hotel.

This morning we make our way to the delightful and historic town of Hay on Wye where it is market day. However, before you browse the market, we have arranged a walking tour with a local guide. This circular tour takes in all the main historic features of Hay, including the Cheese and Butter Markets, the Town Walls and Gateways. Then off to the Castle and the original Motte next to St Mary's church, historic wells and several pubs. The tour leader will guide you around the sites and offer many anecdotes to bring the history of the town to life. After the tour you are free to explore and find lunch. From Hay we make the short drive to Hergest Croft Garden. The gardens here extend over 28 ha (70 acres) with more than five thousand rare trees and shrubs.  Described as "one of the finest collections of trees and shrubs in the British Isles", the Gardens hold the UK National Collections of Maples, Birches and Zelkovas. The six distinct areas are Hergest Croft, the Azalea Garden, the Maple Grove, the Kitchen Garden, the Park and Park Wood. Through Septenmber and October the dazzling autumn colour of the collections of maples and birches is breathtaking. Red, yellow, purple and gold leaves glisten throughout the Azalea Garden, Maple Grove and Park Wood. The trees in the Park have glowing autumn colours.

After breakfast we commence our journey back to Sussex. Today we have a refreshment break in a different Cotswold town before completing our journey. We expect to arrive back in the Maresfield area by approximately 18.30.

Please note the order of excursions may change, if you are meeting friends at any point on the tour please check with us first.