family history tours 2012 welcome home

To make your past come truly alive you will want to walk in your ancestors‘ footsteps: visit places special to them, maybe lay flowers on their graves.

Choose from guided tours or independent ones: identify where your ancestors lived; throw in your own personal interests from castles to golf; decide on your budget and then leave the rest to us. We‘ll take care of all the details so you can just enjoy yourself.

Browse this brochure for examples of tours we have managed recently and get ready to revisit your past.

We look forward to hearing from you.

escorted tours

Whether it‘s a day tour from your base in or a four day mini vacation, we will help you get the most of your time in Wales.

If it‘s a day tour you‘re after we can research, plan and escort you from around £700 GBP for up to 4 people. A longer 4-day inclusive tour, including accommodation with dinner at some of Wales‘ loveliest hotels, transport and the services of a guide would be around £3,000 GBP per couple. No two tours are the same so contact us regarding your specific requirements..

independent tours

A great option for those with a sense of adventure. We‘ll work with you to develop a customised itinerary around your family‘s history that still allows you room to explore at your own pace. We‘ll do the research, book the accommodation and provide you with a driving pack which gives detailed directions and the benefit of our insider knowledge on restaurants, attractions and hidden gems along the way. All you need to do is book your car hire and head off into ‗them there hills‘! Prices vary according to itinerary but an average 4-day tour would cost around £1,200 GBP.

For more information call us on +44 1656 768992 or visit us at www.familyhistorywales.com the wild West

Our American client wanted to learn more about the life and times of her 17th century Welsh ancestors as well as seeing something of Wales. The client had researched the family roots in the USA but had little information prior to their emigration in the 1600s beyond names and parishes although she did know one branch were Quakers. We were able to find several generations on both lines and locate their homes and other information and used this to construct a four day tour taking in Pembroke in South West Wales and Dolgellau in the North.

We met the client and her husband at Cardiff airport and immediately whisked them west, stopping at to visit Dylan Thomas‘ old home, now a mu- seum, and . After lunch they made a private visit to one of Pembrokeshire‘s country houses where the owner showed them around a house built by the same architect as the now derelict family home.

Next day a visit to Pembroke: a town walk to view the medieval town hall where ancestors served as mayors, and a visit to fascinating Pembroke Castle, birth- place of Henry VII. After lunch and paying respects at the family graves at Monkton Church we travelled along the spectacular Pembrokeshire coast to St David‘s, the spiritual heart of Wales, and attended evensong in the Cathedral.

The next morning a drive up the West coast to Dolgellau. The first port of call was Tŷ Siamas, the Welsh Folk Music museum followed by the moving Quaker exhibition. A drive into the hills around Llan- I was so lucky to walk where fachreth, birthplace to generations of her an- they walked. Where they cestors, made it easy to turn back the clock a called home. I saw where few hundred years especially at Tyddyn-y- many of them lie for eter- Garreg‘s atmospheric Quaker Meeting House and burial ground. Overnight accommodation nity. I can’t thank you was a stunning hotel on the banks of Tal-y-Llyn. enough for these magical four days. On the final day we built in an opportunity to shop for traditional Welsh crafts and explore J Camayd. FLORIDA some world famous slate mines before a steam train journey through the mountain ranges down to the sea at Tywyn and lunch. Then a drive back to Shrewbury to make an onward rail connection stopping on the way at historic Machynlleth, the site of the last Welsh parliament under Owain Glyndwr.

For more information call us on +44 1656 768992 or visit us at www.familyhistorywales.com industrial south wales

Our client knew her Mormon ancestors had emigrated to Salt Lake City from Wales and that she had family roots in Merthyr Tydfil and . She had detailed genealogical information and now wanted to learn more about where they lived combined with a one-week self drive tour of South Wales with an emphasis on seeing ―real Wales‖.

The tour started in Cardiff with a welcome lunch and briefing during which we handed over a detailed itinerary which included maps and directions, accom- modation vouchers and advice on the peculiarities of driving in Wales. Then, to give confidence, we sat in on the first short trip to the National Folk Museum of Wales and provided recommendations on the exhibits relevant to the family.

Overnight accommodation was a boutique hotel in the bustling Cardiff Bay area.

The next morning a local history guide took a walking tour of the city featuring sites where ancestors lived and worked. Then the open road and a drive to Blaenavon and an opportunity to go underground at the world-famous Big Pit. We also booked tickets for an unforgettable open air Male Voice Choir perform- ance at the ironworks. After a night at a cozy Welsh Inn it was time for lazy Sunday meandering across the edges of the Brecon Beacons National Park taking in a traditional Sunday lunch and a visit to a Country Fair before overnighting in Laugharne, home of poet Dylan Thomas.

Next day time to explore Laugharne followed by a personal high-speed boat trip taking in the Gower Peninsula‘s stunning “Standing in the virtu- coastal scenery. Overnight at the quaint seaside ally unchanged village of Mumbles and a gastronomic dinner. kitchen of my great Then up to Merthyr, fortifying themselves en great grandfather’s route at a Welsh Whisky distillery. Our research home was truly emo- had identified the blacksmiths‘ shop where an tional, I was blown ancestor worked and we also arranged an emo- away. tional visit to the farm where the family lived fol- lowed by a VIP preview of a local exhibition at N Kader, Washinton DC Merthyr Tydfil‘s Cyfartha Castle.

The next day a historic walking tour of Merthyr Tydfil in the company of a local historian followed by an afternoon visit to Rag- lan Castle before a return tip to London‘s Heathrow Airport the following day.

For more information call us on +44 1656 768992 or visit us at www.familyhistorywales.com mid wales in a day

An American musician took a last minute decision to take a day out from a round-Britain coach tour to visit his family roots in mid-Wales. It required pick- ing up his wife and himself in Cheltenham and returning them to Caernarfon. A mammoth one-day adventure!

After an early morning start our first stop was Mortimer‘s Cross Mill just on the English side of the Welsh border. This surviving one-man operated 18th- century mill would be very similar to that of the client‘s ancestors. The current owner gave a private tour and provided a real insight to the life of a miller.

Next stop was the border town of Prestigne and the award-winning Judge‟s Lodging interpretive museum providing an ‗upstairs, downstairs‘ view of life in 1850‟s Powys. This was followed by a leisurely walk around the pretty old town and lunch at the Radnorshire Arms, originally built for one of Queen Elizabeth 1‟s alleged lovers and complete with hidden passages and ghosts!

Then on to unforgettable Llananno church & graveyard, set in tranquil country- side and the setting for many family baptisms and marriages. We arranged for the church to be open so the client could see the original font and stand on the altar steps. We also wondered through the sunlit graveyard searching for fam- ily graves .

Having unearthed some early 19th century maps, we wondered over gates and through flocks of sheep in search of the ruins of Llan- “ truly the high beddw Mill. After a few false trails we finally pinned it point of our whole down and in an emotionally charged moment, un- trip to Europe” earthed the foundation stones.

R Worthing, Ohio In order to rejoin the tour in Caernarvon we took the cross-country route to historic Dolgellau. This Welsh market town oozes history and made for a perfect break, especially the private visit to Tŷ Siamas, the Welsh folk music centre. Then onwards through the majestic upland scenery of Snowdonia, stopping for early evening drinks at Porthmadog quayside before the walls of majestic Caer- narfon Castle greeted us.

For more information call us on +44 1656 768992 or visit us at www.familyhistorywales.com on your bike!

A break for a London-based professional couple who wanted an unusual week- end combining family history with an activity.

Our base was the tranquil university town of . Having settled in at their country house base on Friday afternoon we recommended a trip to nearby for an evening dolphin-watching boat trip followed by dinner at a gastro-pub.

Saturday morning brought a visit to the village of Mydroilyn where they met a local historian for a guided walking tour of the village. He was able to point out the various houses where members of the family had once lived and also took them to the chapel. Here he was able to share some old 19th century membership books showing the ancestors’ names before visiting the graves.

The afternoon brought a scenic drive down the beautiful Teify Valley, with maps and plenty of recommendations for good food en route. Destination Drefach Velindre, once the centre of wool production in West Wales and now home to the National Woollen Museum. The curator was expecting our couple and was able to show them around and answer questions about the life and times of the family‘s woollen weavers. Continuing the theme, we had arranged another private viewing, this time at Jen Jones‘ Welsh Quilts centre back in Lampeter but first there was time to explore this small town and browse its independent shops where the Welsh language is in daily use.

After an enormous Welsh breakfast at the hotel our couple were in need of exercise! First we took them to the nearby village of “I never thought it Cwmann and the site of the weaving sheds where our would be so moving. client‘s great grandfather worked. Then they handed The hairs on my over their keys and swopped the car for bikes. neck stood up” In the years leading up to World War One, our client‘s J Davies, LONDON grandfather, a schoolteacher, had cycled the 25 mile journey to his school near . We recreated the journey including stops at the Dolau-cothi Arms in Pumpsaint - where he met his wife – and a lakeside picnic lunch next to the ruins of Abbey.

A local historian met the couple at the schoolhouse and was able to share old school log books which included entries by the grandfather. He was also infor- mative on the area in general including the atmospheric nearby. At this point the couple were reunited with their car enabling them to visit the castle before heading off on their return journey to London.

For more information call us on +44 1656 768992 or visit us at www.familyhistorywales.com all action

Our client wanted to see as much of Wales as possible in a week including countryside, castles, family history sites in North Wales — and to participate in the Cardiff half marathon!

A quick transfer from Bristol airport to Cardiff and a quiet hotel near a park perfect for a post-flight run. The next day included leisurely visits to the Na- tional Folk Museum of Wales to learn about historical Welsh life and also to the grand splendour of Cardiff Castle. This allowed plenty of time in the sched- ule for a run, a high-carb supper and an early night before the following days half marathon.

Our client had never driven in Britain previously and was nervous about being on the ‗wrong side of the road‘, roundabouts and narrow mountain roads. So we devised a one-hour familiarization to British driving session with step-by- step instructions before accompanying the client in the car for the first leg of the journey to give confidence. It obviously worked because she set off into the mountains without a backward glance!

We had booked her into a stunning spa hotel in mid-Wales to recover from the run, a place to enjoy the scenery but also relaxing massages for those aching limbs. Once the batteries were recharged there were guided walks and cycle tours available from the hotel.

Rested and raring to go we put together an itin- “ I cannot thank you erary which took in some of North Wales splen- enough, it was a won- did castles including Caernarfon and Conway derful experience “ before an overnight stay in the Victorian ele- gance of Llandudno. E Coutts, Wisconsin Then it was on to the Wrexham area where her family had lived prior to emigrating. A local guide showed her around the houses where family members lived, a village church where they appear on the register, and the church where three generations were married and buried. From here it was only a short journey over the border to Roman Chester for an overnight stay. .

On the final day we recommended a visit to Liverpool Docks from where the family emigrated: a visit to the emigration exhibition and a boat tour on the Mersey. Overnight in Manchester before a morning flight back to the USA.

For more information call us on +44 1656 768992 or visit us at www.familyhistorywales.com pembrokeshire pilgrimage

We met our client at Cardiff and drove down to Pembrokeshire stopping for coffee at Wales‘ oldest town, . We then headed straight for the picturesque Solva inlet where we briefed her on the history of the port while enjoying a welcoming Welsh lunch. A tour around the harbor brought stories of the bustling coastal trade that preceded the railways and of the ships that left here for America. The lime kilns lining the inlet were further reminders of its industrial past as were the many historic buildings which are now art galleries and restaurants. Then it was on to the local church to be greeted by the vicar who introduced us to the church and its history and identified the family graves. Then one of the high spots of the tour, a visit to the old family farm. We were warmly welcomed by the farmer and his family for tea after which he gave our client an extensive tour of the farm and the old buildings that would have dated back to her ances- tors‘ time in the 18th and 19th centuries. The family were fascinated to hear of the fortunes of the their predecessors who left there for the ‗new world.‘ They also identified possible distant relatives and put our client in touch, enabling us to drive off to meet them and compare family trees. Overnight accommodation was in the tiny cathedral city of St David‘s, the spiri- tual heart of Wales and widely regarded as one of the most enchanting and evocative spots in Britain. Perched on the wild south westerly tip of the country the city — little more than a village — is clustered around the cathedral, founded by Wales‘ patron saint.

In the morning we had arranged a guided tour of the cathedral and other local historical sites including the Bishops Place and St Non‘s well marking St “ This has been the trip of David‘s birthplace. Like most Welsh families, not all the clients‘ ancestors were church-goers so a lifetime, thank you so we took in a few chapels with family connections much for making it so as well. special “ After the ecclesiastical overdose we arranged a M Arnold, Texas totally different afternoon, a high speed boat trip along the stunning coastal scenery to view seals, dolphins and other wildlife. Then back to the cathedral for choral evensong to round off the day.

The next morning it was a short taxi ride to Haverfordwest where our client caught the London train for which we had pre-booked first class tickets.

For more information call us on +44 1656 768992 or visit us at www.familyhistorywales.com For this and other scenic photographs our grateful thanks to Visit Wales

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Mill Farm House , Abbey Road Ewenny , Glamorgan CF35 5BN UK Email: [email protected] Web: www.familyhistorywales.com Phone: +44 1656 768992 Cell: +44 7816 873465