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2010
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BRITAIN & IRELAND:
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SCOTLAND    
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UP TO 19% BELOW 2009 LEVELS!



IRELAND       
2010 PRICES

UP TO 12% BELOW 2009 LEVELS!

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LONDON        
2010 PRICES

UP TO 19% BELOW 2009 LEVELS!

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ENGLAND       
 
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UP TO 19% BELOW 2009 LEVELS!

••
WALES
        
2010 PRICES

UP TO 29% BELOW 2009 LEVELS!

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HOME AT FIRST

 
MID-WALES NORTHWEST WALES MAP OF
ENGLAND & WALES
WALES GOLF WALES PRICES BRITAIN & IRELAND HOME
WHAT YOU GET MAP OF
BRITISH ISLES
ENGLAND IRELAND SCOTLAND

FAMILY
TRAVEL

 HOME AT FIRST's

 New Zealand


INTRODUCTION: WHY WE GO TO WALES

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Ancient Traditions & Modern Surprises—

         Probably the most overlooked British travel destination, Wales offers some of the best food in the U.K. as well as its own distinct music, art, history, and language. Rarely noted is the superb variety of unspoiled scenery of Wales, including three distinct regions worthy of national park status, the highest mountains south of Scotland, and cozy, undiscovered villages.
        Wales is closest to England geographically. Perhaps because of this proximity the Welsh are the most nationalistic and culturally separatist of all the British. The Welsh identity is tied to its history as a Celtic population under siege by their neighbors in England. These original Britons were forced into hiding by invading waves of Angles, Saxons, Vikings, and Normans. They retreated into the rugged, mystical mountains and vales that dominate the Welsh landscape.
        Today the Welsh variety of Gaelic is alive and growing while most other Gaelic languages are disappearing. Welsh cuisine, custom, religion, music, and mentality all can be said to be more than just

Autumn in Snowdonia: the Llanrwst Bridge over the River Conwy. Photo © Home At First.A
AUTUMN IN SNOWDONIA:
THE LLANRWST BRIDGE
OVER THE RIVER CONWY.

dialectical versions of their English, Scottish and Irish relatives, and each is maintained with the prideful caring due national treasures.

 

In our customers' own words—

           "We received a number of 'strange but interested' looks and comments from people when we mentioned Wales as our vacation destination. We have certainly been touting its superior vacation qualities since our return. There is so much to do and see we still have a list but, by the same token, it was very relaxing. Most days we were out of our lodgings at a leisurely 10AM and back around 6PM. It was a pleasant pace"                         —K. & D. Attenborough, Massachusetts

           "Wales was beautiful with masses of daffodils everywhere. The roads were narrow and twisty but surfaces were good. Very different from when I was last there just after the war when it was looking very run down and uncared for!"                                       —M. Still, Virginia

          "One lady was giving us directions and we had to go through a little toll bridge. She offered to give us 50 pence for the toll if we didn't have it. What friendly people!"                                        —B. Crandall, Ohio


 
     

HOME AT FIRST offers travel programs to five regions of Scotland:
(CLICK ON EACH DESTINATION TITLE TO GET FULL TRAVEL PROGRAM DETAILS & PRICES)

CENTRAL HIGHLANDS
— NORTHWESTERN WALES —

        Home At First's northwestern Wales cottages are in or near Snowdonia National Park, where Britain's highest mountains south of Scotland rise sharply from the sea. Snowdonia's folded landscape offers rugged hiking, expansive beaches, great little steam trains, challenging seaside golf courses, impregnable medieval castles (like Caernarfon, pictured here), and friendly villages with unpronounceable names.

GO TO: SNOWDONIA (NORTHWESTERN WALES)
TRAVEL PROGRAM PAGE

Caernarfon Castle is the traditional home of the Prince of Wales. It is one of four 13th century castles ringing northwestern Wales together comprising a UN listed World Heritage Site. Photo © Home At First.
Several great castles — including all
four of the U.N. listed World Heritage
Site — are within easy day-trip reach
of Home At First's cottages in
Snowdonia, Northwestern Wales.

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Hay-on-Wye is the Mid-Wales town famous for its many second-hand bookshops, and the Hay Festival of culture that happens every May. Photo © Home At First.
Hay-on-Wye is home to more than two
dozen second-hand book shops. Like all
our Mid-Wales villages, Hay-on-Wye is
just minutes from the rugged mountain
and white water streams of Wales as
well as much of Western England.

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CENTRAL HIGHLANDS
— NEAR THE ENGLISH BORDER —

        Home At First's Mid-Wales cottages are in the midst of superb scenery between the mountains of Brecon Beacons National Park and the English border. Nearby is scenic wilderness inviting discovery on foot, on horseback, or by car. Search for King Arthur and Merlin here. Cross the border into Shakespeare country and the Cotswolds easy days away. Another secret the Welsh may be the friendliest people in Britain.

GO TO: MID-WALES TRAVEL PROGRAM PAGE
 

— HOME AT FIRST —