School Trips To Wales

School trips to Wales allow pupils to witness first-hand the effects of the glacial process in the Nant Ffrancon Valley, the results of millennia of coastal action, and the more recent impact of urbanisation on resorts such as Llandudno. With an abundance of human and physical geography to study, Snowdonia is a great case study option.

The Snowdon Mountain Railway, for example, takes you to the very heart of the Snowdonia National Park and the summit of Snowdon, which at 3,560ft is the highest peak in England and Wales. Apart from the breathtaking views, the spectacular scenery opens many opportunities to study key themes within the geography and geology syllabus.

At WST, we offer school trips to Wales to:

• Snowdonia

Top Attractions

Snowdon Mountain Railway

With its summit at 1085m, Snowdon dominates the landscape of Snowdonia National Park in North Wales. Visitors have been travelling to Llanberis since 1896 to experience the unique rail journey to the top of highest peak in England and Wales. Today, your students can see for themselves why the route has been described as one of the most breathtaking railway journeys in the world, while also studying the incredible landscape once they get to the top.

Nant Ffrancon Valley

Nant Ffrancon is a spectacular valley in north Snowdonia, its landscape deeply sculpted by glacial action in the Ice Age. During this time, the whole of Snowdonia was covered by a massive ice sheet and today, the resulting landscape makes a fascinating case study for geography students. Beginning in Cwm Idwal, the Nant Ffrancon valley extends down to Bethesda, between the Carneddau and Gludeiriau Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and joins the Ogwen Valley below the Ogwen Falls on Afon Ogwen.

Cwm Idwal

The magnificent Cwm Idwal valley is surrounded by some of the highest peaks in Snowdonia. In 1954 it gained official recognition by the Nature Conservancy, becoming Wales’s first National Nature Reserve (NNR) and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). With its towering crags, wind-shattered rocks, steep screes and moraines, Cwm Idwal shows the many ways in which glaciation and post-glacial processes have shaped the landscape.

Students can also study the valley basin which creates a natural amphitheatre behind the glacial lake of Llyn Idwal, with its spectacular mountain waterfalls. The rich geological significance of Cwm Idwal drew the famous nineteenth century naturalist Charles Darwin, and still fascinates students and academics to this day. 

Accommodation

There are a number of good YHA properties in the region, throughout Snowdonia itself and nearer the coast. We also can provide Premier Inn accommodation in Conwy or Llandudno, offering your Wales study tour a more urban base.

Dining

For your school trip to Wales, we provide you with a board basis that suits your needs, from Bed & Breakfast to Full Board. There’s also a range of popular local restaurants you can dine at for lunch or dinner, all of which we can book on your behalf.

Hidden Gems

Sygun Copper Mine 

Students can take a self-guided walking tour around this impressive copper mine. Spread over three levels, there’s a series of staircases which will take your students up through the mine, allowing them to observe impressive stalactite and stalagmite formations, colourful chambers, and copper ore veins containing traces of gold.

Llandudno

Llandudno is a brilliant resort with plenty for your students to discover, including beautiful beaches and the historic Llandudno Pier. The promenade is always a popular attraction, along with restaurants and cafes. Why not take your students up in a Llandudno Cable Car, allowing them to enjoy spectacular views from the summit of the Great Orme?

The Welsh Mountain Zoo

High above Colwyn Bay with panoramic views and beautiful scenery, you’ll find The Welsh Mountain Zoo. Explore the wooded pathways and grassy slopes while learning about rare and endangered species from all over the world, including snow leopards, chimpanzees, red pandas and Sumatran tigers. The Media Centre offers a virtual tour of the zoo, featuring superb educational games and resources.

Why WST?

At WST, our team of in-house specialists will work with you to design a school trip to Wales that matches your pupils’ specific learning objectives. Here are just a few reasons why you can have confidence in choosing WST as your school travel provider:

• We’ve won Best School Tour Operator at the School Travel Awards four years running, an award voted for by teachers
• We’re the only school travel provider to hold a Government Standard Customer Service Excellent Award
• All our destinations have been visited by our in-house experts, ensuring they can always offer you first-hand advice when helping you with your itinerary
• We have a 24-hour emergency response service, so that should any issues arise during your school trip to Wales, we can solve them as soon as you need us to

If you’d like to book an unforgettable school trip to Wales with us, get in touch with one of our friendly travel team today, and they’ll be happy to help. 

Request a quote today