Relax in your elegant surroundings and gaze out the picture window, watching the passing scenery unfold and contemplating the gastronomic journey ahead. Within minutes, one of our liveried Stewards will carefully pour you a sparkling Mimosa cocktail as you study celebrated Head Chef Matthew Green’s sumptuous menu.
Ahead lies a journey back to the Golden Days of rail travel, a time when nothing was too good for the pampered passengers. Our Executive Head Chef and his team will already be hard at work in the kitchen carriage preparing a sumptuous three-course brunch and six-course dinner, accompanied by our Sommelier’s choice of wine. Each course boasts the finest seasonal ingredients from the British Isles, classic and innovative dishes are crafted in our recently refurbished kitchen carriage.
En route to Conwy Castle, a delicious three-course brunch is served as the glorious British countryside passes by. On arrival, follow the platform guides as they accompany you to our private transfer which will escort you to the castle and spend the afternoon learning the history of the castle.
After an incredible day, we rejoin the Northern Belle for a Champagne reception, before tucking into a sumptuous six-course dinner during the leisurely journey home.
CONWY CASTLE
Conwy Castle, located in North Wales, was built by Edward I between 1283 and 1287 as part of his conquest of Wales. A key element in creating the walled town of Conwy, its defences cost a substantial £15,000 for the time. Throughout history, the castle played roles in various wars, surviving sieges and serving as a haven. During the English Civil War, it was held by Royalist forces until surrendering to Parliament in 1646. Partially slighted to prevent further revolt, it was fully ruined in 1665. Despite its dilapidation, Conwy Castle became a popular destination for artists in the 18th and 19th centuries. Recognized by UNESCO as one of the finest examples of military architecture, it is a World Heritage Site. Managed by Cadw in the 21st century, the castle features a rectangular design with Inner and Outer Wards, eight towers, two barbicans, and notable medieval royal chambers. With its unique features, including early stone machicolations, Conwy Castle stands as a well-preserved testament to late 13th and early 14th-century military architecture in Europe.
BODNANT GARDENS
Established in 1874 and later entrusted to the National Trust in 1949, Bodnant Garden spans 80 acres, showcasing formal Italianate terraces, diverse shrub borders, The Dell Gorge garden, woodlands, and a waterfall. Since 2012, new sections like the Winter Garden and Old Park Meadow have been added, with more planned. The garden, designated Grade I on the Cadw/ICOMOS Register, attracted 260,000 visitors in 2019. Notable for the UK's longest Laburnum arch blooming in May and June, it also honours plant hunters from the early 1900s, hosting National Collections of Magnolia, Embothrium, Eucryphia, and Rhododendron Forrestii.
