Wonders of Wales with Dave Schrader

Wonders of Wales with Dave Schrader is a 10-day small-group paranormal and mystery tour through Wales, England, and Manchester, running October 24 – November 2, 2026. Hosted by renowned paranormal investigator and podcast host Dave Schrader, joined by special guests Chachi and The Colonel from Paranormal 60 News, this tour blends haunted history, supernatural investigation, UFO hotspots, and Doctor Who filming locations into one immersive adventure. The group travels by comfortable motor coach, staying three nights at the historic Ruthin Castle, three nights at the Clayton Hotel Cardiff, and one night at a hotel in Manchester (to be confirmed).

The itinerary is built around Wales' darkest legends and most atmospheric locations — medieval castles with documented ghost sightings, a 900-year-old pub that once served as a courtroom and gallows, a Victorian workhouse steeped in sorrow, and the UFO-sighting hotspot of Port Talbot. Exclusive paranormal investigations are planned at select venues, and the tour also carves out time for local shopping, Welsh cuisine, and the cultural highlights of both Cardiff and Manchester. The itinerary may be subject to change due to availability or conditions, and any substitutions will be of equal or better quality.

Included in the price are airport transfers, daily breakfasts, accommodation at 3/4-star en-suite hotels, all venue entry fees, a Secret Ireland Tours guide, the expert coach driver, and all hotel taxes. International flights, lunches, evening meals, travel insurance, laundry, and tips are not covered. Guests should not book flights until given the go-ahead by Secret Ireland Tours. An installment payment plan is available on request, and the full balance is due 60 days before departure.

Location: Wales and England, covering North Wales (Conwy, Ruthin, Llanfyllin), Shropshire (Stokesay Castle, Ludlow, Whittington Castle), South Wales (Port Talbot, Cardiff), Herefordshire (Hereford, Orswall Hall), the Skirrid Mountain area (Black Mountains), and Manchester.

Duration: 10 days / 9 nights, October 24 – November 2, 2026.

Activity Type: This tour involves a mix of walking tours through castle ruins, historic buildings, outdoor trails, and urban areas. Activity levels vary by day — ranging from light/moderate (workhouse and inn visits) to moderate/high (sculpture trail hikes, Cardiff city days). Comfortable, waterproof walking shoes and a windproof outer layer are strongly advised. Some sites involve uneven or cobbled terrain. Paranormal investigations are included at select venues. The Manchester day is self-guided and at the guest's own pace.

Accommodation: Ruthin Castle, North Wales — 3 nights (ruthincastle.co.uk). Clayton Hotel Cardiff, Cardiff — 3 nights (claytonhotels.com/cardiff). Hotel in Manchester — 1 night (to be confirmed). All rooms are en-suite with breakfast included.

• Double Room Occupancy (couple sharing, one double bed) — $2,895 per person | Deposit: $300 | 4 spots remaining
• Twin Room Occupancy (two people sharing, separate beds) — $2,895 per person | Deposit: $300 | 4 spots remaining
• Single Occupancy (private room, bed type not guaranteed) — $3,295 per person | Deposit: $300 | 5 spots remaining

A $300 deposit is required to hold your place. Full balance is due 60 days before the tour start date. Installment plans are available — contact Secret Ireland Tours LLC directly to arrange.

Day 1 — Arrival & Conwy Castle

Guests are collected from the airport and head straight to the imposing 13th-century Conwy Castle, where reports of ghostly footsteps, cold spots, and shadowy figures make it as intriguing as it is historic. After exploring the battlements, the group settles into the hotel to relax and get acquainted.

Day 2 — Plas Mawr, Gwydir Castle & Ruthin Castle

A full day of paranormal history begins at Plas Mawr, an Elizabethan mansion in Conwy haunted by the tragic Lady Wynn and a physician said to have perished in a chimney. The group then visits Gwydir Castle, notorious for its Grey Lady and the spirit of Sir John Wynn, before checking into Ruthin Castle — itself home to a legendary axe-wielding Grey Lady and the sounds of long-imprisoned souls.

Day 3 — Ruthin Jail & Llanfyllin Workhouse

The morning takes the group to Ruthin Jail, a 17th-century prison where disembodied footsteps, whispers, and shadowy figures are commonly reported. The afternoon brings a visit to the Llanfyllin Workhouse, a Victorian institution built in 1837 whose decaying wards are said to echo with the cries of forgotten souls.

Day 4 — Stokesay Castle, Ludlow Brewery & Dean Sculpture Trail

The group crosses into Shropshire to explore Stokesay Castle, one of England's best-preserved fortified manor houses with its own quiet air of mystery. A visit to the independent Ludlow Brewing Company offers a taste of local craft ale, followed by the Forest of Dean Sculpture Trail — over four miles of art installations set within ancient woodland.

Day 5 — Port Talbot, Llandaff Cathedral & Cardiff Castle

The tour arrives in South Wales, stopping first at Port Talbot — a long-established UFO hotspot where witnesses have reported glowing orbs and craft that defy physics. The group then visits the Gothic splendor of Llandaff Cathedral, before arriving at Cardiff Castle for what is planned to be an exclusive paranormal investigation of its Roman foundations and Victorian towers.

Day 6 — Insole Court & Skirrid Mountain Inn

A visit to Insole Court, a Victorian Gothic mansion in Cardiff with a reputation for doors moving on their own and disembodied voices, is followed by a trip to the Skirrid Mountain Inn — reportedly one of Britain's most haunted pubs, with a history of courtroom trials and on-site executions stretching back over 900 years. Note: Skirrid is listed as TBC.

Day 7 — Old House Hereford, Whittington Castle & Orswall Hall

The group ventures to Hereford to visit the Old House, a Jacobean half-timbered building from 1621 with a reputation for unexplained disturbances. Next is Whittington Castle in Shropshire, where the Grey Lady, a phantom child, and wartime apparitions are among the reported spirits. The day concludes at Orswall Hall, listed as a supernatural site for a planned exclusive investigation.

Day 8 — Free Day in Manchester

A full free day in Manchester to explore at leisure. Suggested highlights include the Manchester Art Gallery, John Rylands Library, Manchester Cathedral, the Northern Quarter, Castlefield, and Chinatown — all free or low cost. Live music venues and independent cafés round out the options for the evening.

Day 9 — Departure from Manchester Airport

The group is transferred to Manchester Airport for return flights home. Guests should book departures with sufficient time for international check-in requirements.

• Airport transfers

We will meet you at the airport on the first day of the tour and leave you back on the last day

• Breakfasts

• Accommodation

3/4 star hotels with en-suite bathrooms

• Bus

We will work with a reputable bus company who supply a comfortable bus

• Expert Driver

The bus company have expert drivers who know the Welsh roads very well

• Secret Ireland Tour guid

We will have one of our guides pop over from Ireland to manage the day to day running of the tour. If you have any problems you will go to him/her and it will be looked after for you.

• Ambassador

You get to hang out with the one and only Dave Schrader for the duration of the tour.

• Investigations

We hope to book an investigation in Cardiff Castle and S

• Venues

All entry fees into venues are covered

• Taxes and charges

All taxes and charges for hotels are covered

• Flights

We do not cover your flight.

• Meals

Lunch and evening meals are not covered

• Travel Insurance

We advise you to cover your travel investment with Travel Insurance. We work with two travel insurance companies which will will supply to you in an email, but you are welcome to use your own.

• Laundry

We will try to arrange laundry services for you but you will have to cover the cost if you wish to use it.

• Tips

The driver and guide appreciate any tips you would consider giving them. We leave it up to you what you think you would like to give.