54408BIC
- CHECK YOUR VOUCHER FOR PORT, FERRY COMPANY AND SAILING TIME. Irishferries.com for latest sailing information. If High Speed ferry is cancelled, contact ACIS duty officer for alternatives.
- Potentially make a lunch stop in Wales. Conwy is suggested. If the group wishes to spend more time in Wales and the itinerary allows, Caernarfon or Beaumaris and their castles are other alternatives. You could leave via A55 costal road at Junction 9 and use the A487 to Caernarvon, then the A4086 (Llanberis Pass) to Capel Curig, possible stop on A5 at Betws y Coed, then A470 back to A55 at Conwy. This would give the group a wonderful taste of Wales.
Route March:
From Holyhead, follow the A55to outside of Chester and join the A483. For other possible routes see above.
Procedure at Ferry Terminal
What follows is information based around ACIS block booking with Irish Ferries, usually on the High Speed ferry departing Dublin City Port. Out of high season you might be booked onto a slower larger ferry. The information on your voucher always takes precedence to the information listed here.
Double Check.
Getting to the Port.
Check in procedure.
Try to keep clients to one side of the check in area whilst you go to the check in desk. (Not the Ticket Desk) You can go to the head of the line because at this stage you are only asking for baggage tags. Return to the group and explain how to tag every bag which they wish to have stored away and to retain the tear off receipt.
Get in line with the group. Present member of staff with the booking reference number and a copy of the passenger list. Your will receive boarding cards. You will need to show these on two separate occasions, immediately on passing through to the luggage drop and again on leaving the departure lounge.
Clients then leave tagged bags on carousel, and make their way via escalator to Departure Lounge.
At this point wait for the call of your sailing. Usually this requires you to board a shuttle bus which will then take you around to where the vessel is moored. Larger ferry you walk onboard from waiting area.
Arrival in Wales.
Listen for the on-board announcements with regard to foot passenger disembarkation. Walk to the shuttle buses. There are usually two, but don’t worry they are all going to the same place – Baggage Reclaim Hall. Once all the bags have been collected you have to go through security where it is usual for passports to be checked. In the 2022 season the were no additional Brexit related checks. There are restrooms in the arrivals hall if anyone should need them, whilst you go and locate the coach. Passport checks have been taking place on a regular basis, so ensure that all passengers have them on their person before they board the vessel.
The coach is to the right as you exit the station in Holyhead- there are restrooms in the station, suggest they use them before boarding the coach. You can also stop in Llanfair PG for restrooms, shop and photo stop (30 minutes away).
Conwy
Wonderful example of an Edward I Castle and bastide style fortified town. There is plenty to explore and photograph. Incorporating a lunch stop means you could spend 2 hours here.
Easiest way to approach Conwy is to take exit 18 after the Conwy Tunnel from the A55. At the Castle turn left for the coach park. Warn driver of the very narrow archway that the coach has to pass through and also return by. (Some of the new larger coaches e.g. City Circle can no longer fit through arches. Discuss with Driver upon meeting at Holyhead.) Coach Park has restrooms and in summer months a little shop selling ice creams and soft drinks.
Walk group into town via tunnel under the railway line and then through archway in the medieval town walls. Walk up Rose Hill Street, past the Conwy Visitor Centre which is good for Welsh souvenirs, and gather in the little town square at the top of High Street.
Lunchtime suggestions:
There are numerous little cafes and pubs serving lunches to be found on the High Street, directly down from the market square and on Berry Street which intersects with the High Street further down. A good place for Fish and Chips (by the sea).
Banks:
This will be your first opportunity to change money after the boat. ATM’s at a premium. One ATM disguised within a red telephone box in town square, another at Spar in the High Street. On Rose Hill Street is the Post Office for bureau de change.
Restrooms:
Located in the coach park. Not always open. Alternatives to be found within Castle entrance and on the Quay side.
Things to see and do:
Walk on the medieval town walls. Three places to get on them. Continue up Rose Hill Street to the wall itself, or you could take the first left along Upper Gate Street or finally walk along Berry Street and there is a small passage way on your right hand side which will take you up onto them. However you cannot walk all the way to the Castle via the walls, people would have to return and exit via Upper Gate Street turret.
Smallest House in Great Britain. Walk down High Street, across Berry Street and through arch, turn left and walk along waterfront (admissions charge).
Conwy Castle. Some of the best views of the Castle are from the town and the walls. Inside it is a ruin. If people wish to visit they should have time. Entrance fee, they pay.
Chester
CHESTER:
When departing Holyhead take the A55 to the outskirts of Chester and use the A483 to enter the city. CHESTER:
Most central coach drop-off is now on Vicars Lane near the Roman Ampitheatre. (it’s where the Letter N is on the map below). Public Toilets are located in the Grosvenor Centre, 3 minute walk, inside the city walls.
When conducting a walking tour, points of interest in Chester are:
The City Cross (where the old Roman grid-plan meets).
The Rows Tudor houses and Victorian half-timbered imitations on Eastgate, Northgate & Bridge Street.
The Eastgate Clock.
The Roman Amphitheatre. It is estimated to have had a capacity of 7,000 spectators in its time, which would have made it the largest amphitheatre in Britain. The St John the Baptist Church (beside Ampitheatre), founded by Saxon King Ethelred in 689, then rebuilt by the Normans.
The Grosvenor Museum 27 Grosvenor Street. 01244 402033. Best investigation of Roman Chester, good displays on the legionary system, city buildings, grave sites, daily life, culture etc.
The Castle founded by William the Conqueror, although most of what you see today is little older than the 18th century.
Walk the group up to Chester Cathedral, passing the Town Hall. Finish the tour at the Cathedral. Chester Cathedral has free entry and wonderful woodwork. Large groups would need to pre-book and there would be a charge.
Chester is also good for High Street Shopping as the centre is contained. Public restrooms in Storyhouse – a converted Odeon that now functions as a Library, Cinema and Theatre with a nice café.