Coach Week Steers in RCT

Visit Rhondda Cynon Taf in South Wales has welcomed representatives from National Coach Week 2022, thanks to its position as a prime group coach and bus travel destination.

RCT is home to two top group group travel attractions - A Welsh Coal Mining Experience at Rhondda Heritage Park and the Royal Mint Experience.

It has joined forces with the nearby Hensol Castle Distillery, in the Vale of Glamorgan to create the Coin, Coal and Cheers itinerary, offering tour operators and their guests a full-day - or longer - experience through which they can enjoy this beautiful region.

It was this exciting new itinerary that was showcased during the UK-wide National Coach Week, organised by the Road Haulage Association and its partners to mark the revival of coach and bus tourism.

Visitors were able to enjoy:

Coin: There is no other attraction like the Royal Mint Experience. Get behind the scenes of this 1,000-year-old institution which moved from Wales to London over 50 years ago. See how currency from around the world is made and why coins are so important. Discover Olympic and Paralympic medals from Games gone by and strike your own coin! Coin collectors will love the gift shop, where you can pick up limited edition and commemorative coins and choose from a huge range of unique presents for your loved ones. The on-site café makes the perfect pit stop, where you can relax and dine in unique surroundings and admire the sculptures - including a Mini car - made from coins.

Coal: A Welsh Coal Mining Experience at Rhondda Heritage Park was created on the site of the former Lewis Merthyr Colliery. Many original mine workings - including the iconic chimney that dominates the local landscape - form part of the attraction. Men who worked in coal mines as boys are your guides, taking you underground and back in time. Their personal stories revive the epic international tale of the search for "Black Gold". Coal from the Rhondda once helped power the world, sparking the Industrial Revolution and inspiring great minds such as Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It also created the warm, close-knit communities for which we are famed the world over and our love of family, song, culture and food! Enjoy the courtyard and artefacts, interactive displays and a ride on DRAM! the interactive experience. Caffe Bracchi serves a delicious range of food and drink. You can stock up on craft supplies - or join a class - at award-winning Craft of Hearts and the gift shop is filled with authentic Welsh gifts, including Davey Lamps.

Cheers: Deep in the cellars of the beautiful 17^th Century Hensol Castle, you will find South Wales' only gin distillery. Tours and tastes are on the menu here! The combination of the castle, which is steeped in history, and the modern vibes of the distillery offer a unique experience. See behind the gin-making process and visit the interesting botanical room. The tour also includes a history of the stunning Gothic Hensol Castle and, of course, plenty of time to sample some of the mouth-watering spirits on offer. There is a well-stocked gift shop where you can choose from flavours such as wild strawberry and hibiscus or blood orange, or simply pick up some branded copper barware, to take home as a momento of the day.

Simon Gale, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council's Director of Prosperity and Development, said: "Visit Rhondda Cynon Taf was honoured to be selected as a prime group travel destination to be showcased as part of UK Coach Week.

"The coach and bus tour industry is enjoying a revival and Coin, Coal and Cheers demonstrates to operators and travellers alike that is it a very convenient and exciting way to see some of the best places in South Wales.

"As well as being a sustainable and more environmentally-friendly way to explore - who doesn't love being transported in comfort and luxury to some of the best attractions they will experience - it also offers travellers the chance to enjoy never-seen-before moments.

"One of the things that strikes me about the success of the Coin, Coal and Cheers itinerary is that we have taken our history and culture, of which we are rightly proud, and given it a modern twist.

"Former coal mines are now award-winning days out for all, the historic Royal Mint has not only made its home in South Wales but is attracting visitors from across the globe and the ancient cellars of Hensol Castle are now a bright, modern and acclaimed gin experience."

Rhondda Cynon Taf is a strong group travel destination which also offers group-friendly places to stay and eat. It also has acres of open space and country parks that can be enjoyed by visitors and a bespoke section on its website offering information on itineraries, facilities and attractions. You can find it here. https://www.rctcbc.gov.uk/EN/Tourism/GroupTradeBusinessTourism/GreatForGroups.aspx

You can also contact the Tourism Team who will be happy to discuss additional itineraries, fam visits and more. Contact them via [email protected]

The first ever National Coach Week runs from April 1-8 2022 and is organised by the Road Haulage Association, in partnership with industry law specialists Backhouse Jones, Transaid, which changes lives through safe, sustainable and available transport and sustainable technology provider Irizar.

It's a celebration of the UK coach industry, its operators and workforce working to raise the profile of the industry and showcasing its vital role as a tourism and sustainable option - just one coachload of visitors can keep 50 motorists off the road, reducing congestion and emissions.

Before the pandemic, an estimated 500 million journeys were made by coach every year and some 23 million visits to touristy attractions and destinations - why not consider coach for your next holiday?

Posted on 20/04/2022

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.