Railtrail Main Brochure 2024

F orest of D ean S team & the W ye V alley

From our hotel in the beautiful Forest of Dean we explore the magical region between the Welsh borderland and the River Severn including three heritage steam railways and a boat trip on one of the country’s most scenic river landscapes.We also visit some of the areas many charming towns and villages including Broadway ‘Jewel of the Cotswolds’, picturesque Ross-on-Wye, and the historic market town of Abergavenny.

DAY 1 Customers booking our rail inclusive package travel by train to Lydney and transfer by private coach to Coleford, where our hotel is situated on the outskirts of the market town. (D) DAY 2 We travel by coach over the Welsh border to the historic market town of Abergavenny , we can wander around the beautiful market town discovering beautiful scenery and boutique shops before enjoying lunch at leisure. In the afternoon we enjoy a scenic journey by road to Pant for a return steam journey on the Brecon Mountain Railway. Formerly part of the Brecon & Merthyr Railway, the line passes the full length of the Pontsticill Reservoir on its way toTorpantau, high in the Brecon Beacons. (B,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ★ Steam on the Forest of Dean Railway ★ Travel along the Gloucester & Warwickshire Steam Railway to the beautiful Cotswolds ★ Explore Gloucester’s National Waterways Museum ★ Cruise on the scenic River Wye from Symonds Yat ★ Discover the historic market town of Abergavenny ★ Marvel at reservoirs and mountains on the Brecon Mountain Railway ★ Visit the picturesque town of Ross-on-Wye Also included in your Tour Fare: ★ Dinner every evening ★ Live entertainment every evening, except arrival night ★ Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class) ★ Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager ★ Hotel Porterage

Fares From £689

5 DAYS

Forest of Dean Railway

© DFR

DAY 3 Today we depart from our hotel by coach, heading to nearby Norchard . On arrival we enjoy a brief visit to the Forest of Dean Railway Museum and a private tour of restoration shed before we board our train for a nine-mile return steam journey on the Forest of Dean Railway. Our coach then transports us to nearby pretty town of Ross-on-Wye, where there is free time to enjoy lunch at leisure before our afternoon boat trip on the River Wye from beautiful Symonds Yat . (B,D) DAY 4 This morning we travel by private coach transfer to Cheltenham Racecourse where we board our steam train for our scenic journey through the Cotswolds on the extended Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway through to Broadway. We enjoy a little free time to explore this picturesque Cotswold village before we depart to the most inland port in the country, Gloucester Docks. Here we visit the National Waterways Museum which tells the story of 200 years of the docks and the Gloucester and Sharpness Canal. Whilst here, we board our boat tour discovering the stories of the communities that lived and continue to thrive here. Following our fascinating day, we return to Coleford by coach. (B,D) DAY 5 Bidding farewell to Coleford to transfer to Lydney, where we depart on our homeward journeys. (B)

DEPARTS

Thursday 9 May 2024 Monday 9 September 2024

FARES

FARE REGION London: Paddington Greater London South of England East Anglia South West Midlands Yorkshire North East North West South Wales North Wales Heart of England

FIRST* £875 £885 £905 £889 £1035 £879 £889 £1029 £1169 £935 N/A £929 £1009

STANDARD

£805 £815 £825 £815 £805 £815 £769 £875 £949 £799 £765 £819 £859 £689 £NIL

Scotland

Join & Leave at Hotel

Single Room Supplement

(no supplement on true single rooms) *Please Note: Some local and regional train services are Standard Class seating only and First Class ticket holders will travel in standard class accommodation for these sections of their journey. 4 nights’ bed, breakfast & table d’hôte evening meal Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class) Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described All excursions as detailed Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager Hotel Porterage

River Wye at Symonds Yat

HOTEL © Richard Whitcombe - shutterstock © Gloucester Docks

Bells Hotel & Country Club, Coleford Located in the Forest of Dean on the outskirts of the market town of Coleford, the 3-star Bells Hotel is positioned in a peaceful location on a hill with beautiful views over the Wye Valley. Please note the nearest rail station is in Lydney.The bedrooms are traditional in style include free Wi-Fi,TV, and tea/coffee making facilities. Single rooms are true single with one single bed.There is no lift but there are plenty of ground floor bedrooms.The hotel is located across two buildings with the reception, bedrooms, and beauty suite in one, and the bar, restaurant, and terrace in the other. The hotel also boasts a county standard bowling green as well as an 18-hole golf course (both payable locally).

Gloucester Docks Boat Trip

Book now – online at www.railtrail.co.uk or telephone: 01538 382323

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