Festive & Winter Brochure 2018-19

The Roses Christmas Markets & Steam

N E W T O U R

Although this tour is timed to coincide with Harrogate’s Christmas Market weekend, it includes so much more! We also visit two of the country’s best known Christmas Markets, contrasting charming York with metropolitan Manchester, and feature two great steam railways, one in Yorkshire and one in Lancashire, plus UNESCO World Heritage Saltaire. We’re coming up smelling of roses again with festive cheer!

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 1 Arriving in Bradford we transfer to the historic Midland Hotel at Bradford Forster Square, built by the Midland Railway company in the late 19th century. (D) DAY 2 Our first excursion takes us on the Harrogate Line to Harrogate, known as ‘the English Spa’. We have timed our visit to coincide with Harrogate’s Christmas Market weekend. Take a short stroll to the Stray in the Montpelier Quarter, which boasts exclusive shops, but also the Christmas Market’s 200 stalls filled with Harrogate and Yorkshire produce. We then continue to York, with free time to stroll around the ancient city walls, visit the Minster, take in the timeless Shambles or to experience the National Railway Museum. York also boasts its own Christmas Market, known as the St Nicholas Fayre, with an excellent array of shops and stalls. After free time to browse, enjoying the pre-Christmas sights and smells, plus maybe a taste of mulled wine, our round trip returns to Bradford for dinner. (B,D) ★ ★ Stay at Bradford’s historic railway hotel, the Midland Hotel ★ ★ Enjoy Harrogate’s Christmas Market ★ ★ Uncover York and its St Nicholas fayre ★ ★ Visit the National Railway Museum, with its superb collection ★ ★ Step back in time on the Keighley & Worth Valley Steam Railway ★ ★ Take in the beautifully preserved Saltaire village and Salt’s Mill’s Hockney collection ★ ★ Experience steam on the East Lancashire Railway during it’s ‘Lancashire Weekend’ ★ ★ Explore Manchester’s excellent Christmas Markets

Fares From £395

DEPARTS Thursday 15 November 2018 5 DAYS

DAY 3 A busy day exploring Yorkshire awaits, as we take the local rail network to Keighley. Here we board the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway for a scenic steam hauled journey through the countryside made familiar through the film, the Railway Children. Returning along the line to Keighley, we head next to Saltaire, the beautifully preserved Victorian model village created by industrialist Sir Titus Salt to house the workers at his local mill. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage site, the village’s mill has now been converted into a shopping and arts space, with regular exhibitions of local artist David Hockney. (B,D) DAY 4 Our final day ventures across the Pennines to the red rose county. In Manchester we take the tram to Bury for a return steam journey on the East Lancashire Railway, a beautifully preserved heritage line through the Irwell Valley linking Bury with Rawtenstall. Today is a special day for the railway as they are celebrating ‘Lancashire Weekend’, a prelude to ‘Lancashire Day’, where the county commemorates the day in which it sent its first members of parliament to London. Expect Lancashire produce, folk dancers and songs in Lancashire dialect, adding colour to our steam journeys. Back in Manchester, we enjoy some free time at its extensive Christmas Market, before heading back to the white rose county. Back in Yorkshire, it might be worth keeping today’s Lancashire celebrations secret! (B,D) DAY 5 We bid farewell to new found friends and make our way home. (B)

FARES

FARE REGION FIRST STANDARD RC London: Kings Cross £545 £480 -£10 Greater London £585 £500 -£10 South of England £595 £505 -£15 East Anglia £605 £510 -£15 South West £645 £530 -£20 Heart of England £590 £500 -£10 Midlands £530 £460 -£10 Yorkshire N/A £440 -£5 North East £510 £475 -£10 North West N/A £445 -£5 South Wales £605 £495 -£10 North Wales N/A £485 -£10 Scotland £550 £485 -£10 Join & Leave at Hotels £395 Single Room Supplement £75 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 and admissions as detailed Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager Hotel Porterage Built between 1885 and 1890 by the Midland Railway Company, the Midland Hotel was a showpiece for the railway company’s northern operations, and is of particular architectural interest, with some of the finest Victorian interiors in the city. Today sees a hotel that has undergone a transformation, with investment to all areas of the building, restoring it to its original greatness. HOTEL The Midland Hotel, Bradford

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

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