4 Seasons With Railtrail 2018/19 Brochure

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QUAL I TY E SCORT ED HOL I DAY S BY TRA I N

TOUR ING THE UK & EUROPE BY RAI L 4 Seasons with Railtrail 2018/19

Supporting railway heritage

Welcome to our ‘Four Seasons with Railtrail’ brochure! At this point in recent years we would have been asking you to vote for us in the British Travel Awards. Not so this year as, after a little deliberation, we have decided not to enter, concentrating our efforts elsewhere. We feel that there are better measurements of customer satisfaction and would recommend that you visit our FeeFo page to read genuine comments by customers who have booked and travelled with Railtrail. We have also decided to donate our entrance fee for the awards instead to heritage railway societies, something very close to our hearts. For this year we have chosen to split our donation between two unsung heritage lines, the Epping Ongar Railway and the Wensleydale Railway. For more information on their work, please visit www. eorailway.co.uk and www.wensleydalerail.com respectively. Below are a couple of photos of the railways receiving their cheques. As you know, we are a great supporter of such societies, preserving our history for the enjoyment of future generations.

Most of our tours feature heritage railways, whether in the UK or overseas. We hope you’ll find a tour or two to interest you in this ‘Four Seasons’ brochure, where we recap on our tour offering this year, as well as launching our January to April tour programme. Recently added is our West Somerset Christmas Steam Gala on the back page, plus a new, improved Amsterdam, Bulbfields, Steam & More Steam tour and the exciting and unique winter adventure on Inlandsbanan, Arctic Circle & Jokkmokk Winter Fair . What’s more, we are again offering 2019 at 2018 prices on selected popular tours. Please turn to pages 18-21 for further details. We hope to see you trackside!

Dave Felstead Founder & Managing Director Railtrail Tours Ltd

2

European Summer Classics

Swiss Glacier Express and the Bernina

21 July & 22 September 2018 DEPARTS The Big Five Mountain Railroad Adventure

6 DAYS

8 DAYS

7 September 2018 DEPARTS

Two of the world’s greatest railway journeys on one tour! Enjoy the classic Glacier Express journey across the Swiss Alps, followed by the Bernina Express in its full glory. Plus Lausanne, Montreux & St Moritz.

Experience five unique mountain railroad excursions – Pilatus, Rigi, Stanserhorn, Titlis & Hammetschwand Lift – based at lovely Lake Lucerne’s 4* Seehotel Pilatus, with leisure facilities offering panoramic views of lake & mountains.

Fares From £1399

Fares From £1425

Swiss Mountain Steam

10 September 2018 DEPARTS Saxony Seven Steam & Rail Explorer

8 DAYS

8 August & 19 September 2018

DEPARTS

9 DAYS

Switzerland and steam trains - a delightful combination as we take you to the heart of this beautiful country to experience some amazing mountain rail journeys and glorious lake steamer cruises.

Discover some of Germany’s best narrow- gauge railways, featuring funicular railways, steam lines, trams and river steam boats, plus Meissen porcelain, castles, gardens & beautiful Dresden.

Fares From £1699

Fares From £1525

Saturday 15 September 2018 DEPARTS Rhine Valley Railways Uncorked

St Tropez, Monte Carlo

7 DAYS

First Class Rail

& the Train des Pignes

8 DAYS

13 September 2018 DEPARTS

A new tour to the popular Hotel Pinger featuring scenic branch lines through vineyards, a rack railway, a heritage diesel ride, two cable cars, a steamboat along the Loreley Valley and the Vulkan Express under steam, and we’ve even timed this trip to coincide with Remagen’s village wine festival!

Fares From £799

We have rejigged our French Riviera tour a little this time in order to bring in one of France’s best-known heritage railways. We still visit St Tropez by boat and take the scenic coastal train to Monte Carlo and Nice, but this time we also feature steam on the Train des Pignes!

Fares From £1425

Thursday 11 October 2018 DEPARTS The Hungaria

Barcelona, Carcassonne & the Catalan Coast

11 DAYS

First Class Rail

8 DAYS

14 September 2018

DEPARTS

Celebrating one of the longest- running international express train services, the Hungaria, which has served the route from Berlin to Budapest since 1960. Comfortable and nostalgic, we have split the journey into bite-sized pieces to enjoy Berlin, Prague and Budapest, plus a stay in historic Nuremberg.

Travel in First Class style to the South of France. Relax in a beachside hotel, explore the rocky coves of the Catalan Coast, tasting local specialities, visit colourful Barcelona, the Pyrenees and the perfect medieval walled city of Carcassonne.

Fares From £1795

Fares From £1425

For detailed tour itineraries please see: www.railtrail.co.uk or telephone: 01538 382323 3

UK Summer Classics

Highland Rail Voyager

Canals, Steam & Historic Chester

4 DAYS

5 DAYS

15 September 2018

DEPARTS

16 September & 7 October 2018

DEPARTS

We roam the glorious Highlands and take a “Great Railway Journey of the World” on this all-rail escorted holiday. Relax as magnificent vistas glide past your window and the sensational views unfold.

Featuring two of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Canals’, this active tour based in historic Chester offers exciting heritage from Roman times to the waterways and railways golden industrial age.

Fares From £415

Fares From £525

Devon Riviera by Steam

Classic Cornwall Coast & Country

4 DAYS

5 DAYS

3 September 2018

DEPARTS

9 September 2018

DEPARTS

A wonderful short break on the English Riviera to explore the beauty and charm of Devon’s magnificent coast by boat and two of Devon’s finest steam railways.

A joyful Cornish holiday as we meander by train along scenic branch lines, capturing the cream of the coastal and countryside views, to visit charming ports and wonderful seaside resorts.

Fares From £379

Fares From £595

Shakespeare’s Severn

Highland Adventure

No Single Supplement

4 DAYS

5 DAYS

8 September 2018

DEPARTS

23 August 2018

DEPARTS

This delightful tour features a day at the Severn Valley Railway, visits Shakespeare’s Stratford upon Avon & takes in the Cotswolds on the lovely Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway - NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT!

The Highlands of Scotland are a joy to behold as we combine the glorious West Highland rail route with the fabulous ‘Harry Potter’ Jacobite steam train, steaming over Glenfinnan Viaduct to Mallaig.

Fares From £469

Fares From £495

North Norfolk Coast, the Broads & Steam

Isle of Man Explorer

5 DAYS

5 DAYS

6 September 2018

DEPARTS

20 September 2018

DEPARTS

The fantastic Isle of Man at its very best! A wonderful sea-front hotel on a traditional promenade, horse drawn trams, steam railways, heritage electric trams, a mountain railway and superb scenery.

North Norfolk offers a wealth of nostalgia.

From unspoilt beaches to timeless villages, proudly preserved steam railways to majestic broads. Enjoy an easier pace of life, whilst experiencing the best of coast, broads and steam.

Fares From £535

Fares From £485

For detailed tour itineraries please see: www.railtrail.co.uk or telephone: 01538 382323 4

UK Summer Classics

3 September 2018 DEPARTS Wonderful Wales

18 October 2018 DEPARTS Devon Coast to Coast & West Somerset Steam

6 DAYS

7 DAYS

Steaming through Snowdonia on the new ‘wonder of the world’ - the Welsh Highland line is just one of many great rail journeys taking you from glorious sea at Llandudno to the peak of Mount Snowdon.

Steam on England’s longest heritage railway, visit beautiful Lynton and Lynmouth Cliff Railway, explore Devon from coast to coast and experience the best of steam of South Devon’s heritage railways.

Fares From £829

Fares From £799

Dorset Coast & Isle of Wight Steam

13 September 2018 DEPARTS Burns Country, Arran & the Causeway Coast

5 DAYS

8 DAYS

23 September 2018

DEPARTS

Fares From £499

Explore Dorset by steam, marvel at the Jurassic Coast from our boat trip, enjoy Exbury Gardens and the ‘Rhododendron Line’, then round off with a day’s adventure on the Isle of Wight.

Two countries, beautiful Arran, two of the great railway journeys of the British Isles, a heritage line, a distillery, magnificent gardens and the UNESCO World Heritage Giant’s Causeway – all on one tour!

Fares From £1045

Heart of Wales Steam & the Brecon Beacons

8 & 22 September 2018 DEPARTS Orkney & Shetland Explorer 8 DAYS Fares From £1255

5 DAYS

23 August & 6 September 2018

DEPARTS

Introducing four great preserved steam railways and a scenic mainline on one tour based in the Heart of Wales spa town of Llandrindod Wells. View coastlines, vales, reservoirs and mountains from your window.

Cruise to the northernmost reaches of the UK, discovering Orkney & Shetland’s peace, tranquillity & rich heritage - all part of our grand tour visiting John O’Groats, historic Stirling and Edinburgh, Scotland’s proud capital.

Fares From £509

Romantic Highlander

29 September 2018 DEPARTS Hebridean Islands Discovery 8 DAYS

6 DAYS

24 September 2018

DEPARTS

A delightful tour inspired by the BBC “Great Railway Journeys of the World” TV series which saw Michael Palin travelling through the spectacular Scottish Highlands to the Kyle of Lochalsh.

Island hop from Skye to Uist and from Harris to Lewis on this magical tour of the Hebridean islands. Every day is different as each sublime, rugged and breathtaking landscape unfolds before you.

Fares From £899

Fares From £1129

For detailed tour itineraries please see: www.railtrail.co.uk or telephone: 01538 382323 5

Grand Tours by Rail – Golden Galloway & the Glorious Grampians

N E W T O U R

A new Grand Tour designed to experience the golden glow from Galloway to the Grampians in all their autumnal glory. Travel from Scotland’s most southerly point to its most northerly point! Imagine the Nith Valley Line, the West Highland Line, the Far North Line, the Kyle Line, the Highland Line, the Strathspey Steam Railway, plus the Tay and Forth Bridges all on one tour! And just to be completist we’ve chosen three ‘Palace Hotels’!

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 1 For those travelling with us by train, we arrive in Dumfries, transferring by road to Cally Palace for a welcome drinks reception in the ornate Bow Lounge. (D) DAY 2 Today’s excursion heads west to the Mull of Galloway, Scotland’s southernmost point. Admiring the impressive lighthouse, built in 1830 by Robert Stevenson and now remotely controlled. (B,T,D) DAY 3 Transferring back to Dumfries, we experience the Nith Valley Line through Dumfries & Galloway’s rolling hills to Kilmarnock. Our return to Cally by road takes in the autumn gold of Galloway’s National Forest, a habitat for a variety of wildlife from red deer to Golden Eagles and Peregrine Falcons. (B,D) DAY 4 Today we take in the most scenic section of the West Highland Line, dubbed one of the world’s greatest railway journeys. A coach completes the journey through the golden glory of the Great Glen in autumn, skirting Loch Ness en route to Inverness for three nights at the Palace Hotel. (B,D) ★ ★ Take lunch on board the Strathspey Steam Railway ★ ★ Unwind at Atholl Palace, an original Victorian hydro hotel ★ ★ Marvel at Queen’s View ★ ★ Sample a ‘wee dram’ at Edradour Distillery ★ ★ Visit Edinburgh and its Royal Mile ★ ★ Cross the Tay Bridge and the magnificent Forth Bridge ★ ★ Relax at Cally Palace in its splendid grounds ★ ★ Visit Scotland’s southern tip at the Mull of Galloway ★ ★ Admire the scenery on the Nith Valley Line ★ ★ Autumn colours galore in the Galloway Forest Park ★ ★ Enjoy the West Highland Line past lochs and over Rannoch Moor ★ ★ Take in the lovely scenery alongside Loch Ness ★ ★ Stay at the original Railtrail hotel, the Palace in Inverness ★ ★ Enjoy Dave’s original ‘Great Railway Journey’ on the Kyle Line ★ ★ Touch the top of the country at John O’Groats & Dunnet Head ★ ★ Experience the Highland Line’s dramatic scenery

Fares From £1495

10 DAYS

DAY 5 The Far North Line completes our journey from south to north, spotting sealife as we travel along the Moray and Cromarty Firths, continuing through stunning coastal Sutherland and into Caithness. We make a brief stop at Dunnet Head, Scotland’s most northerly point, before visiting John O’Groats. (B,D) DAY 6 The original of Michael Palin’s Great Railway Journeys of the World, the Kyle Line to Kyle of Lochalsh, awaits today. Another journey of a lifetime, the Kyle Line connects Scotland coast to coast across great mountain plateaux. (B,L,D) DAY 7 Travelling due south on the Highland Line, we halt at Aviemore for a whiff of nostalgia on the Strathspey Steam Railway, enjoying light lunch as we steam through the Cairngorm National Park. Continuing to Pitlochry, we check into the splendid surroundings of Atholl Palace Hotel. (B,L,D) DAY 8 We discover more about the Pitlochry area today, with a half day tour featuring the stunning Queen’s View across Loch Tummel, plus a tour and ‘wee dram’ at charming Edradour, Scotland’s smallest and arguably most beautifully situated distillery. (B,D) DAY 9 We cross the tantalising Tay Bridge, a structure nearly three miles long crossing the Tay between Dundee and Fife. Our second bridge of note is shorter, at 1 ½ miles in length, but even more famous. Crossing the Firth of Forth, the Forth Rail

DEPARTS Monday 8 October 2018

FARES

FARE REGION

FIRST STANDARD RC

Bridge is a UNESCO World Heritage site. We enjoy a free afternoon in Edinburgh before returning to Pitlochry. (B,D) DAY 10 Our grand tour concludes as we make our homeward journeys, our cameras filled with coast to coast adventures. (B) London Out Euston In King’s Cross £1760 £1635 -£20 Greater London £1795 £1660 -£25 South of England £1800 £1665 -£25 East Anglia £1825 £1675 -£30 South West £1820 £1675 -£30 Heart of England £1735 £1625 -£20 Midlands £1720 £1605 -£15 Yorkshire £1650 £1590 -£15 North East N/A £1550 -£10 North West £1675 £1585 -£15 South Wales £1765 £1640 -£20 North Wales £1705 £1600 -£15 Scotland £1635 £1565 -£10 Join & Leave at Hotels £1495 Single Room Supplement £325 9 nights’ bed, breakfast & Table d’Hôte evening meal plus 3 light lunches/teas Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class) Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described All excursions & admissions as detailed Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager Hotel Porterage

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

6

Golden October Steam in the Harz Mountains & More

N E W T O U R

This special ‘Golden October’ tour is timed to be in the Harz for a Brocken steam Sonderzug. After further visits to the UNESCO World Heritage Rammelsberg mine complex and Goslar, plus a trip on the Thale cable car and scheduled Selketal steam, we head to the Mansfelder Bergwerksbahn for one of their rare ‘Infozug’ steam days. Finally, from Kassel we enjoy the Hessencourrier ‘Golden October’ steam excursion to Naumburg, another rarity from Railtrail.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 1 We depart London St Pancras by Eurostar, speeding across Kent and towards France. Our Eurostar terminates at Brussels, where we change onto a high-speed train into Germany. From Hanover we coach into the heart of the Harz Mountains and the Maritim Berghotel, our base for three nights. (D) DAY 2 Transferring by coach to Wernigerode, we enjoy an exhilarating ride aboard the Brockenbahn, a steam-hauled journey from Wernigerode through golden autumn landscapes up to the summit of the Brocken mountain to Germany’s highest narrow-gauge station and the Harz region’s highest peak. (B,D) DAY 3 A short transfer takes us to the historic and charming town of Goslar. At any time of year Goslar, with its imperial heritage and gorgeous Old Town, is worth a visit. With more than 1,500 half-timbered buildings, Goslar deserves its UNESCO World Heritage status. Goslar has more than one reason for its World Heritage listing, however, and we visit the Rammelsberg mine, Germany’s first UNESCO listed site for technology. We take the mine train into the Richt Shaft to see modern mining technology underground, whereas above ground is one of Europe’s most extensive mining museums. (B,D) DAY 4 An early start today, aswe transfer by coach to Alexisbad in the verdant Selketal Valley. Here we join the Harzer Schmalspurbahnen narrow-gauge steam journey to Gernrode on the Selketalbahn through the autumnal river valley. Our coach awaits at Gernrode to whisk us to Thale, where we enjoy an exhilarating round trip on the Thale cable ★ ★ Special ‘Sonderzug’ steam journey up the Brocken Mountain ★ ★ Guided tour of the UNESCO World Heritage Rammelsberg mine ★ ★ Free time in picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Goslar ★ ★ Round trip on the Thale cable car ★ ★ Steam on the Selketal Railway from Alexisbad to Gernrode ★ ★ Free time in UNESCO World Heritage Quedlinburg ★ ★ Excursion on the Mansfelder Bergwerksbahn Infozug with English speaking guide ★ ★ Return steam excursion on Hessen Courrier’s ‘Golden October’ to Naumburg

Fares From £1199

7 DAYS

car up to Hexentanzplatz. After free time in gorgeousUNESCOWorldHeritageprotected Quedlinburg, we head to Magdeburg, the state capital of Saxony Anhalt, for a night at the InterCity Hotel. (B,D) DAY 5 A rare treat today! We visit the Mansfelder Bergwerksbahn, Germany’s oldest narrow- gauge railway, which opened in 1880. This 750 mm railway is 11km long and operates through pleasant rural scenery along a former colliery line. Today is a special ‘Infozug’, a hop-on hop-off steam excursion with local English-speaking guide explaining the railway’s significance. From Klostermansfeld we then take the train into western Germany for a two night stay at the InterCity Hotel in Kassel. (B,D) DAY 6 Today’s exhilarating ‘Golden October’ steam excursion is on the infrequent Hessencourrier, also known as the ‘Kleinbahn Kassel Naumburg’. With leaves turning colour it is a great time to steam through the Habichtswald nature park on a 32km line to Naumburg, along a track that navigates several inclines, with the highest being 29% along a 5km section between Elgershausen and Hoof. After free time in the pretty town of Naumburg, whose small railway museum will be open in the station building, we return by steam to Kassel for our final evening. (B,D) DAY 7 Leaving Kassel, we change trains in Frankfurt and Cologne. In Brussels we join the Eurostar service to London St Pancras. (B)

DEPARTS Tuesday 2 October 2018

HOTELS Maritim Berghotel Braunlage This 4* hotel is located in the mountain resort of Braunlage at the foot of the Wurmberg mountain on the edge of the Harz National Park. Amenities include the Roof Garden café, with stunning views of the Harz, a restaurant, bar and Old English Pub, plus leisure facilities including a swimming pool. For this tour we have chosen Superior Rooms with balcony and views across Braunlage. InterCity Hotels 4* and 3* accommodation well-connected for rail travellers. Standard Class rail travel to and from Germany including Standard Eurostar Standard Class rail travel to Hanover/Kassel and return All transfers, excursions & admissions as detailed Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager GUARANTEED FARE FARE From London St Pancras International: Standard Class rail travel to / from Germany, including £1199 Standard Eurostar Single Traveller Supplement £125 6 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal

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

7

Golden October Austrian Steam Adventure

N E W T O U R

This October the Austrian Railway Society at Ampflwang opens its doors with a steam festival. A week later sees a rare steam excursion on the Mariazellerbahn Railway. In between we feature more steam on the Achenseebahn and Zillertalbahn, Innsbruck’s Nordkettenbahn, the Gmunden Tramway, the Traunseebahn, boat trips on idyllic Austrian lakes, a brewery and a schnapps tasting!

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

DAYS 1-2 We depart London St Pancras by Eurostar to Brussels. We continue through Germany by high-speed train to Nuremberg for a night at the InterCity Hotel. After a morning visit to the German National Railway Museum on day 2, we continue into Austria and Timelkam, where we stay for three nights at the Hotel Sonnenhof. Tonight we have arranged a night photo shoot at Ampflwang Lokpark. (B,D) DAY 3 Today is spent at Ampflwang Lokpark’s Steam Gala. The Lokpark is the base of the Austrian Society for Railway History and its collection, having taken over the standard gauge freight line between Ampflwang and Timelkam following the closure of the local mine. Expect at least three locos in steam, with visiting engines, the possibility of footplate rides and lots of photo opportunities in the roundhouse. (B,D) DAY 4 Amixture of newand nostalgic today aswe head first to Gmunden. Here we descend from Gmunden station on the brand new ‘Traunseetram’, which has replaced the town’s heritage vehicles on Austria’s oldest tramway and one of Europe’s steepest. Alighting on the shores of Lake Traunsee, we enjoy an hour’s cruising on ★ ★ The DB Museum in Nuremberg ★ ★ The Gmunden Tramway with its brand new trams ★ ★ Cruise the pristine waters of Lake Traunsee ★ ★ Heritage journey on the Traunseebahn ★ ★ Brewery Visit at Schloss Eggenberg ★ ★ Schnapps tasting at a local schnapps museum ★ ★ A day at the Dampflokfest at Ampflwang ★ ★ Night photo steam shoot at Ampflwang ★ ★ Special rare steam excursion on the Mariazellerbahn Railway ★ ★ Ride on the Mariazell Steam Tramway ★ ★ Steam on the Achenseebahn cog railway ★ ★ Cruise Lake Achensee’s alpine waters ★ ★ Steam on the Zillertalbahn Railway to Mayrhofen ★ ★ Innsbruck’s astounding Nordkettenbahn

Fares From £1895

12 DAYS

the lake’s gentle waters before rejoining the ‘Traunseetram’ along its newly opened link to the ‘Traunseebahn’ line. Hopping off first for lunch at a local Gasthaus, then again at Schloss Eggenberg Brewery for a tasting, we end the day on one of the route’s surviving heritage electric vehicles on the Vorchdorferbahn, before returning to Timelkam. (B,L) DAYS 5-6 On day 5 we travel westwards into the Tyrol for a four night stay at the Hotel Plankenhof in Pill. Day 6 heads from Jenbach to Seespitz on Austria’s oldest steam-hauled cog railway, the Achenseebahn, dating from 1889. From Seespitz we enjoy a cruise on the Tyrol’s largest lake, Achensee, before returning downhill by steam to Jenbach. This evening we enjoy a tour and tasting at our hotel’s in-house schnapps museum! (B,D) DAYS 7-8 Our next steam adventure on day 7 heads the opposite direction from Jenbach on the Zillertalbahn to Mayrhofen at the head of the valley. Day 8 features a visit to Innsbruck, the capital city of the Tyrol. After viewing the Golden Roof and cityscape shrouded in the stunning backdrop of the Austrian Alps, we include a return trip on the Nordkettenbahn, an extraordinary rail adventure leading from city centre to high We head eastwards through Austria on day 9 to the city of St Pölten for two nights at the Hotel Metropol, positioning ourselves for day 10’s steam adventure, a rare steam-hauled excursion on the Mariazellerbahn. This narrow-gauge line travels through one of Austria’s most mountain. (B,D) DAYS 9-10

DEPARTS Friday 5 October 2018

FARE From London St Pancras International: Standard Class rail travel to / from Austria, including £1895 Standard Eurostar Single Traveller Supplement £195 11 nights bed, breakfast, 10 evening meals and 1 lunch Standard Class rail travel to Austria and return All transfers, excursions & admissions as detailed Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager GUARANTEED FARE remote regions through the Pielach Valley, which gets ever narrower as we continue our ascent, using horseshoe curves, bridges, tunnels and viaducts to climb to Mariazell, a pilgrimage destination dominated by its basilica. In Mariazell we also include a ride on the Mariazell Steam Tramway. (B,D) DAY 11 Our journey home begins with a scenic trip into Bavaria. Changing in Munich onto the high speed line, we arrive in Cologne for a final night at the Tryp by Wyndham Hotel Cologne. For our farewell dinner we have chosen one of the popular and homely Cologne Brewery Taverns. (B,D) DAY 12 Concluding our memorable holiday as we return by rail from Cologne to Brussels and Eurostar to London. (B)

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

8

Golden Highlander

The Highlands of Scotland are arguably at their most glorious during the golden weeks of Autumn. This circular tour offers a wealth of spectacular autumnal scenery out of your window, including two of the world’s greatest railway journeys – the Kyle Line and the West Highland Line.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 1 Travelling by train along the spine of Scotland. Leaving the Lowlands behind the wonderfully picturesque Highland Line takes you through Perth, Pitlochry and over the Cairngorm Mountains to Inverness and our traditional Scottish hotel, the Royal Highland. (D) DAY 2 We take the amazing Kyle Line train, Scotland’s original “Great Railway Journey of the World”, coast-to-coast through stunning scenery and across mountain plateau. Look out for wild deer, eagles and the palm trees of Plockton village, before dramatic sea vistas are revealed as we arrive at Kyle of Lochalsh. Here we enjoy a sandwich in the renowned Lochalsh Hotel, overlooking the Isle of Skye, before retracing our steps to Inverness. (B,L,D) DAY 3 A free day in Inverness to enjoy this compact and easy to get around city. Inverness Castle is perched picturesquely above the River Ness and the medieval buildings of Church Street. Enjoy the magnificent cathedral church, lovely riverside restaurants and bustling cafes ★ ★ By train over Rannoch Moor on the stunning West Highland Line ★ ★ Free time to explore Inverness, the capital of the Highlands ★ ★ Spectacular Highlands mountain scenery ★ ★ The “Great Railway Journey of the World” to Kyle of Lochalsh ★ ★ Ride the magical “Harry Potter” line to Mallaig ★ ★ Take the fabulous Highland Line climbing through the Cairngorms ★ ★ See the Bonnie Prince Charlie monument at the head of Loch Shiel ★ ★ Cross magnificent Glenfinnan Viaduct, of Harry Potter movie fame ★ ★ Enjoy “Monster spotting” at Loch Ness

Fares From £455

5 DAYS

along with a wide range of specialist retailers in the historic Old Town and Victorian Market. (B,D) DAY 4 Departing Inverness by road we travel alongside Loch Ness, with a short break for photography and monster spotting, then continue through the beautiful Great Glen to Fort William. Here we commence our magical train journey along the rail route to the Isles. We cross the world renowned Glenfinnan Viaduct, overlooking Loch Shiel and the Bonnie Prince Charlie monument; a view made even more famous in the Harry Potter films. We round Loch Eilt with its trees of the ancient Caledonian Forest and burst out onto the white-sanded Atlantic shoreline at Morar. Catch distant views of the Isles of Eigg and Rhum before we reach the terminus at Mallaig overlooking the Isle of Skye. After a sightseeing break we return to Fort William with seats on the opposite side of the train so no vista is missed. (B,D) DAY 5 After breakfast we bid farewell to Fort William, and travel by train over the stunning West Highland route to complete our circular tour back to the Lowlands and Glasgow for trains to homeward stations. (B) HOTELS Royal Highland Hotel, Inverness A classic Scottish ‘station hotel’, the Royal Highland offers guests the charm and elegance of a distinguished past. The bedrooms have been tastefully contemporised whilst retaining their unmistakably traditional feel, including satellite television and even a choice of pillows.

DEPARTS Thursday 18 October 2018

FARES

FARE REGION

FIRST STANDARD RC

London Out: Kings X Return: Euston Greater London South of England

£770 £630 -£20 £810 £645 -£20 £820 £660 -£25 £830 £665 -£25 £890 £720 -£40 £765 £640 -£20 £750 £630 -£20 £695 £595 -£20 £650 £565 -£20 £700 £590 -£20 £820 £675 -£30 £745 £625 -£20 N/A £545 -£10

East Anglia South West Midlands Yorkshire North East North West South Wales North Wales

Heart of England

Scotland

Join & Leave at Hotels £455 Single Room Supplement £95 4 nights’ bed, breakfast & Table d’Hôte evening meal, 1 sandwich lunch 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 Alexandra Hotel, Fort William Situated close by the railway station this comfortable Victorian villa hotel offers all rooms en suite with TV and radio, telephone and hospitality tray. The dining room is proud of its locally sourced Table d’Hôte menu.

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

9

Yorkshire Dales Steam, Rail & Ale Trail

Enjoy a day at the Keighley & Worth Valley Steam Railway, pop into a Timothy Taylor inn, visit two other great Yorkshire heritage railways, one a steam ride through the foothills and one a diesel journey through Wensleydale. We also feature two great breweries from our base in Ilkley just below the famous Ilkley Moor. Don’t forget your hat!

DAY 1 Arrive in Ilkley and make our way to the Craiglands Hotel, situated a short uphill walk from the town centre on the way up towards the infamous Ilkley Moor. (D) DAY 2 Today is free to discover Ilkley itself, a quintessential Yorkshire market town with a range of shops and attractions. Maybe pop into Betty’s tea room or, if you are feeling energetic, head up to the Cow & Calf Rocks on Ilkley Moor, but please don’t forget your hat! At lunchtime we meet up for a tour of the Wharfedale Brewery, meeting the brewer, before enjoying two pints and a pie in their brewery tap, the Flying Duck. (B,L,D) DAY 3 Today’s excursion skirts the Dales as we transfer by train to Keighley for the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. An ★ ★ Steam through the Dales on the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway ★ ★ Discover Wensleydale on board the preserved Wensleydale Railway ★ ★ Get a taste for Yorkshire at the Black Sheep Brewery TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ★ ★ Discover Ilkley from a hotel close to Betty’s and other attractions ★ ★ Steam to your heart’s content with a Keighley & Worth Valley Railway day rover ★ ★ Enjoy Haworth in the heart of Brontë Country ★ ★ The first round’s on us at a Timothy Taylor pub in Keighley! ★ ★ Experience a tour, pie and a pint at Wharfedale Brewery

Fares From £455

5 DAYS

included day ticket allows you to ride the scenic line all day through countryside made familiar through film in the Railway Children, hopping on and off as you please. Why not break off in Haworth, the home of the Brontës, and visit the Parsonage, before we meet up in Keighley for a relaxing pint of Timothy Taylor’s in one of the local brewer’s pubs. Taylor’s Landlord Pale Ale has been CAMRA Supreme Champion four times, whereas session bitter, Boltmaker won the same title once in 2014. (B,D) DAY 4 A fabulous tour of the Dales awaits today, as we transfer first to Bolton Abbey for a ride on the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway along the former Skipton-Ilkley Line to Embsay Station, which was built in 1888. Heading north by coach through the heart of the Yorkshire Dales, we pick up the Wensleydale Railway, a preserved railway servicing locals and tourists alike on a scenic line through Wensleydale that once connected the East Coast Mainline with the Settle & Carlisle. Our circular tour of the Dales then ends in Masham with a tour and tasting at the excellent Black Sheep Brewery. (B,D) DAY 5 We bid “ah’ll sithee” to Yorkshire and make our way home. (B)

DEPARTS Thursday 11 October 2018

FARES

FARE REGION FIRST STANDARD RC London: Kings Cross £610 £540 -£10 Greater London £645 £565 -£15 South of England £655 £565 -£15 East Anglia £655 £570 -£15 South West £700 £590 -£20 Heart of England £630 £545 -£10 Midlands £590 £520 -£10 Yorkshire N/A £505 -£5 North East N/A £540 -£10 North West N/A £510 -£5 South Wales £680 £570 -£15 North Wales N/A £550 -£10 Scotland £650 £555 -£10 Join & Leave at Hotels £455 Single Room Supplement £110 4 nights’ bed, breakfast & Table d’Hôte evening meal, plus a pie & a pint at Wharfedale Brewery 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

HOTEL The Craiglands Hotel, Ilkley

A lovely Victorian hotel with modern comforts and a warm welcome, with a lounge with log fire in which to relax in the evening. The Craiglands is just a short walk from the centre of the traditional Yorkshire market town of Ilkley and sits beneath Ilkley Moor, immortalized in Yorkshire’s unofficial ‘national anthem’.

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

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Scottish Steam Rail & Ale Trail

Build up a head of steam, uncovering Scotland’s heritage from a different angle. Enjoy the Bo’ness & Kinneil Steam Railway, soar above the canals by boat on the remarkable Falkirk Wheel and steam through the Highlands on the Strathspey Railway on a tour that also features the best of Scottish brewing.

DAY 1 Arrive in Stirling and make your way to our hotel for four nights, the Stirling Highland Hotel, just a short uphill walk from the station and close to the castle. Tonight we enjoy our first evening meal together. (D) DAY 2 We head first to the Forth Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage site, where we enjoy a photo opportunity and a pint in the Ferrybridge Hotel. From here we head by train across the bridge into Edinburgh and onwards on the Borders Railway, a scenic line recently rescued from its slumber and highly popular with commuters and tourists alike. On our way back to Stirling we stop at the Harviestoun Brewery for a talk and tasting with one of their brewers. (B,D) DAY 3 One of Scotland’s great rail journeys awaits today as we head north, via Perth, and into the Cairngorms, passing dense forests and wild moors, flanked by the Grampians, on our way to the mountain resort of Aviemore. Here we enjoy a ★ ★ Soar 35 metres into the air by boat at the engineering masterpiece Falkirk Wheel ★ ★ Experience a tour and tasting at Harviestoun Brewery ★ ★ Steam on the former Highland Railway with the Strathspey Steam Railway ★ ★ Marvel at the vistas as we travel by train to Aviemore ★ ★ Enjoy Highland ales at the Cairngorm Brewery ★ ★ 4* hotel in historic Stirling with leisure facilities TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ★ ★ Enjoy the Bo’ness & Kinneil Steam Railway & the Borders Railway ★ ★ Photo stop at the Forth Bridge with a relaxing pint in the Ferrybridge Hotel

Fares From £565

5 DAYS

return steam excursion from Aviemore to Broomhill on the preserved section of the Highland Line known as the Strathspey Steam Railway. Back in Aviemore, we visit the small, local Cairngorm Brewery, whose tour takes in their fermentation room the Mash Tun in their Brewhouse and conditioning room, before we enjoy a taste of their bottled ales. (B,D) DAY 4 Today our tour reaches its peak with a short coach transfer to the Falkirk Wheel. The Forth & Clyde Canal was originally built to link sea to sea across Scotland’s central belt, however, not long after its construction it was usurped by the railways. After falling into disrepair, volunteers began restoring the canal to its former glory with similar vigour to the pioneers of railway preservation. The Falkirk Wheel is the final piece in the jigsaw, an incredible feat of engineering and design. Our boat is lifted 35 metres by the world’s only rotating boat lift, before sailing seamlessly onto the Union Canal. We continue to the Bo’ness & Kinneil Steam Railway for a return steam ride along the line. (B,D) DAY 5 Our hotel in Stirling bids “Haste ye back,” as we make our way home. (B)

DEPARTS Thursday 18 October 2018

FARES

FARE REGION FIRST STANDARD RC London: King’s Cross £775 £685 -£20 Greater London £815 £705 -£25 South of England £820 £705 -£25 East Anglia £840 £720 -£30 South West £899 £755 -£40 Heart of England £820 £705 -£25 Midlands £790 £685 -£20 Yorkshire £725 £660 -£20 North East £690 £640 -£20 North West £755 £655 -£20 South Wales £830 £710 -£30 North Wales £775 £680 -£20 Scotland £600 £595 -£10 Join & Leave at Hotels £565 Single Room Supplement £160 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 Just a short walk from Stirling Castle, the Highland Hotel is 4* and its restaurant boasts an AA Rosette. Its free car park allows you to drive to your holiday and join at tour base, should you wish, whereas the leisure club, including swimming pool, is a great place to relax. Built in the 19th century as the city’s High School, this historic building still houses a working observatory in its roof. HOTEL Stirling Highland Hotel

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

11

Swanage Gala & Isle of Wight Steam, Beer & Buses

Imagine a short break that combines the Swanage Autumn Steam Gala in delightful Dorset plus the amazing Isle of Wight ‘Beer & Buses Festival’, with 80 vintage buses shuttling between a similar number of real ale pubs on the island, plus Isle of Wight Steam, and a tour and tasting at the Ringwood Brewery. We hope this tour is as appealing to you as it is to us!

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 1 For those travelling with us by train, arrive at Poole for the short walk to our hotel, the Travelodge. After check-in a coach awaits to whisk us to the Ringwood Brewery for a tour and tasting, followed by dinner at the brewery’s Inn on the Furlong. (D) DAY 2 We head westwards through Dorset today to enjoy the Autumn Steam Gala at the nostalgic SwanageRailway, which operates along six miles of track from Swanage past the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle. Details are yet to be announced but the 2016 gala featured the home fleet of three, plus two visiting locos, with passenger and freight trains. The Purbeck Mineral & Mining Museum should be open next to Norden station, as well as the Goods Shed at Corfe Castle station. Our included Full Day Rover ticket allows you to explore the line as you wish, hopping on and off at the individual stations. (B) DAY 3 Leaving Poole, we travel to Lymington Pier by train for the ferry to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight. Here we have privately chartered a superb 1964 Albion 30 seater to allow us to step back into yesteryear and saunter around the island visiting the excellent Military Museum complete with tanks, armoured vehicles and real ale. We continue our sojourn to enjoy steam on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway, riding in the glorious vintage rolling stock that has to be some of the finest examples in the country plus, of course, a fine selection of real ales. We conclude our day at the Travelodge in ★ ★ Dinner at the Inn on the Furlong ★ ★ Full Day Rover at the Swanage Railway Autumn Steam Gala ★ ★ Superb nostalgia aboard a 1964 Albion coach ★ ★ Rover Ticket for the ‘Isle of Wight Classic Buses & Beer Weekend ★ ★ Isle of Wight World War Two Museum ★ ★ Isle of Wight Steam Railway ★ ★ Services of a Tour Manager who lives on the Isle of Wight ★ ★ Tour & Tasting at the Ringwood Brewery

Fares From £495

5 DAYS

Newport the epicenter of the whole Beer & Buses Festival. (B) DAY 4 Your rover ticket today allows you complete freedom to experience the unique ‘Isle of Wight Classic Buses, Beer & Walks’ festival, with over 80 vintage buses shuttling between a plethora of real ale pubs on the island. You can either do your own thing or travel with our Isle of Wight- based Tour Manager. On your travels you might even bump into some of our office team as we have selected the event for an office ‘do’! (B) DAY 5 We bid farewell to Newport and take the ferry from Ryde to Portsmouth. Bidding farewell to our local Tour Manager, those booking rail with us return home from Portsmouth. (B)

DEPARTS Thursday 11 October 2018

FARES

FARE REGION

FIRST STANDARD RC £595 £565 -£10 £625 £585 -£10 £695 £585 -£10 £630 £585 -£10 £655 £595 -£10 £635 £585 -£10 £765 £630 -£15 £720 £620 -£15 £760 £640 -£20 £800 £655 -£20 N/A £580 -£10 £800 £655 -£20 £780 £655 -£20

London: Terminal Greater London South of England

East Anglia South West Midlands Yorkshire North East North West South Wales North Wales

Heart of England

Scotland

Join & Leave at Hotels £495 Single Room Supplement £120 4 nights’ bed, breakfast & one evening meal Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Poole returning from Portsmouth Harbour station (Standard or First Class) Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described All excursions and admissions as detailed Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

HOTELS Travelodge Poole & Travelodge Newport Isle of Wight

We have chosen Travelodge hotels as they offer affordable, good standard accommodation. The Poole hotel is close to the railway station, just a short walk away from the sea, whereas the Travelodge Newport Isle of Wight puts you at the centre of one of the island’s small towns. Both hotels have a café bar. Rooms come equipped with a double bed, shower and tea/coffee making facilities. Single accommodation is in a double room.

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

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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

13

Winchester, Salisbury & Bournemouth Christmas Markets

Browse Winchester’s Christmas Market, set beneath its magnificent cathedral, enjoy Salisbury’s own festive market and impressive Gothic cathedral, then contrast with Bournemouth’s own German- inspired stalls on a great value short break to the Dorset coast.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

DAY 1 Arrive in Bournemouth and transfer to the Carlton Hotel, superbly situated on the East Cliff overlooking the sea. Perhaps head into Bournemouth to browse the stalls of its German-inspired Christmas Market, before we enjoy our first dinner together. (D) DAY 2 Our first excursion heads north by coach through the Dorset countryside and into Wiltshire to ‘the city in the countryside’, Salisbury. There is time during our stay to visit the stunning gothic Salisbury Cathedral if you wish, which houses the preserved original Magna Carta dating from 1215AD. Otherwise, there is also plenty of time to enjoy the festive sights, sounds and aromas of Salisbury Christmas Market, with its strong focus on British-made wares from locally- sourced artisan craftspeople. (B,D) ★ ★ Wonderfully set Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market ★ ★ Browse Bournemouth’s Christmas Market ★ ★ Bournemouth seaside hotel with leisure facilities ★ ★ Salisbury Christmas Market amidst the cathedral city ★ ★ Travel through the New Forest by train to Winchester

Fares From £295

4 DAYS

DAY 3 Today we depart Bournemouth by rail, skirting the New Forest on our way to another beautiful cathedral city, Winchester. Formerly the ancient capital of England and seat of King Alfred the Great, Winchester is steeped in history. At this time of year, the longest medieval cathedral in Europe plays host to Winchester Cathedral Christmas Market, with British and German crafts adorning the stalls in the cathedral’s inner and outer close. (B,D) DAY 4 We bid farewell to Bournemouth and head home. (B)

DEPARTS Monday 10 December 2018

FARES

FARE REGION FIRST STANDARD RC London: Waterloo £395 £355 -£10 Greater London £435 £385 -£15 South of England £510 £395 -£15 East Anglia £435 £395 -£15 South West £465 £400 -£15 Heart of England £445 £395 -£15 Midlands £580 £435 -£20 Yorkshire £535 £435 -£20 North East £585 £450 -£20 North West £625 £465 -£25 South Wales N/A £380 -£15 North Wales £625 £465 -£25 Scotland £715 £520 -£30 Join & Leave at Hotel £295 Single Room Supplement £45 3 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

HOTEL The Carlton Hotel, Bournemouth

One of Bournemouth’s original grand hotels, the Carlton was built in 1861 as a private house for a religious minister. Converted into a hotel, it became host to the rich and famous as Bournemouth developed as a bathing resort. Interestingly, the hotel played its part in the D-Day Landings when General Eisenhower and Field Marshall Montgomery discussed landing plans at the hotel, having watched exercises from the East Cliff. Combining Victorian elegance with modern comfort, the hotel boasts a leisure club featuring swimming pool, gym and sauna.

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

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