Railtrail Annual Brochure 2018 UK

Burns Country, Arran & the Causeway Coast

Two countries, a beautiful island described as ‘Scotland in Miniature’, 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 unique new Railtrail tour!

DAY 1 Customers booking our rail-inclusive package will be met from their trains at Dumfries and transferred by road to our hotel, the North West Castle Hotel in Stranraer . (D) DAY 2 Today begins with one of Scotland’s great railway journeys on the ‘Burns Country Line’ . Leaving Stranraer on the foot of Loch Ryan we cross the peaceful valley of Water of Luce, before climbing to the track’s highest point at Chirmorie. We reach the coast again at Girvan, with fabulous views of Ailsa Craig, before we continue to Troon, where a coach awaits for a transfer to Ardrossan and our ferry to the Isle of Arran . After a panoramic coach tour of ‘Scotland in Miniature’ , we rest for a while at beautiful Brodick Castle Gardens , before returning by ferry and coach to Stranraer. (B,D) DAY 3 After yesterday’s adventure, enjoy a relaxing day visiting the beautifully presented gardens at Castle Kennedy , before contrasting these with Scotland’s most exotic garden, Logan Botanic Garden , whose collection of southern hemisphere plants is warmed by the Gulf Stream. (B,D) DAY 4 Our morning ferry crosses from nearby Cairnryan to Larne. A local coach awaits our arrival for the transfer to Bushmills . Here we board the Giant’s Causeway & Bushmills Railway , a railway built to the Irish narrow gauge of three feet and running for two miles along the track of the former Giant’s Causeway Tram. At the Giant’s Causeway we ★ ★ Ferries and coach travel, as described ★ ★ Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager ★ ★ Hotel Porterage TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ★ ★ Experience the great scenic rail journey through Burns Country ★ ★ Tour the Isle of Arran, known as ‘Scotland in Miniature’ ★ ★ Enjoy Brodick Castle Gardens ★ ★ Explore Castle Kennedy’s historic gardens ★ ★ Contrast with Logan Botanic Garden’s southern hemisphere plants ★ ★ Marvel at the Giant’s Causeway, a unique natural phenomenon ★ ★ Arrive at the Causeway aboard the Bushmills Railway ★ ★ Taste Bushmills Whiskey at the distillery ★ ★ Experience Northern Ireland’s great scenic rail journey ★ ★ Tour the walls of Derry-Londonderry ★ ★ Visit the Titanic Experience in Belfast Also included in your Tour Fare: ★ ★ Dinner every evening ★ ★ Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class)

Fares From £1015

A Great Railway Journey

8 DAYS

© Translink

walk the short distance to the stones. Returning to Bushmills, we visit the Bushmills Distillery for a tasting of their malts, before continuing to the Antrim seaside village of Carnlough and our hotel, the Londonderry Arms. (B,D) DAY 5 Transferring to Ballymoney, we join arguably the most scenic stretch of railway on the island of Ireland . From Coleraine the line runs alongside the River Bann before passing through Castlerock and Downhill tunnels, the longest in Ireland. From the seaside village of Castlerock we pass Binevenagh Mountain, the track running alongside the golden sands of Benone Strand, with views of unspoilt beaches and rolling waves from the Atlantic Ocean. Arriving in Derry-Londonderry , we enjoy a guided walk on the city walls of Ireland’s only completely walled city. (B,D) DAY 6 Enjoy a day at leisure to recharge in Carnlough . Perhaps take the local bus to one of the neighbouring seaside villages or visit nearby Glenarm Castle & Gardens. (B,D) DAY 7 Travelling southwards by coach to Belfast , we visit the popular Titanic Experience , before transferring to Belfast Port for the crossing back to Cairnryan and a final night at the North West Castle Hotel. (B,D). DAY 8 Bidding farewell to Dumfries and Galloway, we journey to homeward destinations. (B)

DEPARTS

Thursday 3 May 2018 Thursday 13 September 2018

FARES

FARE REGION

FIRST STANDARD RC £1295 £1160 -£15

London: Euston Greater London

HOTELS North West Castle Hotel, Stranraer ‘The Castle’ is a 3* hotel, family-run for more than 50 years and former home of famous Arctic explorer, Sir John Ross. Leisure facilities include a swimming pool, sauna, gym and the hotel also boasts its own curling rink! Londonderry Arms, Carnlough Built in 1848 as a coaching inn by the Marchioness of Londonderry, the estate and hotel were passed to her second cousin, Sir Winston Churchill, in 1921. Family-owned for the last 60 years, the hotel boasts Georgian architecture and with just 35 rooms it has a cosy, family atmosphere amidst the small seaside village of Carnlough. £1330 £1180 -£15 South of England £1330 £1185 -£15 East Anglia £1355 £1200 -£20 South West £1300 £1160 -£15 Heart of England £1220 £1120 -£10 Midlands £1200 £1110 -£10 Yorkshire £1135 £1095 -£10 North East N/A £1085 -£10 North West £1155 £1090 -£10 South Wales £1240 £1135 -£15 North Wales £1175 £1100 -£10 Scotland £1155 £1080 -£10 Join & Leave at Hotel £1015 SEPTEMBER Departure Supplement £30 Single Room Supplement £120 7 nights’ bed, breakfast & Table d’Hôte evening meal Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class) Rail, ferry & coach travel, with transfers as described All excursions & admissions as detailed Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager Hotel Porterage

Giants Causeway

© Shutterstock

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

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