Railtrail Annual UK Brochure 2017

Dorset Coast & Isle of Wight Steam

N E W T O U R

Explore delightful Dorset by steam train and marvel at the Jurassic Coast from our boat trip along the shoreline. Enjoy Exbury Gardens, ride on the estate’s ‘Rhododendron Line’ narrow-gauge steam railway

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 or take a stroll along the East Cliff before we enjoy our first dinner together this evening. (D) DAY 2 Our first excursion heads first to Poole , from where we join our boat trip along the Dorset coast . Cruising through beautiful Poole Harbour, we view the start of the Jurassic Coast , a remarkable natural landscape protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Passing Old Harry Rocks, we sail into Swanage Bay , disembarking at Swanage’s Victorian pier. During your time in Swanage we include a return journey on the nostalgic Swanage Railway , which operates along six miles of track from Swanage past the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle. Returning to Poole by boat, then coach to Bournemouth, we enjoy dinner at the hotel. (B,D) D AY 3 Today we depart Bournemouth by coach into the charming New Forest , whose pretty villages and verdant forests are disturbed only by the native ponies or deer, for a visit to Exbury Gardens , famed for its exotic displays of flowers throughout the year. Here we take a ride on the estate’s narrow- ★ ★ Return boat trip along the Jurassic Coast ★ ★ Nostalgic steam train journey on the Swanage Railway ★ ★ Travel through the New Forest to Exbury Gardens ★ ★ Ride on Exbury’s ‘Rhododendron Line’ narrow-gauge steam railway ★ ★ Return rail and ferry to the Isle of Wight ★ ★ Free time in Shanklin on the Isle of Wight ★ ★ Experience the ‘Island Line’ ★ ★ Journey back in time on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway ★ ★ Bournemouth seaside hotel with leisure facilities

and relax at our seafront hotel on Bournemouth’s east cliff. Round off your holiday in great style with a day’s adventure on the Isle of Wight.

Fares From £499

Isle of Wight Steam Railway

© VisitWight

5 DAYS

gauge steam train, charmingly known as the ‘ Rhododendron Line ’, following a circuit through beautifully landscaped gardens and woodland. (B,D) DAY 4 Our final excursion heads by local train through the New Forest to Brockenhurst, changing for Lymington. At Lymington the Wightlink ferry awaits to transport us the short distance to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight . Our coach awaits for a scenic ride along the western side of the island, around the southern tip to Shanklin . After free time for lunch in Shanklin, we take the Island Line service to Smallbrook Junction. Due to the low ceiling of Ryde Tunnel towards the northern end of the 8 mile stretch of track, normal size trains cannot operate on the island, which led to the Island Line using refurbished London Underground trains. At Smallbrook Junction we switch onto the nostalgic Isle of Wight Steam Railway , crossing the island’s heart through picturesque countryside to Wootton. Returning from Wootton to the railway’s Haven Street station, we transfer by coach to Yarmouth for our ferry and rail journey back to Bournemouth. (B,D) DAY 5 We bid farewell to Bournemouth and head homewards. (B)

DEPARTS

Sunday 14 May 2017 Sunday 24 September 2017

FARES

HOTEL The Carlton Hotel, Bournemouth One of Bournemouth’s original grand hotels, combining Victorian elegance with modern comfort, the hotel boasts a leisure club featuring swimming pool, gym and sauna. 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. FARE REGION FIRST STANDARD RC London: Waterloo £675 £560 -£10 Greater London £705 £585 -£10 South of England £715 £595 -£10 East Anglia £635 £595 -£10 South West £655 £595 -£10 Heart of England £575 £550 -£10 Midlands £755 £635 -£15 Yorkshire £725 £630 -£15 North East £760 £645 -£15 North West £815 £660 -£20 South Wales N/A £580 -£10 North Wales £815 £660 -£20 Scotland £820 £675 -£20 Join & Leave at Hotel £499 Single Room Supplement £85 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

Corfe Castle, Swanage Railway

Beautiful Jurassic Coast

© Andrew PM Wright

© Saffron Blaze

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

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