Railtrail Main Brochure 2022

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

N E W T O U R

From our hotel in the beautiful Forest of Dean we explore the magical region between the Welsh borderland and the River Severn on a new tour 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 picturesque Broadway, historic Ledbury, and the famous book town of Hay-on-Wye.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

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 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) ★ ★ Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class) ★ ★ Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager ★ ★ Hotel Porterage ★ ★ 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 Ledbury ★ ★ Marvel at reservoirs and mountains on the Brecon Mountain Railway ★ ★ Visit Hay-on-Wye, the second hand book capital of Britain! Also included in your Tour Fare: ★ ★ Dinner every evening ★ ★ Live entertainment every evening, except arrival night

Fares From £599

Forest of Dean Railway

5 DAYS

© 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 takes us over the Welsh border to nearby Monmouth , where there is free time to take lunch before our boat trip on the River Wye from beautiful Symonds Yat . We then continue to the charming market town of Ledbury where can take an afternoon stroll around the pretty jumble of 17th century and Georgian architecture, narrow alleyways, and cobbled lanes before returning to our hotel. (B,D) DAY 4 We travel by coach over the Welsh border 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 to Torpantau, high in the Brecon Beacons. In the afternoon we continue to the quirky market town of Hay-on-Wye famous for its many book shops, we can wander around the market which takes place every Thursday and purchase a few bargain books before our scenic journey by road back to our hotel. (B,D) DAY 5 Bidding farewell to Coleford to transfer to Lydney, where we depart on our homeward journeys. (B)

DEPARTS

Monday 11 April 2022 Monday 18 July 2022

FARES

FARE REGION

FIRST*

STANDARD

London: Paddington Greater London South of England

£789 £795 £815 £809 £899 £795 £779 £889 £875 N/A £815 £979

£715 £725 £739 £729 £699 £725 £669 £755 £819 £745 £665 £715 £799 £599 £NIL

East Anglia South West

Heart of England

Midlands Yorkshire North East North West South Wales North Wales

£1009

Scotland

Join & Leave at hotel

Single Room Supplement (no supplement on true single rooms) JULY Departure Supplement £50 *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 © Roger Mechen - shutterstock

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).

Ledbury

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

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