Railtrail Main Brochure 2022

G rand T ours by R ail –

N E W T O U R

Our new unique Grand Tour by Rail is packed full of seaside charm, heritage steam railways and stunning coastal vistas. Join us as we take a trip down memory lane and journey along the stunning south coast staying in Kent, Dorset and Devon visiting many of our favourite nostalgic attractions.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Also included in your Tour Fare: ★ ★ Dinner every evening plus, 1 lunch ★ ★ Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class) ★ ★ Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager DAY 1 For those booking rail travel with us, we arrive in Ashford and transfer to our hotel for three nights, the Ashford International Hotel. You may wish to relax in the hotel’s leisure club ahead of dinner this evening in the hotel restaurant. (D) DAY 2 This morning we travel to Hythe for a journey on the superb Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway - the world’s smallest public railway (15” gauge). The exhilarating journey takes us to Dungeness where we meet our coach and continue to Dover Castle . Here we step inside the Great Tower and immerse ourselves in the history of this great castle before enjoying a unique visitor experience in the Secret Wartime Tunnels where the dramatic rescue operation of the 1940’s ‘Miracle of Dunkirk’ is vividly bought to life. We take a fascinating tour of the atmospheric WW2 Underground Hospital before returning to our hotel. (B,D) ★ ★ Journey on the nostalgic Swanage Railway ★ ★ Experience the famous Seaton Tramway ★ ★ Visit the picturesque fishing town of Brixham ★ ★ Relax on a scenic Dartmouth River cruise ★ ★ Steam along the English Riviera coastline on the South Devon Steam Railway ★ ★ Discover the beautiful and contrasting coastlines of Kent, Dorset, and Devon ★ ★ Ride the Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Heritage Railway ★ ★ Uncover the secret Wartime Tunnels at Dover Castle ★ ★ Take a tour, beer tasting & lunch at Britain’s oldest brewery ★ ★ Climb aboard historic warships ★ ★ Explore the ancient streets of Canterbury ★ ★ Steam on the Kent & East Sussex Railway ★ ★ Enjoy a scenic tour by vintage bus on the Isle of Wight ★ ★ Travel back in time on the Isle of Wight Steam Railway ★ ★ Hop on board the Purbeck Breezer and admire the coastal vistas

Fares From £1769

White Cliffs of Dover

© Shutterstock © Shutterstock

DAY 3 We travel to Chatham Historic Dockyard this morning and discover 400 years of history as we explore the architecture, historic warships and learn about the people that shaped British maritime innovation, engineering, and design. Following our visit, we continue to the Shepherd Neame Brewery where we enjoy a guided tour, tasting and brewer’s lunch . We conclude our day in the ancient city of Canterbury , dominated by its stunning cathedral, the oldest in England. We can explore the extraordinary atmospheric streets and many boutique shops before returning to Ashford. (B,L,D) DAY 4 We commence our transfer day travelling by private coach to the attractive village of Tenterden for a return steam train journey on the Kent & East Sussex Railway along their picturesque route to Bodiam and return. We continue aboard our private coach to Hastings where we enjoy free time for lunch before we head to Hastings station to board our train via Brighton and Southampton to Bournemouth and transfer to our hotel for the next three nights. (B,D) DAY 5 Transferring to Lymington, we join the Wightlink ferry to transport us the short distance to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight . Our vintage coach awaits, for a scenic ride along the western side of the island, around the southern tip to 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 vintage coach to Yarmouth for our ferry and transfer back to Bournemouth. (B,D) DAY 6 Today we hop on board our Purbeck Breezer open top bus at Bournemouth and travel along the coastal road past the stunning multi-million pound properties of Sandbanks and via the short ferry crossing to the Isle of Purbeck before reaching our destination of Swanage. During our time in Swanage we enjoy a return journey on the nostalgic Swanage Railway, which operates along six miles of track from Swanage past the magnificent ruins of Corfe Castle. We return to Bournemouth via the Purbeck Breezer bus and enjoy dinner at the hotel. (B,D) DAY 7 After breakfast we commence our transfer to Torquay travelling by train along the scenic route from Bournemouth to Weymouth where our private coach awaits to transfer us into Devon and the seaside resort of Seaton. Here we board our private heritage tram

Swanage

Canterbury Old Town

Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway

© Shutterstock

RH&DR

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

6