Welcome to Railtrail Tours
A family firm with an ethos of honesty and integrity. Our passion for delivering quality escorted holidays by rail at great value fares along with consistently excellent customer service has stood us in good stead for over 40 years.
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01538 382323
Monday - Friday, 9am to 5pm
Explore the magical region between the Welsh borderland and the River Severn in the beautiful Forest of Dean including three heritage railways, a cruise along one of the country's most scenic river landscapes, and visits to fascinating museums. Enjoy time to explore some of the many charming towns and villages including Broadway (Jewel of the Cotswolds), picturesque Ross-on-Wye, and the historic market town of Abergavenny.
View Dates & Book
5 days from £759
DEPARTS
Monday 19 May 2025
Monday 8 September 2025
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Journey on the Forest of Dean Railway
Travel along the Gloucester & Warwickshire Railway to the beautiful Cotswolds
Cruise on the scenic River Wye from Symonds Yat
Marvel at reservoirs and mountains on the Brecon Mountain Railway
Explore Gloucesters National Waterways Museum
Discover the historic market town of Abergavenny
Visit the picturesque town of Ross-on-Wye
Also included in your Tour Fare:
4 nights bed, breakfast & evening meal
Live entertainment on two evenings
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager
DAY 1
We arrive by train into Lydney and transfer to our hotel in Coleford, ideally located on the outskirts of the market town, where we enjoy our first evening meal together.
DDAY 2
After breakfast this morning, we travel by coach over the Welsh border to the historic market town of Abergavenny where we enjoy free time to wander around the beautiful market town discovering lovely scenery and boutique shops before enjoying lunch at leisure. In the afternoon, we will enjoy a scenic route by road to Pant for a return steam* journey on the Brecon Mountain Railway, formerly part of the Brecon & Merthyr Railway. Our journey will take us along the full length of the Pontsticill Reservoir before climbing to Torpantau, high in the Brecon Beacons, stopping at Pontsticill Reservoir on the return. We will travel back to our hotel in time for our evening meal.
B, DDAY 3
Today we will depart from our hotel by coach heading to nearby Norchard where we enjoy a visit to the Forest of Dean Railway Museum including a private tour of the restoration shed. We will then board we board our train for a nine-mile return steam* journey on the Forest of Dean Railway travelling south to Lydney Junction and north to Parkend with stops at both ends of the line. Our coach will then transport us to Ross-on-Wye where there will be free time to enjoy lunch at leisure before our afternoon boat trip on the River Wye from the beautiful Symonds Yat.
B, DDAY 4
This morning, after breakfast, we will travel by private coach transfer to Cheltenham Racecourse where we board our steam* train for a scenic journey through the Cotswolds on the extended Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway through to Broadway. We enjoy a little free time in this picturesque Cotswold village before we depart to the most inland port in the country, Gloucester Docks to visit the National Waterways Museum which tells the story of the 200-year history of the docks and the Gloucester & Sharpness Canal. Here we will enjoy a boat tour discovering the stories of the communities that lived and continue to thrive here before returning to Coleford by coach for our evening meal.
B, DDAY 5
After breakfast we will bid farewell to Coleford and transfer to Lydney for our homeward journeys.
*Important Note: Whilst the arrangements for all described steam train travel are in place, we do reserve the right to make substitutions should it be deemed necessary for whatever reason.
B=Breakfast, D=Dinner
HOTEL
Bells Hotel & Country Club, Coleford
Located in the Forest of Dean on the outskirts of the market town of Coleford, the 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 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). The bedrooms are traditional in style and include free Wi-Fi, TV, and tea/coffee making facilities. Single rooms are true single with one single bed.
FARES
Fare Region | First* | Standard |
London: Paddington | £995 | £905 |
Greater London | £1,005 | £919 |
South of England | £1,029 | £929 |
East Anglia | £1,015 | £919 |
South West | £1,135 | £885 |
Heart of England | £1,005 | £919 |
Midlands | £979 | £845 |
Yorkshire | £1,105 | £945 |
North East | £1,249 | £1,025 |
North West | £1,089 | £935 |
South Wales | N/A | £839 |
North Wales | £1,019 | £899 |
Scotland | £1,219 | £1,005 |
*Please note: Some local and regional train services are Standard Class only, so First Class ticket holders will travel in standard class accommodation for these sections of journeys.
Join & Leave at Hotel £759
Single Room Supplement £NIL (no supplement on true single rooms)
4 nights bed, breakfast & 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 & admissions as detailed
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager
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