Grand Tour - Land's End to John O'Groats

DAY 1

We arrive in Cornwall in Falmouth for three nights at the fabulous Royal Duchy Hotel. Here we check in and relax ahead of dinner together.

DAY 2

We begin our excursions by travelling through charming, unspoilt Cape Cornwall en route to Land's End, the westernmost point of Cornwall and England. Our round trip then continues, calling in at the lovely fishing village of Mousehole, before returning to Falmouth.

DAY 3

A leisurely day allows you to relax in Falmouth.

DAY 4

We head to Falmouth station which marks the beginning of our adventure northwards. Travelling in the class of your choice once we reach the main line, we cross through Cornwall into Devon, cruising by rail alongside the famous sea wall at Dawlish. Heading through the Southwest, we travel through the beautiful Heartland of England changing trains at Birmingham New Street. At Chester we make our way to the lovely Mill Hotel & Spa where we will be based for three nights.

DAY 5

Our coach transfers us along the North Wales Coast to Caernarvon, where we board the magnificent Welsh Highland Railway for a steam hauled rail journey climbing into Snowdonia, twisting around forests to Beddgelert and through the much treasured beauty of the Aberglaslyn Pass. At Porthmadog we enjoy some free time for lunch before we embark on the Ffestiniog Railway for a narrow-gauge steam adventure, climbing inland to the unique landscape of Blaenau Ffestiniog.

DAY 6

We make the short journey by road to the Llangollen Canal, where we take a breathtaking aerial cruise across one of the 'Seven Wonders of the Canals', the spectacular Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. Crossing 126 ft above the River Dee, it is the highest and longest aqueduct in Britain and a World Heritage site. We continue to Llangollen for a little free time to look around the delightful town before a heritage diesel train ride along the beautiful Dee Valley.

DAY 7

Our journey north continues in the class of your choice via the West Coast Mainline into Glasgow. Here we continue in Standard Class on the first section of the West Highland Line, dubbed one of the world's greatest railway journeys. The first part of the rail journey is dominated by wonderful watery landscapes, as we skirt the Firth of Clyde, Loch Long and Loch Lomond, before climbing into the western Highlands to Bridge of Orchy, where we spend two nights at the beautifully renovated Bridge of Orchy Hotel.

DAY 8

We transfer to Fort William to join the famous "Harry Potter" Jacobite Steam Train to Mallaig. Glenfinnan Viaduct, Bonnie Prince Charlie's monument and Loch Shiel are viewed before bursting out onto the Atlantic coastline of golden white sands with distant views of Rhum an Eigg. Enjoy time in Mallaig with views across the sea to Skye.

DAY 9

Leaving Bridge of Orchy behind, we transfer through the dramatic Great Glen, alongside serene Loch Ness, on our way to Inverness for a three night stay at the Palace Hotel.

DAY 10

This morning's excursion completes a wonderful coast to coast odyssey, travelling northwards through stunning coastal Sutherland and into Caithness for a visit to John O'Groats, the furthest inhabited place on mainland Britain from Land's End, which lies some 874 miles away. Today we also visit a traditional Highlands distillery before returning by road to Inverness to reflect on a tour crossing three countries between the two farthest points, with a host of new and exciting experiences in between.

DAY 11

Our final excursion, the original of Sir Michael Palin’s "Great Railway Journeys of the World", the Kyle Line to Kyle of Lochalsh, awaits today. Another journey of a lifetime, the Kyle Line connects Scotland coast to coast across great mountain plateaus before the wonderful coastline emerges, with Skye’s brooding Cuillin Mountains in the distance. Here we enjoy a light lunch at the Kyle Hotel before retracing our steps to Inverness.

DAY 12

Today our Railtrail grand tour concludes as we make our homeward journeys, our cameras filled with coast to coast adventures.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner