Great British Railway Journeys with Railtrail Tours

 

Michael Portillo's hugely popular 'Great British Railway Journeys' television series has sparked great interest in train holidays, reminding me of just how many of the great rail journeys in the UK that you can enjoy on holiday with Railtrail Tours. Following is a list of some of my favourites...

 

Enjoy!

 

Dave Felstead
Managing Director

 

Devon's Dawlish Sea Wall line

The Cornish Riviera Express was, in the days of steam, the most famous holiday train in the country. Children from nine to ninety eagerly awaited departing Exeter and clinging to the Exe estuary before the drama of speeding alongside the sea wall through Dawlish knowing that your holiday had really begun. Although no longer with steam, this spectacular journey is a wonderful introduction to our tours:

Steam & Sail in the Elegant English Riviera,  Classic Cornwall Coast & Country  and Springtime Gardens of Cornwall

.

 

 

West Highland Line - 'Harry Potter' & the Jacobite steam train

What a difference a film makes! Harry Potter has put it at the top of Scotland's 'must do' list! Experience travelling over Glenfinnan Vaduct on our Highland Adventure, Summer Highlander, Grand Tour - Lands End to John O'Groats, Golden Highlander and

Festive Highlands Tartan & Taster  tours.

 

 

Kyle of Lochalsh - The original 'Great Railway Journey of the World'

When I first made this journey over three decades ago, following Michael Palin's original 'Great Railway Journeys of The World' TV series, I fell in love with a railway journey!

Climb high above the tree line onto the great plateau through Achnashellach and Achnasheen, then descend for the coastal journey through Plockton into Kyle of Lochalsh, overlooking the Isle of Skye - simply the most memorable of rail journeys. Viewing the great herds of wild deer on the evening journey back to Inverness was the icing on the cake. You too can experience this most romantic of rail journeys on our short breaks Highland Rail Voyager, Grand Tour - Derry To Kerry and Romantic Highlander tours.

 

 

Welsh Highland Railway

The newest of the UK's great rail journeys is the Welsh Highland Railway from Caernarvon through the Aberglaslyn Pass, in the Snowdonia National Park. This narrow gauge line is the longest in Britain and whilst the trains may be small the vistas are immense; enjoy it - and many more lines - on our tour of Wonderful Wales.