coast before arriving at Bangor. Here you transfer by road coach to Penrhyn Castle for a short visit. This dramatic neo-Norman castle was built in the early 19th century for a wealthy Welsh family. Crammed with fascinating objects, its stable block contains an industrial railway, a doll collection, and model railway museums. Afterwards your coach takes you across Anglesey to Holyhead to rejoin your steam train for the return journey to Llandudno. You take the short walk to the St. Georges Hotel and check in for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B D) Monday 18th July
Steam on the Snowdon Mountain and Welsh Highland Railways
This morning you transfer to Llanberis Station for a steam-hauled trip on the Snowdon Mountain Railway, with superb views, weather permitting. Back in Llanberis there is free time to explore this delightful Snowdonian town and have lunch. In the afternoon you take a trip on the Welsh Highland Railway from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, through the magnificent Snowdonia National Park. This fantastic 25-mile journey, steam hauled by a two-foot narrow gauge Garratt locomotive, begins close to Caernarfon Castle. It takes you through spectacular mountain scenery, the village of Beddgelert, which owes its fame to the legendary tale of Prince Llewelyn ap Iorwerth, and the famous Aberglaslyn Pass. On arrival at Porthmadog you return by road coach to the St. Georges Hotel in Llandudno for dinner. (B D) Tuesday 19th July
A steam spectacular to Blaneau Ffestiniog; the Ffestiniog Railway
After breakfast you take a ride on the 3’6” gauge Great Orme Tramway, Britain’s only cable-hauled street tramway, from Llandudno Victoria Station to Great Orme Summit Station. Then you go on to Llandudno Junction Station to join ‘The Welsh Mountaineer’ steam train to Blaenau Ffestiniog. You’ll be hauled by a steam locomotive along this incredibly steep branch line, climbing uphill into Snowdonia through Betws-y-Coed and Pont-yPant to Blaeneau Ffestiniog. There’ll be a couple of hours to explore Blaeneau Ffestiniog and have lunch before you travel on the Ffestiniog Railway to Porthmadog. There you transfer to Portmeirion, where the surreal TV spy drama ‘The Prisoner’ was filmed in the 1960s, for dinner and an overnight stay at The Hotel Portmeirion. (B D)
Wednesday 20th July
Steam on the Fairbourne and Talyllyn Railways
After breakfast you transfer by road coach to Fairbourne for a return journey on the Fairbourne Railway. This 12¼” gauge railway runs for 3.2 km (2 miles) alongside the beach to the end of a peninsula at the mouth of the Mawddach Estuary, one of the most spectacular locations along the Cambrian Coast. You continue by coach to nearby Tywyn where you travel on the narrow gauge Talyllyn Railway (TR). The TR is notable for being the first preserved railway in the United Kingdom. This 2’3” gauge railway runs for 11.7 km (7.25 miles) to Nant Gwernol. On return to Tywyn there’ll be time for lunch and a visit to the narrow-gauge railway museum there. You then transfer by coach to the Tyn Y Cornel Hotel, where you will be based for the next two nights. (B D) Thursday 21st July
Tour Summary Tour price
£1995
Single supplement £325 Price includes: • 7 nights accommodation with breakfast • 6 breakfasts in hotels and one on the train • 6 dinners in hotels and one on the train • All train and tramway travel as detailed in the itinerary • All seat reservations and coach transfers • The services of a tour manager All prices shown are per person based on two persons sharing. Meals included each day are shown as: B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D = Dinner
Vale of Rheidol and Welshpool and Llanfair Railways
Today you travel steam-hauled on the Vale of Rheidol Railway from Aberystwyth to Devil’s Bridge, where unique waterfalls have attracted many thousands of visitors since the 18th century, including William Wordsworth, who wrote about the ‘Torrent at the Devil’s Bridge’. From Devil’s Bridge you transfer by road coach to Welshpool and after lunch in the town you begin your journey on the picturesque 2’6” gauge Welshpool and Llanfair Railway. There’s an enjoyable steam-hauled ride through the delightful Banwy Valley to Llanfair Caereinion to follow, before you return to Welshpool. Depart Welshpool and transfer to your hotel for a farewell dinner with the group. (B D)
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Friday 22nd July Return home
After breakfast at your hotel, you depart by coach, travelling back to Liverpool via Chester for your homeward journey. (B)
Andrew Thompson
UK TOUR – 8 Days
15
