The Far North and Orkney 12

Sunday 17th July At leisure in Kirkwall and a visit to the Highland Park Distillery You are free to relax and explore the quaint town of Kirkwall at your own pace. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by its vibrant artisan scene, diverse galleries and craft shops. Orkney’s capital boasts many historical buildings, such as the 12th century St. Magnus Cathedral, the most northern cathedral in the British Isles. In the afternoon you visit the Highland Park whisky distillery, where world-famous Scotch has been produced since 1798. Dinner is served at your hotel. (B D)

Monday 18th July Exploration of Neolithic Orkney You embark this morning on an exciting exploration of mainland Orkney by coach. Among the highlights are the wonderful and fascinating landmarks that form the ‘Heart of Neolithic Orkney’ World Heritage Site to the west of Kirkwall. You’ll have plenty of time to discover the tremendous natural beauty and cultural legacy at Maes Howe, Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and the Standing Stones of Stenness. You’ll visit the delightful fishing port of Stromness, where you can explore and purchase lunch. In the afternoon, following your visit to Skara Brae, you’ll see the breathtaking sea cliffs at Yesnaby before returning to Kirkwall. (B)

Tuesday 19th July Orkney Beaches, Italian Chapel, Broch of Gurness and Brough of Birsay Today you’ll discover the pristine beaches of the southern, eastern and northern Orkney shores and the so-called ‘Churchill Barrier’ causeway roads, built for defensive purposes during World War II. En route you’ll visit the iconic Italian chapel, one of the most loved cultural attractions on Orkney. In South Ronaldsay you venture south to the fishing town of Burwick, with fine views across the Pentland Firth to John O’ Groats. After lunch back in Kirkwall it’s time to explore the outstanding archaeological site at Broch of Gurness, just across the water from the sparsely populated Orkney island of Rousay. You end the day by experiencing the natural beauty of the Brough of Birsay, on the northern tip of mainland Orkney. At low tide you can even walk over to the uninhabited island of Birsay. After your exciting day out, reconvene back at the hotel for dinner. (B D)

Wednesday 20th July Ferry Crossing over the Pentland Firth, Train Journey to Inverness This morning you return to the Scottish mainland. Your coach takes you from Kirkwall to Stromness for the ferry crossing over the famed Pentland Firth, past the Old Man of Hoy and St. John’s Head to Scrabster, near Thurso. From Scrabster you continue by coach to the iconic village of John O’ Groats, the most north eastern village on the British mainland. On arrival at John O’Groats, lunch will be provided at the Seaview Hotel. Afterwards you continue to Wick and board a ScotRail service train on the stunning Far North Line for the spectacular railway journey via Thurso to Inverness. Initially the tracks cross over moorland, passing through isolated mountain landscapes, before hugging the coast again and running within sight of seals basking on the rocky shores. Numerous firths are navigated before the train eventually reaches Inverness, hub of the Scottish Highlands. You’ll spend two nights at the Best Western Hotel and Spa in the heart of the city, with ample time to explore in the evening. (B L)

Thursday 21st July Strathspey Steam Railway and Fort George Today you travel by coach to nearby Aviemore before joining a steam train on the Strathspey Railway. This heritage line shares the main line railway station at Aviemore and runs to Boat of Garten and Broomhill (‘Glenbogle’ in the BBC series Monarch of the Glen). The return trip provides wonderful views of the Cairngorm Mountains. You re-join the coach to travel from Aviemore into the heart of the nearby Cairngorms National Park, where you stop for a short stroll along the banks of Loch Morlich. You return back to the hotel, where lunch will be served, before enjoying an afternoon visit to Fort George. Following the 1746 defeat at Culloden of Bonnie Prince Charlie, George II created the ultimate defence against further Jacobite unrest. The result, Fort George, is the mightiest artillery fortification in Britain, if not Europe. Afterwards, you enjoy a Farewell meal at the hotel. (B L D)

Friday 22nd July Return to London on the Highland Chieftain After an early breakfast you transfer to Inverness Railway Station to join the ‘Highland Chieftain’ express train for your return journey. Relax in your comfortable First-Class seats as you travel through the scenic Highlands. You continue to Edinburgh where you join the ECML onwards to Newcastle, York and London King’s Cross. A light lunch will be served on the journey south. (B L)

Tour Summary

Tour price £1795 Single supplement £295

Price includes:

• 8 nights accommodation with breakfast at hotels • 5 lunches and 4 dinners • All specially chartered steam trains as detailed in the itinerary • All rail, bus and boat journeys as detailed in the itinerary • All visits as detailed in the itinerary • Rail travel from London to Aberdeen and from Inverness to London • All seat reservations and 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

July 2022

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 27 28 29 30 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Approx. timings Outward Return London King’s Cross 10:00 15:49 York 11:54 13:58 Aberdeen 17:07 ------Inverness ------- 07:55

*Passengers travelling from Peterborough change trains at York on both the outward and return journeys.

Georg Trueb

Snowdonia and the Northern Fells

Friday 15th July to Friday 22nd July 2022

Experience the very best of British steam on this highlight-packed steam rail tour through the magnificent landscapes of Cumbria and North Wales. • While based for 2 nights in historic Liverpool you’ll travel on main line steam over the famous Settle to Carlisle Railway, with major attractions along the line including the magnificent 24-arch Ribblehead Viaduct. • Enjoy a steam trip along the picturesque North Wales Coast line to Bangor, running beside the Irish Sea and passing through several seaside resorts before transferring to Llandudno. • Steam up the dramatic Conway Valley to Blaenau Ffestiniog on The Welsh Mountaineer and discover the endless variety of

‘Great Little Trains’ on the railways of Snowdon Mountain, Ffestiniog, Fairbourne, Talyllyn, Welshpool and Llanfair, and the

Vale of Rheidol. • A definitive tour highlight is a trip over the rebuilt Welsh Highland Railway, one of the rail wonders of the 21st century, from

Caernarfon to Porthmadog through the magnificent Snowdonia National Park. • With overnight stays in comfortable hotels, fine cuisine and efficient luggage transfers, this unique steam tour is the ideal way to explore these outstanding landscapes in relaxed comfort and style.

Friday 15th July Exploring Liverpool Your tour begins at a City Centre Hotel in Liverpool, located opposite Lime Street Station and your base for the next two nights. Arrive as early as possible and explore this fine city at your leisure. Dinner will be at your hotel this evening. (D)

Saturday 16th July The Settle to Carlisle Railway Today you join our ‘Cumbrian Mountain Express’ train departing Liverpool Lime Street. Breakfast will be served at your seat soon after departing. You head north to Preston and on to Carnforth, where your steam locomotive will take over. Skirt the Lake District before entering the Lune Valley. Your fully extended steam locomotive ascends to the summit of Shap Fell before descending through Penrith North Lakes, pausing at Carlisle for a two-hour break to explore this Border City. Leaving Carlisle you join the Settle and Carlisle Railway, climbing up through Langwathby and Culgaith and pausing for water at the market town of Appleby. Through stunning scenery you climb the steep gradient to Ais Gill summit and traverse Dent Dale, from where the Peaks of Whernside, Ingleborough and Pen-y-Ghent dominate the landscape. There are over twenty major viaducts and fourteen tunnels on the line culminating in the magnificent 24-arch Ribblehead Viaduct. On the way back to Liverpool you enjoy a fourcourse dinner, silver-served at your seat, before returning to your hotel for the night. (B D)

Sunday 17th July Steam along the North Wales Coast After breakfast you take your reserved FirstClass seat on the ‘North Wales Coast Express’ special steam train at Liverpool Lime Street Station and journey along the West Coast Main Line to Warrington. On leaving Chester you cross the River Dee and enter Wales, running along the Dee Estuary and then beside the Irish Sea as your train passes Prestatyn and Rhyl. This coastline is known for its stunning beaches and, at Colwyn Bay, fantastic views of the Great Orme headland. You pass through several small seaside resorts on the Irish Sea