Snowdonia and the Northern Fells

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 Coastline to Bangor, running beside the Irish Sea and passing through several seaside resorts before transferring to Caernarfon.
• Discover the endless variety of ‘Great Little Trains’ on the railways of Snowdon Mountain, Llanberis Lake, Ffestiniog,
  Welsh Highland.
• A definitive tour highlight is a trip over the rebuilt Welsh Highland Railway, one of the rail wonders of the 21st century, from Porthmadog to Caernarfon 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 10 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 11 July

The Settle to Carlisle Railway

Today you join the ‘Cumbrian Mountain Express’ charter train at Lime Street Station. Breakfast will be served at your seat soon after. You head north to Carnforth, where you’ll pick up your steam locomotive and 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 st unning 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 four-course dinner, silver-served at your seat, before returning to the hotel for the night. (B D)



Sunday 12 July

Steam along the North Wales Coast

After breakfast you take your reserved First-Class seat on the ‘North Wales Coast Express’ special steam train at 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 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 Y Feninheli to your hotel in Caernarfon where you will check into your hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B D)

Monday 13 July

Llanberis Lake Railway & Steam on the Snowdon Mountain Railway 

After breakfast, you transfer to Llanberis Station to start off with a trip on The Llanberis Lakeside Railway. Their little steam engines take you on a 5-mile return trip along Lake Padarn, in the heart of Snowdonia. Upon returning, the coach will take you more into the centre where you will have free time in the delightful Snowdonian village of Llanberis to purchase lunch and explore. You may want to visit the Snowdon honey farm and winery, or go into the one of the best ice cream shops in Wales. We then travel a short journey to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch for an opportunity to take photos with the famous railway sign.
Following this you transfer back to Llanberis to the bottom of the summit ready for a steam-hauled trip on the Snowdon Mountain Railway, with superb views, weather permitting.
You then transfer by coach back to your hotel in Caernarfon, via Menai Bridge for an opportunity to take photos of the picturesque bridge and scenery for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B D)

Tuesday 14 July

Visit to Caernarfon castle and free afternoon to explore 

After breakfast you travel as a group to Caernarfon Castle. The castle, a medieval fortress, was built in the 13th century. It was built using a lot of dressed stones looted from the Roman fort of Segontium at the top end of the town. It is the greatest castle that Edward V1 built In Wales and is a UNESCO site.
Here you can explore the grounds at your own leisure. This evening you head to Portmeirion where the surreal TV spy drama ‘The Prisoner’ was filmed in the 1960s. Dinner and overnight accommodation at your hotel. (B D)

Wednesday 15 July

Steam on Welsh Highland Railway

After breakfast, you take a short transfer to The Welsh Highland Railway in Porthmadog ready for a relaxed journey along western Snowdonia back to Caernarfon. Taking in the magnificent views of the Snowdonian mountains. There will be time to purchase lunch in Caernarfon. Dinner and overnight accommodation at The Hotel Portmeirion. (B D)

Thursday 16 July

Ffestiniog Railway to Blaenau, Conwy Valley Line & visit to Betws y Coed

After breakfast at the Portmeirion Hotel, we transfer by coach to Ffestiniog Railway. Ffestiniog railway is a heritage railway based on a 1 ft 11+1⁄2 narrow gauge, located in Gwynedd, Wales. It is a major tourist attraction located mainly within Snowdonia Park. We depart on board to Blaenau Ffestiniog, a slate quarrying town. The coach will meet us there as we dpeat to Bets y Coed, a beautiful village in Conwy Valley. This magical setting has distinctly Apline feel enhanced by the dense Gwydr Forest surrounding Betws-y-Coed. Here you will have some free time to purchase lunch, as well as visit the independent shops. We then take a short transfer to Swallow Falls, a familiar natural celebrity, featuring in films, postcards and canvas’ also located in Bets-y-Coed. You then transfer to Llandudno, a seaside Town far North of Wales for dinner and overnight accommodation. 

Friday 17 July 

Great Orme Tramway and return

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 you then board the coach, travelling back to Liverpool via Chester for your homeward journey.

Please note: Locomotives will be confirmed nearer the time of departure.