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 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 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 departure. 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. 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 four-course dinner, silver-served at your seat, before returning to your holiday 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 Liverpool Lime Street Station and journey along the West Coast Main Line to Warrington. The train continues through beautiful Cheshire countryside to Chester. 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 and 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 The 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.
The rest of the day is yours to explore Caernarfon. Dinner and overnight accommodation back 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 Caernarfon ready for a relaxed journey along western Snowdonia to Porthmadog. Taking in the magnificent views of the Snowdonian mountains. Upon arrival In Porthmadog, your coach will take us to a local restaurant for lunch before taking a short ride to Portmeirion where the surreal TV spy drama ‘The Prisoner’ was filmed in the 1960s. Here you check Inn to your hotel before enjoying a free afternoon. Dinner and overnight accommodation at The Hotel Portmeirion. (B L 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. The 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 National Park. We depart on board to Blaenau Ffestiniog, a slate quarrying town. The coach will meet us there as we depart to Betws-y-Coed, a beautiful village in the Conwy Valley. This stunning setting has a distinctly Alpine 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 beauty spot, featuring in films, postcards and canvas’ also located in Betws-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 & return to Liverpool
After breakfast you take a ride on the 3’6” gauge Great Orme Tramway, Britain’s only cable-hauled street tramway, from Llandudno Station to Great Orme Summit Station where you then board the coach, travelling back to Liverpool via Chester for your homeward journey.