The UK is full of history and natural beauty, making it a great destination for a holiday in 2021. Travelling along many of our heritage railways is one of the best way to enjoy all that it has to offer.
We have teamed up with our friends at Rail Discoveries to highlight our top selling UK rail holidays. From the Yorkshire Dales to the mountain of Snowdonia and more exotic locations such as the Isles of Scilly. They are all so good, we couldn’t decide which ones to highlight, so we thought we’d cover them all.
With prices starting form as little as £339 per person, it’s no wonder that they prove to be a popular choice.
Yorkshire by Steam – discover the natural beauty of Northern England
Staying in the charming Yorkshire town of Harrogate, this is a 5-day break. One of the highlights of this trip is taking the North York Moors Railway on a scenic route through the stunning Yorkshire Moors. Also included in this holiday is a guided tour around York, as well a trip through the Bronte countryside on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. Before you head home, we recommend stopping for a visit to the famous Betty’s team room for some tea and a Fat Rascal.
Railways of Wales – mountains, castles, canals and mountain railways
Wales is a destination that tends to be forgotten within the British Isles, but by no means should be. The landscape is full of rugged mountains, ancient castles and charming towns that you will get to see on this 6-day long holiday. There are three different rail journeys included such as the Llangollen Steam Railway that runs through the countryside between the River Dee and the Berwyn Mountains, which ends in a horse-drawn canal boat trip. The other two are the Ffestiniog Mountain Railway in Snowdonia National Park and the Welsh Highland Railway where you can see the beautiful Llyn Cwellyn Lake.
The Outer Hebrides and the Highlands – enjoy the natural beauty of Scotland
There is no doubt about it, the Scottish Highlands and Outer Hebrides are truly breathtaking in their natural beauty. This 8-day tour will make sure that you get to soak it all up. The most exciting part of this holiday is the journey on one of the world’s most scenic rail journeys – the Jacobite steam train. Harry Potter fans may recognise it as the Hogwarts Express journey. Also included is a fascinating tour of Stornoway, a visit to Garry Beach (not to be missed) and a trip to the Isle of Lewis, where you will see the Butt of Lewis and the famous Callanish Standing Stones.
The unspoilt Isles of Scilly – journey to a hidden treasure of the British Isles
This 6-day holiday to the Isles of Scilly begins and ends with an overnight sleeper train on board the Riviera Sleeper from London Paddington to Penzance. You can re-live the glory days of rail travel on this train, which is one of the only overnight sleeper services left in the UK. The Isles of Silly are a true gem of Britain – unspoilt beaches, turquoise waters and almost tropical climes. You could almost forget that you are still in Britain. Included in this break is a visit to the Abbey Gardens on Tresco and a walking tour taking in the main attractions of the idyllic island of St. Mary’s It is here where you will be staying with the hotel overlooking the pretty harbour.
The Isle of Man – home-from-home charm on a unique and magnificent island
This 6-day rail holiday to the Isle of Man is definitely one of our most popular. You will be based in Douglas throughout, whilst you explore the island on its historic railways. Stepping back in time, you will get the opportunity to travel in the vintage carriages of the Isle of Man Steam Railway, along the scenic southern coast to Port Erin. You will also get the chance to board one of the oldest working tramcars in the world – the Max Electric Railway. Finally, you will journey to the summit of the island’s only mountain, onboard the Snaefell Mountain Railway.
Lakes and Dales by steam – enjoy the breathtaking panorama of the spectacular north of England
Discover the world-famous Lake District and travel on heritage railways with this 5-day short break. Based in Carlisle, you will get to journey through the Yorkshire Dales National Park onboard the Settle to Carlisle Railway. On this journey, you will see the 24-arched Robblehead Viaduct. You will also get the opportunity to travel through the beautiful Leven Valley to Lake Windemere on the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway, Travelling via the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, you’ll visit Ravenglass, the only coastal village in the Lake District National Park. This rail holiday really highlights the true beauty of Northern England and its heritage railways. Definitely one of our favourite Uk itineraries.
