Vintage Railways of the Isle of Man Holidays 2012 

We meet in Heysham, Lancashire, ahead of our early afternoon ferry journey to the Isle of Man. Heysham is easily accessible from other parts of the UK and the train from Lancaster arrives straight into Heysham ferry terminal. Our Irish Sea crossing on the ferry takes 3 1/2 hours. Arriving into Douglas sea terminal, porters collect our luggage as we walk the short distance along the waterfront to the Claremont Hotel, our base for the next five nights. The hotel occupies a superb location on Douglas' sea-front promenade, overlooking the impressive two-mile sweep of Douglas Bay. (D)

Our excursion today takes us to the summit of the island's only mountain: Snaefell. We begin with a journey north along Douglas promenade, travelling by historic horse-drawn tram*. The trams, known locally as 'toast racks', have been running since 1876 and remain a testimony to Victorian engineering, as popular today as they were when first introduced. We then board an electric train to take us to the fishing village of Laxey. Separated into two parts, the main village and Old Laxey, which surrounds the picturesque tidal harbour, the town is home to the Laxey Wheel, the world's largest working waterwheel. 'Lady Isabella' was built in 1854 to pump water from Laxey's lead and zinc mines. It is possible to climb the steep spiral staircase to view the working wheel from the platform above. We make the short journey on the Great Laxey Mine Railway. Leaving Laxey, we board the Snaefell Mountain Railway - the only electric mountain railway in the British Isles, dating from 1895. The journey takes us all the way to the summit of Snaefell at 2036 feet. On a clear day you can see England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. A café at the summit offers the opportunity for you to arrange lunch while enjoying the stunning views. We return to Laxey on the Snaefell Mountain Railway before making our way back to Douglas by electric train. (B,D)

*Horse drawn trams may not be available on some September departures

Today we enjoy a journey on the full length of the Manx Electric Railway from Douglas to the harbour town of Ramsey in the north-east of the island. The railway is recognised as the longest narrow-gauge vintage railway in the British Isles, taking us on a 17-mile journey through glorious countryside, across gorse-topped hills and along the stunning coastline of the east coast on its way to Ramsey. We make this journey travelling in the oldest working tramcars in the world. From Ramsey, we travel by coach across the island, following some of the famous TT motorbike course on our way to Peel - an old-fashioned fishing port whose quaint, narrow streets lead to its deep harbour. The thriving fishing industry and many smokehouses have made Peel famous for kippers. During our time here, you may wish to visit Peel Castle, located on St Patrick's Isle, which dates back to the 11th century, or the House of Manannan, a museum that explores the island's Celtic, Viking and Maritime heritage. Entrance to both is included on the Heritage Explorer Pass. During our return journey to Douglas we call at Tynwald Hill (the Hill of the Church of John), in the village of St John's, where we see the Church of St John and the Tynwald Exhibition. (B,D)

This morning we walk to Douglas railway station to board the Isle of Man Steam Railway, the island's oldest Victorian rail system. The steam-hauled journey in restored heritage carriages takes us through verdant countryside and along the stunning southeast coastline as we travel past small towns and old-fashioned fishing ports. We pull into the station in Port Erin, an imposing town set within a beautiful bay on the south-west point of the island. The Bradda headland dominates the bay, towering over the golden sands of Port Erin's magnificent beach - one of the best on the island. After time to explore, we are collected by coach for a tour of the headland overlooking the Calf of Man. This terrific corner of the island is home to an array of delightful wildlife including seals and a wide variety of nesting birds. After touring the headland, we travel to Castletown, the island's ancient capital. Castle Rushen, a magnificently preserved medieval fortress, dominates the town and is worth a visit during our time here, as is the Nautical Museum and the House of Keys. Entrance to all three sites is included on the Heritage Explorer Pass. (B,D)

Your day is free to enjoy the island at leisure. An included island Explorer Pass allows you to travel on the local trains and buses. The communities that make up the island are linked by an excellent public transport network, which will give you the opportunity to explore parts of the island you have not yet seen, or revisit your favourites from the last few days. You also will be able to make use of your Heritage Explorer Pass today. Other popular options include a tour of the Gaiety Theatre, the Isle of Man's opera house and theatre, located in Douglas, which first opened in 1900, or Tynwald, the Isle of Man Parliament. (B,D)

We leave Douglas on the morning ferry, arriving back into Heysham just after midday, with the rest of the UK within reach in a matter of hours. (B)

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner
These meals, where shown are included in the price of your holiday

**Please be aware that the order of the excursions may be different than appears here, subject to confirmation of the Isle of Man's rail schedules for 2012.

We include two passes in this holiday: an Explorer Pass and a Heritage Explorer Pass.

Explorer Pass
Available for use on your free day, the Explorer Pass allows you complimentary travel on trains and buses across the Isle of Man.

Heritage Explorer Pass
Available for use on your free day and during our excursions, the Heritage Explorer Pass gives you free entrance to Manx National Heritage sites. These include the Laxey Wheel, Peel Castle, the House of Manannan, Castle Rushen, the Old House of Keys and the Nautical Museum, among others.