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Railways of Wales

 
4.4 stars(515 reviews)
Duration
6 days
From per person
Sold out
Tour code
25LLS
Mobility Rating 2
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Take a nostalgic trip into the rolling mountains and picturesque towns of North Wales, with journeys aboard scenic railways including the Welsh Highland, Ffestiniog and Llangollen Steam Railways

Experience the magic of North Wales on this holiday filled with picturesque landscapes, historic sites, and heritage rail journeys.

Staying in the seaside town of Llandudno, this Welsh adventure includes a journey on the Llangollen Steam Railway, exploring the Italian Riviera inspired town of Portmeirion and riding the scenic Ffestiniog Railway.

Drift along the scenic Llangollen Canal by horse-drawn boat, discover the mysteries of Caernarfon Castle, and experience the unique charms of Wales.

Unforgettable Experiences

Travelling on the Llangollen Steam Railway
Travelling on the Llangollen Steam Railway
Enjoy a steam-hauled journey through the beautiful Welsh countryside on the Llangollen Steam Railway.
Journeying into Snowdonia on the Ffestiniog Railway
Journeying into Snowdonia on the Ffestiniog Railway
Climbing gently through Snowdonia landscapes on the Ffestiniog Railway, admire the mountainous terrains and lush forests of Wales.
Taking a horse-drawn boat trip along the Llangollen Canal
Taking a horse-drawn boat trip along the Llangollen Canal
Experience a unique horse-drawn boat trip along the Llangollen Canal, relaxing while being pulled in a traditional narrowboat through picturesque scenery.
Entering the wild Welsh countryside on the Welsh Highland Railway
Entering the wild Welsh countryside on the Welsh Highland Railway
Journey on the Welsh Highland Railway amid scenery of farmland, wild meadows, and Llyn Cwellyn Lake.
Discovering beautiful Portmeirion
Discovering beautiful Portmeirion
Explore Portmeirion, a Welsh village based on an Italian Riviera town, with colourful architecture, serene gardens, and unique charm.
Visiting Caernarfon Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site
Visiting Caernarfon Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site
We take a guided tour of Caernarfon Castle, built by England’s Edward I, a medieval fortress with a fascinating history.

What’s included on the tour?

Itinerary

DAY1Meeting in the seaside town of Llandudno

Your holiday begins in Llandudno where the Tour Manager is ready to greet you and your group at the hotel, which sits directly on the town's central promenade with fantastic views of Llandudno Bay.

There's time to settle in or to look around the town of Llandudno before tonight's welcome dinner.

Please note, the order of this itinerary and daily excursions may be changed close to the departure date.

Includes
  • Dinner
DAY2The Ffestiniog Railway to Portmeirion

Today starts with an excursion on the Ffestiniog Railway*, a narrow-gauge heritage railway in Snowdonia National Park. Founded in 1832 as a means of transporting slate and miners from the quarries at Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog, Ffestiniog is believed to be the world's oldest independent railway company.

We travel through the scenic Snowdonia National Park to Porthmadog. From here we continue to Portmeirion by coach, set on a private peninsula, this 'folly' is known for its colourful, Italianate architecture that wouldn't look out of place on the sun-soaked Italian coast.

With entrance into the village included, and free time to look around at leisure, you could visit the central piazza, admire the elegant Japanese gardens or wander the unique surroundings. At the end of the afternoon we transfer back to our hotel, with time to relax before dinner.

*Trains are steam-hauled where possible, however due to timetable changes or weather conditions, heritage diesel locomotives may be running instead.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
DAY3A nostalgic journey on the Llangollen Steam Railway

This morning we board the Llangollen Steam Railway* for a return journey through the beautiful Dee Valley from Llangollen to Corwen. The current railway was formed in 1975 by a group of railway enthusiasts, but takes you along a route dating back to the 1800s, which follows the banks of the pretty River Dee on the way to Corwen Station.

After a chance to explore Llangollen over lunchtime, we enjoy something unique at Llangollen Wharf - a horse-drawn boat trip along the Llangollen Canal, experiencing how heavy goods were transported through this peaceful environment well into the 1960s.

A coach takes us back to our hotel in Llandudno where there is time to see more of the town or maybe have a drink in the lounge bar before dinner.

*Trains are steam-hauled where possible, however due to timetable changes or weather conditions, heritage diesel locomotives may be running instead.

Please Note - For departures 6th July and 5th October we will visit Chirk Castle & Gardens today due to Llangollen Railway being closed.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
DAY4At leisure in Llandudno

After breakfast, today you are free to explore at your own pace. If you'd like to experience more heritage journeys you could take a ride on the Great Orme cable-hauled tramway for breathtaking views of Snowdonia and Anglesey. Or, you might choose to get to know more of Llandudno, such as the Victorian promenade, the pier with its traditional seaside amusements, or the public gardens.

Within easy access of Llandudno is Conwy, where you could admire the historic town walls and castle. Conwy Castle is one of Wales' four UNESCO-listed fortifications, with massive stone walls, crenelated towers, and panoramic views across Snowdonia to the River Conwy.

You could also visit Plas Mawr, a wonderful Elizabethan townhouse which remains unchanged since the 16th century, or the Great Orme Copper Mines. At the world's largest prehistoric copper mines, it is possible to explore the excavated caverns tunnelled by Bronze Age ancestors around 3,500 years ago.

However you decide to spend the day, dinner is served at the hotel this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
DAY5Caernarfon Castle, the Welsh Highland Railway

Today's excursion takes us through mountain scenery to the medieval castle of Caernarfon. This is one of King Edward's four castles in Gwynedd listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Here, we are given a guided tour of the impressive Caernarfon Castle, a royal fortress-palace shrouded in mythology.

After our tour and some free time, we head to another place where folk legends are still told. In the village of Beddgelert we board the Welsh Highland Railway, a scenic narrow-gauge railway that snakes through the stunning Snowdonia National Park. The steam locomotives and traditional carriages carry us past idyllic scenes of forests, valleys, and mountains. After a while, the landscape opens up and reveals picturesque lakes, including the renowned Llyn Cwellyn.

On arrival back in Caernarfon, we rejoin the coach and return to our hotel in time for a final dinner.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
DAY6Homeward bound

After a final breakfast at the hotel, your holiday in Wales draws to a close. This nostalgic tour on heritage railways and historic steam trains has taken us into the most scenic regions of North Wales, from the mountains of Snowdonia to the scenic Dee Valley, and from the intriguing town of Portmeiron to the spectacular Caernarfon Castle.

After saying goodbye, you could choose to explore more of this wonderful region on your own before heading homewards.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Discoveries collection

Our Discoveries range offers everything you need at a great price so you can travel with confidence. It provides comfortable, locally run accommodation*, standard rail or economy flights and expert-led group tours. You'll be in groups with an average of 30-35 travellers and a maximum of 40. *where available

Departure times

Travel timings in your Holiday Confirmation are provisional and are subject to change. We will confirm your travel times in your final itinerary around 10-14 days before your departure. Eurostar or Flight times will be confirmed to you approximately 30-50 days before departure.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotel

Kensington Hotel
Kensington Hotel, Llandudno
View hotel
Trains

More information about the different trains used on this tour.

Ffestiniog Railway

The world's only surviving narrow-gauge railway, winds its way from the harbour at Porthmadog to the slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Savour living history, travelling in monogrammed wooden carriages pulled along by 150-year-old steam locomotives as you look out at landscapes little changed for decades, lined with oak forests and majestic mountain scenery.

Llangollen Railway

The Llangollen Railway is a heritage railway located beside the historic Dee Bridge in Llangollen. Originally opened in 1862, the railway has since been lovingly preserved and offers a journey of 10 miles through an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), from Dee Valley all the way to the charming town of Corwen.

Welsh Highland Railway

We join the Welsh Highland Railway for a wonderful journey by narrow gauge steam train* through the beautiful Snowdonia National Park. The line originally opened to passengers in 1923 but closed in 1937, having never achieved commercial success. From the early 1960s onwards a group of railway enthusiasts have been working to restore the line and in 2003 the 13-mile (20.9km) section from Caernarfon right the way through to Rhyd Ddu was opened for service once again.

Enhance your holiday

UK rail connections

We can book UK rail tickets to and from your local station to Llandudno. Please call us to discuss your requirements.

UK rail connections

Reviews

4.4 stars4.4 / 5 · 515 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (279)
  2. 4 stars
    (194)
  3. 3 stars
    (31)
  4. 2 stars
    (6)
  5. 1 star
    (5)

Maria-Teresita Fernando

5 stars

Submitted 26/Sep

The whole experience was pleasantly different; we had knowledgeable volunteer guides on the steam engine train rides; our tour managers (Chris and Mags) truly went out of their way to assist us along the trip; the places we visited were amazing. My suggestions: (1) it would have been more helpful if anyone in the team could speak Welsh; (2) the horse drawn barge would have been more interesting had there been someone who could speak about the history of horse drawn barges, in general, and life on the river (as there were some canal boats during our ride); you may need to revisit your arrangements the hotel.

Collected by Trustpilot

Mr Roger Pope

5 stars

Submitted 20/Aug

Well organised holiday.

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Roger, Thank you for your review. I'm glad to hear that you found your tour of North Wales to be well-organised. Best wishes, Richard
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Alan Spray

5 stars

Submitted 6/Aug

Absolutely great from start to finish

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Alan, Thank you for your review, and for the brilliant photos! I'm glad you enjoyed your Railways of Wales holiday with us. Best wishes, Richard
Thanks Richard already looking forward to the next one in the Isle of Man in September
2 comments

Collected by Trustpilot

Julian Thomas

5 stars

Submitted 11/Jun

Snowdon Mountain Railway was very well run, all the staff were very friendly and helpful and good value for money.

Collected by Trustpilot

Michael Johnson

5 stars

Submitted 11/Jun

Really enjoyed the holiday - brilliantly led.

Collected by Trustpilot

Mr Costigan

5 stars

Submitted 6/Jun

A well organised holiday in all respects; a calm and very capable Tour Manager, very good hotel, interesting and programme of events and visits which combined to give us the chance to appreciate northern Wales - only the weather could have been better! Our eighth holiday with Great Rail Journeys and (hopefully) more to come in the future.

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