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| Great Britain - England - Scotland - Wales - United Kingdom - Rail Travel - England, Scotland and Wales Britain has one of the most efficient train systems in the world. With the ease of a rail pass and our hotel voucher program, you can go as you please, making your train reservations along the way. Our independent program gives you the freedom to explore history-steeped market towns, idyllic villages, and the glorious gardens of England, Scotland and Wales. If you are thinking of travellingto Ireland, that can be added too.  Train Travel Price Includes:
 . Best Western Hotels and Inns - refreshingly different hotel experience at distinctive hotels - There are nearly 300 hotels, and inns, all rated 3 or 4 star. All are privately owned, dedicated to providing individual care and attention, excellent food and wines. Best Western hotels in the UK reflect the personal tastes of the owners. They include centuries old inns to modern hotels, manors and inns, so you can't fail to find the right place. This category must be pre-reserved.  2008 Rail England, Scotland, Wales
Prices are land only in USD- per person Daily departures Longer stays and additional hotel nights are available. We do not recommend B&B's with a train pass as homes may not be an easy distance from the train stations.
Some of our favorite scenic routes: Scenic Routes Scenic Rail Routes in Britain- a Must See! Take in Britain's beauty from the comfort of your seat! There are many rail lines in Britain worth the trip just for the scenery. To fully enjoy them, all should be traversed in daylight hours. Remember, during the summer in the north of England and Scotland daylight ends around 10 PM, which gives you extra hours for touring!  Scotland Scotland possesses some of the most
magnificent scenic rail journeys in the world. We particularly recommend these
routes: Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh The Far North Line - Inverness to Wick/Thurso to catch ferries to the Orkney Islands West Highland Line - Glasgow to Oban, Fort William or Mallaig Perth to Inverness Glasgow to Stranraer - for the ferries to Northern Ireland Edinburgh to Dundee Newcastle to Edinburgh
 North Country England's North Country is a secret well kept
with an abundance of wonderful scenery. Enjoy one of these journeys: Settle and Carlisle Line The 72 mile route from Settle to Carlisle takes you on a journey through the magnificent Yorkshire Dales, over the 24 arches of the Ribblehead Viaduct before plunging in to the longest tunnel on the line at Blea Moor. Emerging onto the side of Dentdale, the line leaves the Dales at Garsdale and makes it way through the gentle, lush rolling hills of the Eden Valley, with rural villages and market towns before arriving at the great border city of Carlisle. Middlesborough to Whitby Manchester to Sheffield Newcastle to Carlisle Preston to Carlisle Leeds to York via Harrogate East Anglia & Central England Norwich to Sheringham Norwich to Lowestoft Ipswich to Lowestoft Ely to Norwich Oxford to Hereford West Country Unique rugged coastlines interspersed with seaside towns and villages are the trademark of a trip through Devon and Cornwall. Exeter to Penzance Liskeard to Looe Truro to Falmouth St Erth to St Ives Bristol to Weymouth Salisbury to Exeter  Bristol, Bath, & Beyond Stay Some suggested
days out from Bristol, which can be taken by train. Day 1 Spend the day in
Bristol today visiting the sites and soaking up the atmosphere in some of the
many cafes, bars, and restaurants. Day 2 Visit another country today - Wales!
Head north west to cross the Severn Bridge into Wales and to the capital,
Cardiff, steeped in history and a vibrant developing city. Day 3 Head north
into the Cotswolds today to visit the elegant spa town of Cheltenham (just 40
mins. by train), renowned for its Regency architecture, stylish shopping,
colourful parks, music and literature festivals. Day 4 Today, it's a day in the
Roman city of Bath. Drive or take the train (only 10 mins.). Visit the Roman
Baths which are over 2000 years old, Bath Abbey, the Pump Rooms, and indulge at
the new Thermae Bath Spa (state of the art treatment facilities isituated in
the old Bath buildings with open air heated rooftop pool overlooking this
gorgeous city.Visit Bath's numerous antique shops, boutiques, and stop for
lunch and/or tea at one of the city's cafes or restaurants.
Two Week Ireland & Britain by Train
.jpg) TWO WEEK IRELAND BRITAIN BY TRAIN Price per person
2008 Train Tickets in Britain We sell train tickets only in conjunction with other arrangements. Choose your route here: BritRail Map The fares shown below offer the luxury of unrestricted travel to allow for stopovers en route, and are available only outside of the United Kingdom. Prices in US Dollars, one way.
2008 BritRail Pass + Ireland Visit two of the most beautiful islands in the world! Travel throughout England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland with one of our most popular passes. No accommodations included. Prices in US Dollars. Ferry crossings are NOT included.
Train tickets and passes are available with accommodation purchase only. In order to provide consumers with a more flexible offer, the Irish Sea Crossing feature from the BritRail & Ireland Pass is NOT inlcuded, thereby decreasing its cost and allowing the traveler the ability to fly to Ireland. Consumers who do plan to travel by boat can purchase the new BritRail Irish Sea Crossing add-on product. British Train Tours: Preserved Lines and Steam Trains in Britain Recapture the romantic age of steam and travel on some of the country’s best preserved railways. Scenic Railways of the Lakes & Beyond NEW On this Historic Railways short break, we will enjoy some famous train journeys through spectacular South Lake district countryside. Highlights include the Settle and Carlisle Railway, probably the most scenic railway journey in England. The line is engineered to follow the natural pathways through the hills of the Pennines and was the last main line railway in England constructed almost entirely by hand. Many died through outbreaks of smallpox, as well as those injured or killed during construction. By contrast we will travel the amazing Ravenglass and Eskdale railway which runs for seven miles from the National Park’s only coastal village of Ravenglass in the Western Lake District, through hidden Miterdale, to the grandeur of the Eskdale valley. The terminus at Dalegarth for Boot nestles at the foot of England’s highest mountains. Cotswold Steam NEW Enjoy trips on the Gloucester & Warwickshire Railway, the Severn Valley Railway and the Dean Forest Railway amongst others, superb examples of the restoration work of volunteer enthusiasts which can be enjoyed on many levels. The journeys themselves are full of interest, with routes closely following meandering rivers crossing impressive bridges (one features in the film ‘The Thirty-nine Steps’) and passing through glorious countryside. Learn about the work of the preservationists and gain insight into Britain’s rural past. Great Little Trains of Wales NEW Experience the nostalgic pleasures and romance of steam travel whilst exploring the Welsh countryside on this historic railways holiday. Highlights will include the famous narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway, a ride to the summit of Britain’s Highest Railway station on Snowdon, with unsurpassed views, and the LLanberis Lake Railway with its unrivalled views of the mountains of Snowdonia from viewpoints inaccessible by road.
 Short Independent Train Tours through WalesWales has myriad towns and villages with seemingly unpronounceable names, its own languages, an ancient form of Celtic, its own prince, Charles, narrow-gauge steam railways that puff contentedly through glorious scenery, and more castles per square mile than anywhere else in Europe. Not every town in Wales can be reached by train, but we have selected a few highlights. Route map of Wales Wales Rail Tour Includes:
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South Wales - Newport - Cardiff - Swansea - Carmarthen - Tenby- LLaneli -Llandridod You can visit all of these areas by train from Cardiff: Check train schedules here. Caerleon Roman Museum and Fort - Newport (12 minutes from Cardiff) Tredegar House and Park Newport Cyfarthfa Castle - Merthyr Tydfil 3 miles (1:02 from Cardiff) Museum of Welsh Life (St Fagans) - Cardiff Central 3 miles National Museum of Wales (Cathays) - Cardiff Central Gower -Swansea (one hour from Cardiff) Caerphilly (19 minutes from Cardiff) Tenby (our longest journey - 2 1/2 hours from Cardiff) Day 1 - Enjoy the fantastic scenery from coast to countryside, through cities and counties - train travel has never been more exhilarating!London- Cardiff Train from London Paddington to Cardiff (2 hours). We head for the Art collection at the National Museum & Gallery is one of the finest in Europe. Five hundred years of magnificent paintings, drawings, sculpture, silver and ceramics from Wales and across the world, including one of Europe's best collections of Impressionist works. (90 minutes from London). Stay at Cardiff Hilton, Park Inn, Cardiff Inn, or Heritage Park Caerphilly Castle Why Caerphilly? Walk down from the railway station to discover the answer. This unassuming town is completely dominated by the huge sprawl of Caerphilly Castle, one of Europe's greatest surviving medieval fortresses, a sleeping giant which is only now getting the recognition it deserves. Explore Caerphilly Castle, the second largest castle in Britain. Built in the late 13th century, the fortress is a supreme example of the concentric 'walls within walls' system of defence. Also the castle's outstanding water defences made it almost impregnable to siege warfare. Particularly noteworthy features include the gatehouse, banqueting hall and full-size working replicas of medieval siege-engines. Often threatened but, unsurprisingly, never taken, the castle's only sign of weakness is its famous leaning tower (which out-leans the tower at Pisa), possibly caused by subsidence. The Castle is a short walk from the railway and bus station. Stay in Cardiff. (19 minutes from Cardiff) Day 2 Swansea Many different experiences are on offer - the city of Swansea, birthplace of movie star Catherine Zeta Jones and poet Dylan Thomas, is the only place in the UK where you can shop, eat out and enjoy a vibrant arts, entertainment and club scene yet be so close to an area of outstanding natural beauty. Gower has some spectacular coastal scenery including the view from the village of Rhossili, rone of the most photographed sunsets in the world! (one hour from Cardiff)  Day 3 Tenby -Tenby is a town in
Pembrokeshire, lying on Carmarthen Bay. Probably originating as a Viking
settlement, and now is a popular seaside resort. Attractions in Tenby include
the 13th-century town walls, the Five Arches barbican, the 15th-century St
Mary's Church, the Tudor Merchant's House, a museum and art gallery. Boats
sail from Tenby's harbor to Caldey Island, while St Catherine's Island
is linked to the town at low tide. (our longest journey - 2 1/2 hours from
Cardiff)OR St. Fagans Visit the open-air Museum of Welsh Life at St. Fagans, with its carefully restored buildings and exhibits on Welsh culture. The Museum shows how the people of Wales lived, worked and spent their leisure time over the last five hundred years. The Museum stands in the grounds of the magnificent St Fagans Castle, a late 16th century manor house generously donated to the people of Wales by the Earl of Plymouth. Day 4 - Caerlon Roman Camp - London Follow the path of Romans, Normans and Cistercian monks along the border of Wales - fought over by the Celts and Anglo-Saxons and romanticized by Turner and Wordsworth. Visit Caerleon Roman fort, with its baths and amphitheater - believed to have become one of legendary King Arthur's courts. This morning is spent at the village of Caerleon named after a Roman Legion camp. (12 minutes from Cardiff) Take the train back to London. (1 1/2 hours to London)  North Wales - Chester - Llandudno- Betws-y-coed - Blaenau
Ffestiniog - Bangor - WrexhamYou can visit all of these areas by train: Ffestiniog Railway - Blaenau Ffestiniog Great Orme -Llandudno Llechwedd Slate Caverns -Blaenau Ffestiniog 1 mile Snowdon - Betws y Coed Day 1 Take the train from London to Manchester (approx. 2 1/4 hours) and to Chester, the walled city. Walk around Chester The best place to start is the Chester Cathedral. When you have finished your cathedral tour start your walk along the walls of Chester and walk towards the Eastgate clock. This is the perfect vantage point form which to observe Eastgate St. Stay in Chester at the Best Western Westminster Hotel or Best Western Queen Hotel. Day 2 From the start at Chester, the rail journey along the sandy North Wales coast is pleasant and relaxing. History-laden Conwy is your first port of call. Dominating this little town and harbour is the mighty presence of Conwy Castle, possibly the most intimidating of all the 13th-century castles built in North Wales by monarch Edward I. Conwy's convincing medieval atmosphere is aided and abetted by a well-preserved ring of town walls which still encircle the old town. Amongst the narrow streets you'll find many ancient buildings. Pride of place goes to Plas Mawr, the finest Elizabethan town house in Britain, which conjures up the way of life of the gentry of that time. Aberconwy House is another gem: dating from the 14th century, it's the oldest surviving merchant's residence in Conwy. Llandudno is Wales's largest resort, uniquely situated between the Great and Little Ormes with two wonderful beaches, the award winning North Shore and the quiet, sand duned West Shore. Llandudno has kept its Victorian and Edwardian elegance and splendour, despite its modern attractions. (1:11 minutes from Chester) Conway is 5 miles away. 'Taken as a whole, Conwy's incomparably the most magnificent of Edward I's Welsh fortresses'.Conwy railway station is next to the castle. Stay at Conwy Empire or Bryn Derwen Guest House. Day 3 The Conwy Valley Line runs between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog through some of Wales' wildest and most beautiful scenery. You can reach it from the North Wales coast main line by interchange at Llandudno Junction. At Blaenau Ffestiniog, it connects with the narrow gauge Ffestiniog Railway to Porthmadog. The Ffestiniog Railway is the Oldest Independent Railway Company in the World. On our trains you can travel by steam through the spectacular scenery of the Snowdonia National Park, between Porthmadog and Blaenau Ffestiniog.. Blaenau Ffestiniog was once the capital of the slate quarrying industry. Now, one of the old quarries has been turned into a major tourist attraction. At Llechwedd Slate Caverns you can take the Miner's Tramway into the side of the mountain and into a succession of spectacular chambers where a miner describes the working of the mine. Return by way of charming Betws-y-Coed. Stay in Best Western Waterloo Hotel and Lodge. Day 4 Betws-y-Coed is North Wales' most popular inland resort. It is where the River Conwy meets its three tributaries flowing from the west, the Llugwy, the Lledr and the Machno. Much of it was built in Victorian times and it is the principal village of the Snowdonia National Park. Visitors to Betws-y-Coed, as with other towns in North Wales, will hear the locals speak Welsh. This warm croeso, or welcome, is itself part of the Welsh culture - expressed through the bilingual signs that greet tourists in every small town. Return to Manchester, and to London.  Rail Travel IrelandOne of our Ireland Vacation Deals: Ireland Independent BB Bus and Rail Travel vacation 7 nights Irish train tours
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Check British train times here. Visit our sister sites: www.cruisetourplanners.com www.australiatravelmaster.com Our blog - trivia, things to do, travel tips Our India site ENGLAND SCOTLAND WALES |
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