Rail Travel - England, Scotland and Wales By Train

Great Britain Rail	Scotland/Ireland	Hub Cities
Scotland Train Travel	Wales by Train	Ireland Rail Travel	Train tickets

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 traveling to Ireland, that can be added too.


Scotland By Train Travel Price Includes:

• 8 day Freedom of Scotland pass with unlimited train travel for 8 consecutive days. Map Please look at the map to make sure that the trains go where you wish to go.
• 7 nights accommodations at hotels all with private bath in Scotland. A booklet with addresses and phone numbers is included with your travel documents. All nights must be reserved in advance. Open vouchers can be included, but open vouchers are not recommended in the summer months.Green
• Full hearty breakfast is served each day. This may include home-baked breads, farm-fresh eggs, cereal, sausage and bacon. (Continental in Edinburgh.)
• Value-Added Tax (V.A.T.) and service charges.

Rate per person, sharing a twin room

Hotels	MAY	JUNE	JULY	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV
Britain	$1,147	$1,147	$1,147	$1,147	$1,147	$1,086	$1,086
Single Supplement	674	674	674	674	674	613	613

Please note: Please check the rail map to see if there is rail coverage where you wish to travel. Bus or taxi transportation may be needed in remote areas.


Some of our favorite scenic train routes in Scotland:
Scenic Routes Scenic Rail Routes in Scotland- a Must See! Take in Scotland's beauty from the comfort of your seat! 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 travels. 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

.

Rail England, Scotland, Wales

• 8 day Britrail consecutive pass with unlimited train travel for 8 days. Map
• 7 nights accommodations at hotels all with private bath in England, Scotland & Wales. Green
• Vouchers are provided for each night of your stay. We reserve all nights for you in advance. Stay for any number of nights at any property.
• 
• Full hearty breakfast is served each day. This may include home-baked breads, farm-fresh eggs, cereal, sausage and bacon.
• Value-Added Tax (V.A.T.) and service charges.

Prices are land only in USD- per person
Daily departures

Hotels	MAY	JUNE	JULY	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV
Britain	$1,147	$1,147	$1,147	$1,147	$1,147	$1,086	$1,086
Single Supplement	674	674	674	674	674	613	613

Longer stays and additional hotel nights are available. You make your train reservations as you go along. They are not booked in advance. Travel where and when you please.


Train Travel In Wales

Rail Wales

• 8 day Britrail consecutive pass with unlimited train travel for 8 days. Wales Rail Map
• 7 nights accommodations at hotels all with private bath in Wales. Green
• Vouchers are provided for each night of your stay. We reserve all nights for you in advance. Stay for any number of nights at any property. We have suggested itineraries for north Wales and south Wales.
• Full hearty breakfast is served each day. This may include home-baked breads, farm-fresh eggs, cereal, sausage and bacon.
• Value-Added Tax (V.A.T.) and service charges.
• Suggested itineraries:

  Choice of rail itineraries:
  
  South Wales

  NEWPORT/CARDIFF/SWANSEA/ CARMARTHEN/TENBY/LLANELI/ LLANDRIDOD You can visit all of these areas by train: Caerleon Roman Museum and Fort – Newport Tredegar House and Park Newport Cyfarthfa Castle – Merthyr Tydfil 3 miles Museum of Welsh Life (St Fagans) – Cardiff Central 3 miles National Museum of Wales (Cathays) – Cardiff Central Gower – Swansea Caerphilly Tenby
  
  Day 1 – LONDON/CARDIFF Train from London Paddington to Cardiff (2 hours). Head for the art collection at the National Museum & Gallery, including one of Europe’s best collections of Impressionist works. 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 defense. The castle’s only sign of weakness is its famous leaning tower (which out-leans the tower at Pisa). Overnight at Park Inn Cardiff or Hilton.
  
  Day 2 – SWANSEA Many different experiences are available. The city of Swansea is the birthplace of movie star Catherine Zeta Jones and poet Dylan Thomas. The nearby Gower Peninsula has some spectacular coastal scenery including the view from the village of Rhossili, with its fabulous sunsets. Overnight at Park Inn Cardiff or Aberavon Beach Hotel .
  
  Day 3 – TENBY Tenby, a town in Pembrokeshire lying on Carmarthen Bay, probably originated as a Viking settlement. Attractions include the 13th-century town walls, the Five Arches barbican, the 15th-century St. Mary’s Church, and the Tudor Merchant’s House. Boats sail from Tenby’s harbor to Caldey Island, where perfumes are made. Another option: Visit the open-air Museum of Welsh Life at St. Fagans, with its carefully restored buildings and exhibits on Welsh culture. Overnight at Park Inn Cardiff or Hilton .
  
  Day 4 – CAERLON ROMAN CAMP 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. Take the train back to London.
  

  North Wales

  CHESTER/LLANDUDNO/ BETWS-Y-COED/BLAENAU FFESTINIOG/ BANGOR/WREXHAM You can visit all of these areas by train: Ffestiniog Railway – Blaenau Ffestiniog Great Orme – Llandudno Llechwedd Slate Caverns – Blaenau Ffestiniog Betws-y-Coed
  
  Day 1 – LONDON/CHESTER Take the train from London to Manchester (approx. 21/4 hours) and to Chester, the walled city. The best place to start is the Chester Cathedral. Then walk along the walls of Chester and toward the Eastgate clock. This is the perfect vantage point from which to observe the busy town. QUEEN HOTEL
  
  Day 2 – LLANDUDNO/CONWY Llandudno, Wales’ largest resort with two wonderful beaches, has kept its Victorian and Edwardian elegance and splendor, despite its modern attractions. Taken as a whole, Conwy is incomparably the most magnificent of Edward I’s Welsh fortresses. Conwy railway station is next to the castle. Empire or Castle Conwy
  
  Day 3 – LLECHWEDD SLATE CAVERNS/ BLAENAU FFESTINIOG The Ffestiniog Railway is the oldest independent railway company in the world. You can travel by steam through the spectacular scenery of Snowdonia National Park. 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. 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. Empire or Castle Conwy
  
  Day 4 – BETWS-Y-COED Return by way of charming Betws-y-Coed, North Wales’ most popular inland resort. It is where the River Conwy meets its three tributaries flowing from the west. Much of it was built in Victorian times and it is the principal village of Snowdonia National Park. Visitors to Betws-y-Coed will hear the locals speak Welsh. Take the train to London.

Prices are land only in USD- per person
Daily departures

Hotels	MAY	JUNE	JULY	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV
Britain	$1,147	$1,147	$1,147	$1,147	$1,147	$1,086	$1,086
Single Supplement	674	674	674	674	674	613	613

Longer stays and additional hotel nights are available. You make your train reservations as you go along. They are not booked in advance. Travel where and when you please.



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 travels. 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

USING EDINBURGH AS YOUR HUB CITY:
Our suggestions include:
Destination	Journey Time	Frequency
Glasgow	50 minutes	Every 15 minutes
Stirling	50 minutes	Every 30 minutes
Perth	50 minutes	Hourly
Oban	4 hours	4 per day
Aberdeen	2 ½ hours	Hourly
USING GLASGOW AS YOUR HUB CITY:
Our suggestions include:
Destination	Journey Time	Frequency
Stirling	30 minutes	2 per hour Q
Perth	1 hour	Hourly Q
Oban	3 hours	3 per day Q
Fort William	3 ¾ hours	4 per day Q
Edinburgh	50 minutes	Every 15 minutes Q
Ayr	1 hour	2 per hour C
Inverness	3 ½ hours	Every 2 hours Q
Q=Glasgow Queen Street Station C=Glasgow Central Station

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.

Destination	Journey Time	Frequency*	Departure Station
Bath	1 hour 20 minutes	Every 30 minutes	Paddington
Birmingham	1 hour 21 minutes	Every 30 minutes	Euston
Brighton	50 minutes	Every 30 minutes	Victoria
Brighton	50 minutes	Hourly	Bridge
Dover	1 hour 40 minutes	Every 30 minutes	Victoria / London Bridge/Charing Cross
Ely	1 hour	Hourly	Kings Cross
Exeter	2 hours 40 minutes	Every 30 minutes	Paddington / Waterloo
Cambridge	1 hour	Hourly	Kings Cross
Canterbury	1 ½ hours	2 per hour	Victoria
Hastings	1 ½ hours	Hourly	Bridge
Isle of Wight	2 hours	Every 30 minutes	Waterloo - change to ferry
Manchester	2 hours 6 minutes	Every 30 minutes	Euston
Norwich	1 hour 50 minutes	Every 30 mins	Liverpool St
Portsmouth	1 ½ hours	Every 30 minutes	Waterloo
Oxford	1 hour	Every 30 minutes	Paddington
Salisbury	1 hour 25 minutes	Every 30 minutes	Waterloo
Southampton	1 ¼ hours	3 per hour	Waterloo
Stratford Upon Avon	2 ¼ hours	Every 2 hours	Marylebone

Two Week Ireland & Scotland by Train

• 14 day Britrail pass with unlimited train travel in England, Scotland Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland .
• Vouchers are provided for each night of your stay. You call ahead to make reservations. Stay for any number of nights at any property.
• 7 nights at green hotels throughout England, Scotland and Wales, rooms with private bath, tax and service. Green
• 7 nights at B&B's sharing bath throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland. Look at our B&B's here.
• YOU DO NOT HAVE TO USE THE ACCOMMODATION CONSECUTIVELY IN EACH COUNTRY.
• Full hearty breakfast is served each day . This may include home-baked breads, farm-fresh eggs, cereal, sausage and bacon.
• Value-Added Tax (V.A.T.) and service charges.
• YES! You can stay longer. Ask for rates.

TWO WEEK IRELAND SCOTLAND BY TRAIN - Ferry crossings are NOT included.
Rate per person, sharing a twin room

2013	MAY	JUNE	JULY	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Britain/Ireland	$2,038	$2,080	$2,080	$2,080	$2,080	$1,977	$1,977	$891
Single Supplement	$1,053	$1,095	$1,095	$1,095	$1,095	$992	$992	$380

2013 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.

2013 From London to	Journey Time (hrs)	1st class	std class
Cardiff	2	238	190
Edinburgh	4	347	275
Glasgow	5	347	275

It is sometimes cheaper to buy a Britrail pass if your plans include at least two days of travel.


Rail Travel Ireland
One of our Ireland Vacation Deals:
Ireland Independent BB Bus and Rail Travel vacation 7 nights Irish train tours

• 8 Day Rail and Bus pass for use throughout Ireland (not Northern Ireland). See map. Irish Explorer Bus/Rail Valid for travel on Intercity, DART, Suburban Rail Services(Iarnród Éireann) and all Bus Éireann scheduled services including Expressway, local, city and town services. It is not valid for travel on services in Northern Ireland. You may collect them in Dublin (Central Bus Station, Busaras), Cork (Parnell Place) or Galway (Eyre Square).
• 
• 7 nights accommodations sharing bath at your choice of 800 farms, town and country homes. We give you 1 book of homes with pictures, names, addresses, phone numbers and directions. Look at our B&B's here..
• Vouchers are provided for each night of your stay. You call ahead to make reservations. Stay for any number of nights at any property.
• Full hearty Irish breakfast is served each day. This may include home-baked breads, farm-fresh eggs, cereal, sausage and bacon.
• Value-Added Tax (V.A.T.) and service charges.

Rate per person, sharing a twin room

2013	MAY	JUNE	JULY	AUG	SEP	OCT	NOV	DEC
Ireland	$891	$933	$933	$933	$933	$891	$891	$891
Single Supplement	380	422	422	422	422	380	380	380

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