Although trains are often a serious source of frustration here in the UK (case in point: this week’s train strikes), it doesn’t always have to be that way. Britain’s railways can actually make for a pretty peaceful way to explore the country. So long as you’re not scarred by your post-uni Interrail trip, you can even enjoy an entire holiday based around them.
If you’re up for a trip around Wales that combines holidaying with travelling on glam trains, a brand-new holiday package will do just that. Called ‘The Welsh Dragon’, it’s a tour by Steam Dreams Rail Co. that offers a four-night excursion weaving through some of the most magnificent landscapes Wales has to offer.
The itinerary is organised and the hotel booked, so you can just sit back, relax and let them do all the heavy-lifting (literally – you’ve got a courier service to take care of your luggage for you). Along the journey, passengers ride a combination of diesel and steam trains, taking them from London Paddington to Shrewsbury, Machynlleth, Porthmadog and the pretty village of Portmeirion.
You’ll spend three nights in Snowdonia, then from there, you’ll travel back down and stop off in Cardiff for the night before heading back to London.
The break is set to take place from September 15 to 19 with prices starting from £995 per person. That gets you four nights of hotel accommodation with breakfast, travel to and from hotels and complimentary tea and coffee. An upgrade will get you on-train dining, dinner at the hotels and access to the luxurious on-board bar car.
You can find out more and register your interest on the Steam Dreams website here.
Create your own Welsh adventure
If you’d rather call the shots on your Welsh itinerary, no problem. Do it yourself with help from Time Out’s round-ups of the best things to do in Wales, the best spots to visit and the best beaches, as well as our guides to Snowdonia, Cardiff, Wrexham and the Brecon Beacons.
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