Kent & Sussex Steam Explorer

DAY 1

Journey from your home station to Ashford and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Hampton by Hilton Hotel, our hotel for the next four nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together at the Curious Brewery.

DAY 2

Today, our coach will take us to the narrow-gauge Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway for a steam journey through some of Kent's most picturesque countryside to Dungeness. On our return, we alight at New Romney Station, the headquarters of the railway, where we can take time for lunch, view the locomotives, and explore the local history. This afternoon, we visit the quirky Bredgar & Wormshill Railway for an exclusive charter of one of their steam locomotives before continuing to the nearby Sittingbourne & Kemsley Railway for our second steam charter of the day on this historic railway including a run-by and a depot visit.

DAY 3

After breakfast today, we visit the Kent & East Sussex Railway for a steam-hauled journey to Bodiam where we enjoy a history talk on the railway including its connection to the local hop-growing heritage followed by free time to explore the station and surrounding area. We then begin our return journey, alighting at Rolvenden to visit the locomotive works before completing the journey behind a second steam locomotive back to Tenterden returning to Ashford in time for our evening meal together.

DAY 4

This morning, we travel by road to the Spa Valley Railway for a return journey through the beautiful High Weald countryside, riding behind steam to Eridge and returning behind diesel. Our next stop is the fantastic Bluebell Railway for a steam-hauled service along the length of the line including time to view the wonderful locomotive collection at Sheffield Park and the historic station at Horsted Keynes, which has featured many times in films and television period dramas. Our last stop is Isfield Station, home of the Lavendar Line, where we enjoy a 2-mile run through beautiful Wealden countryside on their last train of the day before returning to our hotel for our final evening meal together.

DAY 5

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Ashford and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys.

*Important Note: Whilst the arrangements for all described steam train travel are in place, we do reserve the right to make substitutions should it be deemed necessary for whatever reason.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner