Welsh Mega Steam

DAY 1

Journey from your home station to Chester and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Queen Hotel, our hotel for the next two nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together.

DAY 2

After breakfast this morning, our coach takes us to the picturesque Llangollen Railway for a thrilling steam journey through the Dee Valley to Corwen where we enjoy free time to explore this delightful town. We continue to Oswestry to visit the Cambrian Heritage Railway with its railway museum, restored signal box, and period ticket office plus a nostalgic ride over the scenic route before returning to our hotel in time for our evening meal together.

DAY 3

Today, we travel to Welshpool to board our vintage carriages and enjoy a delightful steam train journey on the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway negotiating the notoriously steep Golfa Bank, a river bridge, and a viaduct as we follow the river valley. After taking time for lunch, we head into the hills to the charming Corris Railway for a gentle ride behind steam down the beautiful Dulas Valley before continuing to Aberystwyth where we check-in to the Marine Hotel for our three-night stay and enjoy our evening meal together.

DAY 4

After breakfast this morning, we enjoy a steam journey on the Vale of Rheidol Railway to Devil's Bridge. Travelling through the beautiful Rheidol Valley with the countryside changing as we journey through wide open fields, woodland, and rugged mountain scenery, the line twisting and turning as it clings to the hillside. The remainder of the day is at leisure in Aberystwyth to visit the railway museum, explore the town, or ride the cliff railway before reconvening in time for our evening meal.

DAY 5

This morning, we travel by rail along the coast to Fairbourne Railway for a miniature steam experience on this quirky railway that started as a 2ft-gauge horse-drawn tramway and was converted to a railway in 1916. We continue to Tywyn for the Talyllyn Steam Railway, the world's first preserved railway, running for seven miles through stunning Southern Snowdonia from Tywyn to Nant Gwernol through ancient woodlands and meadows.

DAY 6

Today, we begin with a relaxing steam journey on the narrow-gauge Bala Lake Railway through the beautiful Snowdonia National Park with excellent views over Bala Lake and its surrounding scenery. This afternoon, our coach transfers us to Llandudno where we follow in the footsteps of Victorian holidaymakers aboard a vintage tramcar to the summit of the Great Orme, offering magnificent views across the Irish Sea. After free time to explore, we continue to the Celtic Royal Hotel where we check-in for our three-night stay and enjoy our evening meal together.

DAY 7

After breakfast, we enjoy a heritage railway adventure to the summit of Snowdon on the iconic Snowdon Mountain Railway uncovering the hidden secrets of the mountain from viaducts, waterfalls, and gorges to the remnants of chapels and settlements. After enjoying this kaleidoscope of vistas, we take time for lunch before our five-mile return steam train journey on the characterful Llanberis Lake Railway* running alongside Lake Padarn and providing stunning views of Snowdon.

*From the 6th September 2025 to 1st November 2026 the Llanberis Lake Railway intend to operate a shorter passenger train service due to the National Grid electricity cable replacement project.

DAY 8

This morning, we enjoy a truly scenic rail journey as we board the magnificent Welsh Highland Railway at Caernarfon for a steam-hauled journey climbing into Snowdonia, twisting around forests to Beddgelert, and through the treasured beauty of the Aberglaslyn Pass. On arrival in Porthmadog, we board the world-famous Ffestiniog Railway following the path of the old slate trains through dense forests, past serene lakes, and traversing tight bends. We return to Caernarfon by coach and enjoy our final evening meal together.

DAY 9

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Caernarfon and make our way to Bangor 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