After meeting at St Pancras International about midday the adventure begins by Eurostar to Brussels and then express train to Aachen. Overnight is at the comfortable Aquis Grana Hotel, in the centre of this lovely city, with its cobbled streets, pavement cafes and imposing cathedral.

Back up to the station this morning to complete our journey to the north coast. We take a regional train to Cologne and change into intercity services via Berlin to Stralsund. A coach awaits to transfer us down to the waterfront and our home for the next four nights. Enjoy the long evenings relaxing at one of many local restaurants admiring the view of boats and ships, including the resident Tall Ship, Gorch Foch.

“Oh I do like to be beside the seaside!” and just across the water is Rugen. This is Germany’s top domestic holiday destination and is a bit like the Isle of Wight, with chalk cliffs, wild flowers, and thatched cottages. This morning we travel by local train to the seaside resort of Binz and then join “Racing Roland” for a jaunty ride through fields and woods by steam train. Later, we get to know Stralsund with a relaxing boat trip from the harbour followed by an informative guided walking tour, ending up at the hotel.

Perhaps more well-known than Stralsund on the Baltic coast is the nearby city of Rostock. It’s here that we travel to this morning. We find another Hanseatic trading post, with a lovely centre and an extensive tram system. In a coach/ferry/rail/tram coordinated day we combine time in the city with the steamy highlight of a major tourist railway. Running, all year round, for over 15km, through town streets and off across the fields to the seaside, is one of Germany’s most exciting steam railways. This afternoon we have allowed for multiple journeys, photographic options, and time for you to lunch in Bad Doberan. Munching on a sausage outside one of the High Street cafes as a steam train trundles serenely past is a memorable experience indeed – that’s the marvel of the Molli!

Back to Rugen today for more rail-riding and some literal scenic highlights. From Stralsund we journey clean across the island by train to Sassnitz and then drive into the Jasmund National Park. Enjoy the tranquillity of the beech forest and marvel at the cliff-top views as we pause at Konigstuhl – super ecological exhibition here too. Next stop is at Prora for the amazing collection at the Eisenbahn Technical Museum – trains, trams, cars, fire-engines, bikes – you name it - even a helicopter and fighter plane! A further steam hauled ride with Roland before we complete the islands railway system with the privately run Lauterbach branch line and rail back to Stralsund from Bergen.

From one island to another. Usedom is our next destination where local railway journeys combine with our luxury coach to create a triangular tour to the south. Our time on the island allows for a visit to spooky Peenemunde – an imposing museum, themed around the history of rocket development and WWII. Then, our highlight today, is a really off the beaten track attraction so typical of Inside Track. Narrow gauge fun and frolics this afternoon at the ever so friendly Schwichtenbergbahn near….well, nowhere really! We finish off, boarding an intercity train from Neubrandenburg down to Berlin and our final hotel, the flagship of the Intercity Hotel Group. Four star luxury again and close to the main station.

We now have a full day to explore some of the top attractions in Germany’s capital city. We’ll tour around by tram, metro and bus to see The Brandenburg Gate, The Reichstag, Checkpoint Charlie and the quite excellent Deutsches Technikmuseum – trains, planes and automobiles doesn’t cover the half of it.

After breakfast we head for home using an ICE train to Cologne and then another across to Brussels. A final Eurostar experience concludes the holiday and we arrive into St Pancras mid-evening reflecting upon a wonderful week away.