We meet early afternoon at Exeter St David’s Station and set off for afternoon fun at Bicton Park. Not just lovely gardens to explore but a narrow-gauge railway as well. Later, we rail into Exeter from Exmouth, and check in to the hotel.

We stroll across the road and board a morning train to Okehampton. Then, it’s the scenic bit, as we drive across Dartmoor heading for Buckfast Abbey. Visit the building and learn of a monastic lifestyle. There follows an afternoon of steam with the South Devon Railway. This charming line tracks the River Dart down to Totnes.

To Somerset today using the inimitable “Tarka Line” to Barnstaple. Scenery unfolds as we head to the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, before an up and down coastal drive to Minehead. Our afternoon is spent with one of the country’s premier steam lines, the West Somerset Railway. We drive back south to Exeter completing a lovely, varied, “seasidey” day out!

The South Devon Circular - a “local” day spent enjoying the legendary steam railway, from Paignton to Kingswear, a lovely line that hugs the coast with views of holidaymakers in the freezing September waters pretending it’s a summers day. But that is not all – explore the delights of Dartmouth before a really relaxing cruise on the River Dart to Totnes and the Dawlish Sea-Wall rail route back to Exeter.

A very simple last day as we embark upon a guided tour of the city. There is so much history here and we cannot, of course, miss out the Cathedral. We’ll reunite with luggage afterwards and take a train from Exeter Central to St David’s where homeward bound, or connecting, journeys commence at midday.