We meet early afternoon at Southampton and take the ferry across to Hythe for a ride along the pier on the world’s oldest electric pier railway. From here we journey into the New Forest and Exbury Gardens, Not only flora to admire but the opportunity to ride on Rothschild’s steam railway amongst the greenery.

What a day we have in store as we indulge ourselves at the Mid-Hants Railway Steam Gala, There will be demonstration freight trains, a comprehensive passenger service with guest locomotives, and real ale trains. Armed with rover tickets we will provide a number of options that will include visiting the lines various attractions at intermediate stations, including the locomotive sheds at Ropley. If this all sounds a bit too full on, don’t worry, we will also run a shuttle coach service into Winchester for the opportunity to visit the city and immense cathedral.

Today we cross to the Isle of Wight by the UK’s only remaining scheduled hovercraft service. Time on the island for a ride with both the Island Line and the lovely steam railway. Then, we’ll tour to the western end of Vectis and cross back to the mainland via the Lymington ferry and branch line to Brockenhurst.

By rail to Bournemouth today, and then the Breezer bus service over the Sandbanks Ferry, to the Isle of Purbeck. Here we visit the Swanage Railway, including options for quaint Corfe Castle. Later it’s an afternoon visit to our friends at the Moors Valley Railway. Miniature steam on a fully signalled, looping, track and engineering interest, as much is built here on site.

To round things off we catch a train to Portsmouth Harbour and stroll into the Historic Dockyard. So much to see and do here with nautical exhibitions, the Mary Rose, a harbour boat tour and HMS Victory. Homeward bound journeys will commence from the harbour station after lunchtime.