Lakeland, Scotland and Tynedale Steam Railway Holiday

Spring in the Lakes

We Wandered Lonely As A Crowd

Holiday date: 2025, TBC

England | Scotland

This holiday was previously run with the following pricing, this is shown for information and may differ from future pricing.

5 days for £949 per person

£1898 for two people sharing

Single supplement £120

Tour reference: SL5/1

This amazing holiday travels into the Lake District, The Lowther Hills, and the North Pennines, seeking out hidden nostalgic transport gems for your delight and amusement. All takes place amid some of the most stunning scenery our marvellous country has to offer. Landscapes that inspired poets throughout the ages.

Holiday Highlights

Multiple cruises amid glorious Lakeland scenery

Steam trains at Lakeside and at L’al Ratty

The highest tourist railway in Scotland - Leadhills

Another “high” with the South Tynedale Railway

Into the footsteps of the Romans – see Hadrian’s Wall

Scenic coastal rail rides and branch lines

Carlisle

Carlisle is the perfect springboard for our tour and is a very pleasant city indeed. Never visited? You might be surprised. It boasts historic city walls, a huge castle, a pedestrianised and open centre, as well as a Cathedral. Our hotel is perfectly placed, right outside Citadel Station.

Holiday Itinerary

Day 1 - Thursday

Travel to Penrith and the holiday starts around lunchtime with our first excursion into the Lake District. We are opening with a cruise on Ullswater. Considered by many to be the prettiest of the Lakeland settings this L shaped lake is fringed with high fells, including Helvellyn. “Earth has not anything to show more fair.” – Wordsworth. Then it’s time for our first steam railway experience at nearby Threlkeld, courtesy of Sir Tom, before we head for Carlisle.

Meals: Dinner

Day 2 - Friday

A big Lake District circular starts by rail around the Cumbrian Coast enjoying sea views and perhaps a distant Isle of Man. Our destination is the Roman port of Ravenglass from where we join L’ al Ratty. This might well be the country’s most scenic narrow-gauge railway and we are taking a round trip to Dalegarth and back, though a bracken carpeted valley, passing Muncaster Mill, and rattling along admiring the towering lands around us. Later, it’s the standard gauge steam ride from Haverthwaite to Lakeside where we connect with Windermere Cruises. These large, comfortable, boats traverse the full length of England’s largest body of water and from Ambleside we rejoin our coach and return to Carlisle over the Kirkstone Pass. “I have drunken deep of joy and will taste no other wine tonight.” – Shelley.

Meals: Breakfast,Dinner

Day 3 - Saturday

Again we cross to the station and board a train. This time we are headed to the very centre of Britian – Haltwhistle. A branch line used to go from here to the market town of Alston and part of that is now used by the South Tynedale Railway. We fill in the missing bit by coach before a scenic, steamy rail ride. On our way back to Carlisle we take in some history. We know a great place to stop and see Hadrian’s Wall and pause at Greenhead to learn the fascinating story of life in those days at the Roman Army Museum. “Hunc murem atiorem stuxisse debeamus” – Maximus Quakeus.

Meals: Breakfast,Dinner

Day 4 - Sunday

By road today, aboard our executive coach, we drive past Gretna Green and head for the hills – The Lowther Hills that is. It seems a little incongruous that the highest village in Scotland, as well as the highest adhesion railway, are both in the Lowlands (so called). We visit them this morning as we combine the remote Leadhills Railway with the fascinating Wanlockhead Mining Museum. Returning to a more sensible altitude in the afternoon you will be absorbed by a visit to Ellisland Farm, the home of Robbie Burns. “There is no such uncertainty as a sure thing” – Burns.

Meals: Breakfast,Dinner

Rosser1954, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Day 5 - Monday

We have given you little chance to enjoy the delights of Carlisle so far and so this morning you can. Luggage to storage and then time enough for a visit to the regimental museum housed in the Castle. On your wander back to the hotel you may like to pop into the Cathedral, or simply wander the streets, before collecting belongings and boarding a homeward bound train.

“Fly as thick as driving rain, and ever again in the wink of an eye, painted stations whistle by.” – R L Stevenson.

Meals: Breakfast

Railways

Coming soon!

What's included

Transport

All heritage railway rides

All public transport journeys, in standard class accommodation

Private coach transfers throughout the holiday

Entertainment

All entrances

Detailed itinerary/information pack

Services of courier throughout

Accommodation

Hotel accommodation on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis

What's not included

Travel to/from the holiday start point

Personal holiday insurance

Porterage

Lunch

Lakeland, Scotland and Tynedale Steam Railway Holiday

Spring in the Lakes

We Wandered Lonely As A Crowd

Holiday Highlights

Carlisle

Holiday Itinerary

Railways

What's included

Transport

Entertainment

Accommodation

What's not included

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