After meeting at St Pancras International we take the lunchtime Eurostar to Brussels, change for an express train to Cologne, and finish the day with a short “local” hop to Bonn. The hotel is right outside the station and so after check-in you are free to either dine in, or head off to discover the delights of the town.

We have a literal holiday highlight today. The schwebebahn in Wuppertal is a suspension railway that dangles above the river Wupper between the suburbs of Oberbarmen and Vohwinkel. This will be a truly memorable experience. We are going to get there and back by rail as well as fitting in an afternoon road trip to the Mungstener Park to see the highest railway bridge in Germany – as well as the lovely riverside views and an amazing transport oddity.

By tram and riverside metro we travel to Konigswinter and stroll up to the Drachenfelsbahn. This fabled funicular railway takes us to the summit of Dragon Mountain to (rescue a maiden no doubt and) take in the great views of the Rhine and surrounding countryside. Onwards then by rail down both banks of the Rhine on the way to Bacharach. From this lovely half-timbered town, we enjoy a wonderful scenic cruise on the Rhine passing castles, vineyards, the Lorelei Rock and spotting trains on both banks of the river.

After breakfast we take a morning drive to the north and Schierwaldenrath for coffee/cake and steam on Germany’s most popular tourist railway. Then, it’s a short hop across the Dutch border to the ZLSM for a steamy ride through the most mountainous part of the Netherlands. Open sheds, museum, restaurant and three running lines – great fun!

A relatively local day to the south of Bonn sees us enjoying a morning run on the Brohtalbahn. This is a steeply graded line that climbs into the Vulkan Hills – indeed the top section is so steep that it used to be a rack railway. Our coach meets us at lunchtime and we enjoy a very pleasant rural journey though the Vulkan National Park to Altenahr. We are now truly in wine country. Some time is allowed to enjoy this quaint town before we return to Bonn by rail down the Ahr Valley – a splendidly scenic journey with vineyards and rock outcrops on either side.

Time to head for home, but an easy start allows for a final leisurely breakfast. We then retrace our route with a local train to Cologne followed by crack German ICE to Brussels. The final leg of our adventure is provided by Eurostar and we should arrive back in London before the rush hour!