This delightful tour includes a ride on the steam-hauled ‘Torbay Express’ from Bristol to Kingswear, featured in the BBC series ‘Coast’. Recently revived having stopped running in 1961, this holiday express unleashes a nostalgia for the great days of steam. We also travel on the GWR ‘West of England Main Line’ and spend time at STEAM, the museum of the Great Western Railway.

ITINERARY

Day 1 Morning collection from home to join our coach and travel west, making a stop at Wilton Shopping Village on the way. We arrive at our hotel late afternoon.

Day 2 This morning we travel to North Somerset and the coastal resort of Minehead. There is free time for lunch and relaxation before we board the steam-hauled West Somerset Railway to enjoy a 20-mile ride to Bishops Lydeard. On arrival our coach transfers us to our hotel.

Day 3 After breakfast we cross to Bristol Temple Meads Station to join the ‘Torbay Express’ for our journey to Kingswear. Leaving Bristol, we travel across to Taunton, through the Blackdown Hills and the Exe Valley to Exeter, then alongside the sea wall from Dawlish Warren to Teignmouth. Before arriving in Kingswear at around lunchtime, we pass through the delightful wooded estate once owned by Agatha Christie. Our train tickets include the foot passenger ferry across the harbour to Dartmouth. We reboard the ‘Torbay Express’ at 5pm to return to Bristol. On arrival our coach transfers us the short distance to the hotel. Please note that the evening meal is not included tonight due to the late return to Bristol.

Day 4 After breakfast we travel to Swindon for a visit to STEAM, the museum at the heart of the Swindon Railway Works, which tells the remarkable story of the Great Western Railway. After time for refreshments, we continue our journey to our local area where we meet our taxis.