The Great Britain II

Our train departs from London Victoria late morning, hauled by 34067 Tangmere, with a celebratory glass of champagne for everyone on departure. Today, we travel through Reading, Staines, Newbury and Bath to Bristol. A four-course lunch will be served to passengers travelling Premier Class and, on arrival at Bristol, we transfer to our hotels for overnight accommodation and breakfast.

We depart from Bristol early in the morning to travel down the West of England Main Line, diesel hauled. We’ll visit Penzance for a break while our steam locomotives are prepared and attached to our train. At around 13:00 we steam out of Penzance, hauled by 70013 Oliver Cromwell and 5029 Nunney Castle. We curve around Mount’s Bay with views over St. Michael’s Mount and the English Channel, passing through Cornwall over high, slender viaducts and through short tunnels and enjoying lovely scenery. Just before arriving in Plymouth we cross Brunel’s masterpiece The Royal Albert Bridge, next to the more modern Saltash Road Bridge with superb views over the estuary. We break our journey in Plymouth while our locomotives are serviced then go flat out for the assault of Hemerdon Bank, dropping down through Totnes and up again for Dainton Bank. Running along the sea wall, through Dawlish, is possibly the most spectacular stretch of railway in England. We pause at Exeter to take water before climbing up to our last major summit at Whiteball. At Taunton, we call for more water before heading for Bristol with Oliver Cromwell and Nunney Castle. We’ll stay overnight and have breakfast in Bristol.

In the morning we rejoin our train under the historic train shed at Bristol Temple Meads. Hauled by 70013 Oliver Cromwell we climb steeply out of Bristol through Filton and Patchway before entering the 4 mile Severn Tunnel. We take the avoiding line at Newport and take the scenic Welsh Marches route, climbing through Wales to Llanvihangel Summit then dropping down into Hereford. We’ll stop off to visit Hereford before going north through Ludlow and Shrewsbury to Crewe, where 70013 will take on water. On today’s final leg, we continue along the West Coast Main Line to Preston, where we stay overnight.

We depart Preston mid morning, hauled by 46115 Scots Guardsman. Climbing Grayrigg Bank and passing along the delightful Lune Gorge, we begin our assault on Shap fell. We pause for water at Penrith in the Lake District before heading through Carlisle into Scotland at Gretna Junction. Next, a dramatic climb to Beattock Summit and the Scottish hills followed by a rush down into Glasgow, arriving at Central Station’s superb train shed for overnight accommodation and breakfast in Glasgow.

Hauled by two Black 5s we depart Glasgow Central the next day, heading east through Coatbridge then north through Cumbernauld to Larbert. You’ll enjoy marvellous views towards Stirling Castle, climbing up to Dunblane and Gleneagles before arriving in Perth where we take on water. On leaving Perth we pass through magnificent scenery around Pitlochry and Blair Athol, climbing Drumochter to 1,484 feet.

Then there’s a long downhill through Kingussie to Aviemore. We stop for water here, then proceed to Inverness where we’ll stay for two nights.

Today you can take some time for yourself or join our optional trip.

Hauled by a former LMS 4-6-0 number 45231 or LNER K4 2-6-0 61994, you’ll enjoy a full Scottish Breakfast silver served at your seat soon after departure. Passing over the Caledonian Canal on the Clachnaharry Swing Bridge, we take the Kyle Line at Dingwall; possibly the most scenic line in the country. The route takes us up Raven Rock Summit and Luib Summit before taking water at Achnashellach. Then down to the shore of Loch Carron for fine views of lochs and mountains.

At the Kyle of Lochalsh you’ll have more than two and a half hours free to explore. There’s also a coach tour to the fairytale Eileen Donnan Castle and to Portree, capital of the Isle of Skye.

We return to Inverness in the afternoon and you’ll be served a 2-course lunch at your seat on the return journey. Arrival in Inverness: around 17:30 for an overnight stay. Please note that this optional trip has limited accommodation.

Leaving Inverness around 10:00am we head along the picturesque Great North of Scotland mainline to Aberdeen. Our route takes us through rolling hills and valleys past Nairn, Elgin, Keith and Huntly. There’s a short break in Aberdeen, then we head south through Stonehaven, skirting the shore at Montrose before arriving in Dundee, where we take on water. We leave Dundee to cross the Firth of Tay via the famous Tay Bridge then hug the seashore to the Firth of Forth. Crossing the Forth Bridge, we arrive at Edinburgh’s Waverley station and stay overnight in the city. 

We depart Edinburgh Waverley station mid morning, hauled by A4 Pacific 60009 Union of South Africa and heading south along the East Coast Mainline through Dunbar.

At Berwick we cross the Royal Border Bridge over the Tweed Estuary. We enjoy views over Farne Islands as we head South, and picture postcard views of Alnmouth. Pausing briefly at Newcastle, we steam over the Tyne via the King Edward Bridge. After taking water at Tyne Yard we run fast to York, where we say goodbye to our locomotive, travelling to Kings Cross hauled by a diesel locomotive.