Railtrail Annual UK Brochure 2017

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Burns Country, Arran &
the Causeway Coast
DAY 1
Customers booking our rail-inclusive package
will be met from their trains at Dumfries and
transferred by road to our hotel, the North West
Castle Hotel in Stranraer. (D)
DAY 2
Today begins with one of Scotland’s great
railway journeys on the ‘ Burns Country Line’.
Leaving Stranraer on the foot of Loch Ryan
we cross the peaceful valley of Water of Luce,
before climbing to the track’s highest point at
Chirmorie. We reach the coast again at Girvan,
with fabulous views of Ailsa Craig, before we
continue to Ayr, where a coach awaits for a short
visit to the Burns Birthplace Museum in nearby
Alloway. Arriving at Ardrossan our ferry crosses
to the Isle of Arran. After a panoramic coach
tour of ‘ Scotland in Miniature’, we rest for a
while at beautiful Brodick Castle Gardens, before
returning by ferry and coach to Stranraer. (B,D)
DAY 3
After yesterday’s adventure, enjoy a relaxing
day visiting the beautifully presented gardens at
Castle Kennedy, before contrasting these with
Scotland’s most exotic garden, Logan Botanic
Garden, whose collection of southern hemisphere
plants is warmed by the Gulf Stream. (B,D)
DAY 4
Our morning ferry crosses from nearby Cairnryan
to Larne. A local coach awaits our arrival for the
transfer to Bushmills. Here we board the Giant’s
DEPARTS
HOTELS
Thursday 27 April 2017
Thursday 21 September 2017
Two countries, a beautiful island described as ‘Scotland in Miniature’,
two of the great railway journeys of the British Isles, a heritage line, a
distillery, magnificent gardens and the UNESCO World Heritage
Giant’s Causeway – all on one unique new Railtrail tour!
© Translink
© Shutterstock
A Great Railway Journey
Giants Causeway
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
★ ★ Experience the great scenic rail
journey through Burns Country
★ ★ Visit the Birthplace Museum of Robert
Burns
★ ★ Tour the Isle of Arran, known as
‘Scotland in Miniature’
★ ★ Enjoy Brodick Castle Gardens
★ ★ Explore Castle Kennedy’s historic
gardens
★ ★ Contrast with Logan Botanic Garden’s
southern hemisphere plants
★ ★ Marvel at the Giant’s Causeway, a
unique natural phenomenon
★ ★ Arrive at the Causeway aboard the
Bushmills Railway
★ ★ Taste Bushmills Whiskey at the
distillery
★ ★ Experience Northern Ireland’s great
scenic rail journey
★ ★ Tour the walls of Derry-Londonderry
★ ★ Visit the Titanic Experience in Belfast
Fares
From
£995
8
DAYS
FARES
Causeway & Bushmills Railway, a railway built to
the Irish narrow gauge of three feet and running
for two miles along the track of the former Giant’s
Causeway Tram. At the Giant’s Causeway we
walk the short distance to the stones. Returning
to Bushmills, we visit the Bushmills Distillery for
a tasting of their malts, before continuing to the
Antrim seaside village of Carnlough and our hotel,
the Londonderry Arms. (B,D)
DAY 5
Transferring to Ballymoney, we join arguably the
most scenic stretch of railway on the island of
Ireland . From Coleraine the line runs alongside the
River Bann before passing through Castlerock and
Downhill tunnels, the longest in Ireland. From the
seaside village of Castlerock we pass Binevenagh
Mountain, the track running alongside the golden
sands of Benone Strand, with views of unspoilt
beaches and rolling waves from the Atlantic
Ocean. Arriving in Derry-Londonderry, we enjoy
a guided walk on the city walls of Ireland’s only
completely walled city. (B,D)
DAY 6
Enjoy a day at leisure to recharge in Carnlough.
Perhaps take the local bus to one of the
neighbouring seaside villages or visit nearby
Glenarm Castle & Gardens. (B,D)
DAY 7
Travelling southwards by coach to Belfast, we
visit the popular Titanic Experience, before
transferring to Belfast Port for the crossing back
to Cairnryan and a final night at the North West
Castle Hotel. (B,D).
DAY 8
Bidding farewell to Dumfries and Galloway, we
journey to homeward destinations. (B)
North West Castle Hotel, Stranraer
‘The Castle’ is a 3* hotel, family-run for more
than 50 years and former home of famous
Arctic explorer, Sir John Ross. Leisure facilities
include a swimming pool, sauna, gym and the
hotel also boasts its own curling rink!
Londonderry Arms, Carnlough
Built in 1848 as a coaching inn by the
Marchioness of Londonderry, the estate and
hotel were passed to her second cousin, Sir
Winston Churchill, in 1921. Family-owned for
the last 60 years, the hotel boasts Georgian
architecture and with just 35 rooms it has
a cosy, family atmosphere amidst the small
seaside village of Carnlough.
FARE REGION FIRST STANDARD RC
London: Euston £1270 £1135 -£15
Greater London £1305 £1155 -£15
South of England £1305 £1160 -£15
East Anglia £1330 £1175 -£20
South West £1275 £1135 -£15
Heart of England £1195 £1095 -£10
Midlands £1175 £1085 -£10
Yorkshire £1110 £1070 -£10
North East N/A £1060 -£10
North West £1130 £1060 -£10
South Wales £1215 £1110 -£15
North Wales £1150 £1075 -£10
Scotland £1130 £1060 -£10
Join & Leave at Hotel £995
SEPTEMBER Departure Supplement £30
Single Room Supplement £120
7 nights’ bed, breakfast & Table d’Hôte evening meal
Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station
to Tour Base (Standard or First Class)
Rail, ferry & coach travel, with transfers as described
All excursions & admissions as detailed
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager
Hotel Porterage
Also included in your Tour Fare:
★ ★ Dinner every evening
★ ★ Rail travel & seat reservations from
your Home Station to Tour Base
(Standard or First Class)
★ ★ Ferries and coach travel, as described
★ ★ Services of experienced Railtrail Tour
Manager
★ ★ Hotel Porterage
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