| Trains and Treasures tours are suitable for anyone who enjoys wonderful scenery, fascinating history and train rides. You should be able to walk a reasonable distance, primarily on flat ground on hosted city tours and during visits to gardens, castles and stately homes. |
| The Best of Ireland and Britain An exclusive small group tour |
| 04 to 28 August 2012 |
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| Page updated on: 08 January 2012 |
| The 2010 tour See photographs from the 2010 tour here. |
| Geoff's Trains is delighted to bring the itineraries of previous Trains And Treasures tours to England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales together. Four different countries combined to make a wonderful touring extravaganza through the history and romance of the Irish and British countryside. This 23 day tour is divided into four shorter trips that can be booked separately, or in any combination. Geoff Cooke, your host, will show you great historic treasures as well as a good selection of lesser known ones. You will also ride an amazing selection of different trains from monorail to broad gauge, steam, diesel and electric. Join the full journey, or just one or more countries. The choice is yours. Fine food, good hotels and great company Geoff has selected hotels that offer a comfortable and restful night. Some are conveniently located in town centres, others are country estates in charming surroundings. All offer superb breakfasts and evening meals. Hotels are generally four star and all rooms are en suite. Dinners are included except for a few nights where you may wish to spend some time alone. On those occasions you are welcome to join Geoff at a restaurant if you prefer. Many evening meals are at the hotel, but some are at character filled restaurants that add to the overall enjoyment of the tour. Lunches are not included, experience has shown that many guests do not eat much at lunch time, and including lunch can add unnecessarily to your tour cost. The tour programme makes allowance for lunch to be enjoyed at an appropriate location each day. A relaxed holiday You will see a lot, but will not wear yourself out doing so. The group size will not exceed 24 people and you will not feel cramped in our 35 seat air conditioned coach. The programme allows ample time to see the sights, and where walking is involved it will normally be on level sidewalks. |
| Highlights Ireland Saturday, 04 August Arrive in Dublin, Republic or Ireland. The rest of the day at leisure Sunday, 05 August Enjoy a tour of Dublin, with a pint of Guinness at the Storehouse Monday, 06 August A scenic train ride to Wexford. Visit the Dunbrody, a famine ship with strong American links. Explore the historic Rock of Cashel before continuing to Killarney Tuesday, 07 August Spend today exploring the spectacular scenery on the Ring of Kerry Wednesday, 08 August Ride a horse drawn Jaunting Car through the dramatic Gap of Dunloe and then boat across the three lakes to Ross Castle Thursday, 09 August Take a train to Cobh to learn about the Titanic and the Lusitania. Find out how the potato Famine affected emigration to America and see a statue to the first family to use Ellis Island Friday, 10 August Ride on a quaint monorail train and see a flying boat before visiting the Bunratty a castle and a folk park. Continue to Dublin Saturday, 11 August The Ireland tour ends in Dublin this morning after breakfast Click here for a detailed Ireland Trains and Treasures programme Wales Saturday, 11 August Across the Irish Sea by fast ferry to Holyhead on the island of Anglesea. Motor to the village of LlanfairPG before crossing the Meanai Straight and mainland Britain. Visit Penrhyn, a mock Norman Castle that includes a narrow gauge railway museum Sunday, 12 August Explore Caernarfon Castle before riding two narrow gauge steam trains to Porthmadog and on to Blaenau Ffestiniog. This evening, enjoy a Welsh male voice choir concert at Betws y Coed Monday, 13 August Ride to the top of Mount Snowdon by train. Visit a fascinating slate museum and explore an astonishing electricity generating station inside a mountain Tuesday, 14 August Find out about the two historic two bridges and the castle at Conwy. Ride a cable tram up the Great Orme at Llandudno and visit the marble church at Bodelwyddan Wednesday, 15 August The Wales tour ends this morning at Manchester Airport Click here for a detailed Wales Trains and Treasures programme The English Lakes and Scotland Wednesday, 15 August Ride a steam train to Windermere and a boat across the lake. Learn about Wordsworth at Grasmere. Motor over Kirkstone Pass and along the shores of Lake Ullswater Thursday, 16 August Motor across the Scottish lowlands to visit Stirling Castle and the Wallace Memorial. Lear about the Jacobites and William Wallace Friday, 17 August Visit a Whisky Distillery and the magnificent Blaire Castle. Enjoy a steam train ride at Aviemore Saturday, 18 August Motor to the Eilean Donan Castle and the Isle of Skye. Take a scenic train journey back to Inverness Sunday, 19 August Take a boat down the Caledonian Canal and onto Loch Ness. chasing a monster. See Urquhart Castle and the Corrimony Cairns before continuing to Fort William Monday, 20 August Ride a steam train to Mallaig over one of the most scenic railways in the world Tuesday, 21 August Motor to Glen Coe and Rannock Moor. Ride a boat on the rotating boat lift at Falkirk and a steam train at Bo'ness. Tonight, see the world famous Edinburgh military tattoo Wednesday, 22 August Join a tour of Edinburgh. Explore Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Yacht Britannia and the amazing Forth Railway Bridge Thursday, 23 August The Scotland tour ends this morning at Edinburgh Click here for a detailed English Lakes and Scotland Train s and Treasures programme England Thursday, 23 August Today we will visit the seaside town of Whitby to find out about Captain Cook, see Whitby Abbey, enjoy a traditional Fish and Chips lunch and ride on a steam powered bus Friday, 24 August Ride a steam train to Grosmont and Pickering. Continue to the city of York Saturday, 25 August Visit York Minster and explore York's medieval streets. See the impressive railway station and the National Railway Museum Sunday, 26 August Ride an express train to London and on arrival, visit the British Museum Monday, 27 August Enjoy a tour of some of London's highlights. Visit the Tower of London, the River Thames, St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster and Covent Garden Tuesday, 28 August The England tour ends this morning after breakfast. Click here for a detailed England Trains and Treasures programme Click here for prices |
| The 2011 tour Ten guests enjoyed our tour July 2011 tour to England and Wales. To see the daily Blog, click here. Click here for photographs taken on the tour. Comments from participants: Thank you so much for a wonderful tour of Wales and England. We would be delighted to travel with you again and recommend you to others!! Len and Brenda ----- What a memorable 15 Days! Superbly organised and thoroughly enjoyed! With gratitude and best wishes. Anne ---- Excellent planning and execution. This has been a super trip! Gayle and Keith ---- The tour which you so carefully planned and facilitated has been wonderful. Thank you so much for your kindness and patience. God bless you. Nan and Jim ---- Just a quick after action report on the trip. I must tell you that you picked a winner in Geoff Cooke. The trip was well coordinated we saw everything that was advertised in the brochure and any special needs were promptly dealt with with zero hassle. He was extremely knowledgeable from a touring and a railfan perspective. Barbara and I feel that thanks to Geoff we have received a wonderful introduction to the UK. Barbara and Don |
| Tour confirmed |