Steam & Sail in the Elegant English Riviera

DAY 1

For those travelling with us by train, experience one of England's most quintessential holiday welcoming moments - the great railway journey along the sea wall at Dawlish, before climbing high into the rural pasturelands of the Devon hills then descending back to the coast to arrive on the English Riviera at Torquay. We transfer to the Livermead House Hotel, conveniently situated on Torquay's seafront.

DAY 2

We travel to Totnes, where we join the oldest preserved steam railway in the south-west, the South Devon Railway. Following a pretty route through the Dart Valley on a former GWR branch line, we follow a scenic seven mile rail journey connecting the beautifully maintained stations at Totnes and Buckfastleigh. We have some free time at Buckfastleigh where we can visit Butterfly Farm and Otter Sanctuary, located adjacent to the station and only a few minutes walk from the platform or alternatively we can venture a little further and visit nearby Buckfast Abbey and gardens.

DAY 3

Today is free to relax in Torquay or explore the stunning English Riviera. You may decide to take the short ferry ride across the bay to the small fishing town of Brixham, home of the 'Golden Hind' replica of the iconic Tudor ship or perhaps visit the neighbouring town of Babbacombe, famed for cliff railway built in 1926 and model village. We reconvene at the hotel for our evening meal together.

DAY 4

This morning we travel by steam train alongside the English Riviera coastline to Churston, then on through the wooded slopes of Long Wood bordering the Dart Estuary to Kingswear. We take a short ferry crossing to the historic resort of Dartmouth where there is free time for some sightseeing and a gentle circular river cruise viewing Bayards Cove, Kingswear and Dartmouth Castles, Britannia Royal Naval College, Dittisham Village and Sir Walter Raleigh's Boathouse. We return by steam train to Paignton and onwards to our hotel.

DAY 5

We bid farewell to new found friends and return homeward.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner