Steam & Sail in the English Riviera 2027

Duration

5 Days

Departure Dates

26th April 2027, 12th July 2027, 20th September 2027

Prices from

£745 Per person

Enjoy a relaxing rail holiday along one of Britain's most iconic routes to the English Riviera with the opportunity to explore the beauty and charm of Devon's magnificent coastline by boat as well as travelling on two of Devon's finest steam railways. Stay in a picturesque seafront location with seaview rooms included plus enjoy free time in Torquay and Dartmouth to discover these vibrant and historic towns.

Overview
Itinerary
Further Information
Departure Dates
Helpful Links

Dawlish Seawall ©GWR

5 DAYS FROM £745

EARLY BIRD DISCOUNT

Book by 31st May 2026 using code EARLYBIRD100

to save £100 per person!

DEPARTS

Monday 26 April 2027

Monday 12 July 2027

Monday 20 September 2027

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Arrive in Torquay along one of Britain’s truly great coastal rail journeys
Journey on the scenic South Devon Railway to Buckfastleigh
Visit the Buckfast Butterfly Farm and Otter Sanctuary
Glorious sightseeing around Torquay
Travel on the Dartmouth Steam Railway along the beautiful English Riviera coastline
Enjoy free time to explore Dartmouth, an historic naval town
Relax on a circular cruise viewing sights from the majestic River Dart
Stay in a hotel on the stunning seafront with seaview rooms included

Also included in your Tour Fare:

4 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal
Services of experienced Tour Manager

DAY 1

For those travelling with us by train, we will 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. On arrival, we will make our way to the Livermead House Hotel, our hotel for the next four nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together.

DAY 2

After breakfast this morning, we travel to Totnes where we join the oldest preserved steam railway in the south-west, the South Devon Railway, and follow a scenic seven-mile rail journey connecting the beautifully maintained stations at Totnes and Buckfastleigh. We enjoy time at Buckfastleigh where we visit the Butterfly Farm and Otter Sanctuary or, alternatively, we can venture a little further and visit nearby Buckfast Abbey and Gardens before returning to Torquay in time for our evening meal together.

B, D

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 the 1926 cliff railway and model village. We will reconvene at the hotel for our evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 4

This morning, we make our way to Paignton for a fantastic steam journey on the Dartmouth Steam Railway travelling 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 before continuing to our hotel for our final evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 5

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Torquay and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys.

*Important Note: Whilst the arrangements for all described steam train travel are in place, we do reserve the right to make substitutions should it be deemed necessary for whatever reason.

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

HOTEL

The Livermead House Hotel, Torquay

Ideally located close to the railway station and with a picturesque seafront location, the Livermead House Hotel offers outstanding sea views, high standards of cuisine, charming gardens, and fantastic leisure facilities including an outdoor swimming pool, sauna, snooker room, and gym. The elegant bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom with complimentary toiletries, a flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

FARES

Fare Region	First*	Standard
London: Paddington	£1,045	£939
Greater London	£1,055	£945
South of England	£1,095	£975
East Anglia	£1,069	£949
South West	£859	£805
Heart of England	£1,065	£945
Midlands	£1,109	£939
Yorkshire	£1,229	£1,009
North East	£1,329	£1,055
North West	£1,179	£969
South Wales	£1,169	£905
North Wales	£1,199	£989
Scotland	£1,405	£1,125
Join & Leave at Hotel	£750
July Departure Supplement	£30
September Departure Supplement	£40
Single Room Supplement (with seaview)	£NIL
Double Room for Sole Occupancy (no seaview)	£55
Deposit	£75
£5 discount for National Railcard Holders

*Please Note: Some local and regional train services are Standard Class seating only and First Class ticket holders will travel in standard class accommodation for these sections of their journey.

4 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal

Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class)

Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described

All excursions & admissions as detailed

Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager

Important – Please select the number of passengers before proceeding to ‘Book Now’

Number of passengers:

Date	From Price	Book Now	Callback
26th April 2027	£745 Per person	Book Now	Callback
12th July 2027	£775 Per person	Book Now	Callback
20th September 2027	£785 Per person	Book Now	Callback

Can't see a date that suits you? Please register your interest for additional departures on this tour.

Register interest

Enter your details to receive updates on upcoming departure dates for the Steam & Sail in the English Riviera 2027 rail tour.

Livermead House Hotel, Torquay

South Devon Railway

Butterfly Farm & Otter Sanctuary

Visit Torquay

Dartmouth Steam Railway

Torquay Harbour ©iStock

Totnes, Devon ©Shutterstock

South Devon Railway ©Shutterstock

Buckfastleigh Abbey ©Shutterstock

Brixham Fishing Village ©Shutterstock

Babbacombe Cliff Railway ©Shutterstock

Babbacombe Model Village ©Shutterstock

Goodrington ©Shutterstock

Dartmouth Steam Railway ©Shutterstock

Dartmouth Passenger Ferry ©Shutterstock

Dartmouth ©Shutterstock

Land's End to John O'Groats 2027

Experience a fantastic coast to coast adventure from Land's End to John O'Groats crossing three countries with many of the UK's greatest scenic rail journeys along the way. Journey through England, Scotland, and Wales visiting iconic locations, exploring beautiful cities, and discovering picturesque scenery on a tour that has it all!

13 Days 16/09/2027 from £3,549

Caledonian & Great Glen Explorer 2027

Embark on an exclusive tour in Inverness including a six-night leisurely cruise along the endlessly beautiful Caledonian Canal aboard the stunning Lord of the Glens. Journeying through the heart of the Highlands along the intricate inland waters, hidden sea lochs, ancient and historic sites, and breathtaking scenery with fascinating excursions at every stop. Indulge yourself in exquisite cuisine, First Class travel, and relaxation on this luxurious, small group tour.

8 Days 26/09/2027 from £3,999

Secrets of the Highlands & Islands 2027

Join us on an exclusive tour in Inverness including a seven-night leisurely cruise along the endlessly beautiful Caledonian Canal aboard the stunning Lord of the Glens. Journeying through the heart of the Highlands along the intricate inland waters, hidden sea lochs, ancient and historic sites, and breathtaking scenery with fascinating excursions at every stop. Indulge yourself in exquisite cuisine, First Class travel, and relaxation on this luxurious, small group tour.

10 Days 25/04/2027 from £5,249

Mystery on the Winter Riviera 2027

Step into a world of seaside charm and old-fashioned suspense on this captivating new tour inspired by Agatha Christie. Explore the life of the Queen of Crime and step into the role of detective on an immersive Murder Mystery Evening - will you solve the case? With nostalgic steam journeys, scenic river cruises, and fascinating museum visits, the beautiful English Riviera becomes the backdrop for your very own unfolding mystery.

5 Days 22/02/2027 from £849

What our customers say

Sounds like the holiday for you?

View Dates and Book

Why Book with Railtrail

Railtrail Tours is a family firm with an ethos of honesty and integrity. Our passion for delivering quality escorted holidays by rail at great value fares along with consistently excellent customer service has stood us in good stead for over 40 years – Big on Quality, Small Enough to Care

Unique Experiences

Our tours are unique to us, created by our team of rail travel experts who each have a lifetime of knowledge and experience in the rail holiday industry

Financial Protection

Railtrail Tours are members of ABTOT and ATOL, meaning you can relax knowing that you are fully protected when booking any holiday with us.

Loyalty Rewards

For every pound spent you will receive Loyalty Points on return from your holiday, which can then be used as a discount on future bookings.

Award Winning Team

We were proudly awarded Silver at the British Travel Awards for ‘Best Small Travel Company for Rail Holidays’ in 2024.

More about us

Destinations

Tour Types