Steam & Sail in the English Riviera 2025

Duration

5 Days

Departure Dates

11th August 2025, 1st September 2025

Prices from

£685 Per person

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Enjoy a beautiful 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 sea view rooms included plus enjoy free time in Torquay and Dartmouth to discover these vibrant and historic towns.

Overview
Itinerary
Further Information
Departure Dates
Useful Resources

Dawlish Seawall © GWR

5 days from £645

DEPARTS

Monday 7 April 2025

Monday 12 May 2025

Monday 9 June 2025

Monday 7 July 2025

Monday 11 August 2025

Monday 1 September 2025

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

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

Also included in your Tour Fare:

4 nights’ bed, breakfast & evening meal
Services of experienced Railtrail 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. We transfer to the Livermead House Hotel and enjoy our first evening meal together.

DAY 2

Today 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 free time at Buckfastleigh where we can visit the Butterfly Farm and Otter Sanctuary, located next to the railway 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.

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

B, D

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 for our final evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 5

After breakfast it is time to bid farewell to Torquay and journey homeward.

*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

Built in 1820, The Livermead House Hotel has a picturesque seafront location, is ideally located just a short walk from the railway station and offers outstanding sea views and high standards of cuisine. The hotel has lovely gardens with seating and an outdoor swimming pool plus a snooker room, squash court, gym, indoor bowls, and sauna. The bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom, complimentary toiletries, TV, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

FARES

Fare Region	First*	Standard
London: Paddington	£889	£805
Greater London	£895	£809
South of England	£929	£829
East Anglia	£955	£839
South West	£739	£705
Heart of England	£905	£815
Midlands	£985	£829
Yorkshire	£1,095	£889
North East	£1,189	£935
North West	£1,049	£855
South Wales	£1,039	£795
North Wales	£1,069	£875
Scotland	£1,259	£999
Join & Leave at Hotel	£650
Single Traveller Supplement	£NIL
Deposit	£75

*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.

£5 tour discount for holders of National Railcards

July, August & September Departure Supplement £40

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
11th August 2025	£685 Per person	Book Now	Callback
1st September 2025	£685 Per person	Book Now	Callback

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Livermead House Hotel, Torquay

South Devon Railway

Butterfly Farm & Otter Sanctuary

Buckfast Abbey and Gardens

Torquay

Dartmouth Steam Railway

Totnes, Devon ©Shutterstock

Torquay Harbour @ Istock

Cardiff Castle Dartmouth

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