Welsh Mega Steam 2026

Duration

9 Days

Departure Dates

8th August 2026

Prices from

£2,095 Per person

Immerse yourself in the golden age of rail travel on this mega steam adventure to Wales with heritage and steam railway visits every day! Enjoy nostalgic journeys through spectacular scenery, picturesque valleys, and magnificent mountains including the iconic Snowdon Mountain Railway, the narrow-gauge Ffestiniog Railway, the original preserved railway at Talyllyn, and many more.

Overview
Itinerary
Further Information
Departure Dates
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Llangollen Railway ©Dave Gibson

9 days from £2,095

DEPARTS

Saturday 8 August 2026

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

Enjoy a nostalgic journey through the Dee Valley on the Llangollen Railway
Step back in time at the Cambrian Heritage Railway
Steam along the delightful Welshpool & Llanfair Heritage Railway
Ride behind steam on the charming Corris Railway
Steam on the Vale of Rheidol Railway, one of the Great Little Trains of Wales
Visit Aberystwyth & Devil’s Bridge
Take in coastal views on the miniature Fairbourne Railway
Experience the Talyllyn Railway, the original preserved railway
Relax beside the water on the scenic Bala Lake Railway
Ascend to the summit of the Great Orme in a vintage tramcar
Experience the iconic Snowdon Mountain Railway
Ride behind steam on the characterful Llanberis Lake Railway
Steam into Snowdonia on the picturesque Welsh Highland Railway
Enjoy a narrow-gauge steam journey on the world-famous Ffestiniog Railway

Also included in your Tour Fare:

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

DAY 1

Journey from your home station to Chester and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Queen Hotel, our hotel for the next two nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together.

DAY 2

After breakfast this morning, our coach takes us to the picturesque Llangollen Railway for a thrilling steam journey through the Dee Valley to Corwen where we enjoy free time to explore this delightful town. We continue to Oswestry to visit the Cambrian Heritage Railway with its railway museum, restored signal box, and period ticket office plus a nostalgic ride over the scenic route before returning to our hotel in time for our evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 3

Today, we travel to Welshpool to board our vintage carriages and enjoy a delightful steam train journey on the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway negotiating the notoriously steep Golfa Bank, a river bridge, and a viaduct as we follow the river valley. After taking time for lunch, we head into the hills to the charming Corris Railway for a gentle ride behind steam down the beautiful Dulas Valley before continuing to Aberystwyth where we check-in to the Marine Hotel for our three-night stay and enjoy our evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 4

After breakfast this morning, we enjoy a steam journey on the Vale of Rheidol Railway to Devil's Bridge. Travelling through the beautiful Rheidol Valley with the countryside changing as we journey through wide open fields, woodland, and rugged mountain scenery, the line twisting and turning as it clings to the hillside. The remainder of the day is at leisure in Aberystwyth to visit the railway museum, explore the town, or ride the cliff railway before reconvening in time for our evening meal.

B, D

DAY 5

This morning, we travel by rail along the coast to Fairbourne Railway for a miniature steam experience on this quirky railway that started as a 2ft-gauge horse-drawn tramway and was converted to a railway in 1916. We continue to Tywyn for the Talyllyn Steam Railway, the world's first preserved railway, running for seven miles through stunning Southern Snowdonia from Tywyn to Nant Gwernol through ancient woodlands and meadows.

B, D

DAY 6

Today, we begin with a relaxing steam journey on the narrow-gauge Bala Lake Railway through the beautiful Snowdonia National Park with excellent views over Bala Lake and its surrounding scenery. This afternoon, our coach transfers us to Llandudno where we follow in the footsteps of Victorian holidaymakers aboard a vintage tramcar to the summit of the Great Orme, offering magnificent views across the Irish Sea. After free time to explore, we continue to the Celtic Royal Hotel where we check-in for our three-night stay and enjoy our evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 7

After breakfast, we enjoy a heritage railway adventure to the summit of Snowdon on the iconic Snowdon Mountain Railway uncovering the hidden secrets of the mountain from viaducts, waterfalls, and gorges to the remnants of chapels and settlements. After enjoying this kaleidoscope of vistas, we take time for lunch before our five-mile return steam train journey on the characterful Llanberis Lake Railway* running alongside Lake Padarn and providing stunning views of Snowdon.

*From the 6th September 2025 to 1st November 2026 the Llanberis Lake Railway intend to operate a shorter passenger train service due to the National Grid electricity cable replacement project.

B, D

DAY 8

This morning, we enjoy a truly scenic rail journey as we board the magnificent Welsh Highland Railway at Caernarfon for a steam-hauled journey climbing into Snowdonia, twisting around forests to Beddgelert, and through the treasured beauty of the Aberglaslyn Pass. On arrival in Porthmadog, we board the world-famous Ffestiniog Railway following the path of the old slate trains through dense forests, past serene lakes, and traversing tight bends. We return to Caernarfon by coach and enjoy our final evening meal together.

B, D

DAY 9

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Caernarfon and make our way to Bangor 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

Queen Hotel, Chester

Ideally located opposite the railway station, the Queen Hotel is the original railway hotel famous for its rich heritage and offers stunning public areas serving great food and signature cocktails plus a tranquil terrace. The modern bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom, air-conditioning, a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

Marine Hotel, Aberystwyth

Ideally located on the picturesque promenade, the Marine Hotel offers a stylish restaurant with striking ocean views, a relaxing bar, and fantastic leisure facilities including a sauna, steam room, and fitness centre. The individually designed bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom, a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

Celtic Royal Hotel, Caernarfon

Situated in the beautiful town of Caernarfon, the Celtic Royal Hotel offers a stylish restaurant serving delicious local dishes, a relaxing bar, and superb leisure facilities including an indoor pool, sauna, steam room, and gym. The comfortable bedrooms provide an en-suite bathroom, a hairdryer, flat-screen TV, free Wi-Fi, and tea/coffee making facilities.

FARES

Fare Region	First*	Standard
London: Euston	£2,429	£2,235
Greater London	£2,445	£2,255
South of England	£2,509	£2,295
East Anglia	£2,555	£2,305
South West	£2,499	£2,309
Heart of England	£2,359	£2,219
Midlands	£2,205	£2,165
Yorkshire	£2,285	£2,199
North East	£2,389	£2,259
North West	£2,335	£2,199
South Wales	£2,429	£2,239
North Wales	N/A	£2,175
Scotland	£2,449	£2,285
Join & Leave at Hotels	£2,100
Single Traveller Supplement	£590
Deposit	£210

*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

8 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’

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Queen Hotel, Chester

Marine Hotel, Aberystwyth

Celtic Royal Hotel, Caernarfon

Llangollen Railway

Cambrian Heritage Railway

Welshpool & Llanfair Railway

Corris Railway

Vale of Rheidol Railway

Snowdon Mountain Railway

Llanberis Lake Railway

Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railways

Chester ©Shutterstock

Cambrian Heritage Railway ©CHR

Welshpool & Llanfair Railway ©AdobeStock

Corris Railway1 ©Corris Railway Society

Corris Railway2 ©Corris Railway Society

Vale of Rheidol Railway1 ©AdobeStock

Vale of Rheidol Railway2 ©AdobeStock

Devil's Bridge ©Dreamstime

Aberystwyth ©Shutterstock

Fairbourne Railway ©Shutterstock

Talyllyn Railway1 ©Luke Ryna

Talyllyn Railway2 ©Nathan Spence

Bala Lake Railway1 ©Bala Lake Railway

Bala Lake Railway2 ©Bala Lake Railway

Great Orme Tramway ©iStock

Snowdon Mountain Railway ©Shutterstock

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