IT’S the last word in luxurious steam train travel, and the first-ever 14-day round-Britain tour by Golden Eagle Luxury Trains is set to leave from Edinburgh’s Waverley Station in October.
The 2200-mile tour of Scotland, England and Wales on board the 10 carriages of the Belmond Royal Scotsman is not for the thin of wallet, however, as prices for the Best of Britain Steam Tour start at $40,000 or just under £30,000 at today’s exchange rate. That’s £2150 a night per person, but you do get an en suite bathroom.
Just 38 places are available for the tour which will depart from Edinburgh and head to Inverness before a trip on the Strathspey Railway and then down to Stirling and back to Edinburgh.
The tour will then take in the historic Settle and Carlisle Railway before heading south to Chester and then to Wales where it will visit Blaenau Ffestiniog, Porthmadog, Caernarfon and Holyhead.
Crossing into England, there will be stops at Bath, Williton, Penzance, Fowey, Salisbury, Didcot, Oxford, Bridgnorth, York, and Darlington before returning to the starting point in Edinburgh.
The luxurious tour is being called the British equivalent of the Orient Express.
The company says on its website: “From the moment Belmond Royal Scotsman draws out of Edinburgh’s Waverley Station, you are embarking on a truly unique and unforgettable experience as you head into a most magical place of history, nature and romance.
“Life on board this luxury train is relaxed and indulgent, with gastronomic dining and the convivial atmosphere of celebrating with friends.”
The train will be hauled by the Tornado, the A1 Peppercorn Class steam locomotive No.60163 which took 19 years to construct before it made its first journey in 2008.
The organisers said: “The Tornado’s 10th anniversary tour of Great Britain showcases the very best that Britain has to offer, from stunning vistas and its rich railway heritage past to the highest quality local cuisine and unsurpassed attention to detail guests enjoy travelling on the prestigious Belmond Royal Scotsman carriages.”
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