From glorious mountains to rolling hills, rugged coastline and Celtic legends, the UK and Ireland make fantastic destinations for short breaks and scenic getaways. Explore the Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland with Rail Discoveries.
Join Rail Discoveries on an escorted tour in England, Scotland, Ireland, or Wales and immerse yourself in the famous culture and scenery of this beautiful island kingdom. From the rolling hills of the Emerald Isle to the medieval towns of Yorkshire, the UK and Ireland boast enchanting countryside and a wealth of historic monuments.
Walk the cobbled streets of York or visit the annual Flower Show in Harrogate; journey through the Scottish Highlands on a heritage railway journey or experience the Edinburgh Tattoo in wintertime. Alternatively, why not cross the Irish Sea to Douglas and explore one of the UK's most unique outposts - the Isle of Man?
Discover glorious Yorkshire, from the edge of the rugged Dales to its spectacular coastline, via the majestic North York Moors. Enjoy ancient York, delightful Brontë country and scenic railway journeys.
… see more5 days from £349 pp
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Explore the rugged mountains and winding waterways of North Wales. Enjoy picturesque journeys aboard historic steam trains and admire delightful towns and ancient history on this Welsh adventure.
… see more6 days from £499 pp
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A superb tour to the charming Isle of Man, with three full days of varied excursions to the island's old fashioned towns, pretty fishing ports and breathtakingly picturesque coastline on the different historic railways.
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Explore the meandering waterways and heritage railways of Norfolk. Based in historic Norwich, this rural getaway takes in the North Norfolk Coast, the royal residence of Sandringham and quaint market towns.
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Enjoy the natural beauty of the Scottish Highlands and the Outer Hebrides on a tour that takes in Stornoway and the Jacobite steam train.
… see more8 days from £1,179 pp
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Journey to a hidden treasure of the British Isles, an archipelago off the Cornish coast boasting azure seas and almost tropical climes. Travel by overnight sleeper train from London to discover the glorious Islands of Scilly.
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Explore this beautiful region from its charming steam railways. Discover cities steeped in rich history, and the picturesque gardens which have earned the area the nickname 'the garden of England.'
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From the proud city of Glasgow, make the exciting journey through the mesmerising scenery of the Scottish Highlands on one of the world's great railways, before visiting the beautiful Isle of Skye and embarking on a scenic cruise on the Sound of Mull.
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This fantastic five-night cruise through the heart of the Highlands begins in Edinburgh before we board our ship for a journey along the rugged coastline of Scotland's west coast to the unspoilt beauty of the Isle of Mull. This tour is operated by our sister company Great Rail Journeys.
… see more7 days from £1,595 pp
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After travelling on the incredibly scenic Kyle Line Railway, we explore the rugged Scottish Highlands on a voyage that takes us up Neptune's Staircase, along the Caledonian Canal and passes the glorious islands and idyllic scenery of the Inner Hebrides. This tour is operated by our sister company Great Rail Journeys.
… see more9 days from £2,395 pp
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From your base in Bournemouth, discover the charms of Dorset and Hampshire, including the fascinating eras of natural and cultural history on display here.
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Uncover some of the best landscapes that rural England has to offer in Derbyshire and the Peak District. Visit pretty Buxton, admire the splendour of Chatsworth House and gardens, and step back in time on a nostalgic rail journey.
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Really enjoyed the break at Christmas and the boat and train trips.
The whole trip was a relaxing experience, well supervised by our courier - and efficiently organised
The hotel was very good with excellent food. It was very close to the railway station which made our rail journey from north Wales ideal. The Malvern Show was the highlight of the holiday. The Severn Valley trip was excellent. The Dean Valley rail trip was disappointing, with problems & delays, but this was out of the control of the tour manager.
The whole holiday was great from start to finish. Thanks Amanda for the help with rail tickets. The hotel was very good (we have been to this hotel on previous events) and it improves with each visit.The coach driver made each day an event what a sense of humour.The tour manager was first class and we were well informed each day
Excellent break, hotel great and excursions very enjoyable.
Was very impressed as this was our first time with rail discovery. Now looking for next years trip.
An excellent holiday giving us a real taste for the Isle of Man. Well organised tours kept us captivated by the sight and sounds of a variety of interesting places. We could have spent more time in some of the locations and less in others. However others on the tour may have viewed things differently. We all have our favourites.
Very good well organised whilst allowing good amount of free time. Jacobite Steam train excellent and also the fenicular railway a good taster for further holidays in Scotland
Rolling green dales, dramatic moorland, seaside promenades, and historic spa towns; there is something for every taste and budget on our rail holidays in the UK and Ireland.
Trains often access places that other modes of transport cannot reach, making a journey by rail one of the most scenic ways to travel. On many of our tours, you will have the chance to experience the charm of a traditional locomotive on a heritage railway such as the North Yorkshire Moors Railway or the Ffestiniog Mountain Railway.
The destinations on our rail tours have their own special appeal. In Ireland, for example, we contrast the ancient with the modern by including visits to the Blarney Castle in addition to a guided tour of Dublin, giving you a great insight into the country and its sights.
Our fantastic programme of included excursions enhances your holiday further by providing experiences of cultural, historical, or social value.
To ensure that your holiday runs smoothly, all our breaks are accompanied by a professional Tour Manager who will be on hand from the moment the tour begins to answer all of your questions and provide advice and information about the local area. Transport, accommodation, and a range of excursions are also included on our escorted tours.
Choose a holiday from the tour listing above or call one of our friendly Tour Advisors on 01904 730 148 to book your next holiday in the UK and Ireland.
By Matthew Ellis
31 December 2015
Evocative of a bygone age the famous British steam train journey has been a popular day out for many British travellers for decades. Now many heritage railways exist solely for tourism purposes after the infamous Beeching Cuts of 1963. We have a look at 5 of the most scenic.
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By Sukie Chapman
1 July 2015
York is an ancient city brimming with history and beauty, we’ve selected the 5 unmissable sights of the city. Experience them for yourself on UK rail tours.
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By Georgia Shipley
27 September 2019
In celebration of British Food Fortnight we wanted to share with you some of our favourite dishes from the British gastronomy scene.
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By Kathryn Beeson
15 July 2019
There's something romantic about steam travel that goes beyond looking at the past through rose-tinted lenses.
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Hotel food & staff service excellent