A ‘COMPASS TOURS’ DAY EXCURSION
BY SPECIAL TRAIN
BY SPECIAL TRAIN
BRIEF ROUTE COMMENTARY: We take a ‘scenic circular’ today and after picking up our passengers we start the day with a trip over the extremely scenic and hilly Hope Valley line, which crosses the Peak District National park and boasts miles of unspoilt remote scenery. The route is by way of Hope and Edale, joining with the Midland Mainline at Dore Curve. At Dore we continue in Derbyshire through some pleasant scenery and via Chesterfield, with its notorious ‘crooked spire’ landmark. We continue through Derbyshire by way of the Clay Cross route as far as Derby, then south through the beer brewery Mecca of Burton-upon-Trent and down through Tamworth to the Edges of Birmingham. Our train should avoid the city by taking the normally “freight only” underpass at Landor Street and then via Camp Hill onto the Cross City line which takes us through to miles of pleasant Worcestershire countryside and the famous steeply graded Lickey Incline. We then head for the rolling hills and picturesque scene of the Cotswolds as we take a run through deepest Gloucestershire, eventually reaching Cheltenham. ROYAL CHELTENHAM SPA - we expect arrival into Cheltenham to be around 11:30. This is said to be the most complete Regency town anywhere in the country, with many of the buildings themselves being classed as a conservation area of outstanding national importance. Regency town houses, characterised by intricate ironwork balconies and painted stucco facades, line the historic Promenade, squares and terraces. With its award-winning gardens, impressive range of stylish shops and restaurants, and its festivals of horse racing, music and literature, Cheltenham has a cosmopolitan ambience to beguile the most jaded spirit. A little way out of town there is the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire railway (which runs from the racecourse), with many services operated by steam locomotives through miles of unspoilt rolling countryside to Toddington. Travellers on the Romantic Road can choose from many attractions and places of interest along the way. The Road for Today passes Sudeley Castle at Winchcombe, famous for its award-winning gardens. Further along, visit the remains of the 13th Century Hailes Abbey. On the Road for Tomorrow, Keith Harding's World of Mechanical Music in Northleach offers a unique experience in sound, featuring an award-winning collection of musical boxes, automata and mechanical instruments. The Romantic Road will also take you to Painswick Rococo Garden and Prinknash Abbey, home of Benedictine monks who founded the Prinknash pottery. A variety of bus services and guided coach tours to the Cotswolds do run from the Cheltenham area and we recommend that if you are looking to visit the Cotswolds that you do some planning ahead. Please see www.visitcheltenham.com and www.the-cotswolds.org to assist with your planning for the day (or call 01242 522 878 for the Cheltenham tourist information office which may be able to advise you in more detail). Return from Cheltenham is estimated to be around 17:30.
CITY OF BATH - we anticipate an arrival in the region of 12:30 into Bath Spa allowing up to 4 hours for exploration, following our journey south. The elegance of this City is captured in its streets and crescents. Famous for its Roman Baths and Temple – these are said to be one of the finer examples of surviving remains anywhere in Europe. The city’s history dates back over 2,000 years when the Romans discovered rich hot springs at the site, resulting in the construction of a sophisticated bathing complex. The Roman Baths have remained to this day its most well known attraction. The Georgians came along and created the unique style we see throughout the streets today, transforming it from just a small Spa town forever – with their use of unique local stone. Some key attractions at Bath include its open top bus tours of the area including stop offs at Bath Abbey, Roman Baths, The Circus and Pulteney Bridge, along with the 9-acre botanical gardens of Royal Victoria Park. Other places worth a visit include the Holbourne Museum of Art, Bath Postal Museum, Beckford’s Tower, No. 1 Royal Crescent and the Victoria Art Gallery. A return departure from Bath is expected to be at around 16:30.
RELATED WEBSITES:
www.visitcheltenham.com
www.the-cotswolds.org
http://www.gwsr.com/ (Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Railway)
http://visitbath.co.uk/
http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/
ESTMATED TIMINGS: *PLEASE NOTE times are only those that have been requested. Confirmed final times will be sent out with your tickets around four or five days before the tour when Network Rail advise us of them.
CHILDREN UNDER 5 YRS can be brought on the train free of charge only if not taking up a seat and sharing seats with accompanying adults.
REFRESHMENTS: A buffet service of snacks, hot and cold drinks, and alcoholic beverages is available to all our passengers throughout the day – as well as an at seat trolley service in first class seating areas, operating at occasional intervals.
THE TRAIN: The train is hired in and operated through licensed UK rolling stock providers and train operating companies and formed entirely of traditional intercity carriages hauled by heritage British Built diesel traction throughout. First class passengers are seated in tables of 2 or 4 seats with curtains, larger more deeply cushioned reclining seating. Standard class is seated mainly in bays of 4 seats around a table (but some trains convey a little standard class accommodation with private ‘airline’ style bays which have 2 seats together with folding tables – please contact our office though if you are unsure as to whether they are specifically available). If you have specific seating requests or type – please give us plenty of notice, ideally when booking.
Many of our recent Railtours have been very busy or fully subscribed so early booking is advised!
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