Javascript Menu by Deluxe-Menu.com
 

Day Excursions

On this Page: Show me the Days Out Pathfinder are currently offering

These trains offer you the chance to take a day trip to some of the most interesting places in Great Britain.  However, it is not just the destinations that are attractive, as in many cases the route takes us through some of the most outstanding scenery in the United Kingdom. Once at the destination, there is often more on offer, including tours by road coach and river cruises, to steam railways and historic castles, to breweries and museums, to the seaside and inland attractions ..... and much, much more !

All these excursions offer a choice of Standard and First Class / First Class Plus seating, whilst many also have the option of Pullman-style Premier Dining, with a full at-seat silver-service of meals through the day. All seats in each type of accommodation are at tables and offer a good view through the wide windows. A buffet service is available on all trains, and there is usually a real ale bar on board. Add friendly and helpful stewards, a souvenir booklet and information about your choice of destination and you have the ingredients for a day out that memories are made of.

Forget the crowded roads, with traffic jams, miles of cones and endless problems of parking, and join a Pathfinder excursion for a day out where all you have to do is relax and take in the great scenery that this country has to offer, all from the comfort of your comfortable carriage seat.

 

 

THE DORSET COAST EXPLORER

and GREAT WEY ROUND

Saturday 17th May, 2008

 

A CIRCULAR RAIL CRUISE TO WEYMOUTH AND THE DORSET COAST

 In the long daylight hours of Mid May, we offer a land-cruise through eight of the most attractive counties in England, to a choice of destinations in Dorset. The Avon Valley leads to Westbury in Wiltshire, from where we cross Somerset to Yeovil, then on to enter Dorset before Dorchester. Here you have the option of alighting to join your choice of three off train activities, all of which later return you to our train at Wareham.

LULWORTH COVE: By road coach to this stunning location on the Jurassic Coast between Swanage and Weymouth, where tearooms and a heritage centre complement the charm of thatched cottages, fishing boats and the sweep of the cove itself, the most visited geological site in Britain.                                               Supplement £8 adult, £4 junior.

SWANAGE RAILWAY OPTION : By road coach to the Swanage Railway for a round trip on the line.

                                                              Supplement £12 adult, £8 junior to include coach transfer and train ride.

CORFE CASTLE : By road coach to this attractive village and its majestic ruined castle, with magnificent views over Purbeck and beyond.                     Supplement £11 adult, £7 junior to include coach transfer and admission to castle.

The final choice is to remain on the train for the precipitate descent to the end of the line at WEYMOUTH (1246 - 1443).   www.weymouth.gov.uk

For the return, we climb back to Dorchester and take the Bournemouth line, crossing mainly heathland to Wareham before skirting Poole Harbour. A steep climb to Bournemouth leads into the Hampshire New Forest and to Southampton, where we turn north through Winchester to a summit before Basingstoke. Berkshire takes us past Reading into Oxfordshire, through Oxford for a run over the full length of the Cotswold Line. For miles the route follows the River Evenlode upstream, to Moreton-in-Marsh, then downhill to Honeybourne and Evesham, where we cross the River Avon before the last leg through Pershore back to our first set-down at Worcester.

Class 33 x 2 (WCR) Train Locomotives Throughout
As pick-up points to Bristol Parkway - Dr. Days Jn - North Somerset Jn - Bath Spa - Westbury - Castle Cary - Yeovil Pen Mill - Dorchester West - WEYMOUTH TOWN (1246 - 1443) - Dorchester South - Wareham - Poole - Brockenhurst - Southampton - Eastleigh - Basingstoke - Oxford Road Jn - Reading West Jn - Didcot North Jn - Oxford -  Kingham - Moreton-in-Marsh - Evesham - Worcester Shrub Hill - and as pick-up points back to Crewe

CONFIRMED TIMINGS

Joining Stations  

Depart 

Return 

Crewe

0555

2245

Stafford

0630

2215

Tame Bridge Parkway

0705

2140

Birmingham New Street

0735

2110

Barnt Green

0800

2045

Worcester Shrub Hill

0830

2000

Cheltenham Spa (outward)

0900

2100*

Bristol Parkway (outward)

0945

2145*

 Fares

 Adult

 Junior

Standard Class

£59.00

£29.50

First Class Plus

£98.00

£78.00

Premier Dining £155.00 £135.00
Guaranteed Table for Two Supplement in First Class £15:00 per person

* Passengers return to Cheltenham Spa and Bristol Parkway by complimentary private road coach

 

The Cambrian Coaster
Bank Holiday Monday 26th May, 2008

ENJOY THE SPECTACULAR COAST LINE FROM ABERDOVEY
THROUGH BARMOUTH TO PORTHMADOG AND PWLLHELI

For lovers of stunning scenery, the railway that clings to the shoreline from Dovey Junction through to Pwllheli is hard to beat - and the sixty mile hike across the mountains of mid-Wales to get there is pretty good as well!

Once we are away from the last joining point at Wolverhampton, you can sit back and enjoy the view from the window as the train heads into the countryside, through rural Shropshire to Telford, then on past the Wrekin to Shrewsbury. We bypass the station and run directly onto the Aberystwyth line, making our way through pleasant countryside and over the border into Wales, to return to the Severn Valley at Welshpool. Powis Castle looks down as the line climbs westward to Newtown, then into the valley of the Afon Carno at Caersws to reach the summit at Talerddig. Passage through the great rock cutting presages the long descent through Llanbrynmair and Commins Coch to Machynlleth, once the capital of Wales.

At Dovey Junction we cross the Dovey Estuary and head for Aberdovey, at times right on the water's edge, with the mountains closing in to the east. A climb onto the high cliff at Friog is followed by descent to the Mawddach Estuary, crossed on the lengthy Barmouth bridge and dominated by Cader Idris. We pause at BARMOUTH (www.barmouth-wales.co.uk), where, as an option, you can have a five hour afternoon break, time possibly for a round trip to Fairbourne, out over the bridge by local train or on foot (a toll is payable), a trip on the Fairbourne Railway (www.fairbournerailway.com), then the ferry back across to Barmouth (please check the appropriate train times).

The train will continue north to Harlech, below the mighty fortress, then to Minffordd, where you may choose to alight for the FFESTINIOG RAILWAY, making your way to the high level for a thrilling journey on this narrow-gauge railway, right through to Blaenau Ffestiniog, high in the mountains. You may return on the narrow-gauge through to Portmadoc and walk across town to rejoin our train (www.festrail.co.uk).
Supplementary fare: £13 adult, £1 accompanied junior.

Only a short distance on is PORTHMADOG, where you can alight to visit this pleasant town, or stroll over to the adjacent Welsh Highland Railway (www.whr.co.uk).

Finally the train will reach the end of the line at PWLLHELI (1415- 1615). See www.llyn.info/pwllheli for further information.

It is expected that this train will be hauled throughout by two heritage EWS Class 37 diesel locomotives.

Projected Timings

Joining Stations  

Depart 

Return 

Swindon

0615

003062

Kemble

0635

0010

Stroud

0650

2350

Stonehouse

0700

2340

Cheltenham Spa

0720

2320

Ashchurch

0730

2310

Barnt Green

0800

2240

Birmingham New Street

0830

2210

Wolverhampton

0850

2145

 Fares

 Adult

 Junior

Standard Class

£62.00

£31.00

First Class Plus

£99.00

£79.00

Premier Dining

£169.00

£149.00

   
Guaranteed Table for Two Supplement in First Class Plus and Premier Dining £15:00 per person

 

The Lake District & Barrow-in-Furness
Saturday 14th June, 2008

A CRUISE ON LAKE WINDERMERE, ULVERSTON FOR SIGHTSEEING
OR A RAIL JOURNEY INTO BARROW RAMSDEN DOCKS

This excursion offers interesting options in and around the Lake District. From the last pick-up at Crewe the route lies north, across the Cheshire Plain, over the River Mersey into Lancashire and to Preston. Soon after Lancaster we turn west into the Furness District, now part of Cumbria, for a run along the shores of Morecambe Bay to our destinations. The return journey is as outward back to Warrington, then via Chester, Shrewsbury and Telford. For the afternoon you may choose between :-

ULVERSTON – a market town famous for its festivals, Ulverston is a delight, with friendly specialist shops, olde worlde pubs, cafés, restaurants, fascinating ginnels and cobbled streets that hold many surprises, street market, and the Laurel and Hardy museum, in memory of local boy Stan Laurel. If you want to get away from the crowds for a bit, wander down to the canal, one mile long and the deepest and widest in England. Dating from 1796, it is now a freshwater haven for wildlife.  See www.ulverston.net for further information.

LAKE WINDERMERE CRUISE - Alight from the train at Grange-over-Sands and join a comfortable road coach for the short journey to Lakeside. There you will join a lake cruiser for a near hour cruise to Bowness-on-Windermere, with then around 1½ hours to explore this waterside town (shops, cafés, views, etc.) before the coach returns you to Grange-over-Sands to rejoin the train. A local Blue Badge Guide will accompany the tour.
Supplementary Fare Adults £14.50, Junior £11.50 – to include road coach and cruise.

BARROW AND BARROW DOCKS - Arriving in Barrow for a two hour break, there is time available for a visit to the Dock Museum (www.dockmuseum.org.uk) or just do some exploring (for other information, see www.visitcumbria.com). Upon departure, the train will return along the main line the short distance to Salthouse Junction, where we will reverse and then run along the (seldom visited by a passenger train) Cavendish Dock freight only line to the terminal at the Associated British Ports' Ramsden Dock. We then return to Salthouse Junction and the main line home.

This train will be hauled throughout by a pair of veteran English Electric Class 37 diesel locomotives.

Projected Timings

Joining Stations  

Depart 

Return 

Cardiff Central

0600

2330

Newport

0615

2315

Bristol Parkway

0650

2245

Cam & Dursley

0715

2220

Cheltenham Spa

0740

2155

Barnt Green

0815

2115

Birmingham New Street

0845

2045

Crewe (outward only) *

1000

-----

Chester (return only)

-----

1845

 Fares

 Adult

 Junior

Standard Class

£60.00

£30.00

First Class Plus

£99.00

£79.00

Premier Dining

£165.00

£145.00

   
Guaranteed Table for Two Supplement in First Class Plus (Premier Dining now all reserved) £15:00 per person

 * We regret that Premier Dining is not available from Crewe. Sorry.

 

THE SOMERSET EXPLORER

Saturday 21st June, 2008

GEORGIAN BATH or a COACH TOUR TO CHEDDAR GORGE and WELLS

or CELEBRATE 150 YEARS OF THE EAST SOMERSET RAILWAY AT CRANMORE AND AT MEREHEAD QUARRY

 This excursion offers a day out from Crewe and stations via the Borders, Shropshire and the West Midlands to a variety of very different destinations in Somerset.

After the journey through Gloucestershire we reach the Avon Valley, followed upstream to BATH SPA. This ancient city became a World Heritage Site in 1987, and has a wealth of attractive architecture, the Roman Baths, the Abbey, Pulteney Bridge (one of only four in the world with shops on both side of the full span), the Royal Crescent - mostly featuring local Bath stone - even the Sainsbury's store incorporates the magnificently restored trainshed of the former Somerset & Dorset Railway's Green Park station. There is so much to see and do, and we will provide information that will help you get the best out of your visit - take a walking tour, a river cruise to Pulteney Weir or a narrow-boat cruise on the Kennet & Avon Canal - or......... www.visitbath.co.uk

CHEDDAR GORGE. For a different afternoon, you may alight at Bath and join the waiting road coach for a tour of North Somerset and Mendip, including a visit to the world famous Cheddar Gorge. There will be at least two breaks along the way, one of which will be in the historic city of Wells. http://www.mendiphillsaonb.org.uk/visiting.php

EAST SOMERSET RAILWAY 150. Remain on the train for the journey to Westbury, then along the 'freight' line to Cranmore. Your ticket will entitle you to any combination (subject to available time) of a return steam-hauled run on the East Somerset Railway, a return classic bus trip to Merehead Sidings, where there will be many attractions including steam and diesel locomotives, a coach tour of the quarry, a single or return trip on one of the shuttle trains between Cranmore and Westbury hauled by a Mendip Rail Class 59 top-and-tailed by another 'freight' locomotive. On the outward journey you may alight at Westbury and continue to Cranmore on one of the shuttle trains, or use a shuttle to reach Westbury ahead of our return journey, but you may travel on a maximum of one shuttle journey in each direction - unless you buy another ticket!.

This train will be hauled throughout by Class 47 diesel locomotives.

Projected Timings

Joining Stations  

Depart 

Return 

Crewe

0630

2345

Chester

0700

2315

Wrexham General

0715

2250

Gobowen

0730

2235

Shrewsbury

0800

2205

Telford Central

0815

2145

Wolverhampton

0840

2120

Birmingham New Street

0905

2100

Cheltenham Spa

1000

2005

 Fares

 Adult

 Junior

Standard Class

£65.00

£32.50

First Class Plus

£99.00

£79.00

Premier Dining

£169.00

£149.00

Guaranteed Table for Two Supplement in First Class Plus (Premier Dining now all reserved) £15:00 per person

 * We regret that Premier Dining is not available from Cheltenham. Sorry.

+ All fares are inclusive of the journey and of your chosen option, but deduct £10 adult, £5 junior if you intend to only visit Bath Spa.

 

EAST SOMERSET RAILWAY 150 GALA WEEKEND

Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd June 2008

To commemorate 150 years since the opening of the East Somerset Railway between Witham and Shepton Mallet in 1858, the current Cranmore based East Somerset Railway have got together with Aggregate Industries at nearby Merehead to present a celebration of railways in Mendip.

 On each day the format will be the same, so come and join in the fun on either day:

 A T T R A C T I O N S   I N C L U D E   (subject to availability on the day)

* Special passenger shuttle trains between Westbury and Cranmore, hauled by Class 66s

  and MendipRail Class 59s operating in 'top-and-tail' mode via the 'Freight Only' line.

* Frequent steam train service on the East Somerset Railway.

* Continuous FREE classic bus shuttles Cranmore - Merehead - Cranmore.

* Locomotive displays - MendipRail Class 59 - Various other diesels.

* Steam locomotives, including BR Class 9F 2-10-0.

* Demonstration Steam and Diesel Freight Trains, including 9F on 1,000 ton stone train!

* Driver experience on both steam and diesel power (additional charge applies)

* Traction Engines * Model railway exhibitions * Fun rides for children.

* Coach Tours round Merehead Quarry.

 A Day Rover ticket is valid for one return journey on the Westbury to Cranmore shuttle and for one return journey on the East Somerset Railway, and provides entry to Merehead Quarry.

 Adult £13 (£15 on the day), Junior £4 (£5 on the day), Family (2 adult + 2 junior) £30 (£35 on the day) - advance tickets are available up to close of business on Friday 13th June, 2008)

 Proposed shuttle times (45 minute journey time each way)

Saturday

Westbury depart

0815

0935

1055

1305

1425

1545

1750

Cranmore depart

0915

1035

1155

1405

1525

1645

1850

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sunday

Westbury depart

0900

1020

1140

1300

1430

1550

1710

Cranmore depart

1000

1120

1240

1400

1530

1650

1810

 

The Cornish Explorer
Saturday 28th June, 2008

TRURO, RIVER FAL CRUISE, PENZANCE (for 'MAZEY DAY') or LANDS END

~ IN ASSOCIATION WITH BEAVER SPORTS (YORKS) LIMITED ~

Cornwall is a favourite British leisure destination, perhaps not surprising in view of the hundreds of miles of superb coastline, with delightful seaside towns and villages, the sub-tropical vegetation found throughout the county, the internationally renowned attractions and the festivals that are a feature of many Cornish towns during Spring and Summer.

This excursion offers you a chance to sit back and relax on a journey through the length of the West Country, right across Somerset from the Levels to the Blackdown Hills, then in Devon down the Culm and Exe Valleys to Exeter. From there the train will wind its way at the water's edge down the Exe Estuary, out onto the sea-wall through Dawlish to Teignmouth and up the Teign Estuary to Newton Abbot. Beyond there the railway is characterised by 'house-roof' gradients, up to Dainton and down across the River Dart to Totnes, then up past Tigley to a winding section along the southern edge of Dartmoor. A sharp descent leads to Plymouth, after which we cross the River Tamar into Cornwall on Brunel's masterpiece, the Royal Albert Bridge.

Almost continuous curves lead across a succession of viaducts to Liskeard, then down the Fowey Valley to Lostwithiel, then up, down and up again, through Par to St. Austell. A winding course leads to TRURO (http://truro.cornwall.net), where you can choose to have well over four hours to explore the administrative centre of Cornwall, famed for its cathedral.

FAL RIVER CRUISE : You should also alight at Truro for an optional cruise on the River Fal (www.falriverlinks.co.uk), a really delightful way to see the contrasts of the Fal Estuary. There will also be a short break in either Truro or Falmouth, depending on the actual times of the train and of the cruise.
Supplementary fare : £12 adult, £8 Junior to include coach transfer and river cruise.

Finally, we make for the end of the line at PENZANCE (www.penzance.gov.uk) on 'Mazey Day', the culmination of the Golowan Festival, a colourful celebration for the Feast of St. John the Baptist and for Midsummer. You should have around four hours to explore this historic town and its port at nearby Newlyn, and to enjoy the atmosphere of the festival.

LANDS END COACH TOUR : If you prefer, join us on a coach tour to Lands End (www.landsend-landmark.co.uk), the most westerly point of Cornwall, with its superb views out to sea, and with its visitor attractions.                              Supplementary fare £8 adult, £4 junior.

It is expected that this train will be hauled throughout by heritage Deltic diesel locomotive 55022 'Royal Scots Grey', making only the second ever visit of a class member to Penzance.

Projected Timings

Joining Stations  

Depart 

Return 

Birmingham International

0530

2340

Birmingham New Street

0545

2320

Stourbridge Junction

0600

2300

Kidderminster

0615

2245

Worcester Shrub Hill

0630

2230

Cheltenham Spa

0700

2200

Cam & Dursley

0715

2145

Bristol Parkway

0745

2115

Bristol Temple Meads

0800

2100

 Fares

 Adult

 Junior

Standard Class

£69.00

£34.50

First Class Plus

£99.00

£79.00

Premier Dining

£169.00

£149.00

   
Guaranteed Table for Two Supplement in First Class Plus and Premier Dining £15:00 per person

 

 

THE SETTLE & CARLISLE EXPLORER

Saturday 5th July, 2008

TO THE SPECTACULAR SETTLE & CARLISLE LINE 

With the long daylight hours of high summer upon us, we offer this full day out to one of the most spectacular railways in Britain. Starting at West Ruislip and picking-up passengers from Chiltern line and South West Midlands stations, we head for Crewe, where our modern Class 66 gives way to a pair of veteran Class 37 diesels, from a select group that have just been refurbished for a priority Network Rail project, but which have been specially made available to us for this outing.

 After a run on the main line through Warrington and Wigan, we turn east towards Blackburn, and 'make for the hills'. After Wilpshire Tunnel we run downhill to the 24 arch Whalley Viaduct. Pendle, infamous for 'witches', is the key feature as the line twists and turns its way through Clitheroe to Hellifield. At Settle Junction we join the Settle & Carlisle line, following the River Ribble into Upper Ribblesdale to the great viaduct at Ribblehead, with its backdrop of Great Whernside. From Blea Moor Tunnel we emerge into Dentdale, where Dent Head and Arten Gill viaducts help to carry us across the 'roof

of England'. A curve through Dent, the highest station in England, is followed by viaducts and tunnels, through Garsdale to Ais Gill summit. Now downhill, we run along the flanks of Wild Boar Fell, high above the infant River Eden. Descent is through Kirkby Stephen to Appleby-in-Westmorland, after which the browns of the moorland give way to the greens of the Eden Valley. Perhaps all to soon we will slow for the Border City of CARLISLE, for a break of over two hours, time for a look around this historic city, with its cathedral, castle, excellent range of shops, cafés and pubs.

The return journey will be by way of Penrith, Shap Summit, Lancaster and Preston.

 ULLSWATER CRUISE: As a twist on a theme, we offer this alternative to completing the journey to Carlisle. Alight at Appleby and join the waiting road coach (with a local guide to give a commentary) for the short transfer to Pooley Bridge at the head of Ullswater. Here we join a lake cruiser for a cruise south to Glenridding. A half or so break will be taken in this delightful village before the coach takes you to Penrith to rejoin our train.

Supplement £12 adult, £6 junior

  

+ There is a reduction of £10 adult / £5 junior in Standard Class for passengers joining at Crewe - limited seating only.

Projected Timings

Pick-up points

Depart

Return

West Ruislip

0630

2355

Gerrards Cross

0640

2340

High Wycombe

0650

2330

Saunderton

0700

2320

Princes Risborough

0710

2310

Haddenham & Thame Pway

0720

2300

Bicester North

0735

2245

Banbury

0750

2225

Coventry

0830

2130

Birmingham International

0845

2115

Crewe*+

1015

1945

 Fares (all points)

 Adult

Junior

Standard Class +

£59.00

£29.50

First Class Plus

£99.00

£79.00

Premier Dining*

£169.00

£149.00

 Private 'Table for Two’ seats available in First Class Plus and Premier Dining at a supplement of £15 per person.

* With regret, Premier Dining is not available from Crewe.

It is expected that this train will be hauled to Crewe by an EWS Class 66, and from Crewe to Carlisle by a pair of Network Rail Class 37 (97/3) diesels.

 

 

THE SNOWDONIAN

Saturday 12th July, 2008

ENJOY THE SPECTACULAR COAST LINE FROM ABERDOVEY THROUGH BARMOUTH TO PORTMADOC AND PWLLHELI

HAULED BY A DELTIC DIESEL - A FIRST TIME FOR THIS ROUTE

 For lovers of stunning scenery, the railway that clings to the shoreline from Dovey Junction through to Pwllheli is hard to beat - and the sixty mile hike across the mountains of mid-Wales to get there is pretty good as well!

Away from the last joining point, sit back and enjoy the view from the window as the train heads through rural Shropshire to Shrewsbury, where we bypass the station and take the Cambrian line, making our way through pleasant countryside and over the border into Wales, to return to the Severn Valley at Welshpool. Westward the line climbs to Newtown, then into the valley of the Afon Carno at Caersws to reach the summit at Talerddig. Passage through the great rock cutting presages the long descent through Llanbrynmair and Commins Coch to Machynlleth, once the capital of Wales.

At Dovey Junction we cross the Dovey Estuary and head for Aberdovey, at times right on the water's edge, with the mountains closing in to the east. A climb onto the high cliff at Friog is followed by descent to the Mawddach Estuary, crossed on the lengthy Barmouth bridge, dominated by Cader Idris. We pause at BARMOUTH (1245 - 1745), where you may leave the train, with time possibly for a round trip to Fairbourne, out over the bridge by local train or on foot (a toll is payable), a trip on the Fairbourne Railway, then the ferry back across to Barmouth. Please check the appropriate train times.   www.barmouth-wales.co.uk   www.fairbournerailway.comThe train will continue past Harlech, dominated by the castle, then to Minffordd, where you may alight for the FFESTINIOG RAILWAY, for a thrilling return journey on this narrow-gauge railway, right through to Blaenau Ffestiniog, high in the mountains. Supplement: £13 adult, £1 accompanied junior.               www.festrail.co.uk 

Only a short distance on is PORTHMADOG where you can alight to visit this pleasant town, or stroll over to the adjacent Welsh Highland Railway.                  www.whr.co.uk

 And finally we reach PWLLHELI (1415- 1615).                          www.llyn.info/pwllheli

It is expected that this train will be hauled throughout by no.55022 Royal Scots Grey, a first ever visit by a Deltic diesel to the Cambrian lines west of Newtown.

Projected Timings

Joining Stations  

Depart