Search

The Railway Touring Company · Escorted tour

Mid Wales Explorer

Seven-day escorted rail tour of Welsh heritage railways and castles

Illustration of Mid Wales Explorer

The Railway Touring Company's Mid Wales Explorer is a 7-day, 6-night escorted tour for steam rail enthusiasts and heritage seekers. You depart London Euston on Avanti West Coast First Class, arriving in Chester, the starting point for a journey through some of Britain's most celebrated narrow-gauge railways. The itinerary balances active travel days, such as Day 2 with its narrowboat crossing of the 38-metre-high Pontcysyllte Aqueduct and the Llangollen Railway through the Dee Valley, with gentler pace at Portmeirion, a purpose-built Italianate village where you have a full free day. You stay in comfortable 3 or 4-star hotels with included breakfasts, dinners, and lunch; a Tour Manager handles logistics, reservations, and transfers. Visits to Erddig Country House, Powis Castle, and Caernarfon Castle anchor the cultural experience, while five heritage railways and a guided wine tasting at Kerry Vale Vineyard round out the itinerary. This suits repeat rail travellers keen to sample each of Wales's famous "great little trains," couples looking for escorted comfort, and history lovers drawn to castles and country houses.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure date is currently listed: June 2026.
  • Day 4 overnight hotel location is not specified in the itinerary.
  • The tour mixes heritage railways with scheduled public transport; confirm the exact train names and timings with The Railway Touring Company before booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Llangollen

    London Euston to Chester, Erddig country house and Bala Lake Railway

    Travel First Class on Avanti West Coast from London Euston to Chester, then by coach to the National Trust's Erddig Country House (built 1683-1687), followed by a return journey on the Bala Lake Railway between Llanuwchllyn and Bala, with time to visit the Heritage Centre. Depart for the hotel in Llangollen, with dinner there.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Portmeirion

    Ride on Llangollen Railway, Canal Cruise and the Cambrian Coast Line

    Narrowboat canal ride across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, 38 metres above the River Dee, then a one-way trip on the Llangollen Railway through the Dee Valley to Corwen. Coach to Machynlleth to join the Transport for Wales Cambrian Coast Line service to Barmouth, crossing the Barmouth Rail Viaduct, with free time before rejoining the train to Minffordd and transferring by coach to the Portmeirion hotel for two nights. Dinner at the hotel.

  3. Day 3overnight: Portmeirion

    Free day to explore Portmeirion village

    A leisurely day exploring Portmeirion, the Italianate village designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis in the early 20th century, with its Riviera-inspired houses, ornamental gardens and campanile. Dinner at the hotel restaurant.

  4. Day 4rail

    Travel on the Welsh Highland line on the Harbourmaster

    Coach to Porthmadog to travel on the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland Railway's 'Harbourmaster' service, 25 miles coast to coast across the foothills of Snowdon to Caernarfon, with time to explore the historic town and its castle before the return trip. Meet the coach for transfer to the next hotel, with dinner in the hotel restaurant.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Aberystwyth area

    Talyllyn Railway and Vale of Rheidol Railway

    Coach to Tywyn Wharf to ride the Talyllyn Railway, Britain's first narrow gauge railway authorised to carry passengers by steam, to Nant Gwernol, with a refreshment stop at The Railway Inn. Continue by coach to Devil's Bridge to view the waterfalls before riding the Vale of Rheidol Railway to Aberystwyth, with free time in the seaside town before checking into the hotel for two nights. Dinner at the hotel restaurant.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Aberystwyth area

    Welshpool and Llanfair Railway, Powis Castle, free evening at your own leisure

    Coach to Powis Castle for a morning immersed in its medieval history, then to Welshpool to ride the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway to Llanfair Caereinion and back. Visit Kerry Vale Vineyard for a guided wine tasting and cheeseboard before returning to the hotel for a light farewell dinner.

  7. Day 7rail

    Chester to London Euston

    Depart by coach to Chester railway station to travel First Class on Avanti West Coast back to London Euston.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Travel in First Class on Avanti West Coast from London Euston to Chester, then ride the Bala Lake Railway, a heritage narrow-gauge service.
  • Day 2Ride a narrowboat across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, a World Heritage structure 38 metres above the River Dee, then travel the Llangollen Railway through the Dee Valley to Corwen and the Cambrian Coast Line to Barmouth.
  • Day 3Free day to explore Portmeirion, an Italianate village designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis with Riviera-inspired houses and ornamental gardens.
  • Day 4Travel 25 miles in Gold class on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway's Harbourmaster service across the foothills of Snowdon to Caernarfon to visit the historic castle.
  • Day 5Ride the Talyllyn Railway, Britain's first narrow-gauge passenger railway, to Nant Gwernol, then the Vale of Rheidol steam railway to Aberystwyth.

Included

  • 6 nights accommodation with breakfast in 3 or 4-star hotels
  • 3 lunches
  • 6 dinners
  • All visits as detailed on the itinerary
  • All train and heritage rail travel as detailed in the itinerary
  • All seat reservations and coach transfers
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The Railway Touring Company includes all train and heritage rail travel as detailed in the itinerary, plus Avanti West Coast First Class to and from London Euston, all seat reservations, and coach transfers.
Is this tour escorted?
Yes. A Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout the seven days.
What heritage railways are featured?
The itinerary includes five heritage narrow-gauge railways: Bala Lake, Llangollen, Talyllyn, Vale of Rheidol, and Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway, plus the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway's Harbourmaster service and scheduled Transport for Wales Cambrian Coast Line services.
What meals and accommodation are included?
Six nights in 3 or 4-star hotels with breakfast daily, three lunches, and six dinners, plus all visits to Erddig Country House, Powis Castle, Kerry Vale Vineyard, and Portmeirion village.
How much walking is involved?
Days include coach transfers between towns, walking tours of villages and castles, narrowboat boarding, and heritage railway platforms. No high-altitude hiking is mentioned.

Similar journeys