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PTG Tours · Escorted tour

Portmeirion and Railways of Snowdonia - In Style

Five-day Welsh narrow-gauge steam railway tour from Porthmadog

Illustration of Portmeirion and Railways of Snowdonia - In Style

PTG Tours operates this 5-day, 4-night escorted tour of Welsh narrow-gauge steam railways, based entirely in Porthmadog at Tudor Lodge. Starting with a coach visit to Portmeirion, the Italianate village designed by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis between 1925 and 1975 (famous from the 1960s television series The Prisoner), the tour then focuses on four preserved railways. On day two, travellers ride an evening charter train on the Talyllyn Railway, the world's first preserved railway, using original Victorian stock and an 1869 steam engine. Day three combines the Welsh Highland and Ffestiniog railways in a single 80-mile charter, hauled by two Ffestiniog steam locomotives and featuring champagne and croissants in a luxury observation coach. Day four includes the Snowdon Mountain Railway, a heritage steam rack railway built in 1896, and a lakeside trip on the Llanberis Lake Railway. A Tour Manager is with the group throughout, and all meals, accommodation, entrance fees, and rail fares are included. This is PTG's 14th repeat running of the tour.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one confirmed departure listed: June 2026. Snowdon Mountain Railway steam service runs June to September only.
  • Single-room supplement is £100 (roughly 12% above half the double price), which is modest for UK rail tours.
  • Group size capped at 14 people.
  • Optional Boston Lodge workshops visit requires an 08:00 start.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Porthmadog

    Arrival in Porthmadog

    Rail or road arrivals to Porthmadog where we stay at the Tudor Lodge on the edge of the town centre.

  2. Day 2railovernight: Porthmadog

    Portmeirion and the Talyllyn Railway

    After breakfast, travel by road to Portmeirion Village gardens and parkland, with three and a half hours to explore and time for lunch. Transfer to Minffordd station for the normal service train along the Cambrian coast to Tywyn, then join an evening charter train on the Talyllyn Railway - the world's first preserved railway - using original Victorian stock and an 1869 steam engine, with a guided tour of the workshops at Pendre. Drinks in the Narrow Gauge Railway Museum and an evening meal at the railway with the general manager as after-dinner speaker. Return to Porthmadog by road.

  3. Day 3railovernight: Porthmadog

    Welsh Highland & Ffestiniog Railways

    Depart around 9:15 on PTG's special charter train travelling on both the Welsh Highland and Ffestiniog Railways (80 miles of narrow-gauge), hauled by two Ffestiniog steam locomotives (subject to availability), with exclusive reserved seating in the luxury observation coach, champagne and croissants. Optional early visit to the workshops at Boston Lodge. Through Beddgelert and Snowdonia to Caernarfon (with its castle), then return to Porthmadog to join the Ffestiniog Railway up the original line to Blaenau Ffestiniog. Dinner in Spooner's restaurant.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Porthmadog

    Snowdon Mountain Railway

    Late morning road transfer to Llanberis for the 10:30 heritage steam hauled train up Snowdon, a rack railway first opened in 1896 (only two steam services a day, June to September only). Return to Llanberis (National Slate Museum closed for improvements) and visit the nearby Llanberis Lake Railway for a return trip along the lake. Early evening return to Porthmadog.

  5. Day 5rail

    Departure

    Morning departures by train or car.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Evening charter train on the Talyllyn Railway using original Victorian stock and an 1869 steam engine, the world's oldest preserved railway
  • Day 3Private charter on the Welsh Highland and Ffestiniog railways covering 80 miles of narrow-gauge track, hauled by two Ffestiniog steam locomotives, with champagne and croissants in the luxury observation coach
  • Day 4Heritage steam-hauled train up Snowdon mountain on a rack railway first opened in 1896, followed by a return trip on the Llanberis Lake Railway

Included

  • 4 nights' accommodation with breakfast at Tudor Lodge
  • Entrance to Portmeirion Village
  • Private charter train on Talyllyn Railway
  • Private charter train on Welsh Highland Railway (WHR) in first class observation car
  • Private charter train on Ffestiniog Railway (FR) in first class observation car
  • Heritage steam train on Snowdon Mountain Railway
  • Return trip on steam hauled Llanberis Lake Railway
  • Two dinners
  • Packed lunch, afternoon tea and scones, and unlimited tea and coffee on the WHR and FR train
  • Services of our Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is all rail travel included?
Yes. The price includes private or reserved charter trains on the Talyllyn, Welsh Highland, and Ffestiniog railways, plus the heritage steam train on Snowdon Mountain Railway and a return trip on the Llanberis Lake Railway.
What trains will we ride?
The Talyllyn Railway (1869 vintage steam engine and Victorian stock), Welsh Highland Railway (first-class observation car), Ffestiniog Railway (first-class observation car), Snowdon Mountain Railway (heritage steam rack railway), and Llanberis Lake Railway (steam-hauled).
Where do we stay?
Tudor Lodge in Porthmadog for all four nights, with breakfast included.
What meals are included?
Breakfast daily, two dinners, a packed lunch, afternoon tea with scones, and unlimited tea and coffee on the Welsh Highland and Ffestiniog trains.
Is this an escorted tour?
Yes. PTG Tours provides a Tour Manager throughout.
When does this tour run?
June 2026 is the confirmed departure. The Snowdon Mountain Railway steam service is available June to September only.

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