How much does it cost?

From £1,395 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,884 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.

Is the train travel included?

Yes. Rail travel and seat reservations from your home station to Bradford are included, along with six named heritage railways: the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, Settle & Carlisle Line, East Lancashire Railway, Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, and Middleton Railway.

Is this an escorted tour?

Yes, an experienced Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout.

What is not included?

Lunches are not included except for the Black Sheep Brewery tasting on day 3, and the North West region has no First Class rail fare available for the home station gateway.

Railtrail Tours · Escorted tour

Roses Battle by Steam plus Settle & Carlisle Line 2027

Bradford-based tour of six Yorkshire and Lancashire heritage railways

Railtrail Tours operates this 8-day, 7-night escorted tour of Yorkshire and Lancashire heritage railways, based at the Midland Hotel in Bradford for all seven nights. From that single base, the group rides six named lines, the North Yorkshire Moors Railway to Whitby, the Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway through the Dales, the Settle & Carlisle Line over the Ribblehead Viaduct, the East Lancashire Railway through the Irwell Valley, the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway to Haworth, and the Middleton Railway near Leeds. Days also include the National Coal Mining Museum and a tasting at the Black Sheep Brewery, with a Tour Manager traveling with the group throughout. It suits travelers who want steam and heritage rail nostalgia, industrial and literary history, and a single hotel base rather than packing up each night.

What to know before you look closer

The single room supplement, from 1,595 GBP, is far above half of the twin-share price of 1,395 GBP, a significant premium for solo travelers.
Rail travel from your home station carries regional fare supplements, and the North West region has no First Class fare available; travelers can instead join and leave at the hotel with no home rail travel included.
Only breakfast and evening meals are included each night; lunches are at your own expense apart from the Black Sheep Brewery tasting on day 3.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Midland Hotel, Bradford
Home station to Bradford
Journey from your home station to Bradford and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Midland Hotel, our hotel for the next seven nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together.
Day 2railovernight: Midland Hotel, Bradford
North Yorkshire Moors Railway to Whitby
Today, we will transfer by coach to Pickering where we board the North Yorkshire Moors Railway for a stunningly diverse journey in heritage carriages to the coast. Steaming across heather moorland landscapes, we pass by Goathland Station which featured as Aidensfield in Heartbeat, before descending to Whitby, a picturesque fishing port framed by its famous abbey. Stroll the quirky, narrow streets in search of Whitby Jet, climb the steps to reach the abbey, or simply enjoy some of the finest fish and chips in Yorkshire before we make the return journey.
Day 3railovernight: Midland Hotel, Bradford
Embsay & Bolton Abbey Railway and Black Sheep Brewery
After breakfast this morning, we enjoy a fabulous trip to the Dales as we visit the lovingly restored Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway for a journey through stunning Yorkshire scenery along the former Skipton-Ilkley Line, which was built in 1888. We spend some time at Bolton Abbey before making our way to Masham for a fascinating tour and tasting at the excellent Black Sheep Brewery.
Day 4railovernight: Midland Hotel, Bradford
National Coal Mining Museum and Middleton Railway
After breakfast today, we head south to the National Coal Mining Museum where we descend 140m underground to discover the history of coal mining through the centuries and learn of the people and communities at the heart of the industry. Afterwards, we visit Middleton Railway, a former colliery line near Leeds and the world's oldest continuously working railway that became the pioneer standard-gauge preserved line operated purely by volunteers.
Day 5overnight: Midland Hotel, Bradford
Settle & Carlisle Line
Today, we experience the iconic Settle & Carlisle Line. This great journey climbs up through the Yorkshire Dales from Settle crossing the Ribblehead Viaduct, an engineering marvel spanning Batty Moss, and passing Dent, the highest mainline station in England at 1,150 ft. After the summit at Ais Gill, we speed along the Eden Valley to the border city of Carlisle where we enjoy free time to explore before making the return journey.
Day 6railovernight: Midland Hotel, Bradford
East Lancashire Railway and Bury Transport Museum
After breakfast this morning, we take the scenic journey across the Pennines to Bury and, on arrival, we board our wonderfully restored steam locomotive for a day of journeys through the Irwell Valley on the East Lancashire Railway. We enjoy free time in Bury to visit the superb Bury Transport Museum packed with historic vehicles of every shape and size or the famous Bury Market before making our way back to the hotel in time for our evening meal together.
Day 7railovernight: Midland Hotel, Bradford
Keighley & Worth Valley Railway and Haworth
Today, we travel by train to visit the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, a unique 5-mile branch line railway set in the heart of Yorkshire where you can ride to your heart's content with your day rover ticket. Journey through countryside made familiar through film, The Railway Children, or perhaps take a break to alight at the Brontë heritage town of Haworth with its cobbled main street and curio shops. We return to Bradford in time for our final evening meal together.
Day 8
Departure from Bradford
After breakfast, we bid farewell to Bradford and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys.

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2The North Yorkshire Moors Railway steams across heather moorland, passing Goathland Station, known as Aidensfield in Heartbeat, on the way down to Whitby.
Day 3The Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway runs through Yorkshire Dales scenery on the former Skipton-Ilkley Line, followed by a tour and tasting at the Black Sheep Brewery in Masham.
Day 4A descent 140 meters underground at the National Coal Mining Museum, followed by a visit to the Middleton Railway, the world's oldest continuously working railway.
Day 5The Settle & Carlisle Line crosses the Ribblehead Viaduct and passes Dent, the highest mainline station in England at 1,150 feet, before the summit at Ais Gill.
Day 7The Keighley & Worth Valley Railway runs through countryside familiar from The Railway Children film, with a stop at the Bronte town of Haworth.

Included

7 nights bed, breakfast & evening meal
Rail travel & seat reservations from your Home Station to Tour Base (Standard or First Class)
Rail & coach travel, with transfers as described
All excursions & admissions as detailed
Services of experienced Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £1,395 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,884 at ECB reference rates. Departures, room types and dates can price differently; the operator's page is the final word.
Is the train travel included?: Yes. Rail travel and seat reservations from your home station to Bradford are included, along with six named heritage railways: the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway, Settle & Carlisle Line, East Lancashire Railway, Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, and Middleton Railway.
Is this an escorted tour?: Yes, an experienced Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout.
What hotel is used?: The Midland Hotel in Bradford, for all seven nights.
What is not included?: Lunches are not included except for the Black Sheep Brewery tasting on day 3, and the North West region has no First Class rail fare available for the home station gateway.