How much does it cost?

From £745 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,006 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 Torquay, plus the South Devon Railway and Dartmouth Steam Railway journeys, are included.

Is it escorted or independent?

It is an escorted tour with a Tour Manager throughout, though day 3 in Torquay is unguided free time.

All four nights at the Livermead House Hotel in Torquay, a seafront hotel with seaview rooms included.

Which heritage railways are included?

The South Devon Railway between Totnes and Buckfastleigh, and the Dartmouth Steam Railway between Paignton and Kingswear.

Railtrail Tours · Escorted tour

Steam & Sail in the English Riviera 2027

5-day escorted Devon tour with two steam railways and a cruise

Steam & Sail in the English Riviera is a 5-day escorted tour from Railtrail Tours based at the seafront Livermead House Hotel in Torquay for all four nights, with seaview rooms included. Day 1 arrives via the scenic rail journey along the Dawlish sea wall before climbing into the Devon hills and descending back to the coast. Day 2 rides the South Devon Railway, the oldest preserved steam railway in the south-west, on a seven-mile run between Totnes and Buckfastleigh, with time to visit the Buckfast Butterfly Farm and Otter Sanctuary. Day 3 is a free day to relax in Torquay or take an optional ferry to Brixham or visit Babbacombe. Day 4 combines the Dartmouth Steam Railway's coastal route to Kingswear with a ferry crossing to the historic naval town of Dartmouth and a circular cruise on the River Dart. A Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout, with rail travel, transfers, and admissions included. This suits couples and families wanting a relaxed coastal break built around two heritage railways.

What to know before you look closer

Day 3 is unguided free time in Torquay; the ferry crossing to Brixham and the visit to Babbacombe's cliff railway and model village are optional, not included excursions.

Day by day

Day 1railovernight: Livermead House Hotel, Torquay
Arrival in Torquay via the Dawlish sea wall
For those travelling with us by train, we will experience one of England's most quintessential holiday welcoming moments - the Great Railway Journey along the sea wall at Dawlish - before climbing high into the rural pasturelands of the Devon hills then descending back to the coast to arrive on the English Riviera at Torquay. On arrival, we will make our way to the Livermead House Hotel, our hotel for the next four nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2railovernight: Livermead House Hotel, Torquay
South Devon Railway to Buckfastleigh
After breakfast this morning, we travel to Totnes where we join the oldest preserved steam railway in the south-west, the South Devon Railway, and follow a scenic seven-mile rail journey connecting the beautifully maintained stations at Totnes and Buckfastleigh. We enjoy time at Buckfastleigh where we visit the Butterfly Farm and Otter Sanctuary or, alternatively, we can venture a little further and visit nearby Buckfast Abbey and Gardens before returning to Torquay in time for our evening meal together.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3railovernight: Livermead House Hotel, Torquay
Free time in Torquay
Today is free to relax in Torquay or explore the stunning English Riviera. You may decide to take the short ferry ride across the bay to the small fishing town of Brixham, home of the 'Golden Hind' replica of the iconic Tudor ship, or perhaps visit the neighbouring town of Babbacombe, famed for the 1926 cliff railway and model village. We will reconvene at the hotel for our evening meal together.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4railovernight: Livermead House Hotel, Torquay
Dartmouth Steam Railway & River Dart cruise
This morning, we make our way to Paignton for a fantastic steam journey on the Dartmouth Steam Railway travelling alongside the English Riviera coastline to Churston, then on through the wooded slopes of Long Wood bordering the Dart Estuary to Kingswear. We take a short ferry crossing to the historic resort of Dartmouth where there is free time for some sightseeing and a gentle circular river cruise viewing Bayards Cove, Kingswear and Dartmouth Castles, Britannia Royal Naval College, Dittisham Village, and Sir Walter Raleigh's Boathouse. We return by steam train to Paignton before continuing to our hotel for our final evening meal together.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5
Homeward Journey
After breakfast, we bid farewell to Torquay and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 1The rail journey along the Dawlish sea wall climbs into the Devon hills before descending back to the coast at Torquay, described as one of England's most quintessential holiday welcoming moments.
Day 2The South Devon Railway, the oldest preserved steam railway in the south-west, runs a scenic seven-mile route between Totnes and Buckfastleigh.
Day 4The Dartmouth Steam Railway runs along the English Riviera coastline and through the wooded Long Wood bordering the Dart Estuary to Kingswear, followed by a ferry crossing to Dartmouth and a circular cruise on the River Dart.

Included

4 nights bed, breakfast & evening meal
Services of experienced Railtrail Tour Manager
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

Questions travellers ask

How much does it cost?: From £745 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,006 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 Torquay, plus the South Devon Railway and Dartmouth Steam Railway journeys, are included.
Is it escorted or independent?: It is an escorted tour with a Tour Manager throughout, though day 3 in Torquay is unguided free time.
Where do you stay?: All four nights at the Livermead House Hotel in Torquay, a seafront hotel with seaview rooms included.
Which heritage railways are included?: The South Devon Railway between Totnes and Buckfastleigh, and the Dartmouth Steam Railway between Paignton and Kingswear.