How much does it cost?

From £835 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,128 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?

Rail travel from your home station to Newcastle is included, along with steam journeys on the South Tynedale Railway and the Heatherslaw Light Railway; other excursions use coach transfers or a boat cruise.

Is it escorted or independent?

It is an escorted tour with a Tour Manager throughout.

All five nights at the Leonardo Hotel in Newcastle.

Which heritage railways are included?

The South Tynedale Railway through the North Pennines and the Heatherslaw Light Railway along the river Till near Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Railtrail Tours · Escorted tour

Step Back in Tyne – Discover the North East 2026

6-day escorted Northumberland tour with two heritage railways

Step Back in Tyne is a 6-day escorted tour from Railtrail Tours based at the Leonardo Hotel in Newcastle for all five nights. Day 2 rides the South Tynedale Railway, England's highest narrow-gauge railway, through the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, then continues along Hadrian's Wall to the Roman site of Vindolanda. Day 3 travels by road to Bamburgh Castle, home to the Kings of Northumbria for over 1,400 years, followed by a 90-minute cruise around the Farne Islands to view seabird and seal colonies. Day 4 visits Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, with a photo stop at the Angel of the North on the return. Day 5 takes the scenic rail route to Berwick-upon-Tweed for a steam journey on the Heatherslaw Light Railway before returning on the East Coast mainline. A Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout, with rail, coach, and boat transfers, plus admissions, included. This suits history lovers who want Roman, medieval, and Victorian sites combined with two heritage railways.

What to know before you look closer

Only two of the six days include a heritage railway journey; the rest of the itinerary relies on coach transfers and a boat cruise to reach Bamburgh Castle, the Farne Islands, and Beamish.

Day by day

Day 1overnight: Leonardo Hotel, Newcastle
Arrival in Newcastle
Journey from your home station to Newcastle and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Leonardo Hotel, our hotel for the next five nights. We enjoy free time to explore our new surroundings before meeting for our first evening meal together.
Meals: Dinner
Day 2railovernight: Leonardo Hotel, Newcastle
South Tynedale Railway & Vindolanda
After breakfast today, we are transported to the South Tynedale Railway for a steam journey through the stunning North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on England's highest narrow-gauge railway. From here, we travel alongside Hadrian's Wall to Vindolanda, one of Europe's most important Roman archaeological sites. As well as having the chance to view thousands of extraordinary Roman artifacts, we may also get to watch live excavations.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3overnight: Leonardo Hotel, Newcastle
Bamburgh Castle & the Farne Islands
This morning, we leave Newcastle and travel by road to Bamburgh for a visit to Bamburgh Castle - once home to the Kings of Northumbria. Standing proudly on the edge of the North Sea, the castle has over 1,400 years of history to explore. Afterwards, we transfer to Seahouses for our 90-minute cruise sailing around the Farne Islands to view the stunning wildlife on one of the UK's largest seabird and seal colonies.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4overnight: Leonardo Hotel, Newcastle
Beamish Living Museum & the Angel of the North
Today, we visit Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, an incredible experience through time. A living, working experience featuring a recreated town including an Edwardian bakery, a coal mine, a local pub, and school amongst other things, all linked together by a historic tram system. On our return to Newcastle, we make a visit to The Angel of the North for a quick photo-stop.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5railovernight: Leonardo Hotel, Newcastle
Berwick-upon-Tweed & Heatherslaw Light Railway
After breakfast this morning, we will travel the scenic rail route to Berwick-upon-Tweed and transfer to the Heatherslaw Light Railway for a return steam journey along the banks of the river Till. On our return to Berwick, we enjoy free time and sightseeing in this coastal town before travelling back on the East Coast mainline to Newcastle for our final evening meal together.
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6
Homeward Journey
After breakfast, we bid farewell to Newcastle and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys.
Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

Day 2The South Tynedale Railway, England's highest narrow-gauge railway, runs a steam journey through the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty before the group continues along Hadrian's Wall to the Roman site of Vindolanda.
Day 3A visit to Bamburgh Castle, home to the Kings of Northumbria with over 1,400 years of history, followed by a 90-minute cruise around the Farne Islands to view one of the UK's largest seabird and seal colonies.
Day 4Beamish, The Living Museum of the North, recreates a working Edwardian town with a bakery, coal mine, pub, and school linked by a historic tram system, followed by a photo stop at the Angel of the North.
Day 5The Heatherslaw Light Railway runs a return steam journey along the banks of the river Till near Berwick-upon-Tweed, reached by the scenic East Coast mainline.

Included

5 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 £835 per person, the operator's advertised from-price, read on its own page on 12 Sept 2026. About $1,128 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?: Rail travel from your home station to Newcastle is included, along with steam journeys on the South Tynedale Railway and the Heatherslaw Light Railway; other excursions use coach transfers or a boat cruise.
Is it escorted or independent?: It is an escorted tour with a Tour Manager throughout.
Where do you stay?: All five nights at the Leonardo Hotel in Newcastle.
Which heritage railways are included?: The South Tynedale Railway through the North Pennines and the Heatherslaw Light Railway along the river Till near Berwick-upon-Tweed.