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The Railway Touring Company · Escorted rail holiday

The West Country Explorer - August 2026

Six-day steam and heritage rail tour through Somerset, Devon, Cornwall

Illustration of The West Country Explorer - August 2026

The Railway Touring Company's West Country Explorer is a six-day escorted journey from London Paddington to Weymouth through Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall. The adventure brackets around special steam trains from London in Premier Dining, with breakfast served at your seat on the outbound journey and a four-course dinner on the return. Between them lie five heritage railways, a coal-fired paddle steamer cruise on the River Dart, visits to St Michael's Mount and Land's End, and two-night stays in the seaside towns of Torquay and St Ives. Day 1 runs the West Somerset Railway to Minehead and the narrow-gauge Lynton and Barnstaple Railway at Woody Bay. Day 2 is free time to explore Exeter Cathedral and its museums. Day 3 crosses the Dawlish sea wall by service train to Penzance and moves west to Land's End. Days 4 and 5 feature the Bodmin & Wenford, South Devon, and Dartmouth Steam Railways, interspersed with the Seaton Tramway on the final morning. The Tour Manager handles logistics, hotels include breakfast, and six dinners are part of the package, making this an ideal choice for repeat rail travellers and history lovers who want heritage railways and seaside exploration without self-driving.

What to know before you look closer

  • Only one departure date is currently listed: August 2026.
  • Day 2 is free time in Exeter; no guided activities are scheduled.
  • The price from 1,925 GBP is per person for the package including rail, hotels, meals, and coach transfers; confirm availability and final pricing with The Railway Touring Company when booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Exeter

    London Paddington to Exeter

    A steam train from London Paddington in 'Premier Dining' with breakfast served at your seat, via Reading, the Berks and Hants Line and Westbury, joining the West Somerset Railway at Norton Fitzwarren where a 'Manor' class 4-6-0 steam locomotive is attached for the run double-headed to Minehead. Coach to the Glen Lyn Gorge Funicular, then the Lynton and Barnstaple Railway at Woody Bay, before continuing by coach to Exeter.

  2. Day 2overnight: Exeter

    Free time in Exeter

    A free day to explore Exeter's Cathedral, Princess Hay, museums, galleries and city parks.

  3. Day 3railovernight: St Ives

    St Michael's Mount and Land's End

    Service train from Exeter to Penzance along the Dawlish sea wall and over the Royal Albert Bridge into Cornwall. Coach to St Michael's Mount, a tidal island in Mount's Bay, then to Land's End, the most westerly point of mainland England, before transferring to St Ives.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Torquay

    St Ives, the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, and South Devon Railway

    Coach to Bodmin Parkway for a steam-hauled return trip to Boscarne Junction on the Bodmin & Wenford Railway, including a visit to Bodmin General Station, then the South Devon Railway for a 7-mile journey along the River Dart valley between Buckfastleigh and Totnes, before transferring to Torquay.

  5. Day 5railovernight: Torquay

    Steam on the Dartmouth Steam Railway and a paddle steamer cruise

    A steam train from Paignton along the English Riviera on the Dartmouth Steam Railway to Kingswear, then a ferry to Dartmouth and a cruise aboard the coal-fired paddle steamer 'Kingswear Castle', before returning to Paignton by steam train.

  6. Day 6rail

    A visit to Dawlish, the Seaton Tramway and return to London Waterloo

    Coach to Dawlish for free time on the sands and sea wall, then to Seaton for a return trip on the narrow-gauge Seaton Tramway, before a coach to Weymouth to board the 'Dorset Coast Express' steam train, with a four-course meal silver served in 'Premier Dining', for the journey to London Waterloo.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 1Board a steam special from London Paddington in Premier Dining with breakfast at your seat, then join a 'Manor' class 4-6-0 locomotive double-headed to Minehead on the West Somerset Railway.
  • Day 3Travel by service train from Exeter to Penzance along the Dawlish sea wall and over the Royal Albert Bridge into Cornwall, then visit St Michael's Mount and Land's End.
  • Day 5Ride the Dartmouth Steam Railway from Paignton to Kingswear, then cruise aboard the coal-fired paddle steamer 'Kingswear Castle' on the River Dart.
  • Day 6Return to London Waterloo aboard the 'Dorset Coast Express' steam train with a four-course silver-served dinner in Premier Dining.

Included

  • Rail travel from and to London by special steam trains
  • 5 nights hotel accommodation with breakfasts
  • 6 dinners
  • All rail and road coach journeys as detailed in the itinerary
  • All visits as detailed in the itinerary
  • All seat reservations and transfers
  • The services of a Tour Manager

Questions travellers ask

Is the train travel included?
Yes. The package includes the special steam trains from London Paddington to Exeter and from Weymouth to London Waterloo, plus five heritage rail journeys: the West Somerset Railway, Lynton and Barnstaple Railway, Bodmin & Wenford Railway, South Devon Railway, Dartmouth Steam Railway, and Seaton Tramway.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
It is fully escorted. A Tour Manager accompanies the group throughout the six days.
What are the hotels?
Two nights in Exeter, one night in St Ives, and two nights in Torquay. Breakfasts are included at all hotels.
What meals are included?
Breakfast at the hotel each morning and six dinners, including a four-course meal in Premier Dining on both the outbound and return steam trains.
When does this tour run?
The published departure is in August 2026. Check with The Railway Touring Company for other dates or availability.
How much walking is involved?
Most travel is by coach and rail. Day 2 offers free time to explore Exeter on foot, and Day 6 includes free time to walk on the Dawlish sands and sea wall. Heritage railway stops and ferry transfers involve light walking.

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