Lands End to John O'groats by Rail the Essentials Tailor Make Your

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Lands End to John O'groats by Rail the Essentials Tailor Make Your Lands End to John O’Groats by Rail From £899 per person // 8 days From toe to tip of the United Kingdom, make the epic journey from Cornwall through to Northern Scotland by train on this exciting holiday, with stops in Penzance, Bristol, York, Edinburgh and Thurso. The Essentials What's included Discover Britain’s maritime history in Penzance and Bristol Standard Class rail travel Wander through narrow lanes and Viking heritage in York 7 nights’ hotel accommodation with breakfast Explore beautiful Scottish capital Edinburgh Comprehensive directions to your hotels Take the Highland Line and Far North line to pretty Thurso Clearly-presented wallets for your rail tickets, hotel vouchers and other documentation All credit card surcharges and complimentary delivery of Tailor make your holiday your travel documents Decide when you would like to travel Adapt the route to suit your plans Upgrade hotels and rail journeys Add extra nights, destinations and/or tours - Suggested Itinerary - Day 1 - Arrive Penzance Travel to the tip of Cornwall today from your local station, wherever that may be. We can, of course, add this on to your package. Ask one of the team for details. When you reach the “end of the line” at Penzance station, make your way to the Queen’s Hotel (or similar) for a 2-night stay. Day 2 - Land's End Lands End marks the most southwesterly point in Britain and the official start of your epic journey across the country. Take one of the regular buses from Penzance (pay locally, or free if you’re lucky enough to be over 60 and have a bus pass!) and spend time walking in the local area around the spectacular cliffs and rocks that surround this famous landmark. A short walk north brings you to Sennen Cove (pictured), one of the UK’s most popular surfing beaches. To the south, the coastal path takes you through rugged, unspoilt Cornish scenery. Day 3 - Penzance To Bristol Your first staging post on your journey across the country is the city of Bristol. Take a morning train out of Penzance and enjoy a picturesque journey through Cornwall and the along the Devon coast, arriving into Bristol by lunchtime. Once you’ve checked in at the Bristol Hotel (or similar), spend an afternoon exploring this vibrant port city on the River Avon which has played an integral part in the history of the United Kingdom, from Iron Age settlements to maritime exploration and the Industrial Revolution. Day 4 - Bristol To York After breakfast in your hotel this morning, return to Bristol Temple Meads station and board another convenient direct train service which takes you across the country via Cheltenham, Birmingham, Sheffield and Leeds to York, arriving in the early afternoon. Here, check in at the Hampton by Hilton (or similar) and then perhaps head into the historic city centre for some lunch. Don’t miss a visit to the famous Jorvik Viking Centre, which takes you on a journey (complete with sounds and rather disconcertingly, smells) to the Viking settlement which once stood here. Day 5 - York To Edinburgh Once again, take a morning train shortly after 9am bound for Edinburgh. Look out for Durham Cathedral, the Tyne Bridge and the beautiful Northumbrian coastline around Holy Island and Berwick-upon-Tweed as you cross the border into Scotland. When you arrive at the city’s famous Waverley train station, check in at Ten Hill Place, BW Collection (or similar) where you have an overnight stay. Edinburgh is a fascinating and incredibly photogenic city with plenty of attractions to discover, including the famous Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle and Calton Hill. If you’re feeling energetic, you may even want to stretch your legs with a stroll up Arthur’s Seat for fabulous panoramic views. Day 6 - Edinburgh To Thurso After a hearty breakfast at your hotel, head back down to Waverley station and board a train on the final push north to Inverness. Shortly after leaving the metropolitan area of Edinburgh, you travel across the magnificent Forth Rail Bridge, and onwards via Perth into the Highlands. When you reach Inverness, you have ample time to change onto your final train, a ScotRail service on the Far North Line, heading right up to Thurso, mainland Britain’s most northerly town. On arrival here, check in at the Premier Inn Thurso (or similar) for a 2-night stay and then perhaps head out for dinner to celebrate the end of your exciting rail journey. Day 7 - John O'groats Today is the day to mark the end-point of your adventure across Britain, as you take a bus from Thurso, the 19 miles or so over to John O’Groats. Have your photo taken at the far north-eastern point of Britain, having travelled all the way across the country by train! There are also some lovely walks around the area, particularly if the weather is fine. Head back into Thurso for the final night of your holiday and enjoy a hearty meal and perhaps a dram of whisky to toast the end of your adventure. Day 8 - Depart Thurso Today it’s time to make your way home from Scotland’s remote northern coastline. Take the train back to Inverness and south to Edinburgh or Glasgow, or indeed take the overnight sleeper to London from Inverness. Either way, we can add this travel onto your package for an additional cost – ask one of the team for a package price including travel to your local station. You might like to add a night or two in Inverness before your return journey so that you can visit stunning Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle (pictured). Just call us for details and prices. Pricing From £899 per person These prices are based on two people sharing a twin or double room. Single supplements will apply for sole occupancy. It is based on Standard Class rail travel and includes seat reservations as necessary. It is based on the best fares on the trains. If you travel during a peak period, particularly at short notice, then supplements may apply.
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