Tour of Britain by train

Planet

We are continually increasing our range of public transport vacations for those who actively choose low-carbon transport. This vacation has been carefully-designed to allow you to explore the best of England and Scotland by public transport, mainly using trains (including a historical steam train) but also involving a short ferry ride and a leisurely steamer boat trip.

It takes you beyond the end of the train lines, through the careful addition of short taxi transfers. We recommend that you explore further on foot or by public transport in each local area. The accommodation chosen takes you a little off the beaten tourist track, so that you will have a more authentic experience. In each place, there are plentiful local walks, and some short trips available by local bus - we will provide suggestions and recommendations in your vacation pack, but do check the most up-to-date information with the staff at your hotel.

We actively encourage our customers to try local produce – and provide recommendations for the best places to visit to do this. The accommodation providers we have selected for this trip share this commitment, and many are in fact restaurants with rooms, showing their clear dedication to using local produce. Many have kitchen gardens growing their own herbs, salad and vegetables, and some even have chickens roaming in the grounds to provide eggs for breakfast.

We predominantly market our vacations via the internet. We produce a small quantity of compact brochures each year for past customers and inquirers. If we do have any left over, we ensure these are recycled.

People

For us, true sustainability means promoting and helping to maintain a way of life in remote, often rural locations, where the economic benefit from tourism can make a genuine difference. That’s why we work almost exclusively with local, family-run businesses, not with large corporate organisations.

On this trip, guests will stay in a historical hotel in York, whose restaurant places major focus on local Yorkshire produce. Guests are also given a pass which encourages them to explore many of the local museums and galleries.

We build close and lasting relationships with our business partners, based on mutual trust and an unerring commitment to customer satisfaction. On this trip we have included a number of private guided tours, all of which are led by local guides that we have handpicked due to their knowledge and dedication to their community. Within one of these tours we include lunch in a traditional local pub, so our customers really get a flavour of the area.

We directly employ a small team of local people in Glasgow. We offer part-time and flexible working. We ensure staff undertake at least two recce visits in a year so that they have first-hand experience and knowledge of our products throughout Scotland, England and Ireland. All staff share our values of environmental and sustainable responsibility.

We are corporate members of the John Muir Trust, an organisation committed to protecting the wild land of the Scottish highlands and islands.

We are members of AITO, the Association of Independent Tour Operators, and adhere to their strict code of conduct.