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Rail tour specialist Ffestiniog Travel has unveiled its 2024 Rail Holidays of the World brochure, featuring a selection of some of its most popular escorted rail tours alongside 15 new tour itineraries to celebrate 50 years in the business.

 General Manager Maria Cook comments; “We wanted to mark our special 50^th milestone with a mix of favourite rail tours, beloved by our regular travellers, and introduce new and interesting rail holiday routes to illustrate our ongoing expertise and our continued dedication to developing rail tours.”

With two railways celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2023 this is the year to visit the Isle of Man and indulge in its wonderful vintage transport heritage. The Isle of Man Steam Railway is 150 years old and the Manx Electric Railway celebrates its 130th birthday. Go behind the scenes of both and enjoy footplate rides and drive a tram on Ffestiniog Travel's 8-day Isle of Man Driving Experience tour. This pretty island is a hidden gem for steam travel and old-fashioned transportation and this tour includes them all with many hands-on extras and behind the scenes guided tours. A great way to explore this pretty island. Departing 11 September 2023, this tour costs from £1,810pp and includes hotel B&B accommodation, a Go Explore travel card, excursions, 3 dinners, 3 lunches and the services of a tour leader throughout.

Wales is well known for its daffodils, dragons, leeks and castles, but it also boasts some of the world's best heritage railways. So why not explore this scenic country onboard the 'Great Little Trains of Wales'? Rail tour specialist Ffestiniog Travel takes you on a 13-day escorted journey through stunning mountain, valley and coastal scenery. Ride the Welsh Highland Railway through Snowdonia National Park, the Ffestiniog Railway via dramatic UNESCO slate landscapes, reach the summit of Snowdon on the Snowdon Mountain Railway and travel south to Cardiff via the Talyllyn, Vale of Rheidol and Brecon Mountain Railways. En route you will visit some of Wales's finest cultural highlights including the Italianate village of Portmeirion, Powis, Caerphilly and Cardiff Castles, St Fagan's Museum and enjoy an aqueduct cruise. Departs 14 September 2023 and costs from £2,450pp.

The heart-warming, tragi-comedy Irish film, The Banshees of Inisherin, is enjoying major success during the current 2023 film awards season and looks set to make the Emerald Isle a popular destination this year. If you can't make it to the remote Aran Islands where the film is based why not see Ireland by rail with Ffestiniog Travel and get a full flavour of the famous Irish hospitality and culture. Explore Dublin, Galway, Limerick & Cork, take in the spectacular Galway coastline, enjoy nostalgic travel on the West Clare Steam Railway and wander along the wild cliffs and beaches of the Dingle Peninsula. This 10-day Far West of Ireland circular rail tour departs 22 June 2023 and costs from £1,995pp including all ferry, rail and road travel, B&B hotel accommodation, excursions and services of a tour leader.