As anyone who is a fan of steam railways will tell you, there is nothing quite like chugging along in a carriage pulled by an authentic steam engine.
Of course the days of steam engines are largely all but gone. But here and there you can still enjoy a taste of the old days, and we’ve got that very experience available for anyone visiting the Cotswolds.
The Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway has been going for twenty five years, and it makes a grand day out if you are coming to stay in the Cotswolds for a weekend or more. The Festival of Steam takes place over the second May Bank Holiday weekend, and it is traditionally a great day out regardless of whether you are an ardent steam fan or not!
It certainly provides you with a different way to see part of the countryside that the Cotswolds is famous for. There are just three stations that the trains visit, so you are better off going to one of the ends of the line and taking a return trip to the other end. Toddington is at the north end of the line, and it travels through Winchcombe before finishing up at Cheltenham.
Of course we have plenty of holiday cottages dotted around these areas. So wherever you decide to stay you shouldn’t be too far away from either of the terminuses. And it is quite easy to park there too, so you can drive there without worrying about where you can leave the car while you are enjoying your steam journey!
This year has also been rather a special year for the railway. This is because the Festival of Steam has a very special guest for the duration of the Festival itself. If you have seen the Harry Potter films then you will know that the train which takes all the pupils to Hogwarts is a steam train. And it is that very steam engine which is part of the Festival this year. It may not take its passengers to the same places that it takes Harry and his friends, but there is no doubt it is still the highlight of the event.
It may be too late to visit in time for the 2009 Festival of Steam, but there is no reason why you can’t plan ahead and be here in time for next year’s event. And even though you will miss the Hogwart’s Express itself, you can still enjoy a ride on the steam trains during much of the rest of the year.
The trains don’t run every single day, and they don’t operate at all during January or February. The only exception is on New Year’s Day. The times of operation can also vary depending on the month and day that you are visiting. Your best bet is to check in advance of travelling to see when they are up and running.
There is no doubt that you will enjoy a ride on one of their steam trains though, so don’t miss out.