Wales
Autumn Journey

The train departs London Victoria on a Monday afternoon, and the Welsh escape begins almost immediately. There is time to settle properly into your suite before a Welsh Afternoon Tea arrives, and the combination of good food and the countryside scrolling past the window establishes the rhythm of the journey rather nicely. The train travels west via Bristol and crosses the Severn Estuary into Wales, the change in landscape noticeable almost at once.

The route follows the south coast through Cardiff and Swansea before heading into Carmarthenshire, a county known to the Welsh as the Garden of Wales, and on into Pembrokeshire, where dramatic coastlines, ancient castles and some of the finest sandy beaches in Britain make for a compelling introduction to the country. A treatment in the Wellness Suite is available for those who want to make the most of the afternoon.

As evening falls, the bar provides the setting for signature cocktails before dinner in the restaurant car. The menu is Simon Rogan and Head Chef Alexander Wyn Lewis at their best: seasonal, farm-to-fork cooking that takes its ingredients seriously and produces results that make the miles feel irrelevant. After entertainment on board, the train settles overnight.

Morning light over the Pembrokeshire coast is a good reason to be awake early. After a leisurely breakfast, the train pauses at Llandrindod Wells and the day heads outdoors. A guided hike through the peaceful valleys of the Welsh heartland is on offer for those who want to stretch their legs in proper hill country, and the autumn colours in these valleys are worth making the effort for.

The alternative is Farmers' Welsh Lavender, where a swim in the pond, time in the sauna or an hour by the log fire provide a rather more restorative way to spend the morning. Lunch is served back on board before the Heart of Wales Line takes over as the afternoon's guide. This undervisited stretch of railway winds through the rural uplands of Carmarthenshire and Powys, and the scenery becomes steadily more dramatic as the train heads north into Eryri National Park. Known to the rest of the world as Snowdonia, this is Wales at its most magnificent: soaring peaks, deep valleys and waterfalls at every turn.

A seven-course gastronomic dinner is served in the evening, a proper occasion that does justice to the landscape outside. The train stables overnight near the historic town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, deep in the mountains of north Wales.

The train travels north in the morning to the seaside town of Llandudno, and breakfast is served as the north Wales coast comes into view. At Llandudno Junction, the train pauses for a choice of excursions in the Conwy Valley. Those who want to be outside can join a scenic guided hike through some of the finest walking country in Wales. Those who prefer their morning indoors can head to Bodnant Welsh Food, a celebrated cookery school set on the Bodnant Estate, for a Welsh cake and jam-making workshop that is as enjoyable as it sounds.

Lunch is served on board as the train begins the long journey south through Mid Wales and Montgomeryshire, passing through Welshpool and crossing into Shropshire. The afternoon is a good time to make use of the Wellness Suite or simply watch the landscape change as Wales gives way to the English Midlands and eventually the Cotswolds.

After dinner on board, the train arrives at Kingham and the evening takes a very enjoyable turn. The Fox at Oddington, a beautifully restored 16th-century pub, is the setting for a private party. Local ales, artisan liqueurs, classic English fare and the opportunity to pour your own pint make for a warm and convivial end to the last full day on board.

The last breakfast is served as the train moves through Oxfordshire and into the Chilterns. Three nights, four days, and Wales seen in autumn at its very best: the Pembrokeshire coast, the Heart of Wales Line, Snowdonia, the Conwy Valley and an evening at The Fox in Oddington. London Victoria arrives, as it always does on the last morning, rather sooner than anyone would like.

Itineraries and timings shown may be changed for seasonal or operational reasons. This journey departs on a Monday afternoon and concludes on a Thursday morning.