Does anyone know about a train tour that might feature overnight stays in castles? I have heard that one might exist. If not, any suggestions on putting something together? We're open to suggestions as to Scotland, Ireland, Wales,etc.<BR><BR>Thanks for your help.

I have'nt heard of any rail and castle tour combinations.<BR>In the UK there are 4/5 day upmarket railtours from London to the Scottish Highlands, and the West Coast towns of Kyle of Lochalsh and Oban, but I think you sleep on the trains some nights, and in hotels some nights. The fares are fully inclusive of lodgings, meals and side trips.<BR>In Southern Spain there is a railtour from Seville through Andalusa, lasting a few days, again with a mix of on board and hotel sleeping. which I have heard is well recommended, but not been on it myself.<BR>I think you will struggle to get info. on line; if there is a Thomas Cook travel agent near you they are usually quite well informed on rail holidays.<BR>Alternatively there are two companies in the UK who may be able to help, and I think they have websites. Hertfordshire Rail Tours, and Festiniog Travel - they are both rail travel specialists.

I _think_ the Orient Express people do one. I have a friend who will know; I'll ask him

To Sheila and Tony: <BR> <BR>Thanks for your suggestions. I have been searching those and others. Have found several castle hotels to stay in and may just scrap the train idea.

traveling 1 adult /4 kids for month of august in ireland, wales, & circa london -- looking for castle lodgings -- any recommendations other than ruthin and brecon-- also one of my ancestors was the lord of the dolorous castle (not sure of spelling)of arthurian legend -- read something not long ago that said it still existed and was in good condiotion but cannot find it now-- i would speculate it should be near glastonbury or tintagel (cornwall) <BR>--apologies for piggybacking without adding information

Fodors <BR> <BR>The VSOE Orient Express trip from Paris to Istanbul offers you castles at Versailles, Schoenbrunn in Vienna, Buda, Peles in Transylvania, and Topkapi Sarray in Istanbul. Detail is on http://www.orient-expresstrains.com/...oe/index.html/. But since it costs 3,140 pounds I think it may not be what you're looking for. The Highlands and Andalusian ours are also expendive, and show you fewer castles. None of the tours are designed to see castles. <BR> <BR>The March issue of the Thomas Cook European Timetable lists nearly all train tours, but I've seen none designed around castles. I think Ireland has not enough trains to let you tour her fine castles by rail. So I think you should hold to your original idea, and see and stay at castles in Wales, Scotland, and to some extent England, touring between them by normal train. If you'll list me castle hotels that you lik the dsound of, I'll think of Britain's greatest castles, and design a rail tour to take you to as many as possible. Your trouble would be transfers. You'd either spend a fortune on taxis or wait ages for local busses. One way around this eould be o settle in some of you chosen castle hotels, and from those to make day trips without luggage to surrounding castles. <BR> <BR>Ben Haines, London <BR>

Greg, When you stay at Brecon Castle, you don't really stay in the castle, but at a hotel attached to the castle walls. It's a nice hotel, though. I think another might be Langley Castle up in Northumberland.