The Harz has become one of my favourite tours, with its wonderful narrow gauge steam railways, plus medieval towns and villages and dramatic scenery. Our tour is based in Wernigerode, which has a superb, almost fairy tale medieval town hall overlooking the central square, and our hotel, the HKK, is conveniently situated for access to the town and to the railway station. The hotel has become a favourite with our regular travellers, not least because of the splendid selections of the buffet style dinners!

OUTLINE ITINERARY

Monday) Morning departure by Eurostar from London to Brussels, and thence onward via Cologne to our overnight stop at Wuppertal, with time for a trip on the famous overhead suspension railway, the Schwebebahn.

Tuesday) We continue to Hannover where we change for Wernigerode, arriving mid afternoon.

Wednesday) First we visit to the railway works at Wernigerode, where the fleet of 25 steam engines is maintained, before joining a train to the summit of the Brocken, the highest peak in northern Germany.

Thursday) By mainline train to Quedlinburg, a real gem, where much of the town centre has been declared a world heritage site, and then we enjoy the Selketalbahn, part of the narrow gauge system with a distinctly rural flavour, very different in character to the Brocken line.

Friday) A special tour by a classic 1950s Saurer former Swiss Post bus allows us to visit Blankenburg, plus the little town of Stolberg, which previous groups have described as the finest little town in the region.

Saturday) Various narrow gauge options this morning before we enjoy a steam run on the steeply graded freight only line to Rubeland. A fascinating railway, originally built as a rack line, with a ruling gradient of 1 in 17! A huge 2-10-2 tank locomotive has only recently been restored to operate these occasional passenger trains.

Sunday) A day to explore the narrow gauge system as you please using your rover ticket, perhaps venturing towards Nordhausen, or you could enjoy another trip up the Brocken. Alternatively you may wish to spend some time in Wernigerode and perhaps visit the castle with its dominant position overlooking the town.

Monday) After breakfast we set out on our homeward journey via Hannover,Cologne and Brussels, arriving in London early evening.

The tour price is £975 per person sharing twin / double room, with £125 single supplement if required. This includes all travel with the group from London, excursions as outlined, and seven nights hotel accommodation, the six nights at Wernigerode on a half board basis, whilst the night at Wuppertal is on a bed and breakfast basis. (Our regular haunt here is a restaurant adjacent to the Wohwinkel terminus of the Schwebebahn) Although I arrange an excursion each day, a rover ticket for the narrow gauge system allows a degree of flexibility to explore as you please.

If you have not visited the Harz before, I can thoroughly recommend a visit. It is wonderful just to wander along to the station early morning and see seven or eight locomotives in the shed yard being prepared for the day, and then to stand on the end balcony of a carriage as the locomotive storms its way up through forested hillsides to the top of the Brocken! End the day with a coffee (or something stronger!) sitting quietly in the delightful town square. Deposit £200 per person to confirm your booking please.