The Harz has become one of my favourite tours, and I have already had requests to repeat it in 2010.
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 Treff, is conveniently situated for access to the town and to the railway station. The hotel has become a favourite with our regular travellers.

Our itinerary includes travel throughout the narrow gauge system, including the ascent to the summit of the Brocken, the highest peak in northern Germany as perhaps the highlight. In addition to the normal steam operated service trains we hope to include a journey hauled by one of the Mallet locomotives with historic stock. For those who wish there is also an opportunity to visit the railway’s works, where the railway’s fleet of 25 steam locomotives is maintained.

We visit the town of Quedlinburg, a real gem, where much of the town

centre has been declared a world heritage site, and a special tour by a classic 1950s Saurer former Swiss Post bus allows us to visit

Blankenburg, plus the little town of Stolberg, which many of our group members over the years have described as the finest little town in the region.
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.


OUTLINE ITINERARY

Tuesday) Morning departure from London St Pancras by Eurostar to Brussels, and thence onward via Koeln (Cologne) to Wuppertal for our overnight stop. Time to enjoy an evening ride on the fascinating Schwebebahn, the overhead suspension railway, which largely follows the valley of the river Wupper.

Wednesday) We continue via Hannover to Wernigerode, arriving during the afternoon.

Thursday) For those who wish there is an opportunity to visit the narrow gauge railway system's works, where the fleet of 25 steam locomotives is maintained. We then join a steam service to Drei Annen Hohne, or you can continue on to the summit of the Brocken, returning as you wish using your narrow gauge rover ticket.

Friday) A day on the narrow gauge , exploring the line further southwards towards Nordhausen. The steep climb from Eisfelder Talmuhle on the return journey is possibly my favourite part of the whole network.

Saturday) We enjoy a special Mallet hauled train from Wernigerode to Eisfelder Talmuhle and then along the Selketalbahn to Quedlinburg with photographic opportunities en route.

Sunday) By main line DB service to Quedlinburg, a real gem, where much of the town centre has been declared a world heritage site. We then join a steam service on the rural Selketalbahn to Hasselfelde.

Monday) A 1950s classic Saurer Swiss Post bus will take us for a day tour via Elbingerode and Blankenburg to the picturesque little town of Stolberg, which many of our group members over the years have described as the finest little town in the region. En route will follow the route of the Ruebelandbahn, a standard gauge freight only line which features spectacular gradients - up to 1:16 in places!

Tuesday) Time for our homeward journey, via Hannover, Koeln and Brussels, returning to London at around 1900h.

The tour price is £925 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)

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 sitting quietly in the delightful town square.
I hope you will decide to join us. Deposit £200 per person to confirm your booking please.