Have a memorable holiday in Cornwall in a beautiful railway carriage converted into quality self catering accommodation. 3 wonderful places to stay close to working railway stations promise happy holidays with excellent public transport access and plenty of trains to watch.

We are a family company and strive to go that little bit further to make our guests holidays special. Our conversions are carried out to a high standard and with a great deal of effort to retain the character of the rolling stock.

	The St Ives Bay SK2 is a beautifully converted BR Mark 1 Corridor Coach adjacent to the platform at Hayle railway station on the coast of West Cornwall, UK, 5 miles from St Ives. A sympathetic conversion to self catering holiday accommodation means this carriage retains most of its original features. It is within easy walking distance of the golden sands of Hayle beach, Paradise Park and a wonderful array of Hayle restaurants. Public transport is good with both train and bus access easy. The carriage is divided into two holiday homes, each with its own kitchen, lounge/diner/bedroom, bathroom and bunkroom (the East End has an additional double bedroom). By booking both lets, it has the capacity to accommodate two families or larger groups of friends. On-site there are swings and the enclosed grounds around the carriage are spacious - plenty of room for den making as well as viewing the trains!
	The Travelling Post Office is located on a railway siding adjoining the platform at the village station of St Germans, in South East Cornwall. This historic TPO was in the train hauled by City of Truro on its famous 100mph run. The picturesque village of St Germans is in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the surounding estuary has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. For the rail fan, there are fine views of trains on the adjacent GWR Plymouth to Penzance main railway line. There is a good train service to Plymouth, Devon and west into Cornwall, making this an excellent base for enjoying day trips by train. Sleeping up to six, the Travelling Post Office is a perfect place to stay for families, friends and couples alike. With clerestory windows along the full length of the coach the feeling of light and space in this carriage is truly special.
	The Old Luggage Van is located on a delightful site at the western end of St Germans Station. The excellent train service from St Germans makes a trip to the Eden Project easy whilst the Bodmin and Wenford Steam Railway, Looe, Polperro and the beautiful beaches of Whitsand Bay are within easy reach. The Old Luggage Van has been featured on the BBC Breakfast News, and in several national newspapers and magazines. Cosy and charming, it is perfect for couples or smaller families. The Old Luggage Van was Railholiday's first venture, and it was the success and popularity of this holiday home that inspired us to convert further coaches into self catering accommodation with a difference.

Port Eliot house and grounds at St Germans are open to the public for the first time in 2008. Home to the Earl and Countess of St Germans, the house is one of the most magical and hidden stately homes in England. The Grade 1 listed house dates back as far as the 5th Century and was substantially altered by Sir John Soane at the turn of the 19th Century. The Eliots have lived at Port Eliot since the 16th Century and Peregrine St Germans is the 10th Earl of St Germans. From March 1st to June 8th the house, park and gardens will be open including the famous Round Room, pictured above, which boasts a 40ft mural by Robert Lenkiewicz.

...The St Ives Bay SK2 is featured on the Discovery channel Home and Leisure. The series of 5 programmes is called "Amazing Conversions" and is being frequently repeated. Railholiday has also been featured on BBC Breakfast News and in The Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Financial Times, Home Building and Renovating magazine and BBC Homes and Antiques. ...

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SITE MAP - left click on the underlined Section or Sub Page to go to that page
Section	Sub Pages	Details
Home Page		The Railholiday self catering holiday accommodation home page
St Ives Bay SK2		The St Ives Bay SK2 holiday carriage home page
	Hayle Area	Info on Hayle and West Cornwall, St Ives, Penzance, Newquay, Truro, Mousehole, St Michaels Mount, Lands End, The Lizard, Falmouth, St Mawes and the Lost Gardens of Heligan
	Gallery	Pictures of the St Ives Bay SK2, Hayle and West Cornwall
	Virtual Tour	Have a look around the SK2 by way of a series of photos
	Visitors Comments	Genuine extracts from the St Ives Bay SK2 visitors book
Travelling Post Office		The Travelling Post Office holiday let home page
	St Germans Area	Info on St Germans and South East Cornwall, Whitsand Bay, Looe, Millendreath, Polperro, Fowey, Mevagissey, and the Eden Project
	Gallery	Pictures of the Travelling Post Office, St Germans station and village
	Virtual tour	Have a look around the TPO by way of a series of photos
	History	Some history of GWR Travelling Post Office 841
The Old Luggage Van		The Old Luggage Van vacation carriage home page
	St Germans Area	Info on St Germans and South East Cornwall, Whitsand Bay, Looe, Millendreath, Polperro, Fowey, Mevagissey, and the Eden Project
	Gallery	Pictures of the Old Luggage Van, St Germans station and village
	Virtual Tour	Have a look around the Old Luggage Van with a series of photos
	Visitors Comments	Genuine extracts from the Old Luggage Van visitors book
	Walks from St Germans	Selection of walks centred on the village
Prices and Availability		This years prices and availability for all the holiday lets
	Next years prices	Next years prices and availability for all the holiday lets
Booking		How to book your railway carriage holiday accommodation. You can book over the phone by card or by post with a cheque.
	Booking Form	Use this if you are sending payment by post.
	Booking Conditions	The legal stuff
Things to do		Holiday planning ideas for making the most of your stay
	Rail and Heritage	Railways and trains (standard, narrow gauge & model railways), heritage & attractions to engage the technically minded (prehistoric sites, Cornish mines, the cornish mining world heritage site, china clay extraction, lighthouses etc.)
	Houses & Gardens	National Trust, English Heritage and private houses, country estates, gardens and castles open to the public
	Other attractions	Theme parks (Flambards, Creally) kids play areas, aquariums, animal attractions (Newquay and Paignton zoo, Paradise Park, National Seal Sanctuary etc.)
	Beaches and Outdoor Activities	The best beaches with info on facilities, access, family friendly, dog friendly plus walking, surfing, fishing, canoeing, golf, sailing, diving, karting etc.
	Day Trips by Train	Some possible itineries for days out by train in cornwall
	Fishing	Places to fish near our holiday carriages
	Walking	Places to walk near our holiday carriages
Getting Around		Public transport info; trains, buses, taxis, ferries etc.
News		Late availability deals, special offers, promotions and last minute discounts + Railholiday news and projects
Links		A massive resource with sections on; Cornish and south west railway, environmental, railway sites around the world, Fotopic and other rail photography sites, history and heritage, holiday and charter train, mail by rail, model railway, alternative places to stay including self-catering cottages, camp sites, caravan parks, bed & breakfast, guest houses, farmhouse b&b, hotels and holiday parks, preserved railways, railway search engines and groups.
Contact		How to contact Railholiday

See our news page for late availability deals, special offers, promotions and last minute discounts. If you want to visit cornwall but what we have to offer doesn't suit you or we are booked up, try the accommodation section of our links page for alternative places to stay including self-catering cottages, camp sites, caravan parks, bed & breakfast, guest houses, farmhouse b&b, hotels and holiday parks that we can recommend.