Have a memorable holiday in Cornwall in a beautiful railway carriage converted into quality self catering accommodation.
We offer wonderful, unique and unusual places to stay close to working rail stations and 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.
Why have another week in just another holiday cottage when you could stay somewhere truly different?
....."You stayed in a railway carriage? - Oh what fun!"
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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! | ||
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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 one of those perfect places to stay in Cornwall 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.
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Railholiday is commited to being a sustainable tourism business. As part of this we offer a £25 cashback for guests arriving by train. Our carriages in St Germans have the added benefit of free broadband internet access.
 The house, park and gardens are open from March 1st until late June each year including the famous Round Room, pictured above, which boasts a 40ft mural by Robert Lenkiewicz. Port Eliot also houses several masterpieces by Sir Joshua Reynolds, including one if his important early works, Group Portait of the Eliot Family, painted in 1746. Works of art by Romney, Ramsey, Van Dyck and many of the Dutch Old Masters can also be seen as well as interesting pieces of museum quality furniture, including an early Boule armoire. The Round Room at Port Eliot in St Germans features a 40ft mural by Robert Lenkiewicz. Covering the entire wall of the round room. The mural is in two halves, one side depicting death, destruction, insanity, unrequited love, and the apocalyptic end of the world, whilst the other reflects love, affection, friendship, harmony, proportion and consensus. Lenkiewicz called this work "The Riddle Mural" as concealed within the picture are various references to family skeletons, art history and cabalistic mysteries. Port Eliot also houses several masterpieces by Sir Joshua Reynolds, including one if his important early works, Group Portait of the Eliot Family, painted in 1746. Works of art by Romney, Ramsey, Van Dyck and many of the Dutch Old Masters can also be seen as well as interesting pieces of museum quality furniture, including an early Boule armoire.   |
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| SITE MAP - left click on the underlined Section or Sub Page to go to that page | ||
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| 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.
"Wurlitza - the band for your wedding or function in Cornwall, Plymouth, Devon and SW England. Wurlitza perform an ecclectic mix of originals and covers ideal for weddings and functions. The band also play live music soundtracks to silent films."