Home. Our Carriages Availability Things To Do Sustainability Kids Page Links About Us
Have a memorable self catering holiday in Cornwall with a difference staying in a beautifully restored and well appointed historic railway carriage. We have two carriages at St Germans and one in Hayle, with each carriage surrounded by its own enclosed and carefully landscaped garden. Both St Germans and Hayle are railway stations on the Great Western Railway line from London to Penzance and have a good train service including 4 direct London trains a day. We welcome dogs and families, and the area is excellent for many outdoor sports - from walking and golf to surfing and fishing. With so much to do in Cornwall and good public transport links we hope you'll agree that this is a Cornish holiday that is perfect for all. We are always open and offer short breaks - weekend and mid-week stays - all year round. You can also find us on

Holiday 
Cornwall this Spring

"No detail has been overlooked - the attention to everything we'd need was superb"

As a family company we strive to go that little bit further to make our holidays special, which is probably why so many of our guests return. Our conversions are carried out to a high standard and with a great deal of effort to retain the character of the carriages. All the fun of glamping, but with every comfort you'd wish for from a Cornish self-catering holiday; a unique holiday home - a wonderful place to stay. We pride ourselves on our green ethos and offer an environmentally friendly holiday that won't cost the earth.

Why have just another holiday cottage in Cornwall when you could have a unique holiday with a difference?
....."You stayed in a railway carriage? - Oh what fun!"....


Holiday in Cornwall

Click on the image of each carriage for more details.

Self catering holiday cottage in CornwallThe St Ives Bay SK2 carriage holiday home
Harvey (formerly known as The St Ives Bay SK2) is a beautifully converted 1950's Corridor Coach in the town of Hayle, West Cornwall, UK, 5 miles from St Ives. With most of its original features intact, this coach offers a real nostalgia trip back to the glory days of steam and is within easy walking distance of golden sands and fine restaurants and pubs. The carriage can be divided into two giving the option of accommodating two families or larger groups of friends, but, excluding the summer holiday, is only let to one party at a time. There are swings and a signal box playhouse, a cycle shelter, wildlife and butterfly gardens and spacious enclosed grounds.
Travelling Post Office railway carriage holiday homeThe Travelling Post Office railway carriage holiday home
The Travelling Post Office nestles beside the village station in picturesque St Germans, in SE Cornwall. Featured on the BBC's Great British Railway Journeys, this Victorian coach is a real gem; Clerestory windows along the full length of the coach offer a really special feeling of light and space, while retaining the cosiness of a wooden coach. There is a good train service to Plymouth, Devon and west into Cornwall, making this an excellent base for enjoying day trips, and for rail fans there are great views of the line. Children love the bunks with the tiny windows, and the enclosed garden is a mass of roses in the summer. The Travelling Post Office will sleep up to six.
The Old Luggage Van Railway carriage holiday home
The Old Luggage Van is located on a delightful site at the western end of St Germans Station. The Old Luggage Van has been featured on the BBC Breakfast News, and in several national newspapers and magazines. Quirky, cosy and charming, it nestles in a garden filled with spring bulbs and camellias and is perfect for couples or individuals. 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. In November 2011 The Old Luggage Van enjoyed a complete makeover, pictures of which can be seen on Facebook and it now has a double bedroom and woodburning stove. For more please visit our Old Luggage Van page.


All carriages provide easy access to the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site We are inspected by Quality in Cornwall Railholiday is accredited by the SE Cornwall Tourist Association for our efforts towards sustainable tourism We welcome walkers We welcome pets we care for the environment




Railholiday featured in the BBC's "Great British Railway Journeys" with Michael Portillo. Visit our Press page to read more about our features in local and national publications.

The Travelling Post Office is featured in epsiode 14 of the BBC's "Great British Railway Journeys" series. The St Ives Bay SK2 is featured on the Discovery Channel's "Amazing Conversions". This series of 5 programmes focused on the restoration of the carriage and is frequently repeated. Railholiday has also been featured on BBC Breakfast News and in The Guardian, The Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Financial Times, Home Building and Renovating magazine and BBC Homes and Antiques.
Visit our GREEN PAGE to find out how we're commited to helping the environment.
Railholiday is commited to being a sustainable tourism business. As part of this we offer £25 cashback for guests arriving by public transport. (£10 for holidays under £200)

Want to know how we're rated? Check out our reviews on Trip Advisor; The Old Luggage Van and The Travelling Post Office in St Germans, and Harvey in Hayle.









Find us by searching for Railholiday on Facebook for all the latest news and updates on our new projects. Why not become a fan, and be among the first to catch photos and progress reports - and you can do it from the comfort of your railway carriage! Our carriages in St Germans have the added benefit of free broadband internet access.

Three carriages

Holiday in Cornwall this January

The famous Round Room at Port Eliot, open in the spring every year
Fishing Holiday in South East Cornwall this Spring

Mount Edgcumbe, only 6 miles from The Old Luggage Van and The Travelling Post Office, 
is host to the National Camelia Collection.
The mild Cornish climate and Mount Edgcumbe's stunning location surrounded on three sides 
by water at the entrance to Plymouth Sound ensures that these beautiful and diverse shrubs 
are at their best from early February.
The extensive gardens can be reached by public transport from St Germans, 
are open all year and admission is free.

Discover Cornwall gardens - offering a pick up service from train stations in Cornwall.

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.


Contact Railholiday by email at office@railholiday.co.uk or by phone on (+44) 01503 230783. © Copyright 2013