STEAM ENGINES

Although England has lost many of its railways over the years, the country has long been ensconced in a love affair with steam and there are passionate volunteers still running heritage steam railways on the Great West Way.

Just outside Bristol is the Avon Valley Railway, where you can ride three miles of preserved track from the Victorian Bitton station through the valley, listening to the puff and whistle of the steam train. Reach Bitton by taking the Great Western Railway from Bristol to Keynsham and following the brown signs on foot for 1.5 miles.

Near Swindon you'll see the steam of the Swindon & Cricklade Railway rising above the Taw Valley. Ride the rails for more than two miles from Taw Valley Halt to Blunsdon on a heritage steam train. You'll need to take a bus to get there, the number 15 from the centre of Swindon stops at the Tawny Owl pub, close to Taw Valley Halt.