From scenic circuits of Wales and Scotland to a ‘ferry sleeper’ to Sicily, our tipsters sit back and soak up the views
Tell us about a foodie experience in Europe – the best tip wins a £200 holiday voucher
Starting from the border town of Shrewsbury, a spectacular multiday circuit of north Wales is possible: take the Cambrian Coast line through Aberystwyth, Barmouth, Porthmadog, then the gorgeous Ffestiniog Railway to Blaenau, where you can link back to Llandudno on the coast, and return to Shrewsbury (change at Llandudno Junction). There’s no shortage of accommodation, allowing you to stop and explore without rigid planning. The Cambrian coast and the seaside towns are a largely unexplored jewel outside summer.
Dave Thomas
From Cluj we travelled through the snow-capped Carpathian mountains, stopping off to admire the historic Transylvanian cities of Sibiu and Brașov, before arriving at Bucharest’s chaotic Gara de Nord. The last leg of our journey took us eastwards to Constanța on the Black Sea. We arrived the day its stunning art nouveau casino was reopened after being rescued from dereliction. Romanian trains may not be the most luxurious or speedy, but with most of our journeys costing from £10 to £20 in first class, they are certainly value for money. Charmingly, at each station our train was greeted by a besuited stationmaster/mistress waving a flag to signal the train’s departure.
