Rail Ale Trail

The Rail Ale Trails are guided tours focusing on the region’s history with stories and anecdotes that bring added colour and insights into the destinations and hospitality venues located along the 12-mile route of the East Lancashire Railway. Every tour includes a steam train ride and an expert led Blue/Green Badge guided tour visiting a handful of pubs along the way.

Each tour includes a full line return ticket, pub lunch and one complimentary bottle of ale unless otherwise stated.

Tours include a bottle of ale which is issued at the start of the journey unless otherwise stated, and one half pint at one of the pubs along the route.

Any additional alcohol must be purchased by the tour-goer themselves.

The tours start at Bury Bolton Street Station, from there you will take a steam train along the route of the East Lancashire Railway. This route may vary dependant on the timetable or if stated any differently in the tour description. On the train ride you will hear stories about the local area told in a fun and enlightening way by the professional tour guide.

When alighting along the route, you will have chance to visit a number of recommended pubs or bars. The tour guide will continue to talk you through the history of the area and its brewing industry along the way.

After the tour you will return to Bury via one of the ELR heritage trains.

Unless otherwise stated the tours start promptly at 10:30am outside The Trackside pub, Platform 2, Bury Bolton Street Station. We ask that guests arrive ideally 10-15 minutes before the start time. Each tour lasts approximately 6.5 hours and finishes back at The Trackside (alighting on the last train of the day at 17.01 unless otherwise stated).

This depends on the railway timetable and nature of the tour advertised, generally the tour guide will allow enough time for everyone to comfortably enjoy half a pint in each venue.

Individuals, couples and small groups all frequent our Rail Ale Tours. The tours are intended to provide a quirky and informative mix of local history and storytelling, with opportunities to also enjoy a beer or two along the way.

Under 18s are not permitted on the Rail Ale Trails. Dogs are not allowed on the guided tours.

Our guided tours are structured day trips and feature scheduled stops with commentary along the way. The guided tour includes a full line return ticket. While guests are advised to stick with the guide and their group for the day – and will need to do so if they want to enjoy the lunch included – you are free to deviate from the chosen route if you prefer to do so (however you will need to keep hold of proof of purchase so that you are not charged any separate train fares on the day).

Each tour includes a food stop in the ticket price – this will either be a pub lunch or a combination of pizza and pie served for guests at a couple of stops along the route. You ‘re also welcome to purchase additional snacks yourself if you wish.

Unless otherwise stated each tour costs £59.50 per person.

Yes, pre-booking is essential.

You are welcome to increase the size of your booking provided there is availability.

All tours require some walking, which is fairly easy-going but bear in mind that Ramsbottom in particular has one or two steep hills.  Usually there is no more than 10-minutes’ walk between the station and each pub stop. The tour guides will be happy to make arrangements if you feel like you may struggle, as long as they know in advance.

We welcome all group bookings and can offer private tours for corporate and private groups, please contact us at customer.services@eastlancsrailway.co.uk or by calling 0333 320 2830. There is no group discount available for Rail Ale Tour bookings.

The maximum number of attendees on a Rail Ale Trail is 25. This is to ensure that the tour guide can give everyone a complete experience (and that everyone can fit in the pub).

Stag and Hen parties are not permitted on the Rail Ale Trail.

The East Lancashire Railway is a 12-mile route in total.  From Bury Bolton Street Station by train, Heywood is 15 minutes, Rawtenstall is 30 minutes, Ramsbottom is 15 minutes, and Summerseat is approximately 8 minutes.

The tours have been planned so that at least part of the journey on any tour will be made by steam train – subject to availability.