SNOWDON

Half train ride, half mountaineering — a spectacular rack-and-pinion haul up Wales’s highest mountain. Pricey but thrilling. 0871 720 0033, snowdonrailway.co.uk ; £23/£16 (or £16/£13 if you walk back down)

KIRKLEES

Designed with kids in mind: small trains, a 50-minute return trip, neat, train-themed playgrounds at either end, picnic areas, a bouncy castle in season and a tiny sit-upon train for quick trips round the pond. 01484 865727, kirkleeslightrailway.com ; £6.50/£4.50

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It’s the essence of summer: a good pint in the beautiful gardens of a smashing little pub. Here are our favourites

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PAIGNTON AND DARTMOUTH

Twice the fun: from Dartmouth, take the ferry over the river to Kingswear, then the train over the hills to Paignton. The clifftop views over Torbay are terrific. 01803 553760, pdsr.co.uk; combined ticket £11/£6.50

SEVERN VALLEY

Older children will appreciate the splendid engine collection and the full-size, 16-mile steam run. All ages will love the 1940s weekends, nostalgia fests with Home Guard platoons, wailing sirens and vintage outfits — so authentic, they even put spivs on the trains. 01299 403816, svr.co.uk ; returns £17/£9, 1940s days £20/£10

RAVENGLASS AND ESKDALE

Pint-sized puffers pull the seven miles from the coast to Boot. Adults get the stunning scenery, children get the fun of the hissing mini-engines, as well as Roman history days and Peter Rabbit and Postman Pat specials. 01229 717171, ravenglass-railway.co.uk ; £10.80/£5.40

BLUEBELL RAILWAY

Lovingly preserved, wonderfully atmospheric and family-friendly (with two clubs for kids). Dinner (book ahead) amid the plush and panels of the Pullman car is an absolute treat. 01825 720800, bluebell-railway.co.uk ; £12/£6

Here's Thomas...

For under-fives, only one engine counts. For heritage railways that hold Thomas the Tank Engine days, visit thomasandfriends.com .

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