- These scenic routes take you past iconic U.K. sights like the Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland and St. Ives Bay in Cornwall.
- Many trains pass through iconic national parks like the Peak District in Northern England and Snowdonia in Wales.
- Coastal routes in Scotland and Northern Ireland offer the opportunity for fantastic seaside vistas.
“I have seldom heard a train go by and not wished I was on it,” said Paul Theroux in the opening line of his 1975 travel classic “The Great Railway Bazaar.” I often feel the same way, though Theroux was about to embark on an epic 25,000-mile journey from London to the Far East and back.
But as monumental as his voyage sounds, journeys around the U.K. can also give me the same sense of awe and wanderlust as those in far-flung corners of the globe. From sea-sprayed coastal lines in Cornwall to cinematic mountain jaunts through the mist-strewn Scottish Highlands, the U.K.’s rail network offers a wealth of sublime scenery.
Here are some of my favorite train routes through the U.K.
Settle to Carlisle
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Crossing the wide-screen valleys and viaducts of the rural Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines, the Settle-to-Carlisle line provides a gorgeous 73-mile journey through the heart of northern England. Opened for passengers in 1876, the 104-foot-high Ribblehead Viaduct is a spectacular highlight of the ride, which clocks in under two hours.
Curiously, though, this iconic line perhaps should have never been constructed in the first place. Not only did it cost a fortune to build, but there were already two good existing east and west coast lines. Also, it required extraordinary 19th-century engineering to pass through some forbidding scenery with relatively few potential paying passengers. Victorian hubris won out in the end, and we all enjoy the fruits of their labor today.
Glasgow to Mallaig
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At more than five hours, this famous Scottish trip on the West Highland Line is one to savor. Easing out of Glasgow Central station, the Glasgow-to-Mallaig line follows the mighty River Clyde before darting into the wild glens of Loch Lomond.
Its serpentine journey up to Scotland’s west coast is laced with heather-strewn hillsides and crystalline lakes, which ordinarily would be enough to satiate most romantic travelers. But toward the end of the trip is the final flourish—crossing the spectacular Glenfinnan Viaduct. The 21-arch viaduct was completed in 1901, and is most recognizable as part of the Hogwarts Express route featured in four Harry Potter films.
Manchester to Sheffield
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Manchester and Sheffield are both fine cities in their own right, but this journey is all about what lies in between. The Hope Valley Line was completed in 1894 and passes through some of the prettiest landscapes of the Peak District, one of the best national parks in the U.K. The trains used here aren’t big—sometimes only two carriages—but the gentle trundle through sweeping valleys and chocolate-box villages is what captures the heart.
And if you’re into hiking, the tiny village of Edale is particularly prominent. Not only are there some serious hills to tackle, like Mam Tor and Kinder Scout, but this also marks the starting point of the Pennine Way—Britain’s oldest long-distance walking trail.
Lancaster to Carlisle
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The Lake District is one of the U.K.’s most popular and scenic areas, but its outer fringes are less traveled. The West Coast Main Line shoots up to Carlisle from Lancaster in under an hour, but the Cumbrian Coast Line, turning left at Carnforth, slow dances around the wind-blasted shores of Cumbria.
The mist-shrouded peaks of the Lake District always seem to be in distant view, but it’s the stark scenes looking out to the Irish Sea’s crashing waves that are most compelling. Yes, it’s almost three hours longer than the Main Line, but the sea-hugging sections on either side of St. Bees Head make this worth every moment.
Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog
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The Ffestiniog Railway in Wales’ stunning Snowdonia National Park is the oldest independent railway company in the world, established in 1832. There are two lovely heritage lines available here, but it’s the journey from Porthmadog up to Blaenau Ffestiniog that I love.
If, like me, you have a fascination with steam trains, stepping aboard the smoldering engine next to Porthmadog’s estuary is a thrill even before departure. Hauled by maroon Double Fairlie locomotives, this route twists and spirals up through craggy mountainsides and quiet woodlands before finishing at the old slate mining town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, where the views are splendid.
St. Erth to St. Ives
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The 4.25-mile St. Ives Bay Line in Cornwall is as pretty as it is succinct. Taking a mere 10 minutes from its start at St. Erth to the popular seaside town of St. Ives, this short journey is a charming embodiment of British summertime escapes.
Twinkling turquoise water comes into view at the Hayle Estuary, but the brief majesty of this route really becomes apparent once you pull out into St. Ives Bay and see the golden arc of Porthkidney Sands. Look for gray seals bobbing and gannets swooping as the train ambles through quaint Carbis Bay and eventually to St. Ives.
Coleraine to Derry
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This Northern Ireland line begins in Belfast, but it’s the 40-minute run from Coleraine to Derry that you’ll want to experience. It follows the River Bann up toward the coast, where the sweep of sea appears after Castlerock and the quiet sands of Downhill Beach are rolled on by soapy breaking waves.
The train then swings back into gentle countryside, and the view from the left-side windows is dominated by the imposing Binevenagh, a steep 1,263-foot-high hill. Look out for hang gliders and paragliders launching off its summit. Eventually, the River Foyle directs the line to its final calling point of Derry.
Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh
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The Isle of Skye is spectacular enough as it is, but this three-hour journey toward its eastern entrance point from Inverness is a grandiose hors d’oeuvre. Pulling out along the expanse of Beauly Firth’s southern flank, the winding line then dances around several lochs on its way into the Highlands.
Keep an eye out on the right side of the carriage for the Torridon Hills, a sandstone range of some of Britain’s most dramatic mountain scenes. The ride finishes in Kyle of Lochalsh, but if you’re heading over to Skye, be prepared for more glorious views.
