12 best scenic rail journeys in the UK

Looking for the best scenic train journeys in the UK for a day out or short break? From majestic highlands to windswept coastlines, sandy beaches and countryside villages, these 12 picturesque railway lines offer unforgettable experiences perfect for weekend getaways, short breaks and UK days out by rail.  These beautiful rail routes offer a range of adventures by train including opportunities for walking, cosy pubs, beach days, castles and culture.  Taking the train makes for greener and low stress travel and the starting points for these rail journeys are all easily accessible from mainline stations connecting them easily to London and other major UK cities.

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Recommendations for planning and booking tickets

I recommend planning your routes and booking tickets in advance using The Trainline.  The further in advance you can book the better the deals you can get on ticket prices.  However, you can also use The Trainline to book on the day which saves queues, ticket machines and paper tickets (although, if you like a paper ticket, you can still select an option to collect tickets at the station).

Not only can you book tickets for the scenic rail routes below, you can also book your train tickets from home and any onward travel.  All of the routes below are accessible from major mainline stations which mean that they are well connected across the UK.  

If you are travelling from outside of the UK and plan several days of rail travel on longer routes consider an InterRail pass.  InterRail passes are not just the realm of gap year students travelling continental Europe.  There is a UK InterRail pass which, at around £200 for between 3-5 days travel, could work out a lot cheaper than buying individual tickets, particularly at peak times.

For more hints and tips look at my further resources for travelling within the UK.

12 best scenic rail journeys in the UK 

There’s something soothing about the rhythmic swaying of a train – no airport queues, no traffic to navigate, just you, a window seat, and the views unfurling through some of Britain’s most scenic landscapes. This is about the joy of the journey. Here are 12 evocative railway lines that promise scenic days out and laid back short breaks.

It’s hard to beat this classic: a Victorian feat of engineering winding through limestone valleys, sheep-dotted hills, and iconic viaducts. Stop off at Ribblehead to marvel at the monumental viaduct or Settle, a charming town full of worn stone and stories. 

Highlights

• Cross the Ribblehead Viaduct – iconic Victorian engineering at its finest
• Visit Dent, England’s highest railway station, and enjoy scenic walks in Dentdale
• Explore Settle’s stone-built streets and the Dales Countryside Museum

Where to Stay

• Falcon Manor, Settle – boutique B&B with period charm
• Herriots Hotel – central to Skipton’s charms
• Appleby Manor Hotel – perfect base for exploring Appleby-in-Westmoreland

Nearest major stations:

Settle is a couple of stops from Leeds

Carlisle

Pair with

• A day out in Saltaire
• Day trips to experience Yorkshire’s cultural and industrial heritage

A wonderful ride through the Peak District and perfect for stopping off for pub lunches and hill walks.  Alight at Edale for a stomp up Mam Tor, or at Hathersage for a ramble through Brontë country. End the day in Manchester with rooftop cocktails.

Highlights

• Hike Mam Tor or the Great Ridge from Edale
• Explore the caverns and Blue John stone mines in Castleton
• Visit Eyam, the famous Plague Village, and lunch in Hathersage
• From Manchester take in a second National Park with a day trip to the Lake District with a Windermere Cruise

Where to Stay

• Old Hall Hotel, Hope – close to station with local charm
• George Hotel, Hathersage – character stay with Brontë heritage
• Bulls Head, Castleton – central hotel with beautiful garden

Nearest major stations:

Sheffield

Manchester

Pair with

• Day trips to experience Yorkshire’s cultural and industrial heritage

This route skirts along the East coast taking in ruined castles, cathedral spires and views of the glimmering North Sea. Pair York’s medieval charm with a twilight arrival in Edinburgh and perhaps a cheeky dram or two.

Highlights

• Walk the Shambles and York city walls or take a York: City Highlights Small Group Walking Tour
• Discover Newcastle’s vibrant Quayside and street art and take a Best of Newcastle Highlights Walking Tour
• Stop in Berwick-upon-Tweed for coastal charm
• Take a Edinburgh Castle Guided History Tour or take an Old Town History and Tales Walking Tour
• Edinburgh: The Scotch Whisky Experience Tour

Where to Stay

• Malmaison, York – central with rooftop city views
• Hilton Newcastle – riverside style in the old warehouse district
• The Scotsman Hotel, Edinburgh – heritage luxury in the city centre

Nearest major stations:

York

Edinburgh

Pair with

• A day out in York
• Day trips to experience Yorkshire’s cultural and industrial heritage

The English Riviera has an image of faded charm but it offers more than you might imagine for today’s travellers.  The railway line offers spectacular views of the Exe Estuary and kisses the sea between Dawlish and Teignmouth. Disembark at Torquay or Paignton and pick up boats and steam trains operated by the Dartmouth Steam Railway and Riverboat Company to enjoy the delights of the English Riviera in true style, including a visit to Greenway, holiday home to Agatha Christie.

Highlights

• Views of the Exe Estuary and coast at Dawlish and Teignmouth
• Discover Agatha Christie’s Greenway
• Torquay: The extraordinary life of Agatha Christie
• Visit Dartmouth

Where to Stay

• Mill on the Exe, Exeter – converted original mill house on the bank of the river
• Langstone Cliff Hotel, Dawlish Warren – magnificent views over the golden sands
• Redcliffe Hotel, Paignton – for spectacular sea views

Nearest major stations:

Exeter

Paignton/Newton Abbott/Totnes

Pair with

• My top 5 National Trust day trips to the homes of famous authors
• 10 best steam railway day trips in the UK

Tiny but mighty the St Ives Bay Line is 10 minutes of lush views over quaint seaside towns and glistening blue sea. St Ives is an artist's paradise.  Potter through galleries including the Tate St Ives, eat ice cream on the beach, and lose yourself in the tiny streets and independent shops.

Highlights

• Visit Tate St. Ives Gallery
• Barbara Hepworth Museum & Sculpture Garden
• Eat at fantastic restaurants
• Stroll the beaches and shops of artistic St Ives
• Take a Boat Trip to explore Cornwall’s north coast

Where to Stay

• St Ives Harbour Hotel – luxury rooms with panoramic sea views
• Carbis Bay and Spa Hotel, Carbis Bay – elegant hotel set in tropical gardens with direct access to the beach
• Tregenna Castle Resort, St Ives – ideal for longer stays

Nearest major stations:

Penzance

There's old-school charm at the seaside in Clacton – striped deckchairs, pier-end amusements, and the best fish and chips. Combine with a wander round Colchester’s Roman archaeology for contrast or a stop at Wivenhoe for estuary views.

Highlights

• Roman Colchester and Castle Park
• Quaint estuary village of Wivenhoe
• Clacton amusements, fish and chips, and sandy beaches

Where to Stay

• The Kingscliff Hotel, Clacton-on-Sea – beachfront comfort
• Greyfriars, Colchester – historic building near Colchester Castle
• The Black Buoy Inn, Wivenhoe – in the heart of the oldest part of the village a few steps from the waterfront

Nearest major stations:

Colchester

Pair with

• Visit a cold war secret nuclear bunker

Take time to slow down and enjoy the journey as you meander through the wetlands, windmills, and reeds of the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads.  This line feels like travelling through a nature documentary. End in Lowestoft with a crab sandwich overlooking the waves.

Highlights

• Browse Norwich’s lanes, cathedral and independent shops
• Watch the marshes and reedbeds of the Norfolk Broads roll by and stop off at Oulton Broad
• Enjoy a traditional  Skippered Sailing Experience on the Norfolk Broads
• Enjoy seaside classics in Great Yarmouth or Lowestoft
• Take a Seal Watching trip from Lowestoft

Where to Stay

• The Maids Head Hotel, Norwich – one of the oldest hotels in England and located in the Cathedral Quarter
• Hotel Ocean, Great Yarmouth, Great Yarmouth – direct beachfront access and stunning sea views
• Wherry Hotel, Lowestoft, Lowestoft – on the scenic banks of Oulton Broad and close to the station

Nearest major stations:

Norwich

Great Yarmouth

Lowestoft

This line transports you through the heart of Wales taking in mountains, past ruined abbeys and quiet estuaries before hugging the coast. Hop off for world heritage at Harlech Castle or linger in Aberdovey for salt in your hair and sand between your toes. Stop off in Barmouth to take a walk across the iconic Grade II listed wooden railway bridge and surrounding coast.

Highlights

• Wander medieval Shrewsbury’s Tudor lanes
• Stop off at Tywyn and take a trip on the Talyllyn Railway, a heritage, narrow gauge steam railway originally used to haul slate from the hillside quarries
• Discover Aberdovey’s sands and Harlech Castle’s heritage

Where to Stay

• Lion & Pheasant Hotel, Shrewsbury – in the historic centre in a 16^th century building
• Dovey Inn, Aberdovey – charming inn on the edge of the Dovey Estuary
• Royal Sportsman Hotel, Porthmadog, Porthmadog – for the heritage Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway

Nearest major stations:

Shrewsbury

Aberystwyth

Pair with

• North West Wales itinerary (coming soon)

Victorian charm meets Celtic coast. Sip tea in Llandudno’s seafront cafés, watch kitesurfers dance off Rhosneigr, and marvel as the train finally rolls into Holyhead, gateway to Anglesey and its amazing beaches.

Highlights

• Tour Chester’s ancient past on a Heart of Chester Walking Tour
• Ride the tramway up Great Orme in Llandudno
• Explore Anglesey from Llandudno on a Scenic Anglesey & Ancient Relics Private Tour
• Explore further afield on a day trip from Llandudno to Portmeirion, Snowdonia and surrounding castles

Where to Stay

• The Queen at Chester – the original railway hotel with stunning public areas
• Imperial Hotel, Llandudno – classic Victorian grandeur centrally located and on the promenade
• Victoria Hotel, Menai Bridge - panoramic views over the Menai Strait and Snowdonia

Nearest major stations:

Chester

Holyhead

The spectacular views roll past the train windows on this route  - sea cliffs, mossy ruins, and glimpses of Scotland in the distance.  Stop at Castlerock for windswept drama or Portstewart for cosy cafés and browsing independent shops.

Highlights

• Walk through Derry’s past with a Derry: Bloody Sunday and Bogside Murals Walking Tour
• Paddleboard near Portrush and dine on local seafood
• Visit the UNESCO-listed Giant’s Causeway (by bus from Portrush)

Where to Stay

• Waterfoot Hotel, Derry – chic and unique riverside retreat
• Causeway Hotel, Bushmills – hotel right by the entrance to the Giant’s Causeway
• Adelphi Hotel, Portrush – great location and style

Nearest major stations:

Derry

Coleraine

Belfast

Pair with

• A trip to the Giant’s Causeway - see my 6 top tips 
• My 5 day self-drive Northern Ireland itinerary

Arguably the most cinematic railway line of them all, this route travels through Scotland at its untamed best. Think views of lochs, glens, and stations where the only other soul might be a curious deer. Mallaig feels like the edge of the world.

Highlights

• Journey over Glenfinnan Viaduct – see options for doing this by traditional steam train
• Hike in Glencoe or ride the cable car near Ben Nevis
• Ferry from Mallaig to Skye
• Take a historical tour of Oban with a seafood lunch

Where to Stay

• The Perle Oban Hotel & Spa, Oban – an iconic, historic building on Oban's seafront
• The Lime Tree Hotel, Fort William – open log fire and views of Loch Linnhe
• Glenfinnan House Hotel, Glenfinnan – traditional Scottish hotel near the famous viaduct

Nearest major stations:

Glasgow

Oban

Take the train north from Inverness to Thurso and port of Wick, following the North Sea coast and taking in the heart of Scottish traditions including whiskey distilleries and salmon rivers.  The landscape is wild and remote passing through Flow Country (the world’s only peatland UNESCO World Heritage Site).  From Thurso take a short hop by bus to John O’Groats, the most northerly inhabited point on the mainland or extend your trip by taking a ferry to Orkney.

Highlights

• Forsinard – for the RSPB-run, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Forsinard Flows. The visitor centre is handily located in the station.
• Invergordon – for murals telling the stories of the local Highland communities.
• Dunrobin Castle station – impressive seat of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland. Show your train ticket to get discounted entry.
• Take a day trip to Orkney on this tour that meets the ferry from Scrabster (Thurso)

Where to Stay

• Inverness Palace Hotel & Spa, Inverness – classy spa stay on the banks of the river and opposite Inverness Castle
• Mackays Hotel, Wick, Wick – award winning service and fine food
• Station Hotel, Thurso – central, welcoming and friendly

Nearest major stations:

Inverness