Of all the views and sights I’ve seen on my travels, there is nothing quite like the British countryside. Our own little island is one of the most stunning places in the world – and one of the best ways to see it is on the railways.
There are some amazing UK train journeys you can take that’ll give you the most comfortable views of misty Scottish highlands, dramatic coastlines where waves crash just metres from the tracks, and so much more… all with a very British cup of tea in hand (or maybe some bubbles).
UK rail is becoming an increasingly popular travel attraction, with over a million people hopping on board every year. The fact it’s a very sustainable travel option makes it all the more appealing.
If you want to see the UK in all its glory, here are my favourite UK train journeys.
1. The Jacobite Steam Train (Fort William to Mallaig)
OK, let’s start with what I call the Harry Potter one (after all, Harry Potter is perhaps our most treasured asset). The Glenfinnan Viaduct is just as spectacular in real life as it looks in the films – maybe even better when you’re actually chugging across it in a steam train.
I took this journey last autumn and spent the entire time torn between taking photos and just… experiencing it. The 84-mile round trip takes you past Ben Nevis, alongside lochs, and gives you glimpses of the Small Isles (Rum, Eigg, and Muck). The landscape is truly dramatic, all misty mountains and moody skies.
Booking tip: If you’re on a budget, you can take the regular ScotRail service instead of the steam train. It’s the same track and therefore the same views, for about half the price (about £36 return versus £72). However, for me the steam experience is absolutely worth the extra cost.
If you’re planning to go in summer then book weeks in advance – it sells out faster than Edinburgh Fringe tickets. Autumn is my favourite time though.
2. Settle to Carlisle Line
This journey through Yorkshire and Cumbria is a slow-burner. For the first half hour, you wonder what the fuss is about. Then you hit the Yorkshire Dales and the views from here are stunning.
The Ribblehead Viaduct is a highlight, 24 massive stone arches stretching across Batty Moss. Doesn’t really matter what the weather is like grey, drizzly days make it even more atmospheric. All moody skies and dramatic shadows.
Apparently, they nearly demolished this line in the 1980s, which would’ve been an absolute crime. The 72-mile route takes you through some of the most stunning bits of northern England, including the Dales and North Pennines.
Booking tip: Sit on the left going north for the best views and break your journey at Ribblehead, if you have time, the photos from ground level are just as impressive. You can find some good deals splitting your ticket through Trainline too.
3. Kyle of Lochalsh Line
This was the trip that converted my husband to train travel. He’s usually a “let’s drive so we can stop whenever” person, but even he was impressed by this Highland route.
The journey from Inverness to Kyle takes about 2.5 hours, and it’s like watching Scotland’s greatest hits compilation through your window. You start with gentle farmland, then suddenly you’re alongside lochs, passing forests and mountains.
We spotted three deer relaxing by the tracks near Loch Carron – it was beautiful. And the section where the train hugs the shoreline of Loch Carron is genuinely stunning – water on one side, mountains on the other.
Booking tip: Try to sit on the left side heading west for the best views. We got a Family & Friends Railcard which saved us a third off tickets – worth looking into if you travel with others occasionally.
4. The Far North Line
This one’s for when you really want to feel like you’re at the edge of the world. The 4-hour journey from Inverness to Thurso is Britain’s northernmost railway line, and parts of it are properly remote.
When you get past Dingwall it feels so empty and remote. Miles of moorland, glimpses of the North Sea, and the weird, boggy expanse of the Flow Country. You would expect it to be bleak, but it’s oddly beautiful.
Booking tip: If you’re heading to Orkney, this train connects with the ferry at Thurso. Book the whole journey through ScotRail for the best deals, and definitely book ahead in summer (or go another time of year) – it fills up with tourists heading to the islands.
5. Cambrian Coast Line (Wales)
The colours on this journey are incredible! When the sun’s out, the blues and greens along this Welsh coastal route are almost tropical-looking. Almost.
The 120-mile route from Machynlleth to Pwllheli takes you through Snowdonia National Park with mountains on one side and gorgeous beaches on the other. The bit where you cross the Barmouth estuary on a wooden viaduct is just lovely. We’ve watched trains go across this viaduct many times while sitting in Barmouth so when I finally got to go across on the train it was a special moment.
I took my mum on this one for her birthday and she couldn’t stop talking about how it was “just like those fancy Swiss train journeys” – except it was a quarter of the price!
Booking tip: Transport for Wales runs these trains, and they’ve got good advance fares if you book a few weeks ahead. Some of the stations are request stops, so make sure you tell the conductor where you want to get off.
6. Heart of Wales Line
This might be my favourite hidden gem. The Heart of Wales line is this meandering 4-hour journey that feels like travelling through a forgotten bit of Britain.
It’s not as dramatic as Scotland or as pretty as Cornwall, but there’s something quietly lovely about the rolling hills and little market towns it passes through. The train itself is usually just a couple of carriages, and it stops at these tiny stations that are basically just a platform and a shelter.
Booking tip: Trains only run 4-5 times a day, so check the timetable carefully. The Sunday service is particularly limited. It’s a great value journey though -the scenery-to-ticket-price ratio is excellent!
7. St Ives Bay Line (Cornwall)
Sometimes the shortest journeys are the sweetest. This tiny branch line from St Erth to St Ives is only about 10 minutes, but what a 10 minutes!
It hugs the coast of St Ives Bay, with views across golden beaches and turquoise water (yes, actually turquoise on sunny days – I couldn’t believe it was still the UK). I ended up doing the journey twice because I was too busy staring out the window the first time and missed my stop.
Obviously it’s always rammed in summer with the many people visiting Cornwall. You may find yourself squashed against the window with someone’s backpack in your face. It’ll still be worth it for those views, but I recommend you go perhaps mid September when it’s a little bit quieter.
Booking tip: No need for advance booking on this one – just get a day return when you arrive at St Erth. First train of the day is usually quietest if you’re visiting in summer.
8. Riviera Line (Devon)
Devon’s south coast is absolutely gorgeous, and this train line gives you front-row seats. The hour-long journey from Exeter to Plymouth includes the famous stretch along the Dawlish Sea Wall where the tracks run right alongside the beach.
If you take this train when the weather is a bit stormy be prepared for waves splashing up against the train windows! A bit scary, but exhilarating. The red sandstone cliffs against the blue sea make for a pretty dramatic contrast too.
Booking tip: Sit on the right-hand side heading towards Plymouth for the sea views. This route can be affected by storms in winter (the sea literally washed away part of the track in 2014), so check before travelling if the weather’s rough.
9. North Yorkshire Moors Railway
Bit of a different one, as this is a heritage railway rather than a regular service, which means a slightly higher ticket price. But it’s absolutely worth every penny for the 18-mile journey from Pickering to Whitby through the North York Moors.
Visit in late August when the heather is in full purple bloom across the moors, and it is one of the most beautiful landscapes in Britain. The old steam train chugging through it just adds to the whole experience.
The stations along the route are gorgeously preserved too, Goathland (which was Hogsmeade in the first Harry Potter film!) looks like it’s frozen in the 1930s.
Booking tip: Unlike regular trains, you need to book specific departure times on the NYMR website. Tickets are about £41 return for adults, but it’s as much an experience as it is transportation.
10. Cumbrian Coast Line
Nobody really talks about the Cumbrian Coast Line, but the 85-mile route from Carlisle to Barrow-in-Furness has some incredible views.
It basically runs along the edge of the Lake District, with the fells on one side and the Irish Sea on the other. There are some industrial bits around Workington and Barrow, but the stretches along the Solway Firth and past Ravenglass are genuinely beautiful.
Booking tip: Services can be limited, especially on Sundays, so check the timetable carefully. Northern runs these trains, and they’ve usually got good advance fares. Pro move: combine it with the Settle-Carlisle line for an epic circular journey through the North.
Make It Happen!
So there you have it, the UK’s most beautiful train journeys. Some are famous, some deserve to be more famous, and all are worth the ticket price for the views alone.
Few practical bits: Get yourself a railcard if you’re eligible (16-25, 26-30, Senior, Two Together, etc.) – they’re about £30 for a year and save you a third on most tickets. Apps like Trainline or the individual train companies’ own apps usually have the best fares.
And don’t be afraid to ask the guards or other passengers about what you’re seeing. You can sometimes find out interesting nuggets of information and spot otherwise hidden sights.