Scenic lines that are underrated

[clc]

Sections of the Carstairs and Bathgate lines are surprisingly enjoyable.

 

[XDM]

For once it is a delight to agree with every single posting,except perhaps Richmond to Stratford. But if the Poster had got off at Gunnesbury I would not have dissented. The truth is our railways are a wonderful way of seeing the immensely varied landscape. When driving I used even to enjoy the heavily populated areas around Birmingham. You could imagine how beautiful the streams,hills & valleys were before houses & industry came along. What an interesting subject this is.

 

[yorksrob]

The arun valley line between Pulborough and Ford has some very lovely scenary

What better than to sit on a leading end of a 377 with comfy seats and cool air conditioning while looking at quintessential English countryside ... just beautiful the way the track follows the river with glimpses of arundel castle and cathedral... wildfowl etc

a much needed green oasis in the built up south

yet because it is a commuter line it seems under appreciated

any others worthy of mention that are not obviously known?

Sitting on a leading end of a Phase 1 CIG with comfy seats and open ventilators while looking at quintessential English countryside ... just beautiful the way the track follows the river with glimpses of arundel castle and cathedral... wildfowl etc

I'd also like to add the Marshlink between Appledore and Doleham as you cross the Romney Marsh, and carrying on, the coastal stretch between Bo-Peep junction and Bexhill and the section between Polegate and Lewes where you get a lovely view of the South Downs.

 

[Trackman]

Blackburn - Colne

 

[yorksrob]

Copy Pit is quite nice in some places between Hebden and Burnley.

The whole of the Furness and Cumbrian coastis quite stunning but doesn't seem to get the crowds one would expect.

 

[al78]

There is a small section between Stockport and Manchester which I like, the mile just north of Stockport station, where the line goes over a high bridge and there are good views along the M60 towards the Pennines.

 

[Ash Bridge]

There is a small section between Stockport and Manchester which I like, the mile just north of Stockport station, where the line goes over a high bridge and there are good views along the M60 towards the Pennines.

That would be Stockport Viaduct, said by some to be the largest brick built structure in Europe.

 

[duesselmartin]

I love the Stranraer to Ayr line in Scotland. A little off the beaten track since it does not connect to the NI Ferries any more.

 

[43096]

Sections of the Carstairs and Bathgate lines are surprisingly enjoyable.

Agreed! I really like the re-opened section between Bathgate and Airdrie.

 

[rf_ioliver]

Any of the Valley lines in South Wales - if just for the juxtaposition of history and nature. Its a pity that the route north from Treherbert via the Rhondda Tunnel then down to Neath no longer exists - that would have been a journey!

The section along the banks of the Taff through the northern suburbs of Cardiff is particular nice,

t.

Ian

 

[Requeststop]

Grindleford to Edale. I covered this line for the first time in mid summer two years ago. I was very taken by the scenery. Really lovely I thought.

Like others, Bathampton to Westbury has some excellent views.

I also likes the view of the City of Ely approaching from Kings Lynn, and when I covered that line, the view of thousands of swans on the lakes, was spectacular. Well it was on the day I did the line.

 

[anti-pacer]

Blackburn - Colne

I used to do this journey daily when I was at school, although the above was my return leg.

Pacers were new then and whilst we also still had the old slam door DMU's, the screeching noise as the Pacer traversed the Accrington viaduct was something to behold.

The journey itself was... well... scenic to some I guess. The endless terraced houses of Nelson, Burnley and Accrington. Watching vehicles speed past on the M65 between Rose Grove and Hapton, the then power station before Huncoat, the sailing club just after Rishton. Do you know, sometimes all this made me look out of the window instead of frantically doing last night's homework!

Speaking of homework, I once did some on a Pacer on the way to school, and the teacher asked if I'd been drinking as the writing was everywhere. I explained that I'd done it on the train, and when I got home that afternoon my mum told me she'd had a call from school to make sure I did my homework at HOME. I noticed more landmarks on the journey after that!

One thing I do miss about that journey was how Pendle Hill changed at different locations.

 

[Galvanize]

Hertford Loop line, north of Gordon Hill where the built up houses finally gives way to rolling countryside!

 

[Calthrop]

I'll put in a word for Syston north of Leicester, to Peterborough. No breathtaking mountains or beetling crags -- but traversing much quietly pleasant, undulating East Midlands countryside, and passing through the lovely old town of Stamford; and, for variety, entering and running through flat Fenland country for the final section.

 

[Envoy]

Chepstow to Gloucester is scenic; Severn on one side and Forest of Dean to the north.

Llanelli to Carmarthen is also very pleasant. Starts off with views of the Gower peninsula and then you round the corner at St.Ishmael’s and start going up the Towy estuary with Llansteffan Castle on the other side.

 

[physics34]

The uckfield line would be smashing but it needs a hell of a lot of vegetation to be trimmed.

Around Eridge it would be "Picture postcard" stuff.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The Southport and Ormskirk branches of Merseyrail's Northern line are quite nice- rising out of the tunnel section to look over the rooftops of outer-central Liverpool with the very handsome tea and tobacco warehouses on the bank of the Mersey... then the suburban houses around Sandhills that always seem to me to be so full of life. On both lines there's then a few miles of slightly boring views (unless you're an enthusiast in which case there's either an active depot (Kirkdale) or the remains of a closed one). The Ormskirk line then takes you past the home of the Grand National and before long you're out in the countryside once you've passed Switch Island. The Southport line gives you sea views and plenty of greenery once you've got beyond Bootle and Crosby, and the golf courses always look inviting when the sun shines... plus, there's the chance of seeing either a red squirrel or a Merseyside-based celebrity!

 

[frodshamfella]

Cuddington to Chester is nice passing through Delamere Forest.

 

[BurtonM]

Happy to see people appreciating Stalybridge-Hud - it's a lovely place (except the tunnels). Agree also with the country end of Glossop line.
When I'm going to London on the WCML from Manchester I always try to get the trains via Wilmslow for the great view of Jodrell Bank.

 

[mike57]

Bridlington to Scarborough, Sea views leaving Bridlington, open views over the Wolds after Bempton, typical country views around Filey and Seamer, Olivers Mount as you wind into Scarborough. A lot of variation in a short distance.

York - Malton, specifically near Malton, where the railway follows the River Derwent, views of the ruins of Kirkham Abbey, and very little habitation in the steep sided wooded valley. You often see deer here, and the occasional buzzard.

 

[ge-gn]

Norwich to Lowestoft in low winter sun. Big skies, watery marshes, meadows, woodland, broads, wide open views. I never tire of ambling through this countryside letting the mind wander. Massively underrated because there's no hills.

 

[Doctor Fegg]

Ely to March when the Ouse Washes are flooded.

 

[paddy1]

Section of WCML between Roade and Rugby (via Weedon). Rolling hills, canals, villages and isolated dwellings consisting of honey coloured limestone cottages and houses etc..In some ways not to dissimilar to parts of The Cotswolds.

 

[Iskra]

Bridlington to Scarborough, Sea views leaving Bridlington, open views over the Wolds after Bempton, typical country views around Filey and Seamer, Olivers Mount as you wind into Scarborough. A lot of variation in a short distance.

York - Malton, specifically near Malton, where the railway follows the River Derwent, views of the ruins of Kirkham Abbey, and very little habitation in the steep sided wooded valley. You often see deer here, and the occasional buzzard.

Agreed; it's a very nice part of the country.

 

[tsr]

The uckfield line would be smashing but it needs a hell of a lot of vegetation to be trimmed.

Around Eridge it would be "Picture postcard" stuff.

It was OK a little earlier this year, apart from further North around Sanderstead where the trees are almost always stupidly bad. There was quite a lot of overnight vegetation work - in fact, including around Eridge - a couple of months back but sadly it was nowhere near enough to prevent a near-instantaneous comeback. I did get a couple of photos but it's unrecognisable only a short time later.

This problem does not prevent some amazing glimpses from the saloon but I'm well aware of the view from the driving cabs seeming to be a never-ending stretch of foliage. My favourite postcard "countryside" sections are between Cowden and Ashurst, and the farms and forests around Redgate Mill Jn, but I also like the view of the River Uck (swear filter near-miss). Perhaps also the sun rising over that farm in a copse to the East of the line near Edenbridge. And in the late evenings, you can sometimes look down from embankments near both Blackham and Greenhurst Junctions and see that people have put little candle lanterns by farm gates, and it's so atmospheric. Or Eridge Station on a foggy evening, perhaps with the last train from the SVR pulling out next to a roaring Turbostar. Put it this way, it's one route that I'd never want to give up from my route card.

 

[richw]

Barnstaple and Gunnislake tend to be forgotten down in the West Country.

I'd also put forward Stirling-Perth and the Tyne Valley.

I did the gunnislake line for the first time in many years a few weeks ago on this forums Cornwall meet, certainly agree it was very scenic.

Never done Barnstaple branch, maybe I will look to do it soon. The only bits of Devon and Cornwall line I have never done is Barnstaple /okehampton to Axminster and Torquay to Paignton as I had to pop into Torquay.

 

[Strathclyder]

The North Clyde Line from Dalreoch to Craigendoran (once out the tunnel and past the waterworks) is rarely, if ever mentioned. Pleasant views across the Clyde and into Inverclyde. Need to do it again sometime.

 

[Waldgrun]

I would say between Petersfield and Rowlands Castle on the Portsmouth direct line, where it runs through the South Downs.

 

[aylesbury]

Chiltern Line between Amersham and Wendover lovely Chiltern Hills and interesting houses and farms ..

 

[WestCoast]

It depends how underrated you mean, some of these mentioned seem to be fairly well known.

The most obscure one I can think of: It's now part of Metrolink of course, but I've always been quite impressed by the pleasant rolling hills and greenery on what was the Oldham Loop Line between Oldham and Rochdale, particularly around Newhey.

I've always found Copy Pit and the Calder Valley underrated too.

The WCML is nice between Preston and Lancaster, I like how it leaves the industrial landscape of South Lancashire behind and sets the tone for the scenic voyage north.