Most underrated scenic rail lines

[anti-pacer]

MODS: Sorry if this is in the wrong part of the forum. Not sure where else to put it.

Anyway, back in topic. We all know there are many well know scenic rail lines in the UK, but are there any that you think are underrated gems?

Personally I would say the Bentham line is one, even the Wharfedale line between Leeds and Ilkley. The Harrogate line is also very scenic in parts.

I love the Marches line although I'm not sure where that sits in terms of being classed as a scenic line.

What are your views?

 

[AlterEgo]

If we're going for the whole of the UK, the western end of the Belfast-Derry line is very underrated.

In Britain, I'd say the Brighton Main Line passes through some lovely countryside at the southern end.

 

[DarloRich]

The Little North Western is overshadowed by the Settle and Carlisle.

 

[Iskra]

For me, the underrated ones that don't receive much attention are:

Bentham Line
Cumbrian Coast
Newcastle-Carlisle
Northern ECML
Carlisle-Dumfries-Glasgow
Middlesbrough-Whitby
Norwich-Great Yarmouth/Lowestoft
SWML
The Marches
Cornish Mainline
Aberdeen-Inverness

 

[Iskra]

If we're going for the whole of the UK, the western end of the Belfast-Derry line is very underrated.

In Britain, I'd say the Brighton Main Line passes through some lovely countryside at the southern end.

I was disappointed with the Brighton Mainline, you barely see anything with it being in cuttings a lot of the time.

 

[tsr]

We have this query come up fairly regularly and I'm always willing to draw attention to some of the other Southern routes. Obviously the BML has already featured, and whilst it has some decent views in places (the Ouse Valley Viaduct - known incorrectly as Balcombe Viaduct - and some of the more open country near Hassocks spring to mind) it's probably not the best the area has to offer. Instead, look to the Mole Valley Line between Leatherhead and Horsham, the Uckfield Line after Upper Warlingham (and its shorter counterpart to East Grinstead), a few bits of the East Coastway, the Arun Valley near Arundel, Godstone-Penshurst on the Redhill to Tonbridge...

 

[61653 HTAFC]

I agree with the Marches line, especially the southern end as it skirts the eastern edge of the Brecon Beacons with views of Lord Hereford's Knob (snigger...).

I'd also like to nominate the Penistone line, at least North of Barnsley. Some beautiful views from the viaducts at Penistone, Denby Dale, and Lockwood. Even the very northernmost valley crossing at Longroyd Bridge is quite charming, though more industrial than the others.

 

[Segedunum]

Weymouth to Southampton is a very pleasant run, especially on a lightly loaded 444 on a sunny afternoon.

 

[godfreycomplex]

I know I'm biased but Basingstoke - Winch/Exeter; Pompey direct and Leatherhead - Dorking I've always considered quite attractive. Even the Ebbw Vale line has its scenic charms, in a Mordor-ish kind of way

 

[backontrack]

Bentham Line, Cumbrian Coast, and Sittingbourne-Canterbury for me.

 

[LNW-GW Joint]

Preston-Burnley-Bradford is underrated, especially Burnley-Todmorden.
Almost any trans-Pennine route in fact, even Stoke-Uttoxeter, with its bottle kilns to moorland in a few minutes.

I found Carlisle-Dumfries-Glasgow rather tedious outside the river valleys.
Beattock is much more dramatic, especially at 125mph full tilt round the upper Clyde bends.
The big new wind farms add to the views.

 

[sd0733]

Some short stretches of the WCML are quite nice around Rugby running alongside the canal. It is only a short stretch mind before the cement works appears on the horizon!

 

[Altfish]

Apart from the industrial area around Northwich the mid-Cheshire line from Altrincham to Chester.

 

[Bletchleyite]

The WCML. Much, much nicer than the tedious, flat ECML.

 

[alex17595]

I quite like the line from Burnley through Cornholme.

 

[43096]

I've enjoyed the Bathgate - Airdrie line since it re-opened; some very nice bits on the middle section.

 

[Ash Bridge]

I've not seen the Cambrian Coast Line mentioned yet so I'll offer that and especially so between Dovey Junction and Barmouth, also the Conway Valley and Hope Valley routes.

 

[nottinghamcity]

Sheffield- Stockport is quite scenic. I also like the ECML between Newcastle and Berwick.

 

[Ploughman]

Hull - Scarborough especially North of Bridlington.

 

[3141]

The Midland main line between Manchester and Derby was pretty good, particularly the section from Chinley to Matlock, and the Hope Valley line is too.

 

[yorksrob]

All three of the main trans-Pennine routes, Calder Valley, Standedge and Hope Valley go through some quite stunning scenery.

 

[urbophile]

It's a long time since I travelled from York to Scarborough, but I remember some very attractive views.

 

[xc170]

North Wales Coast Line, it doesn't get half the credit it deserves.

 

[anti-pacer]

North Wales Coast Line, it doesn't get half the credit it deserves.

Agreed. Even around the Prestatyn-Abergele section, if you ignore the endless caravans you can see some lovely scenery.

Between Llandudno Junction and Bangor it's particularly nice, as is the Britannia Bridge section. I also love how it all changes on Anglesey, with relatively low lying land dominated in the distance by Holyhead Mountain.

 

[30907]

I've not seen the Cambrian Coast Line mentioned yet so I'll offer that and especially so between Dovey Junction and Barmouth.

It's fantastic, but is it UNDERrated?

I'd add the Cornwall Main Line (say from St Budeaux to Lostwithiel and into Penzance).

 

[185143]

Not seen the Durham coast mentioned yet. Once you get out of Middlesbrough it's lovely until you reach the edge of Newcastle really! (Except the bit through Hartlepool!)

 

[J-2739]

The line between Sheffield and Manchester is pretty scenic.

 

[D365]

+1 for Hope Valley, you get some good views, especially when standing...

 

[northwichcat]

Apart from the industrial area around Northwich the mid-Cheshire line from Altrincham to Chester.

Well I think Delamere Forest is the only Forest with it's own train station on the NR network. It's really Lostock Gralam that let's down the line - the view towards Hartford from the Leftwich viaduct is quite nice and you get a bird's eye view of the River Weaver and the Weaver Navigation.

Personally I'd say Stalybridge to Huddersfield and Stockport to Sheffield are the most underrated scenic lines.

 

[Altnabreac]

Paisley - Gourock is lovely with a mixture of Industrial Heritage, sea views and distant mountains.