Best lines in scotland

[Mainsideman]

Which lines in scotland are a must to travel?

 

[ar10642]

Fort William to Mallaig is spectacular, if there are any trains running.

 

[ac6000cw]

My favourites:

Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh
Ayr - Stranraer
Perth - Inverness
Glasgow - Fort William - Mallaig
A trip across the Forth Bridge
Carlisle - Carstairs (a nice fast & twisty journey with decent scenery)

 

[adamedwards]

East Coast north and south of Berwick, so part in Scotland

 

[Basil Jet]

Surely the Glasgow Underground is a must, although a different type of scenery.

 

[Some guy]

The WCML Lockerbie to carstairs is a brilliant line especially in a Pendolino with all the tilting around the bends

 

[fgwrich]

Edinburgh Waverley to Helensburgh Central. If you ignore the tedious crawl from Airdire into Glasgow, the rest is quite scenic particularly between Bathgate and Airdrie (and passing hillend reservoir).

 

[Iskra]

1) West Highland Line (and the Extension Fort William-Mallaig)
2) Kyle of Localsh
3) Northern WCML (on a Pendolino)
4) Highland Mainline
5) Ayr-Stranraer
6) Far North Line
7) Northern ECML
8) Edinburgh-Aberdeen
9) Carlisle-Glasgow via Dumfries
10) Perth-Dundee
11) Aberdeen-Inverness

 

[Watershed]

There's a rather spectacular view available across the Firth of Forth between Midcalder Jn and Kirknewton, with glimpses of the bridges. Together with the rest of the scenery (particularly the section from Beattock to Carstairs) it makes Carlisle-Edinburgh a very worthwhile trip. Lockerbie-Edinburg if you want it to be entirely within Scotland!

 

[Davester50]

Berwick to Dunbar is probably my favourite. The coast is stunning, looking down to small houses improbably built in the crags and gullies. Stunning.
Perth to Inverness
Dundee to Montrose particularly near Lunan.
Lockerbie - Carstairs - Edinburgh.

The Far North and the Kyle lines are more interesting to me than the West Highland.

It's all subjective, and weather dependant though. The coast in the haar is bleak, and highland lines on a dreich day are meah.

 

[Dr Hoo]

Which lines in scotland are a must to travel?

Depends what you're looking for. Sheer scenery isn't everybody's cup of tea.

E.g., if you want the highest line it would be the Cairngorm Funicular (closed for reconstruction at present, I believe).

The Leadhills Railway has its own little quirks and also quite high and remote.

The Strathspey is the leading Heritage line in scenic terms.

But the Keith & Dufftown has a sort of forgotten cuteness of its own over a reasonable distance.

And the Bo'ness line has some great heritage stuff in its museum and is handy for both Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Summerlee if you want a heritage tram ride.

Don't miss the Glasgow Subway (already mentioned up thread).

The Kilmarnock-Barassie-Troon link is arguably the most historic line still in use (albeit not all on the original alignment).

If you are a supporter of re-openings the Borders Line would be a must (although there are several others like Airdrie-Bathgate, Larkhall, Alloa and Paisley Canal.

Glasgow Central station worth a visit/tour in its own right.

 

[clc]

I’m surprised noone has mentioned the Oban line which has some lovely views.

 

[Sultan]

Aren't all lines in Scotland a must to travel (at some point)? And some stations you probably don't mind waiting at for a couple of hours for the next train (providing there's a rain shelter!)

 

[Falcon1200]

The routes alongside the Firth of Clyde have some pleasant views too, these being the lines to Helensburgh/Balloch, Gourock/Wemyss Bay, and Largs. OTOH for railway interest there are the services passing Polmadie, Corkerhill, Eastfield and Craigentinny Depots, and Mossend Yard.

 

[trei2k]

My favourites:

Inverness - Kyle of Lochalsh
Ayr - Stranraer
Perth - Inverness
Glasgow - Fort William - Mallaig
A trip across the Forth Bridge
Carlisle - Carstairs (a nice fast & twisty journey with decent scenery)

As someone who lives here, I like a lot of the suggestions above, with ones in bold my preference.

 

[mrcheek]

all of them!

Personally I rank Inverness to Kyle as the greatest journey in Britain, even ahead of the line to Mallaig. Which is also essential.

Other essentials include Perth to Inverness, the line to Stranraer, Carlisle to Glasgow via Gretna, Edinburgh to Aberdeen, Aberdeen to Inverness, and Glasgow to Edinburgh via Airdrie

 

[D6130]

And some stations you probably don't mind waiting at for a couple of hours for the next train (providing there's a rain shelter!)

....and in the case of the West Highland and Kyle lines - a midgie shelter. In the absence of such a thing, I would recommend taking with you several bottles of Avon 'Skin-so-Soft' hand cream (the one with the red label). Wipe it liberally all over any exposed skin areas and the wee beasties won't come within six feet of it. It's available at all good outdoor and angling shops in the affected areas (roughly North and West of a line from Ayr to Inverness).

 

[Peter0124]

The Argyle and North Clyde tunnel sections are quite cool.

 

[D6130]

The Argyle and North Clyde tunnel sections are quite cool.

Yes....they maintain the same ambient temperature all year round!

 

[Woolos 22]

Edinburgh to tweedbank is a good line

 

[greyman42]

Edinburgh Waverley to Helensburgh Central. If you ignore the tedious crawl from Airdire into Glasgow, the rest is quite scenic particularly between Bathgate and Airdrie (and passing hillend reservoir).

I see your point regarding the crawl from Airdrie but you do get to see the East End of Glasgow which some might find interesting.

 

[D6130]

I see your point regarding the crawl from Airdrie but you do get to see the East End of Glasgow which some might find interesting.

You won't get to see much of it unless they cut down all the trees and bushes. The same goes for many other sections of line in Scotland and elsewhere.

 

[Davester50]

You won't get to see much of it unless they cut down all the trees and bushes. The same goes for many other sections of line in Scotland and elsewhere.

That's a vital service. Every time the train rounds the corner just before the Tay Bridge the branches walloping the train usually wakes me up if I've nodded off!

 

[PeterY]

I've now done all the Scotish scenic routes. They all have their own character . I'd struggle to pick the most outstanding one. Maybe err to the Kyle of Lochalsh line , if I had to vote.

 

[ac6000cw]

Personal preferences, but if I had to rank the lines by scenery, I'd put Inverness to Kyle first and Fort William to Mallaig second, but it's a close contest (and both would beat the over-hyped Settle & Carlisle easily).

 

[D6130]

My top 20 scenic ranking would be:

(1) Fort William-Mallaig
(2) Craigendoran-Fort William
(3) Dingwall-Kyle
(4) Crianlarich-Oban
(5) Perth-Inverness
(6) Inverness-Wick/Thurso
(7) Ayr-Stranraer
(8) Edinburgh-Aberdeen
(9) Aberdeen-Inverness
(10) Ladybank-Perth
(11) Stirling-Perth
(12) Edinburgh-Berwick
(13) Kilwinning-Largs
(14) Glasgow-Helensburgh
(15) Carlisle-Motherwell
(16) Gretna-Barrhead
(17) Port Glasgow-Wemyss Bay
(18) Eskbank-Tweedbank
(19) Langbank-Gourock
(20) Bathgate-Airdrie

 

[Mcr Warrior]

My top 20 scenic ranking would be:

(1) Fort William-Mallaig
(2) Craigendoran-Fort William
(3) Dingwall-Kyle
(4) Crianlarich-Oban
(5) Perth-Inverness
(6) Inverness-Wick/Thurso
(7) Ayr-Stranraer
(8) Edinburgh-Aberdeen
(9) Aberdeen-Inverness
(10) Ladybank-Perth
(11) Stirling-Perth
(12) Edinburgh-Berwick
(13) Kilwinning-Largs
(14) Glasgow-Helensburgh
(15) Carlisle-Motherwell
(16) Gretna-Barrhead
(17) Port Glasgow-Wemyss Bay
(18) Eskbank-Tweedbank
(19) Langbank-Gourock
(20) Bathgate-Airdrie

Broadly agree. Wonder what percentage of Scotland's track miles that little selection covers in total?!

 

[kez19]

on a unscheduled diversion (unfortunately rare), I would say Dundee-Perth via Bow of Fife to Edinburgh.
Aberdeen-Dundee
Dundee-Glasgow
Glasgow Central-Ayr
Glasgow Central-Edinburgh

 

[BDLhouston]

Personally, i would go with kilmarnocl-stranraer, between kilmarnock and barassie you have quite a historic feeling lines (you might even be lucky to see some locos if you look out the right side just as you depart kilmarnock) once you depart ayr you have great scenery and lovely track joints between maybole and girvan, not sure about after girvan since i havent been to stranraer in ages but its definitely worth checking out, especially since the 156s probably don't have long left with scotrail and are probably due a replacement in a few years, so its worth it to get on one at least once.