Anywhere Nice to Go by Train?

[whhistle]

Is there anywhere nice to go by train?

Yes, there's lots of places and it's quite subjective but if I have a few days to spend on the rails, where should I go?

I thought on the sleeper to Fort William, then down to Edinburgh the next day at some point and then back to England the following day.

I did a bit of Wales last year, which was nice but I'm not sure if I want to stray that way again so soon.

 

[30907]

If you're going as far as Fort Wm, why not carry on and do the Skye Circular, back via the Kyle line. Check the ferry and bus timetables first though.
If you can make it through to inverness in the day, overnight there and come south on the Chieftain.
If you want to do any sightseeing and not just scenic train travel, though, you might want an extra night.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If you're going to do the above, do the daytime return via the West Coast - apart from a very short section at the north end the ECML is terminally drab. The WHL is lovely, though.

 

[eastwestdivide]

Could you give us your subjective definition of "nice", just to narrow things down a bit.

 

[whhistle]

Thanks.
I guess nice means different?
I enjoyed Wales more than I expected, both on train and off train.

 

[richw]

By nice do you mean:
Scenery out the window?
Things to do at the destination station?

My idea of nice probably differs from other people

 

[Peter C]

If you want to see some more scenic and rural railways, the Cotswold Line is excellent. It's easily accessible from London as almost all trains on this line are heading from or towards Paddington.
If you want to go on the Cotswold Line, I'd reccomend getting out at Oxford, Charlbury, Moreton-in-Marsh, and Worcester Shrub Hill*.

*(In my experience, Worcester isn't amazing, but the station is really good in terms of design. It's the only place on the network which has ever used (I think) disc-shaped semaphore signals due to the canopy.)

-Peter

 

[BRX]

Absolutely definitely do the sleeper to Fort William, the best rail journey in the UK and I'd suggest doing it before it's spoilt by the introduction of the new trains. Continuing to Mallaig and doing the circular route returning by the Kyle line is a good suggestion.

Cotswolds and so on are nice, but don't come anywhere near the landscape you see from the west highland line, which is unmatched in the UK.

 

[Peter C]

Cotswolds and so on are nice, but don't come anywhere near the landscape you see from the west highland line, which is unmatched in the UK.

Fair point. I think that the Cotswold Line is better for those who like railways and also want to see a more rural part of the country. I personally think that the scenery can be very boring in parts, but hey ho.
-Peter

 

[cactustwirly]

If you want spectacular scenery, the Tauern railway, knocks the WHL out of the window!
Obviously not in the UK, but you can get some cheap flights through easyJet

 

[yorksrob]

The Cumbrian Coast has some fairly magnificent scenery, and is off the beaten track.

 

[Esker-pades]

If you're going to do the above, do the daytime return via the West Coast - apart from a very short section at the north end the ECML is terminally drab. The WHL is lovely, though.

Which "short" section do you mean?

 

[Techniquest]

So many journeys that qualify as 'nice' which makes it difficult to recommend something. I'm curious as to which part of Wales the OP did, although I must say I'm glad they liked it. Below are some recommendations:

- Heart of Wales line
- Cambrian Coast, even if only between Shrewsbury and the Aber branch (I can never remember how to spell it, and in my part of the world we usually shorten it to Aber anyway!)
- Exeter to Paignton for a run along the Dawlish Sea Wall
- Settle & Carlisle
- West Highland Line, although no-one else seems to have mentioned the Oban branch which is quite nice. Fort William obviously is an option, but the run to Mallaig is also worth doing
- Glasgow to Stranraer
- North Wales Coast
- Tyne Valley from Carlisle to Newcastle
- Oxford to Hereford via Evesham, or at the least do it to Great Malvern for the Malvern Hills which are stunning. Be warned the walk into the town centre is up significant hills and even I, as an expert power-walker, can struggle there!

I could make recommendations in Europe too, but they seem a bit beyond the time limits of a short trip. However, for a slightly longer trip I could recommend these:

- Liege (Belgium) to Luxembourg
- Dombas to Andsalnes (no doubt spelt wrong!) on the Raumabahn in Norway
- Chur (Switzerland) to Tirano (Italy) on the Bernina Express

The Bernina Express outshines the WHL in my opinion and worth a trip all on its own!

 

[AndrewE]

For me Carlisle to Carstairs is hard to beat: better scenery and for a longer time than the coastal bit of the ECML north of Berwick.

 

[Techniquest]

That's a good point, and it's still pretty nice between Carlisle and Lancaster.

Another option could be the Windermere branch?

 

[richw]

St ives branch has to be ranked as one of the most scenic.
Looe branch isn’t bad along the valley,

Maybe a day taking in all the Cornish branches?

 

[Esker-pades]

St ives branch has to be ranked as one of the most scenic.
Looe branch isn’t bad along the valley,

Maybe a day taking in all the Cornish branches?

That's quite a long day! Fun, but long.

 

[richw]

That's quite a long day! Fun, but long.

I’d probably skip Newquay myself but that fails the challenge!

 

[Techniquest]

I forgot to add Cornish branches! Looe branch is definitely nice, not been there for nearly 14 years and need a revisit myself. St Ives branch is decent too, Falmouth Docks branch is not bad but I would go for the Gunnislake branch over Falmouth. Newquay's fine enough, but it takes ages and doesn't usually feel worth the effort to do it!