16CSVT2700
Established Member
The Harrogate line is quite interesting, it used to have quite a few junctions on it according to Quail.
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Closed lines youv'e walked / cycled along
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s&t
New Member
This line is a strong candidate for re-opening as far as Ripon and is being considered currently. From there to Northallerton, I'm not sure if it would be possible to re-open? Another line mentioned here, The Keswick Branch, is also at quite an advanced stage I believe with reinstatement a very serious prospect!!
Moodster020
Member
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- 18 Dec 2008
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I've done a few bits,
Recently Bolton Abbey-Addingham. Also Shipley - Thackley ages ago, some tunnels too (biggest one so far ive done is Gildersome). Also Barnard Castle to Broomielaw -recommended as the station & signalbox are still there today!
Currently planning on doing Scarbrough-Whitby-Kettleness later this Summer.
Recently Bolton Abbey-Addingham. Also Shipley - Thackley ages ago, some tunnels too (biggest one so far ive done is Gildersome). Also Barnard Castle to Broomielaw -recommended as the station & signalbox are still there today!
Currently planning on doing Scarbrough-Whitby-Kettleness later this Summer.
mallard
Established Member
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- 12 Apr 2009
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I've done Whitstable to Canterbury a few times (grew up in Whitstable), also bits of the "Tarka Trail" in Devon which is made up of parts of 3 former branch lines.
Stuart Galbraith
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- 14 Feb 2009
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- 172
Walked along both ends of the Tetbury Branch, one of the 2 branch lines that came off Kemble station that were shut in the 60s. Quite a lot still in place, at the tetbury end the goods yard is a car park with the goods shed still there (though it would be nice if they actually did something with it). Most of the route is walkable and in quite good shape, but it would have been nice if BR hadnt knocked down the bridges in the 1980s. Talk of turning it into a cycleway, but nothing come of it yet, and I suspect never will.
Even better, quite a nice pub at the Kemble end, but it would be a 7 mile walk to get there.
Cirencester Branch the other side looks quite good, with some of the bridges still in place. Again, it would be nice if they did something with Cirencester station.
Anyone walk the MSWJR? The section between Savernake and Marlborough looks quite interesting.
Even better, quite a nice pub at the Kemble end, but it would be a 7 mile walk to get there.
Cirencester Branch the other side looks quite good, with some of the bridges still in place. Again, it would be nice if they did something with Cirencester station.Anyone walk the MSWJR? The section between Savernake and Marlborough looks quite interesting.
DaveNewcastle
Established Member
There's a very enjoyable - and short - walk between Alnwick and Alnmouth station (ECML) in Northumberland. Its just 3 miles, including a fine viaduct over the river Aln.
The west end stops short of Alnwick where the cutting for the A1 slices through the old alignment, and the east end stops short of Alnmouth station at a NR access gate onto the main lines.
There's a group attempting to have the track relaid and a service operated but there will be no sign of their works from the walk, yet. http://avrs.co.uk
On a clear day, there's a fine vantage of the ECML and coast from a point 2 miles north of the walk, by the folly on Ratheugh Crags, halfway between Denwick and Longhoughton. You can watch an HST/91/220 snaking along the coastline for several minutes from up there.
The west end stops short of Alnwick where the cutting for the A1 slices through the old alignment, and the east end stops short of Alnmouth station at a NR access gate onto the main lines.
There's a group attempting to have the track relaid and a service operated but there will be no sign of their works from the walk, yet. http://avrs.co.uk
On a clear day, there's a fine vantage of the ECML and coast from a point 2 miles north of the walk, by the folly on Ratheugh Crags, halfway between Denwick and Longhoughton. You can watch an HST/91/220 snaking along the coastline for several minutes from up there.
43106
Member
I've done a few minor odds 'n' sods, like...
Sellafield - Beckermet - just outside Thornhill in West Cumbria. most of it is still there, but a viaduct and bridge have been demolished, and some land on/about the remains of Beckermet station has been built on.
Old part of the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway that ran beyond Dalegarth in the days when it transported slate down to the coast. You can see some of the bed on Google maps.
Part of the Slateford - Balerno line that runs alongside the Water of Leith in South West Edinburgh late at night after a spectacular night's drinking! We went through a tunnel near Colinton in the pitch dark with no light of ANY description! Large quantities of Younger's Scotch Bitter has got a helluva lot to answer for!!!!!!
Sellafield - Beckermet - just outside Thornhill in West Cumbria. most of it is still there, but a viaduct and bridge have been demolished, and some land on/about the remains of Beckermet station has been built on.
Old part of the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway that ran beyond Dalegarth in the days when it transported slate down to the coast. You can see some of the bed on Google maps.
Part of the Slateford - Balerno line that runs alongside the Water of Leith in South West Edinburgh late at night after a spectacular night's drinking! We went through a tunnel near Colinton in the pitch dark with no light of ANY description! Large quantities of Younger's Scotch Bitter has got a helluva lot to answer for!!!!!!
seaton jnctn station is totally still there including the 2 footbridges,
i tried to walk the seaton branch down to colyton but its sooo
overgrown.
the camel trail from padstow station to bodmin is nice,
u can walk or cycle and then visit the NT house/gardens at lanhydrock near bodmin road station (nee parkway now) for afternoon tea
i tried to walk the seaton branch down to colyton but its sooo
overgrown.
the camel trail from padstow station to bodmin is nice,
u can walk or cycle and then visit the NT house/gardens at lanhydrock near bodmin road station (nee parkway now) for afternoon tea
KendalKing
Established Member
Back in the 1970's/1980's, I used to walk along the old Lancaster - Glasson Dock branch, now a cycle path.
Also Lancaster - Morecambe via Scale Hall, again now a cycle path.
Also Lancaster - Morecambe via Scale Hall, again now a cycle path.
generalvegitable
Member
I've done the biddulph trail, the one from wolverton to newport pagnal, and I've walked some of the nene valley railway
Done:
Scarborough-Whitby - About 20 miles, the route is intact almost entirely. Very scenic. Steeply graded up to 1 in 39!
Waskerley Way (Crawleyside-Lydgetts Junction via Parkhead & Waskerley) - great route, with options to continue to MCE/NCL, DHM or CLS/SUN. I've done all except not yet done Annfield Plain to Sunderland.
Hartlepool-Seaham (inland route, via Hesleden/Haswell) - worth doing, but not great.
Manifold Way (Hulme End-Waterhouses) - Very scenic, but also very busy (especially when within 1 mile of a car park). Virtually no evidence that it was a railway line though.
Leek-Ryecroft Gate - Continuation of the Churnet Valley, can't go any further towards Macc unfortunately, although if you like wallowing in mud it looks possible to get a bit further! The Rudyard Lake narrow gauge railway is alongside part of the way. Reasonably scenic, and worth doing.
Biddulph Way (Stoke-on-Chav to Congleton) - the first few miles are to be avoided unless you like broken glass and chavs. But north of Biddulph it was quite nice. If I was to do it again I'd go from Kidsgrove to avoid the chavs and broken glass.
Middleton Way (Macclesfield-Rose Hill) - worth doing; though not very scenic as it's mostly tree-lined so you don't get a view, but very pleasant. Macc-Bollington is rubbish but the rest is good. MDL-RSH is very fast; I did that bit in 8 minutes!
Doing this Summer:
High Peak/Tissington Trails - 2 routes that join at Parsely Hay. Brilliant trails, I've done a small part of the Tissington Trail (Sparklow to Hartington) and it was great and I know (from photos and others) that the rest will be great too!
Ryehope-Stockton (inland route via Wingate) - only done the bit that's common with the above mentioned route from HPL-SEA. I am not expecting great scenery though, but it's worth doing once I'm sure.
Downs Link - 2 routes; the Steyning line and Cranleigh lines which both joined the Arun Valley Line at junctions near to Christ's Hospital station. Not done any of it yet but there looks to be plenty of interest along this route.
also see http://yorkie.southtpe.co.uk/cycling/
Scarborough-Whitby - About 20 miles, the route is intact almost entirely. Very scenic. Steeply graded up to 1 in 39!
Waskerley Way (Crawleyside-Lydgetts Junction via Parkhead & Waskerley) - great route, with options to continue to MCE/NCL, DHM or CLS/SUN. I've done all except not yet done Annfield Plain to Sunderland.
Hartlepool-Seaham (inland route, via Hesleden/Haswell) - worth doing, but not great.
Manifold Way (Hulme End-Waterhouses) - Very scenic, but also very busy (especially when within 1 mile of a car park). Virtually no evidence that it was a railway line though.
Leek-Ryecroft Gate - Continuation of the Churnet Valley, can't go any further towards Macc unfortunately, although if you like wallowing in mud it looks possible to get a bit further! The Rudyard Lake narrow gauge railway is alongside part of the way. Reasonably scenic, and worth doing.
Biddulph Way (Stoke-on-Chav to Congleton) - the first few miles are to be avoided unless you like broken glass and chavs. But north of Biddulph it was quite nice. If I was to do it again I'd go from Kidsgrove to avoid the chavs and broken glass.
Middleton Way (Macclesfield-Rose Hill) - worth doing; though not very scenic as it's mostly tree-lined so you don't get a view, but very pleasant. Macc-Bollington is rubbish but the rest is good. MDL-RSH is very fast; I did that bit in 8 minutes!
Doing this Summer:
High Peak/Tissington Trails - 2 routes that join at Parsely Hay. Brilliant trails, I've done a small part of the Tissington Trail (Sparklow to Hartington) and it was great and I know (from photos and others) that the rest will be great too!
Ryehope-Stockton (inland route via Wingate) - only done the bit that's common with the above mentioned route from HPL-SEA. I am not expecting great scenery though, but it's worth doing once I'm sure.
Downs Link - 2 routes; the Steyning line and Cranleigh lines which both joined the Arun Valley Line at junctions near to Christ's Hospital station. Not done any of it yet but there looks to be plenty of interest along this route.
also see http://yorkie.southtpe.co.uk/cycling/
BlythPower
Member
I've walked bits of the former coast line around around Ravenscar, Robin Hoods Bay and Sandsend. Also, the Rosedale branch - spectacular scenery and the Lion Inn! I used to play and cycle on the track bed of the Catterick Camp branch as a nipper as well.
Alban Way - Welwyn Garden City (via Hatfield) to St Albans.
Having walked along it and seen how intact it is (albeit it was only a single track), I do wonder why that, and the one from WGC to Hertford, isn't actually reinstated.
Imagine being able to have a horizontal link between the two FCC routes (imagine how good it would be for the times that one line into London is down) and also a link from WGC/Hatfield to Hertford.
Having walked along it and seen how intact it is (albeit it was only a single track), I do wonder why that, and the one from WGC to Hertford, isn't actually reinstated.
Imagine being able to have a horizontal link between the two FCC routes (imagine how good it would be for the times that one line into London is down) and also a link from WGC/Hatfield to Hertford.
Sir_Clagalot
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- 9 Aug 2007
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- 853
Done Middleton Top to the quarries, also Parley Hey towards Ashbourne.
Cycled alongside the Bure Valley in Norfolk (NG on old Std Gauge, with path alongside)
RE reopening Harrogate - Ripon - Northallerton: Getting past Ripon is now very difficult as they built the bypass along most of the trackbed...
Cycled alongside the Bure Valley in Norfolk (NG on old Std Gauge, with path alongside)
RE reopening Harrogate - Ripon - Northallerton: Getting past Ripon is now very difficult as they built the bypass along most of the trackbed...
Tom B
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- Joined
- 27 Jul 2005
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- 4,681
I walked along this in October and I seem to remember there was lighting in the tunnel!
Sadly I can also claim to have been in a road vehicle along a closed line - the West Approach Road is built on the site of the town end of the Balerno branch.
SuperVoyager
Member
Cycled/Walked the plymbridge woods old line and the camel trail
Buffer68
Member
My research on the Somerset and Dorset and involvement with the New Somerset and Dorset Railway is taking me onto trails and stations. Yesterday I was at Midford - a beautiful spot with fab views. All that is left is the platform; also walked across the top of the viaduct here. There are plans afoot to buy the land and restore the station. See my photos at: www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=24262&id=1372155154&ref=mf
The Snap
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- 10 Jun 2005
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I've walking along the old line between Droylsden station and Audenshaw many times, initlally without realising! The station was closed and later demolished as a result of Beeching's Axe, but was an interchange station in the first half of the 20th Century for those travelling from Manchester to Ashton-under-Lyne/Stalybridge/Huddersfield, and Audenshaw/Guide Bridge/Denton/Stockport.
The line is a 5 minute walk from my house! There are several disused lines within a mile of my house actually, which once provided great links, which would be useful today to relieve stress on the two lines into Manchester from Huddersfield and Leeds. What a muppet Beeching was!
The line is a 5 minute walk from my house! There are several disused lines within a mile of my house actually, which once provided great links, which would be useful today to relieve stress on the two lines into Manchester from Huddersfield and Leeds. What a muppet Beeching was!
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