Most scenic railway lines in Britain?

[Chapeltom]

Probably been done many times before though the search facility brought me no joy.

What do people think are the most scenic railway lines in Britain and is there any that are a bit underrated and worth travelling to travel on?

I know there a few like the Kyle Line, West Highland Line (both branches) anyone know any sites where I can find pictures of these lines/any other lines that come under scenic?


Tom

 

[Squaddie]

Undoubtedly (I would say), the Ffestiniog Railway from Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog, and the Welsh Highland extension from Porthmadog to Caernarfon.

 

[YorkshireBear]

settle to carlisle comes obvious along with scottish and welsh lines

I consider the ECML north of newcastle very scenic....

cumbrian coast

I just threw a few in that are a bit different

a quick search on google should fruit results

 

[Lampshade]

The Buxton Line is quite nice, especially the other week when everything was covered in snow.

 

[ainsworth74]

Whitby Line.

 

[BrummyBoy]

Cumbrian Coast Line gets my vote

 

[CallySleeperKid]

1. Inverness - Kyle
2. West Highland
3. Highland Mainline
4. Inverness - Thurso/Wick
5. East Coast around Berwick

I know some of those are 'the obvious choice' but they are what I have experienced and my top 5.

 

[Safety365]

Cambrian Coast Line, especially the stretch next to the Dovey estuary between Dovey Junction and Borth.

 

[Wyvern]

For a short branch, the Matlock line takes a lot of beating, and historic as well.

Of course it once went further north through the Peak District.

 

[junglejames]

Am I the only one who thinks the WCML, esp north of Preston is pretty special?

Also, for me personally: Norwich to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft is quite interesting in its own right
GWML especially west of Exeter, plus all of the branch lines.
Heart of Wales line
Plus, as someone has mentioned a narrow gauge line already, I will add in the RHDR. Fantastic little railway and lovely little locos.
Dont forget the North York Moors railway as well.
Obviously add on all the others that have been mentioned before.

Oh, and one which always lights up every once in a while. The Channel Tunnel!!!

 

[4SRKT]

Am I the only one who thinks the WCML, esp north of Preston is pretty special?

No, it's very nice between Lancaster and Carlisle.

I'm a big fan of Southern Scotland, with the WCML, Nith Valley and Ayr > Stranraer all very good and underrated IMHO. Of course they're not as special as the classic West Highland, Kyle, and Highland main lines, but then what is?

Some of the lines to the south of London are very nice indeed, most notably Tonbridge > Hastings. In Northern Ireland Coleraine > [London]Derry, Carrickfergus > Larne and Portadown > DUndalk are all very nice too.

 

[junglejames]

No, it's very nice between Lancaster and Carlisle.

I'm a big fan of Southern Scotland, with the WCML, Nith Valley and Ayr > Stranraer all very good and underrated IMHO. Of course they're not as special as the classic West Highland, Kyle, and Highland main lines, but then what is?

Some of the lines to the south of London are very nice indeed, most notably Tonbridge > Hastings. In Northern Ireland Coleraine > [London]Derry, Carrickfergus > Larne and Portadown > DUndalk are all very nice too.

Folkestone to Dover!!

 

[mumrar]

Folkestone to Dover!!

St Pancras-Stratford International lol.

Seriously, WCML North of Preston, Newcastle-Carlisle, New St-Stansted, Cheltenham-Cardiff via Chepstow, Shrewsbury-Aberystwyth and the spur to Pwhelli.

 

[EltonRoad]

Scottish ones as mentioned, but also the sea wall section around Dawlish and Teignmouth is fantastic, especially during high winds when the waves are up.

 

[dickdarlington]

As mentioned. Nothing in this country at least is going to beat the route through the West Highlands. Particularly from Crianlarich through to Fort William, over Rannoch and Corrour, then down past the Loch (name eludes me), through the monessie gorge and then onto Fort William. And then lo and behold, another 60 miles of spectacular line through Glenfinnan, to Arisaig and Mallaig. Pure perfection.

North of Pitlochry, it's pretty much all awesome.

WCML north of Lancaster is a great shout. And the borders are very under-rated too in my mind.

Personally I also like the approaches to both Durham and Newcastle. Surely the best urban scenery in the country with the Cathedral and Castle, and then the bridges as you cross the Tyne.

Whitby line isn't too bad. But it lacks the drama of the barron landscape, hiding in the valley for most of it's journey.

 

[4SRKT]

As mentioned. Nothing in this country at least is going to beat the route through the West Highlands. Particularly from Crianlarich through to Fort William, over Rannoch and Corrour, then down past the Loch (name eludes me), through the monessie gorge and then onto Fort William. And then lo and behold, another 60 miles of spectacular line through Glenfinnan, to Arisaig and Mallaig. Pure perfection.

North of Pitlochry, it's pretty much all awesome.

WCML north of Lancaster is a great shout. And the borders are very under-rated too in my mind.

Personally I also like the approaches to both Durham and Newcastle. Surely the best urban scenery in the country with the Cathedral and Castle, and then the bridges as you cross the Tyne.

Whitby line isn't too bad. But it lacks the drama of the barron landscape, hiding in the valley for most of it's journey.

Loch Treig

 

[dickdarlington]

Loch Treig

Thank you.

 

[gordonthemoron]

WCML through the lake district is nice although I'd agree about the rest of it being uninteresting.

Cumbrian Coast line is best south of Drigg

 

[142094]

Tyne Valley line has always been one of my favourties, but Settle and Carlisle is IMO one of the best.

 

[mrcheek]

Ive not yet managed to do the West Highland line (hopefully next March!), but Ive heard its the best.

My personal favourites are:
Inverness to Kyle of Localsh
Devon coast through Dawlish/Teignmouth
Cumbria Coast
Settle to Carlisle

and Im surprised nobody ever mentions the Welsh Valley lines. All of these are worth experiencing, especially Rhymney. Like Settle to Carlisle, only without the viaducts (which you can never see when youre on the train anyway....)

 

[Keele13]

I was very impressed by the scenery on a train from Stockport-Sheffield a few months back. Another vote here for Exeter-Newton Abbot too.

 

[YorkshireBear]

I was very impressed by the scenery on a train from Stockport-Sheffield a few months back. Another vote here for Exeter-Newton Abbot too.

I completely forgot about hope valley..... i agree with that

all the pennine routes have their moments though

 

[dickdarlington]

I disagree with the Hope Valley line. I think it's over-rated. Like most of the peak district. I've been hiking extensively throughout the peaks in my lifetime, and whilst I find it picturesque (and a nice place for a strole), its hardly striking...(with the exception of stanage edge which is awesome). Perhaps living twenty mins from the dales, thirty mins from the moors, and forty mins from the Pennines, I've been spoilt for dramatic landscapes...I await the barrage of abuse.

 

[d1015fan]

Living in Newton Abbot I would saay defo the dawlish sea wall, exmouth junction to exmouth as well maybe oh and did gunnislake branch saturday and gotta say that was scenic especially down by the tamar and tavy rivers

 

[The Barlow Boy]

Snerth to Snives sitting on the right hand side of the train to-wards Snives.

 

[delt1c]

Has to be the Victoria Line in London, boy the views are breath taking
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Closely followed by The Waterloo and City

 

[noddy1878]

My vote goes to Dawlish Sea Wall and Fort William to Maillaig. The later probably has he edge for me though but that is probably due to the fact I do the Sea Wall nearly ever week. Next year I will be doing the Cumbrian Coast and Settle - Carlisle line.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

My top five (in order):
1 - Helensburgh Upper-Mallaig (the West Highland Line);
2 - Dingwall to Kyle of Lochalsh (the Kyle Line);
3 - Morpeth to Dunbar (the ECML);
4 - Coombe Jn Halt to Looe (the Looe Line);
5 - Barrow-in-Furness to Workington (the Cumbrian Coast Line).

The best of the rest (in order):
6 - Dovey Jn to Pwllheli;
7 - Perth to Inverness (the Highland ML);
8 - Lancaster to Carlsile (the WCML);
9 - Exeter St Davids to Newton Abbot;
10 - Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield (the Hope Valley Line).

 

[tbtc]

Dalmeney to Kinghorn

There are some lines which run through beautiful countryside, but often from the bottom of the valley, which means you don't get a fantastic appreciation from a train window.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Two questions:
1) What is the best line for plain rural attractiveness?
Such as: Preston to Lancaster, the Trent Valley and the Chiltern ML...

2) What is the most overrated line?
Such as, personally:the Nith Valley (Carlsile to Kilmarnock - the 'Glasgow & South Western') and the Golden Valley (Gloucester to Swindon) are not as great as some make them out to be, maybe they would be more suited to my first question than the WHL or the ECML Coast...

Anyone else?