Some of the finest scenery in Britain is best seen from a train window. The routes below cross moorland with no roads, cling to sea walls and climb through mountain passes — and almost all of them are everyday services on the National Rail network, so you can travel with a normal ticket and a railcard. We have listed the endpoints and the operator for each line, with ideas for where to break the journey.
West Highland Line: Glasgow to Oban, Fort William and Mallaig
Regularly named among the great train journeys of the world, the West Highland Line leaves Glasgow Queen Street, runs beside the Clyde and Loch Lomond, and divides at Crianlarich. One branch heads west to Oban, the ferry port for the Isle of Mull and other Hebridean islands. The other climbs across the empty expanse of Rannoch Moor, calling at Corrour — the highest mainline station in the UK, with no public road to it — before dropping to Fort William. From there the line continues to the fishing port of Mallaig, crossing the 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct on the way.
ScotRail operates the route. Allow roughly three hours 50 minutes from Glasgow to Fort William and about five and a half hours to Mallaig. Trains are infrequent, so plan around the timetable. From Mallaig, a ferry crosses to Armadale on the Isle of Skye.
The Jacobite steam train: Fort William to Mallaig
The Jacobite is a seasonal steam-hauled service run by West Coast Railways over the Fort William to Mallaig section of the West Highland Line, including the Glenfinnan Viaduct that many visitors know from the Harry Potter films. It is a separate tourist train with its own tickets, and it sells out well ahead in summer. The 2026 season started later than usual, on 1 June, and dates for 2027 had not been confirmed when this guide was written, so check the West Coast Railways website before planning a trip around it. The regular ScotRail trains follow exactly the same route all year.
Kyle line: Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh
From Inverness, ScotRail’s Kyle line runs for about 80 miles from the east coast to the west. It follows the Beauly Firth to Dingwall, then strikes out across increasingly wild country before reaching the sea at Loch Carron and the pretty village of Plockton. The final stretch hugs the shore, with views across to Skye, and ends on the pier at Kyle of Lochalsh. The journey takes around two hours 40 minutes. Buses cross the bridge from Kyle to the Isle of Skye, which makes this a memorable way to reach the island. Find more on the area on our North Scotland page.
Settle to Carlisle: England’s most scenic railway
The Settle–Carlisle line runs for just over 70 miles through the Yorkshire Dales and the Eden Valley, and it is the most dramatic main line in England. The highlight is the 24-arch Ribblehead Viaduct, set against the bulk of Whernside, followed by Dent, the highest mainline station in England. The line was threatened with closure in the 1980s and reprieved in 1989 after a long campaign. Northern runs the trains, which start from Leeds and continue through Skipton and Settle to Carlisle. Sit back and enjoy the whole run, or get off at Ribblehead or Appleby for a walk. Carlisle is a good base for exploring Cumbria and Hadrian’s Wall.
Cambrian Line and Cambrian Coast: Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth and Pwllheli
Transport for Wales trains on the Cambrian Line head west from Shrewsbury through Welshpool, Newtown and the hills of Powys to Machynlleth. Just beyond, at lonely Dovey Junction, the route splits. One arm follows the Dyfi estuary to the university and seaside town of Aberystwyth in Ceredigion. The other — the Cambrian Coast line — turns north to Pwllheli, running for mile after mile beside Cardigan Bay. It crosses the Mawddach estuary on the long timber Barmouth Bridge, restored in a project completed in 2023, and passes beneath Harlech Castle on the western edge of Snowdonia. Minffordd station is the nearest to Portmeirion.
Heart of Wales line: Swansea to Shrewsbury
This is slow travel at its best. The Heart of Wales line links Swansea with Shrewsbury by way of Llanelli, Llandovery, Llandrindod Wells and Knighton, taking around four hours to cross deeply rural mid Wales. Expect small request-stop stations, the climb to Sugar Loaf summit and fine viaducts at Cynghordy and Knucklas. Transport for Wales operates all services, and there are only a handful of through trains each day, so check times carefully. The spa towns along the route make good overnight stops, and the line passes close to the Brecon Beacons.
Conwy Valley line: Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog
Starting at the Victorian resort of Llandudno, this Transport for Wales branch follows the Conwy estuary and river south, calls at the walkers’ village of Betws-y-Coed and then climbs through a long tunnel to the slate town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, in the heart of Snowdonia. The trip takes a little over an hour. At Blaenau you can step across to the narrow-gauge Ffestiniog Railway, a heritage line that runs down to the coast at Porthmadog on its operating days. See why Snowdonia in autumn for the best season to go.
St Ives Bay line: St Erth to St Ives
Short but spectacular, this Great Western Railway branch in west Cornwall is little more than four miles long and takes around ten to fifteen minutes. From St Erth, on the main line to Penzance, it skirts the Hayle estuary and then runs above the golden sands of Carbis Bay before arriving beside the beach in St Ives. Sit on the right-hand side leaving St Erth for the sea views. As driving and parking in St Ives are difficult in summer, the train is also the most practical way in.
More scenic train journeys in the UK
- East Coast Main Line, Newcastle to Edinburgh: the fast trains between Newcastle and Edinburgh run along the Northumberland coast, with glimpses of Holy Island and a grand crossing of the Tweed at Berwick. Sit on the seaward (eastern) side.
- Cumbrian Coast line, Carlisle to Barrow-in-Furness: a Northern service that follows the Irish Sea shore around the western edge of the Lake District.
- Exeter to Newton Abbot: Great Western Railway’s main line runs along the sea wall at Dawlish in South Devon, a few feet from the waves.
Plan your trip
- Check the timetable first. Rural lines may have only four or five trains a day, and fewer on Sundays and in winter. Missing one can mean a wait of several hours.
- Look out for engineering work. Buses sometimes replace trains on these lines, especially in late autumn and winter. Check National Rail or the operator’s website shortly before you travel.
- Reserve where you can. Seat reservations are available on some longer routes, and summer trains on the West Highland and Kyle lines are busy.
- Ask about rover and ranger tickets. Several of these regions have day or multi-day tickets that allow you to hop on and off; details are on the operators’ websites.
- Bring food and a map. Catering is limited or absent on many rural trains, and following the route on a map adds a lot to the journey.
- Need assistance? See the Passenger Assist section of our accessible holidays guide.
- Make it part of a bigger trip. Pair a rail journey with a UK city break at either end, or check what’s on along the route.