If you fancy a pleasant train journey without crossing the country's borders, this 73-mile railway line in Northern England might be worth giving a go. The Settle-Carlisle Railway, running between Settle in North Yorkshire and Carlisle in Cumbria, has been named one of Europe's most scenic railway lines by Lonely Planet, and takes you through the Yorkshire Dales and Eden Valley. The 19th-century marvel running through the Pennines, is not short of superlatives. It is renowned as one of England's most scenic and steepest main lines. Reaching 1,169 feet at Aisgill Summit, it is also the highest point on a main line in England.
The stunning journey features 22 viaducts - most notably the 24-arch Ribblehead - and 14 tunnels, built through rugged, remote terrain. Its history shows how beloved it is by travellers. After being threatened with closure in the 1980s due to the deterioration of Ribblehead viaduct, a massive public campaign saved it, and now it thrives as a tourist attraction and vital community link, consistently recording over one million passenger journeys a year.
One traveller commented on Reddit: "I just returned from a rail-heavy 2 week holiday in the UK, and was lucky enough to ride the Settle & Carlisle on the way to Edinburgh. My husband and I shared a table seat with an older retired couple whose goal is to ride all the active rail lines in the UK and hike the abandoned ones. They gave us an informal guided tour of the region, showed us how to read the elevation charts and maps, and generally were wonderful companions. Everyone on the train was relaxed and having a great time. And the scenery was stunningly beautiful."
The Settle-Carlisle Railway is a year-round destination, and the best time to visit depends on whether you prefer a vibrant scenery with lush views (summer or autumn) or more dramatic landscapes with snow (winter).
One-way ticket prices start at £4.60, according to Northern Railway. As part of the 150-year celebration of the service, the line launched a free digital app to guide passengers through what it describes "one of Europe's most scenic train journeys".
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