Best UK Rail Trips through the Countryside
British railways and countryside are two of the most famous attributes of the country. The best part is, when you use the British railway system you often to get to see some beautiful countryside. Beyond that, if you are visiting the UK from abroad or are going somewhere you’ve never been, using the trains is a great way to see the landscapes you yearn for. The UK is relatively small, you can travel into the past and see a world you’ve only dreamt of in a short amount of time.
The Highlands in Scotland
Scotland’s rugged highlands are exactly what dreams are made of. The expanse and remoteness of the land has encapsulated British and foreigners alike for generations. There’s no wondering why, then, that it has become one of the UK’s most sought after rail journeys according to the site MoneyPug, which specializes as a platform to compare holidays among other things.
Through Yorkshire Dales National Park
The train from Settle to Carlisle weaves through Yorkshire Dales National Park, a beautiful landscape of idyllic hills. It takes up over a third of the journey and entrances passengers with its green valleys and stone barns on the edges of moorland.
The Ribblehead viaduct is probably the route’s most dramatic feature. The backdrop of Pen-y-ghent Mountain, which is one of three Yorkshire Peaks, doesn’t hurt. Whatever the weather, the rail journey provides amazing natural scenery. It is perhaps more beautiful in the rain, when the water flows over the hills and creates waterfalls. In addition to the natural scenery, you have the option to take the trip by steam train and get a feel for the romanticized era of the original British railway.
Climb a Mountain in Wales
Wales is known for its natural landscape, but you don’t have to hike to enjoy its beauty. Instead of trekking to the top of Mount Snowdon, for example, you can a train up it. In just an hour you can take the locomotive that was built in 1896 can take you up the summit. Half of the time is spent at a stopover where you can enjoy the views. It is especially spectacular when the weather is clear. But if the weather does change, it rains quite often in Wales, there is a café at the summit where you can get warm.
The Flying Scotsman from London to Edinburgh
If you are enjoying a trip to the United Kingdom from abroad, you may want to see both England and Scotland. You probably also want see some beautiful countryside that the UK is known for. This may sound like a lot, but it’s actually very easy. If you take the Flying Scotsman from London to Edinburgh, you can have the experience of riding on an old steam train with the productivity of getting there in under five hours. From the English capital to the Scottish capital, you can relax while enjoying lovely fields, a beautiful coastline, and lush countryside.
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is popular for a reason. Not only does it take you through some amazingly beautiful scenery in the North York Moors National Park, you will have the chance to ride a steam train. If you are a Harry Potter fan, visit the restored station Goathland, known in the films as Hogsmeade Station. There are many reason to take this route, but perhaps the biggest of them all is the grand, gorgeous landscape.
Craven Arms to Llanelli
This train goes 120 miles between Shropshire and Wales from Shrewsbury. The stretch between Craven Arms to Llanelli is the highlight, with a beautiful green landscape that surrounds you. Take this route to get a real look at Wales and dive deep into its beautiful hills. Here you can get off the beaten path and have some truly unique experiences in the Welsh countryside.
It doesn’t matter what you have in mind, there is a train journey for you. There is great countryside all around the UK. If you are coming for a trip or simply want to see a new part of your own country, take a railway journey through the rural areas of the UK. What you will find will be quaint, beautiful, and vast.
Ryan Beitler is a journalist, writer, and traveler. He has been published in Paste Magazine, The Slovenia Times, New Noise Magazine, OC Weekly, and numerous travel sites. He can be reached at ryanrbeitler@gmail.com
