Dramatic peaks, sprawling valleys, enchanting waterfalls. Sounds like something from a fantasy movie, right?
But these are just some of the incredible views you’ll take in on one of the most scenic train journeys in Europe.
The route, which runs from Settle, North Yorkshire, to Carlisle in Cumbria, has been lauded by the travel gurus at Lonely Planet, and ranks above beautiful rail journeys across France, Germany and Austria, to name a few.
In 2024, it even beat the Bernina Express, the bucket list Switzerland to Italy route where glaciers roll into palm trees.
As for this UK gem, there are several ways to explore the landscape.
From classic vintage steam trains that chug along the tracks (in winter, the ice and fog provide major film vibes), a regular passenger service also transports people across the countryside.
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The Settle to Carlisle route is favoured by walkers and hikers who want to explore the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbrian fells on foot.
This takes in the Ribblehead viaduct, which Lonely Planet named as the best part of the 1-hour and 40-minute train journey.
‘Whether you have the whiff of steam in your nostrils or the hard-working growl of diesel-hauled regular trains in your ears, the views from the carriages are pretty much unmatched on the English railway network,’ Lonely Planet gushed in its review.
The travel experts also said the stations along the route look like something you’d expect to see ‘on a box of biscuits’. Yum.
Opened in 1875, the iconic Grade II-listed structure extends 440 yards (440m) and reaches heights of 104 feet (32m). The Yorkshire Dales National Park called it ‘a stunning piece of Victorian engineering’.
The Settle to Carlisle journey has hundreds of ‘excellent’ reviews on TripAdvisor, giving it an overall score of 4.5.
A commenter from Manchester described it as a ‘fantastic train journey,’ while another said it was a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience.
One visitor shared: ‘My wife and I had great expectations for this trip, and it lived up to them! The journey along the north Pennines was spectacular.
‘It was nostalgic to hear the steam engine pulling us up the relatively steep gradients. It was very hot and the views were clear’.
How to get on the Settle-Carlisle train line
The route is part of the national rail network, and despite the idyllic views, the Settle-Carlisle line is not exclusively part of heritage railways.
This means commuters can take the train as part of their commute.
Northern Railway operates a service between both stations, with tickets priced as low as £10. The journey takes 1 hour and 39 minutes and includes nine stops in between.
Trains usually have around an hour’s gap between departures. Travellers can also get the train to Carlisle from Leeds, with the journey lasting 2 hours and 50 minutes.
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