Britain’s most scenic train journeys

North

Inverness to Thurso ScotRail (0845 601 5929; www.scotrail.co.uk)

The Scarborough Spa Express From York to Scarborough, West Coast Railways (www.westcoastrailways.co.uk; 0845 128 4681)

The West Highland Line From Glasgow to Mallaig, ScotRail (0845 601 5929; www.scotrail.co.uk)

The Jacobite steam train runs along the route from May to October (www.westcoastrailways.co.uk/jacobite.cfm)

The Fellsman A 260-mile steam-hauled journey on the Settle to Carlisle Railway, Northern Rail (0845 000 0125; www.northernrail.org)

Lancaster to Carlisle Northern Rail

Carlisle to Newcastle Following the valleys of the South and North Tyne, Northern Rail Manchester Piccadilly to Sheffield Via the Edale and Hope Valleys, Northern Rail Grosmont to Goathland Then onwards through the scenic moorland of Newtondale, North Yorkshire Moors Railway (01751 472508; www.nymr.co.uk)

Middlesbrough to Whitby Esk Valley Railway (01947 601987; www.eskvalleyrailway.co.uk)

Birmingham (Snow Hill, Moor Street, Tyseley) to Henley and Stratford-upon-Avon Vintage Trains (0121-708 4960;www.shakespeareexpress.com)

Kidderminster to Bridgnorth Severn Valley Railway (www.svr.co.uk) Murton Derwent Valley Light Railway (01904 489966; www.dvlr.org.uk) Rockingham to Elsecar Runs through the South Yorkshire countryside beside the Dearne and Dove Canal, Elsecar Heritage Railway (01226 746746; www.elsecarrailway.co.uk) Embsay to Bolton Abbey Embsay & Bolton Abbey Steam Railway (01756 710614; www.embsayboltonabbeyrailway.org.uk) Keighley to Oxenhope Through the Worth Valley via Oakworth, the location used in the film of The Railway Children, Keighley & Worth Valley Railway (01535 645214; www.kwvr.co.uk) The Olivier Award-winning production of The Railway Children has just reopened for a new season on stage at the former Eurostar terminus in London Waterloo (www. railwaychildrenwaterloo.com) Clayton West to Shelley Kirklees Light Railway (www.kirkleeslightrailway.com; 01484 865727)

Pickering to Whitby North Yorkshire Moors Railway

South The West Somerset Railway From Bishop's Lydeard to Minehead (01643 704996; www.west-somerset-railway.co.uk) The Bluebell Railway Between Sheffield Park and Kingscote (01825 720800; www.bluebell-railway.co.uk)

The Tarka Line From Exeter to Barnstaple, First Great Western (0845 700 0125; www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk)

Atlantic Coast Line From Par to Newquay, First Great Western Maritime Line From Truro to Falmouth Docks, First Great Western

St Ives Bay Line From St Erth to St Ives, First Great Western

Looe Valley Line From Liskeard to Looe, First Great Western

Night Riviera Sleeper From London to Penzance, First Great Western Tamar Valley Line From Plymouth to Gunnislake, First Great Western Newbury to Pewsey Following the Kennet and Avon canal, First Great Western

The Marshlink Line From Ashford to Hastings, Southern Railway (0845 127 2920; www.southernrailway.com)

Watercress Line From Alton to Alresford (01962 733810; www.watercressline.co.uk)

Wales

The Cambrian From Machynlleth to Porthmadog and Pwllheli, West Coast Railways (From 2012; www.westcoastrailways.co.uk; 0845 128 4681)

Caernarfon to Blaenau Ffestiniog Through Snowdonia, Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways (01766 516000; www.festrail.co.uk) The Banwy Valley Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway (01938 810441; www.wllr.org.uk) Shrewsbury to Swansea Through the Welsh Marches, Arriva Trains Wales (www.arrivatrainswales.co.uk; 0845 606 1660) Tywyn to Abergynolwyn and Nant Gwernol Talyllyn Railway (01654 710472; www.talyllyn.co.uk)

East Anglia

Norwich to Cromer and Sheringham The Bittern Line, a Community Rail Partnership (www.bitternline.com) Aylsham to Wroxham Bure Valley Railway (01263 733858;www.bvrw.co.uk) Sheringham to Holt North Norfolk Railway (01263 820800; www.nnrailway.co.uk)

Ireland

Belfast to Londonderry Translink (028 90 66 66 30; www.translink.co.uk)

Best trains

London to the Cathedral cities Line Cathedrals Express, Steam Dreams (01483 209888; www.steamdreams.com) The Royal Scotsman, Northern Belle and British Pullman Orient-Express (0845 077 2222; www.orient-express.com)