Using some of the country’s most picturesque train lines, these walks delve into equally pretty scenes
Our rail network may get some flak, but one thing it does do well is scenic journeys. The country is criss-crossed by lines that take in some of its most picturesque landscapes, and many have parallel walking trails – or nearby routes that detour to charming towns, moody mountains and field-trimmed coastline.
These are some of the railway lines that offer the best connections and experiences for walkers, both for end-of-the-line rambles or hop-on-hop-off hikes.
Heart of Wales Line, Wales 
The Heart of Wales Line goes through stunning scenery (Photo: Dominic Vacher Photography)
Linking Swansea and Shrewsbury through the Welsh Marches, the Heart of Wales Line opened in 1868 and still provides a wonderful, slow-moving window onto this bucolic borderland. The railway has now been joined by the Heart of Wales Line Trail, a 227km hike that winds between stations, offering an even slower way to explore.
The landscape constantly changes. There are water-side trails around Llanelli and the Loughor Estuary, before the route hits Carmarthenshire’s Beacons-edge hiking country, accessible from Llandovery and Llandeilo.
Beyond lies Cynghordy’s terrific viaduct and the wild countryside of Powys’ spa towns. There is another impressive viaduct at Knucklas, plus sections of Offa’s Dyke, before train and trail cross into Shropshire.
The trail visits most of the railway’s 29 stops (and where it doesn’t, there are linking paths), so walkers are able to access any section by train.
Need to know: heart-of-wales.co.uk. Stay at Bucknell’s Station Cottage from £282 for two nights, stationcottagebucknell.co.uk
West Highland Line, Scotland 
Harry Potter’s Glenfinnan Viaduct (Photo: Antoine van de Laar /Getty)
The train line from Glasgow to the wee port of Mallaig, via Fort William, is arguably the most scenic in Britain. It is also the best – and sometimes only – way to access walks in this rugged part of the country, including sections of the West Highland Way.
For instance, from Ardlui you can ferry-hop across Loch Lomond to hike the West Highland Way to Crianlarich and/or Bridge of Orchy (both have stations). You could then take the train across the mind-blowing bleakness of Rannoch Moor, disembarking at Corrour (the country’s highest, most remote station) to bag a few munros. Alternatively, jump off at Spean Bridge to hike forest trails into Fort William.
Don’t miss the final leg of the railway, from Fort William to Mallaig, to cross the magical and recently restored Glenfinnan Viaduct, of Harry Potter fame.
Need to know: scotrail.co.uk. Macs Adventure offers an eight-day West Highland Line Rail Hike from £1,079pp, macsadventure.com
Heart of Wessex Line, Somerset, Wiltshire & Dorset
Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire is well known for its canal, historic buildings, shops, pubs and restaurants (Photo: by Andrea Pucci/Moment RF/Getty)
This 140km-long line is ideal for strolling through the South West. It begins in buzzy Bristol, first running to Bath, the two cities connected both by an active railway and a long-disused one, now a traffic-free Railway Path.
It then heads south, via the likes of Bradford-on-Avon, which is an excellent hiking hub, with its own “walking wheel” – 42 miles of waymarked routes in and around the town (walkbradfordonavon.org). The Wessex line also takes in hipster Bruton, Yeovil (for the Yeo Valley), Dorchester’s Thomas Hardy country and coastal options from Weymouth.
You don’t have to walk alone. Founded in 1995 to encourage use of the line (the Westbury-Weymouth section was under threat of closure), the Wessex Wanderers rambling group offers free-to-join circular and linear guided walks from April to October.
Need to know: southwessexcrp.org.uk, wessexrailwaywalks.org.uk. Broad Street Townhouse in Bath has B&B doubles from £100 a night, butcombe.com/broad-street-townhouse-bath. The Chapel in Bruton has B&B doubles from £145 a night, atthechapel.co.uk
East Suffolk Lines, Suffolk
Pretty Framlingham in Suffolk (Photo: Laurence Berger/iStock Editorial/Getty)
Connecting the ports of Lowestoft and Felixstowe, the East Suffolk Lines open up swathes of little-tramped countryside. Indeed, the railway operator has mapped almost 260km of walks, including routes between its stations, that variously take in river estuaries, coastal heaths, handsome market towns and ancient sites.
Where to start? Perhaps with a lovely walk along the River Deben from genteel Woodbridge to Melton; from the latter station, you can add on a loop to the Anglo-Saxon burial site of Sutton Hoo. Or hop off at Wickham Market to walk through the Alde Valley to Saxmundham or over to picturesque Framlingham, home of Ed Sheeran’s “Castle on the Hill” (this requires a bus ride back). Or follow the River Waveney between the stations at Beccles and Oulton Broad, for big skies and bird-filled marsh.
Need to know: eastsuffolklines.co.uk/walks. Stay at the Station Guesthouse in Woodbridge, which has B&B doubles from £200 for two nights, stationguesthouse.co.uk
Settle to Carlisle Railway, North Yorkshire & Cumbria
The picturesque Settle to Carlisle Railway (Photo: Settle to Carlisle)
The Settle to Carlisle Railway is an engineering feat – and a treat for your feet. When the Victorians built this line through the Yorkshire Dales and the Eden Valley, they had to construct 14 tunnels and 20-odd viaducts – most impressively Ribblehead, with its 24 arches towering over the moor.
While it is a scenic line to ride, you will get an even more immersive experience by using it to hike all or parts of the Settle to Carlisle Way, which follows in its wake.
The 157km trail gets up-close to viaducts, climbs over Blea Moor tunnel and visits charming spots such as Appleby and Langwathby.
There are also great views to the Yorkshire Three Peaks – Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough – as well as into magnificent Dentdale, through the glacial Mallerstang valley and up to the North Pennine Hills.
Need to know: settle-carlisle.co.uk. Mickledore offers an eight-night Settle to Carlisle Way package from £927pp including accommodation, mickledore.co.uk
Hope Valley Line & Derwent Valley Line, Derbyshire
The Derwent Ladybower reservoir in Englands Peak District National Park (Photo: KevinHolt/Getty/E+)
The 89km Derwent Valley Heritage Way links Ladybower Reservoir, in the southern Peak District, to Derby, via the Derwent Valley Mills Unesco site. It’s a delightful journey through both Derbyshire’s rolling dales and its industrial heritage – and is easy to access by train.
The Hope Valley Line serves Bamford and Hathersage, just south of Ladybower – good places to detour onto the dramatic Stanage Edge. From Hathersage, it is a lovely walk south, via Chatsworth, to Rowsley, where you could catch a Peak Rail steam train to Matlock (peakrail.co.uk).
The Derwent Valley Line starts in Matlock and runs down to Derby, opening up rail-walking options along the Heritage Way. Don’t forget to pay a visit to Cromford Mills – Sir Richard Arkwright’s 1771 cotton spinning mill, now open to the public, a short walk from Cromford station.
Need to know: derwentvalleytrust.org.uk/walk, derwentvalleyline.org.uk/walks. Stay at the Old Station House in Rowsley, where B&B doubles start at £170 for two nights, oldstationhousebandb.org.uk
Cotswold & Malvern Line, Worcestershire 
Walking in the Malvern Hills (Photo: Neil Bussey/Getty/iStock Editorial)
Four rail lines spider through Worcestershire, linking to its county town. And the Worcestershire Community Rail Partnership has created station-to-station walking trails along all of them, with downloadable guides that give directions and point out interesting sights along the way.
Walk along the Wyre Valley Line (48km), which links Kidderminster, Droitwich Spa and rolling Midlands countryside. It follows canal towpaths and sections of the Monarch’s Way (the escape route taken by Charles II in 1651), flirts with the River Stour and passes the Falling Sands Viaduct, where you might spot the steam locos of the Severn Valley heritage railway.
Or opt for a walk along the Cotswold and Malvern Line (65km), which runs between the mini-but-marvellous Malvern Hills and the fruit-filled Vale of Evesham.
Need to know: wcrp.org.uk/rail-trails. Stay at the historic Cardinal’s Hat in Worcester, with B&B doubles from £70 a night, the-cardinals-hat.co.uk
Cambrian Coast Line, Wales
The view from Constitution Hill over Aberystwyth (Photo BriBar/Getty/E+)
The scenic Cambrian Railway network has two strands. One links Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth via undulating mid-Wales.
The other connects Aberystwyth to Pwllheli (via Machynlleth), running along the shore in convenient proximity to the Wales Coast Path. Indeed, this 160km section of Coast Path passes within half a mile (or less) of every Cambrian Railway station, making it easy to plan a variety of rail walks. Just be prepared: 15 of the 27 stations are request stops.
Tracing the Meirionnydd coast and part of the Llyn Peninsula, the walk between Aberystwyth and Pwllheli is a cracker.
It includes the 13th-century castles at Harlech and Criccieth, the Italianate village of Portmeirion (a mile from Minffordd station) and Barmouth’s long beach and viaduct, plus views up to Snowdonia and across Cardigan Bay.
Need to know: thecambrianline.co.uk, walescoastpath.gov.uk. Celtic Trails offers a six-night Meirionnydd Coastal Path trip from £795pp, including B&B accommodation, celtictrailswalkingholidays.co.uk