It’s up there with the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, according to a new guide
Brecon Mountain Railway has been named as ‘one of the most beautiful scenic train journeys’ in Europe
When you think of scenic train rides, you naturally think of the Orient Express and journeys through the Swiss Alps. A list of the ‘Europe’s most beautiful scenic train journeys’ has just been compiled, based on Tripadvisor reviews – and it includes one that’s just a couple of hours from Birmingham.
The Brecon Mountain Railway takes you into the Brecon Beacons National Park, through Pontsticill and along the full length of the Taf Fechan Reservoir before climbing to Torpantau high in the glorious Brecon Beacons. Reviewers on Tripadvisor love the fact they can get off the train at Pontsticill to go for walks around the reservoir.
Kids can have a run around the play area and you can visit the Lakeside Cafe for lunch if you like before getting back on the train again to complete the 9.5 mile journey. Alternatively, you can pack your own picnic or visit the licensed tearooms at the main station in Pant for coffee, cake and bacon rolls before picking up souvenirs from the gift shop. Here, you’ll also find a workshop where you can watch steam locomotives and carriages being repaired.
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The list of Europe’s top scenic train journeys was compiled by student travel company Rustic Pathways, which analysed the number of Tripadvisor reviews containing beauty descriptors, such as ‘beautiful,’ ‘lovely’ and ‘spectacular’ across 29 scenic train journeys in Europe.
Each train journey was ranked based on the percentage of reviews containing these beauty keywords out of their total number of reviews. Other train rides featured include the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, the Flåm Railway in Norway, the Kyle Line in the Scottish Highlands and the Bernina Express, which travels from Switzerland to Italy.
Whilst it will take you a while and cost a pretty penny to reach Norway, Switzerland and Venice, the Brecon Mountain Railway is just over two hours from Birmingham via the M54, traffic permitting. Prices start from just £6 for one-way tickets, rising to around £22 for the full round trip. Find out more via the BMR website.
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The vintage railway gets a 4 star rating from more than 1,500 reviews on Tripadvisor. One happy reviewer posted: “This was a lovely experience, the staff and the driver and conductor were extremely friendly. They keep you informed of the local sights and where the train will be and what time it is returning. Wonderful day out and absolutely perfect for young kids.”
Another added: “The scenery is beautiful and the steam engine charming. The train stops beside a picturesque reservoir for 30 minutes on the return journey and makes an ideal picnic spot. There’s also a small children’s play area where little ones can burn off some steam.”
One raved about the restaurant at the main station in Pant saying he enjoyed ‘the best tasting bacon roll I have had in years’ and another appreciated the flexibility to be able to ‘go back on a later train if you want to go for a walk’.
Europe’s most ‘beautiful’ scenic train journeys
This is the top 10 list according to Rustic Pathway’s analysis of Tripadvisor:
1. Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
2. Vale of Rheidol Railway
3. Kyle Line
4. The Flam Railway
5. Bernina Express
6. Settle-Carlisle Railway
7. Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways
8. Gotthard Panorama Express
9. Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway
10. Brecon Mountain Railway
How to get to Brecon Mountain Railway from Birmingham
The address is Brecon Mountain Railway, Pant Road, Pant, Merthyr Tydfil CF48 2UP. Traffic permitting, it takes around two hours and 10 minutes to get there via the M54 and through Wye Valley and Abergavenny.