ON THE COVER Best Ever Railway Trips
Scenic railways offer a great way to see some of Europe’s most delightful landscapes
1 SEVERN VALLEY RAILWAY
The Severn Valley Railway is a traditional Victorian railway with six stations, including the pretty riverside towns of Bridgnorth and Bewdley. At Highly Station, explore the Engine House Visitor Centre, with exhibitions and locomotives inside. There’s a 1940s weekend every June and July, where visitors dress up in period clothing, with entertainment, song and dance on every station. WWW.SVR.CO.UK
2 CHUR, SWITZERLAND TO TIRANO, ITALY
The Bernina Express travels up glistening glaciers and through mountainous valleys, taking you along the Landwasser viaduct, and through a UNESCO World Heritage landscape. Board the train at Chur and travel for four hours (144 km) through the Alps, passing the pretty town of St Moritz, before reaching Tirano, just across the Italian border. The mountains are incredible, covered with snow in wintertime and abundant with lush foliage in the spring. It’s a breathtaking journey. WWW.RHB.CH/EN/PANORAMIC-TRAINS/BERNINA-EXPRESS
3
NORTH NORFOLK RAILWAY
The North Norfolk Railway dates from 1893 when the Midland and Great Northern Joint Railway was formed. Staff wear vintage uniforms harking back to its Victorian heyday. Sheringham, the main station, is a pretty seaside town full of independent shops and coastal charm. They have a 1940s weekend every September. At Holt, the terminus, there’s a museum, model railway exhibition and café. WWW.NNRAILWAY.CO.UK
4 OSLO TO BERGEN, NORWAY
The stretch of railway from Oslo to Bergen, via Flam, is often said to be one of the most picturesque train journeys in the world. Its popular name is the Norway in a Nutshell® tour, with stunning waterfalls, incredible scenery, snowy peaks and beautiful fjords. This scenic route combines travel by rail, coach and ferry. HTTPS://NORWAY.NORDICVISITOR.COM/TOURS/ TRAIN-OSLO-BERGEN-VIA-FLAM
5 WEST SOMERSET
West Somerset Railway travels from Bishops Lydeard, a pretty Victorian station, to the busy seaside town of Minehead. Make a request stop at Doniford Halt to visit Doniford Farm, a free attraction with exotic animals. Watchet has a small museum, shops, and pretty harbour. Dunster is a beautiful historic town, with Dunster Castle open to the public. WWW.WEST-SOMERSET-RAILWAY.CO.UK
6 THE JACOBITE RAILWAY
Travel through the Scottish Highlands on the Jacobite Railway from Fort William, across the Glenfinnan Viaduct, past beautiful lochs and glens. The viaduct famously appeared in the Harry Potter films, and the surrounding landscape is a good place to see red deer and birds of prey. The route continues through stunning scenery before terminating in Mallaig, a picturesque fishing port. WWW.WESTCOASTRAILWAYS.CO.UK/JACOBITE
7 NORTH YORKSHIRE MOORS RAILWAY
The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is perhaps most famous for its associations with the popular 1990s TV show, Heartbeat, and the wizarding legend, Harry Potter. The village of Goathland, one of the most popular stops on the railway, doubles as Aidensfield, where Heartbeat was filmed. The fictional show followed the fortunes of a small community policeman in rural 1960s Yorkshire. Goathland Station is also instantly recognisable as the location where Harry Potter stepped off the Hogwarts Express to reach Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. WWW.NYMR.CO.UK
8 KONSTANZ TO OFFENBURG, GERMANY
This stunning route takes you on an unforgettable ride past Lake Constance at Konstanz to the Black Forest, featured in HanselAndGretel, located just outside Offenburg. The 129km route typically takes 3.5 hours and passes vast forests, beautiful meadows, and pretty villages. The train travels across the Hornberg viaduct, with excellent views, then on through the charming town of Triberg en route to Offenburg. WWW.RAILEUROPE.CO.UK/DESTINATIONS/KONSTANZ-OFFENBURG-TRAIN