LONDONDERRY & COLERAINE RAILWAY

Lauded by Michael Palin, this Northern Irish single-track affair packs plenty into its 45 minutes. Heading north-east from Londonderry (about three hours by train from Belfast), it first curves northwards to afford vistas of the Foyle Estuary’s birds and gold-sand bays. The station at seaside resort Castlerock is accessed via Ireland’s two longest railway tunnels. Back in daylight, you next follow the River Bann towards

Coleraine. There you can board buses bound for Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge and the Giant’s Causeway.

Sit on: The right side is sea-facing. Stay overnight: Londonderry’s elegant Bishop’s Gate hotel is five minutes from the riverfront (from £129 B&B, bishopsgatehotelderry.com)

Elegant: Stay at Bishop’s Gate hotel before the start of your scenic journey

Sea view: The Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, which was built by fishermen