Travel in style on the Settle to Carlisle railway

Yorkshire Dales and Eden Valley, North Yorkshire

Take an unforgettable ride on one of the world's great railway journeys, which takes in stunning country landscapes, 20 viaducts and 14 tunnels.

The iconic Settle to Carlisle railway runs through the stunning scenery of the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbrian Fells, between the pretty market town of Settle and the historic border city of Carlisle.

The 72-mile (120-km) railway is world famous for its Victorian architecture, including the impressive 400 metre (1,300 ft) long Ribblehead viaduct, often captured on camera with its stunning backdrop of the Yorkshire Three Peaks.

The railway has a fascinating history as the last mainline railway in England to be constructed almost entirely by hand. Work began in 1869 and lasted for seven years, with around 6,000 men constructing the line. It has survived two attempts to close it – once in the early 1960s and later in the 1980s – but today is thriving, with millions of pounds having been invested in upgrading the track and stations.

Carlisle is 3 hours 15 minutes from London by train. 

Content provided by Yorkshire Dales National Park

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A steam train crossing Ribblehead viaduct in the snowA steam train crossing Ribblehead viaduct in the snow © John Lockwood
A steam train crossing Ribblehead viaductA steam train crossing Ribblehead viaduct © Cathy bradley

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