As the UK falls under autumn’s spell, train windows offer some of the best views of our changing landscape. Here are seven scenic rail journeys to make as the foliage goes out in a blaze of glory.
The Kyle Line, Scotland
Foggy peat bogs, misty Munros, eagles soaring under moody skies – there’s drama to the Highlands in autumn, when the landscape takes on a deep bronze hue. Serving up many of the region’s highlights is the Kyle Line as it rattles coast-to-coast between Inverness and the Kyle of Lochalsh.
A quieter alternative to the West Highland Line (see below), the mostly single-track railway flirts with the rugged Torridon Hills, calling at picturesque, middle-of-nowhere towns like Plockton, which featured in The Wicker Man. The lonesome peak of Ben Wyvis is another high point on the two-and-a-half-hour journey, which costs from £30 one-way.
Where to stay
Next to Kyle of Lochalsh station, Hector’s Bothy Flat is a cosy but spacious self-catering option with Skye views. From £140 per night.
The West Highland Line, Scotland
Scotland’s best known railway is a joy all year, but the bleakly beautiful scenery has added romance come autumn. Running between Glasgow and Mallaig (a separate branch goes on to Oban), the line skirts golden moors, misty lochs, and a cloud-cloaked Ben Nevis. It also crosses the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct, as featured in the Harry Potter films. The village of Arisaig, along the way, hosts the fantastic Fèis Na Mara folk festival every autumn (4–6 October). It’s worth stopping for. Without stops, the West Highland Line clocks in at around five hours. One-way tickets from £41.
Where to stay
A modern gastro pub with cosy rooms, Mallaig’s Chlachain Inn has doubles from around £89 per night.
The Settle-Carlisle Line, England
The image of a steam locomotive chugging over Ribblehead viaduct has become a symbol of Victorian Britain’s industrial heyday. Chartered steam trains still rattle along this route, as though rail’s golden age never ended, but mostly it’s served by regular regional services.
Plans to axe the line were derailed by passionate locals in 1989. This triumph of people power makes riding the railway all the more satisfying as it romps across the Yorkshire Dales and North Pennines. The landscapes are striking in autumn, when the moors take on rich tones of orange, gold and mahogany. The Railway Touring Company has a chartered steam service departing on 21 September (tickets from £115, leaving London). Regular Settle-Carlisle trains cost from £11.60 one-way, taking an hour and 40 minutes.
Where to stay
The Falcon Manor Hotel in Settle is quietly lavish with sweeping views of the golden dales. Doubles from £176, including breakfast.
Derry to Coleraine, Northern Ireland
This short but scenic railway takes in some of Northern Ireland’s prettiest coastal landscapes. Watching the late afternoon sun creep across the green flanks of Binevenagh Mountain is a highlight of the journey in autumn. Trains depart Derry often, following the River Foyle out of city, then skirting past golden beaches and verdant hills via weather-beaten seaside villages. Castlerock, one such village, is a fine spot for fish and chips.
Taking three-quarters of an hour, the journey may leave you wanting more, so combine it with a visit to the nearby Giant’s Causeway. A perhaps unexpected upcoming calendar highlight is Derry Halloween Festival (28–31 October), proudly “Europe’s largest”. One-way tickets from £13.
Where to stay
Bishop’s Gate Hotel is a boutique hotel with period charm in Derry’s historic cathedral quarter. Doubles from £165, excluding breakfast.
The Cotswold Line, England
Gentle hills, stone villages and cathedral cities provide a timeless backdrop to this route through one of England’s most idyllic regions. Crossing four counties, the Cotswold Line joins the dots between Oxford, Worcester and Hereford, cutting through apple orchards, rolling farms and ancient woods.
The trees go out in a blaze of glory come autumn, when the low sun makes the local Cotswold stone glow orange. For a taste of rural life, visit the eccentric Malvern Autumn Show (27–29 September), where supersized marrows compete for bragging rights in the Giant Vegetable Championship, and Gloucester old spots strut their stuff in the National Pig Show.
Where to stay
Gothic outside, contemporary inside, the Cotford Hotel is nearby Great Malvern station. Doubles from £175, including breakfast.
The Tarka Line, England
If you’re of the opinion that autumn afternoons were made for sipping ale in front of pub fires, the Tarka Line is for you. Joining the dots between some of Devon’s best pubs, the Exeter to Barnstable route forms part of a long-established (self-guided) pub crawl featuring a dozen boozers.
The rugged Devon scenery is a riot of colours as the trees shed their leaves, but it’s the amber glow of ale that many want to see on this journey. Without stopping, the trip takes around an hour and a quarter. With pub stops, all bets are off. One-way tickets on regular trains from £7.80.
Where to stay
Overlooking the River Taw, Branstable’s four-star Imperial Hotel has period charm and doubles from £115.
The Heart of Wales Line, Wales
Old castles, pretty spa towns and Wales’s perennially green hills line this scenic 121-mile route between Swansea and Shrewsbury. The views are a treat, especially from Cynghordy and Knucklas viaducts, which look out across rolling sheep-flecked hills and reddening woodlands.
The soothing waters of Llandrindod Wells, a Victorian spa town, are an antidote to the moody weather. Another worthwhile stop is Builth Wells, where the fruits of the Welsh harvest are celebrated at the Mid Wales Autumn Fayre (5-6 October). The route is served by scheduled trains; one-way tickets from £18.
Where to stay
The fairytale-esque Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells has a spa with doubles costing from £130, including breakfast.
Win a five-star European river cruise!
We’ve teamed up with Riviera Travel to offer one lucky i reader the opportunity to win a fabulous five-star European river cruise.
The lucky winner can select one river cruise from Riviera Travel’s exciting range of award-winning eight-day cruise itineraries travelling before October 31, 2025, and will be able to explore the best of Europe, whilst enjoying an included Superior drinks package.
Relax and take your pick from a wide range of selected drinks, as you cruise down one of Europe’s scenic waterways.
Maurice Saatchi: I used to adore capitalism – then I had lunch with Margaret Thatcher