The Settle to Carlisle Railway

What makes the Settle to Carlisle Railway so special? The railway route, also known as the Settle and Carlisle Line, is one of the most scenic train journeys in the UK, cutting through the North Pennines and Yorkshire Dales on its way to the border of Scotland and England. The line is a triumph of Victorian railway building, travelling across 20 viaducts and through 14 tunnels, linking remote communities and opening up some of Northern England’s most rugged countryside, by rail.

Opened for passengers in 1876, the Settle to Carlisle Railway was built by Midland Railway and was once the third main line to Scotland. Never as fast as its rival lines, it was almost closed in the 1980s, but was then saved in 1989 after a long campaign by supporters. Today, it's both a vital rural railway for the local community, and an attraction in its own right.

Read on for everything you need to know about the Settle to Carlisle Railway: ticket prices, train information, and exactly what you’ll see along the way.

OpenStreetMap contributors: openstreetmap.org

Map of the Settle to Carlisle Railway.

The Settle to Carlisle Railway train: an overview

The Settle to Carlisle Railway runs for 72 miles between Settle in North Yorkshire and Carlisle in Cumbria. There are two services that run along its tracks:

• Regional trains, which form part of the longer route from Leeds to Carlisle and are currently operated by Northern Trains.

• Steam-hauled trains from York/Chester to Carlisle, run by West Coast Railways on selected dates between June and September.

The Settle to Carlisle Railway by regional train

Regional train services on the Settle to Carlisle Railway typically run seven times a day in each direction, though weekend schedules vary slightly. The full journey from Settle to Carlisle takes around 1 hour and 45 minutes, but it's worth setting aside a whole day or more to explore stops along the line like Ribblehead, Garsdale, Kirkby Stephen, or Appleby-in-Westmorland.

Onboard facilities are basic but comfortable, with large windows to soak up the views. The trains have toilets, and some have limited space for bicycles. There’s no catering service, so it’s best to bring your own picnic for the journey.

The price of a flexible point-to-point single ticket between Settle and Carlisle starts from £15.50. A flexible anytime day return is about £38. First class is not available on this route. If you’re travelling on a flexible ticket, you can get off and on the train at stops along the way as long as you travel within your ticket's validity period. Other ticket options include a rail rover pass or a one-day Settle & Carlisle Day Ranger £40.80, both of which give you unlimited travel along the line, and the ability to hop on and off freely. The route is also included on Interrail passes for non-UK residents, and additional seat reservations are free (but must be booked in advance).

The Settle to Carlisle Railway by steam train

For something a bit more nostalgic, you can travel along the Settle to Carlisle Railway by steam train in summer. The steam-hauled trains travel from York/Chester to Carlisle on selected dates from June to September.

Prices typically start at around £93 per adult for a standard class round-trip. There is no single journey option, so if you only want to go one-way then you’ll still have to purchase the return ticket. First-class and premier dining upgrades are available, with tickets costing from £185 - £389.

The steam train journey includes vintage carriages, onboard food service, and slower travel with extended stops for photography. However, the steam trips are infrequent, must be pre-booked, and operate to fixed schedules without the flexibility of the regional trains.

Adam Brookes (Adambro)

Settle Station signal box.

The Settle to Carlisle Railway route: stop by stop

Settle

The railway begins at Settle, a market town on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. If you’re staying overnight before the journey, the two-mile walk from the town to Giggleswick is fully accessible and worth a wander. Alternatively, catch the 881 bus to the nearby village of Malham for the three-mile walk to Janet’s Foss waterfall, or take a blacksmithing class at the woman-owned Malham Smithy. In Settle, the Folly Museum was built in 1679 and explores local history and life in the area. Before boarding the train, swing by Ye Olde Naked Man Café for a strong coffee, cake or a jar of locally-made chutney.

Gary Butterfield

Ribblehead Viaduct.

Horton-in-Ribblesdale and Ribblehead

Soon after departure, the train starts to climb into limestone country. As you pass Horton-in-Ribblesdale, look east to spot Pen-y-ghent, one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks. The 6.3 mile circular walk from the station is popular with hikers.

The most scenic stretch is just ahead. Ribblehead Viaduct crosses 24 arches and runs for 400 metres, spanning Batty Moss. The views from the train are panoramic, especially if you sit on the right heading north. If you choose to stop here, have lunch at the Station Inn then walk to the base of the viaduct in about 20 minutes.

Parrot of Doom

Dent.

Dent and Garsdale

Dent is the highest altitude mainline station in England at 1,150 feet. The platform sign is often rimmed with frost, even in spring. Beyond Dent, the train drops gradually through wild moorland.

The following stop, Garsdale, was once a major junction and is known for its long winters and snowdrifts. The old signal box and original waiting room are still standing. From Garsdale station, you can take the community-run Little White Bus (£3 for adults) to Hawes to sample some famed Wensleydale cheese.

Ian Cylkowski

Skenrith Park, Kirkby Stephen.

Kirkby Stephen

Another stop worth exploring is Kirkby Stephen, a traditional market town surrounded by a landscape of pastoral rural scenery and the wild uplands of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The station is about a 15-minute walk from the town centre, where you can visit the old Kirkby Stephen East Station, a preserved railway heritage centre with exhibits. While there, you can take a steam train along a quarter of the Eden Valley Railway Line. Or, discover Stenkrith Park, where the River Eden drops into a gorge known as Coopkarnel/Coop Kernan Hole (or the Devil's Mustard Mill!) and is crossed by the Millennium Bridge.

Cacolantern

River Eden at Appleby-in-Westmorland.

Appleby-in-Westmorland and Langwathby

Back on the train, the scenery begins to shift from rolling hills to gentler farmland and woodland. Appleby-in-Westmorland is the most popular intermediate stop. The ancient market town sits beside the River Eden. Walk down to the castle grounds to take a guided tour, or along the riverside path to Bongate Mill. On market days, you’ll find local traders selling local cheese, tools and horse tack.

From Appleby, the train hugs the Eden Valley. You’ll pass through Langwathby, which has a signal box turned café that opens seasonally. A riverside trail from here leads to Long Meg and Her Daughters, a Bronze Age stone circle about 1.5 miles away.

Johnny Gios

Carlisle.

Carlisle and onwards

The final stretch into Carlisle is softer. The terrain levels out and the Fells begin to recede. Once you arrive at Carlisle, the contrast from the surrounding countryside to cityscape is immediate. This is a city with layers of border history. Visit the Tullie House Museum for Roman artefacts from Hadrian’s Wall, or walk five minutes to Carlisle Castle, a fortress that has guarded the Anglo-Scottish frontier for 900 years.

If you're continuing your journey, Carlisle station links with three railway lines: the West Coast Main Line if you want to head north to Glasgow or south to Manchester, the Cumbrian Coast Line for views of the Solway Coast and Roman history, and the Tyne Valley Line for Hexham, Newcastle and the Northumberland Coast. All are worth exploring, especially the coastal route to Whitehaven via Workington, which offers the chance to explore a lesser-visited part of Cumbria.

Travel along the Settle to Carlisle Railway on this trip by rail to Yorkshire and the Borders, or check out more UK slow travel holidays by train.

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Adrienne Salmon

Whitehaven Harbour.