Driving along a 72-mile portrait route through the north EnglandThe Settle-Carlisle Railway is a bucket list experience for rail travellers.
You can view badlands, valleys, charming rural stations and famous landmarks – all from the comfort of your own home.
The road, which runs from Settle, North YorkshireTHE Carlisle IN Cumbriait has been rated by the travel gurus at Lonely Planet, and is ranked higher beautiful railway journeys through France, Germany and Austria, to name a few.
In fact, it even took home the 2025 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award, placing it in the top 10% of lists across the globe.
Now, it is celebrating a major milestone, with a record number of passengers expected to travel along the historic line as it approaches its 150th year of service.
To mark the anniversary, line operator Northern will be offering thousands of £1.50 tickets to customers traveling the route in the coming months.
Last year, around 995,000 passengers made the journey. But the train’s commercial and customer director Alex Hornby says he is confident the scenery will entice more than a million to do so in 2026.
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The line features 20 viaducts, 14 tunnels and sweeping views along its 72-mile route – the most famous being the Ribblehead Viaduct.
Opened in 1875, the iconic Grade II listed structure stretches 440 yards (440 m) and reaches a height of 104 feet (32 m).
of Yorkshire Dales The National Park has called it “a stunning piece of Victorian engineering”.
Serving towns such as Settle in North Yorkshire and Appleby-in-Westmorland in Cumbria, the Settle-Carlisle line was almost closed in the 1980s.
However, a campaign launched by rail groups, enthusiasts, local authorities and residents along the route pulled it back from the brink.
Since then, despite numerous closures – mainly to allow for essential engineering work – hundreds of thousands of passengers have continued to use the line each year.
The Settle Carlisle Railway Development Company will run a steam hire train between Carlisle and York on May 25.
Loved by locals and tourists alike, the route is usually favored by walkers and hikers who want to explore the Yorkshire Dales and Cumbrian fells on foot.
Described by TikTok creator @MillHouseCottages as ‘pure solitude’, the route allows passengers to ‘roam through history and hills’.
@grannysandy68 shared a video of her experience traveling the route, sharing: ‘Stunning scenery across the Yorkshire Highlands and North Pennines. Ideal family day out or solo trip, and ideal for hikers to access the Three Peaks and many other routes on foot.
Another visitor noted: ‘Even on a foggy day, it’s still beautiful.’
The Yorkshire Dales attracts over five million visitors each year, with tourists from all over the world attracted by the trails, history, scenic views and picturesque greystone villages nestled in the valleys.
How to board the Settle-Carlisle train line
The route is part of the national rail network and despite the idyllic scenery, the Settle-Carlisle line is not exclusively part of the heritage railways.
This means that people can take the train on this line as part of their journey.
Northern Railway operates a service between the two stations, with some tickets priced as low as £10.
Journey times between Settle and Carlisle are usually around 1 hour 45 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the number of stops.
Trains usually have about an hour gap between departures. Travelers can also take the train to Carlisle from Leedswith a trip lasting 2 hours and 50 minutes.
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