What to do and see in Scotland, United Kingdom: The Best Railways

Inverness - Thurso/ Wick. Venture north from Inverness, tracing the North Sea coast past distilleries, salmon rivers and golf courses to Thurso and the once-mighty fishing port of Wick. Take the train to the far north and you begin to see how wild and remote Scotland can be. The peat bog stretches for miles, and the train stops at the most unlikely stations on its way to the country’s northernmost train station, Thurso. You’ll see the vast expanse of the Flow Country, one of the RSPB’s prize peat habitats – and cross the finest salmon fishing rivers in Scotland. And then, of course, there’s the short hop by bus to John O’Groats, the most northerly inhabited point on the mainland. If that’s not quite north enough for you, get the train to Thurso and the ferry to Orkney from nearby Scrabster.

Historic live steam miniature railway set in the grounds of Strathaven Public Park. We have just celebrated 71 years of operating the railway in 2020. We have still in use the original locomotive which ran in the park for the first time on the 14th of May 1949. 'Margaret' is the locomotive in question and can be seen either on display or in use on special occasions. Weather permitting trains will be in operation from Easter to the end of September each weekend.

Travel coast to coast across the Highlands, in the shadows of mountains and forests, beside bright lochs and wide open moors. The Kyle line draws a wide arc from Inverness to the shores of Loch Alsh, taking in spectacular Highland scenery – and finishing with magnificent views of Skye. Just outside Inverness lies Dingwall, a pretty market town that’s perfect for a stop off or a connection to the Far North Line. From there, the train takes you past lochs and moors as you travel through the Highlands. Keep an eye out for one of the most distinctive mountain ranges in Scotland, the Torridon Peaks, looming out of the north. On the final stretch of the journey, the train picks its way along the coast south to Loch Alsh.

Three buildings full of wonders - from full-size locomotives to old fashioned railway signs. Follow the visitor trail or cross the footbridge at the Bo'ness & Kinneil Railway to discover Scotland's largest railway museum. Open 7 days a week from April to October and special event days in November and December.

Borders Railway: Edinburgh – Tweedbank. From the grandeur of the Scottish capital to the Borders town of Tweedbank, this scenic route takes you through former mining towns, wide open farmland and the lush valleys that the Borders are famous for. The Borders Railway begins at a station named after a novel by Sir Walter Scott, and ends just a stone’s throw from where he wrote it. From Edinburgh Waverley to Tweedbank this new stretch of track opens up the Scottish Borders for the first time since 1969. The train heads south from Edinburgh, passing through old mining villages such as Newtongrange and Gorebridge. From Stow the train pushes on to Galashiels, one of the largest towns in the borders, with a long history of textiles. The final stop is Tweedbank where you can explore the pretty market town of Melrose, or head out to Abbotsford House, Sir Walter Scott’s home, to explore the history of one of Scotland’s most famous writers.