Britain's Best Heritage Steam Railways to Ride While Camping

Britain has more preserved railways than any country on earth, and most of the best ones run straight through the sort of country you want to camp in. A heritage steam line makes a brilliant half-day out from a tent or caravan: you pitch up nearby, ride a restored locomotive through a national park or along a coast, and you are back at the campfire by evening. This is the pick of the lines worth planning a trip around.

Around 150 heritage railways operate across the UK, most of them run largely by volunteers and represented by the Heritage Railway Association. They range from full-size standard gauge lines pulling Victorian carriages to little narrow gauge railways built to serve slate quarries. A good number sit within a short drive of a campsite, which is what makes them such an easy add-on to a camping weekend.

This guide is part of our wider guide to camping at the UK's heritage sites, and it sits alongside the campsite listings on Camping Sites in Britain, where you can find and compare pitches close to every line below.

The heritage railways worth a camping trip

Ten lines stand out for scenery, restoration quality and proximity to good camping. The table sums them up, and the sections below give the detail.

Railway	Route	Region	Known for
North Yorkshire Moors Railway	Pickering to Whitby via Goathland	North Yorkshire	One of the busiest heritage lines in the world
Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways	Caernarfon and Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog	Gwynedd, Eryri	Narrow gauge through Snowdonia
Settle to Carlisle line	Settle to Carlisle	Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria	Mainline scenery over the Ribblehead Viaduct
Severn Valley Railway	Kidderminster to Bridgnorth	Worcestershire and Shropshire	Standard gauge steam along the River Severn
Bluebell Railway	Sheffield Park to East Grinstead	Sussex	The first preserved standard gauge passenger line
West Somerset Railway	Bishops Lydeard to Minehead	Somerset	The longest heritage railway in England
The Jacobite	Fort William to Mallaig	Scottish Highlands	The Glenfinnan Viaduct, the "Harry Potter train"
Snowdon Mountain Railway	Llanberis to the summit of Yr Wyddfa	Gwynedd, Eryri	Britain's only public rack and pinion mountain railway
Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway	Ravenglass to Dalegarth	Lake District, Cumbria	Miniature narrow gauge into the western fells
Strathspey Railway	Aviemore to Broomhill	Cairngorms, Highlands	Steam through the Cairngorms National Park

North Yorkshire Moors Railway

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway is one of the busiest heritage lines in the world, and the obvious choice if you are camping in the North York Moors. Steam trains run from Pickering across the moors through Goathland and Grosmont, with many services continuing over Network Rail metals into Whitby on the coast. Goathland station played Hogsmeade in the first Harry Potter film, so it draws a steady crowd.

The line cuts through open heather moorland that is at its best in late summer, and Whitby at the far end gives you an abbey, a harbour and proper fish and chips. Check current timetables and fares on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway site before you travel. There is plenty of camping across the national park, and you can browse pitches in North Yorkshire to find a base near Pickering or the coast.

Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways

These two narrow gauge lines are the standout railway experience in Snowdonia, now known as Eryri. The Ffestiniog Railway climbs from the harbour at Porthmadog up to the slate town of Blaenau Ffestiniog, using track first laid in the 1830s to carry slate down to the sea. The Welsh Highland Railway runs 25 miles from Caernarfon to Porthmadog around the flank of Yr Wyddfa, which makes it the longest heritage railway in the UK.

Both are worked by powerful narrow gauge steam locomotives and pass through some of the finest mountain scenery in Wales. Timetables and tickets are on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways site. For a base, the campsites around Gwynedd put you within reach of both lines and the wider Eryri fells.

Settle to Carlisle line

The Settle to Carlisle line is a working mainline rather than a preserved railway, and it is one of the most scenic rail journeys in England. Ordinary scheduled trains carry you 72 miles through the Yorkshire Dales and the Eden Valley, over the 24 arches of the Ribblehead Viaduct and through the long Blea Moor Tunnel beneath the fells.

Steam charters run over the line through the year, but you do not need one to enjoy it, as any service train delivers the views. Details and station information are on the Settle-Carlisle Railway site. Ribblehead sits close to the Three Peaks, so it pairs naturally with a walking and camping trip in the Dales.

Severn Valley Railway

The Severn Valley Railway is one of the finest standard gauge steam lines in the country, running 16 miles between Kidderminster and Bridgnorth. The route follows the River Severn through Worcestershire and Shropshire, crossing the water on the Victoria Bridge and stopping at beautifully kept stations along the way. Bridgnorth itself, with its cliff railway and old town, is worth the ride alone.

The railway runs a full events programme, from dining trains to wartime weekends. Plan your visit using the official Severn Valley Railway site at svr.co.uk. The Severn Valley makes a strong day out if you are exploring Britain's industrial heritage on the same trip, since the line runs close to Ironbridge Gorge.

Bluebell Railway

The Bluebell Railway holds a place in history as the first preserved standard gauge passenger railway in the world, reopened by volunteers in 1960. It runs through the Sussex Weald between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead, where it connects with the national network. The line is known for its vintage carriages and its stations restored to different periods, so a trip feels like stepping onto a working set.

Spring is the moment to go, when the woods beside the track fill with the bluebells that give the line its name. Timetables are on the Bluebell Railway site, and there is good camping across the Weald and the South Downs within easy reach.

West Somerset Railway

The West Somerset Railway is the longest heritage railway in England, running around 20 miles from Bishops Lydeard, near Taunton, to the seaside town of Minehead on the edge of Exmoor. That length gives you a proper journey rather than a short hop, tracking the Quantock Hills before reaching the coast.

Minehead is a classic camping destination, with Exmoor National Park on the doorstep for walking and dark skies. Check current running days on the West Somerset Railway site, as heritage lines often run a reduced timetable outside the main season.

The Jacobite

The Jacobite is the steam service that crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the curved 21-arch structure made famous as the "Harry Potter train" route. It runs from Fort William to the fishing port of Mallaig, past Britain's highest mountain, its deepest freshwater loch and its most westerly mainline station, making it one of the great railway journeys in the world.

The Jacobite is operated by West Coast Railways, and seats sell out well in advance in summer, so book early through westcoastrailways.co.uk. Fort William is a superb camping base, and you can find pitches across the Scottish Highlands to sit near the line and the surrounding Munros.

Snowdon Mountain Railway

The Snowdon Mountain Railway is the only public rack and pinion railway in Britain, and it carries you almost to the summit of Yr Wyddfa, the highest peak in Wales and England. Trains climb from Llanberis using a toothed centre rail to grip the steep gradient, reaching a summit station just below the top. On a clear day the view stretches across Eryri and out to the Irish Sea.

Services depend heavily on the weather and often turn back short of the summit in poor conditions, so check the forecast and the Snowdon Mountain Railway site before you set off. It is another reason to base yourself around Gwynedd and combine it with the Ffestiniog lines.

Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway

The Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, known locally as "La'al Ratty", is a miniature narrow gauge line that runs seven miles from the coast at Ravenglass into the western fells of the Lake District at Dalegarth. Small steam engines haul open and closed carriages up the Eskdale valley, which is one of the quieter and more dramatic corners of the national park.

It is an excellent family day out and a fine walking gateway, with trails to Stanley Ghyll waterfall and the fells beyond from Dalegarth. See the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway site for times, then browse campsites in the Lake District and Cumbria to pitch nearby.

Strathspey Railway

The Strathspey Railway carries steam trains through the Cairngorms National Park, running from Aviemore to Broomhill by way of Boat of Garten. The line gives you views across the Spey valley to the Cairngorm massif, and it sits in the middle of some of the best mountain and forest camping in Scotland.

Aviemore is a year-round outdoor hub, so a ride pairs neatly with walking, wildlife watching or a paddle on Loch Morlich. Timetables are on the Strathspey Railway site. As with the Jacobite, the wider Scottish Highlands listings will find you a pitch close to the line.

Making a railway trip work from a campsite

Treat the ride as the centrepiece of a day and build the rest around it. Most heritage lines run to a fixed timetable with only a handful of departures, and many operate reduced services or close entirely outside the summer and school holidays, so always check running days before you drive over. Popular services such as the Jacobite need booking weeks ahead in high season.

Give yourself time at both ends of the line, since the destination towns, Whitby, Bridgnorth, Minehead and Mallaig among them, are half the pleasure. Many lines welcome dogs and offer special dining or gala events, which are worth timing a camping weekend around. If heritage is the theme of your trip, these railways slot in well with camping on National Trust properties and with tracking down the UK's lost villages nearby.

Frequently asked questions

Which is the longest heritage railway in Britain?

The Welsh Highland Railway is the longest heritage railway in the UK at 25 miles, running from Caernarfon to Porthmadog. The West Somerset Railway, at around 20 miles between Bishops Lydeard and Minehead, is the longest standard gauge heritage line in England.

Which heritage railway is the Harry Potter train?

The Jacobite, operated by West Coast Railways between Fort William and Mallaig, crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct that features in the films. The North Yorkshire Moors Railway also has a Harry Potter link, as its Goathland station appeared as Hogsmeade.

Do you need to book heritage railway tickets in advance?

For most lines you can buy on the day, but busy services and special events sell out. The Jacobite in particular needs booking well ahead in summer. Always check the railway's official site for running days, as many lines close outside the main season.

Are heritage railways good for a family camping trip?

Yes. A steam ride is an easy, weatherproof half-day out that suits all ages, and lines such as the Ravenglass and Eskdale or the North Yorkshire Moors Railway sit within a short drive of family campsites. Many railways run dedicated family and dining events.

Can you camp near these railways?

Most heritage lines run through or beside popular camping country, from the North York Moors to Eryri and the Cairngorms. Search Camping Sites in Britain by region, such as Gwynedd or the Scottish Highlands, to find pitches close to the line you want to ride.

The short version

Britain's heritage railways are one of the easiest and most rewarding days out you can add to a camping trip, from full-size steam along the Severn to a narrow gauge climb up Yr Wyddfa. Pick a line, check its running days, and book ahead for the busy ones like the Jacobite.

For more ideas on building a trip around the past, see our guide to camping at the UK's heritage sites, or browse pitches near any of these lines at Camping Sites in Britain.