Britain’s Scenic Railways: Exploring the country by rail from Cornwall to the Highlands - Hardcover

"High production values and decent reproduction add the icing to this well presented cake." Steam Railway

"Beautifully illustrated with the Bartholomew map series from the 1960s, this is a fine volume that anyone with even a passing interest in railways, engineering and the great British landscape will enjoy." BBC Country File

"From Cornwall to the Highlands, East Anglia to Wales, [this book] ably romances the experience of rail travel as a way of immersing the modern traveller in countryside that is very often inaccessible by car, and, on occasion, even by foot." BBC Country File

"The authors, Julian Holland and David Spaven are clearly old hands at exploring the country's railways – and it shows." BBC Country File

"The text is packed full of information and the accompanying photographs suggest a determination on their part to share their own pictorial archive of journeys made, alongside some truly stunning shots that put these lines and the trains that use them in context with the landscape." BBC Country File

Discover over 50 of the greatest scenic railway routes in England, Scotland and Wales, from the authors of the highly acclaimed publication ‘The Times Mapping the Railways’. Explore the hidden treasures of Britain’s rail network and its fascinating heritage railways.

Detailed text on history, geography and present-day operations is complemented by stunning Bartholomew historical mapping and a selection of high-quality photographs. These are supported by railway memorabilia and extracts from gradient profiles and track diagrams to illustrate the passage of the railways through the diverse landscapes of Britain.

In addition to selected routes on the main rail network, the best heritage railways, narrow-gauge and miniature lines are also featured.

Lines featured include:

· The route of the classic Cornish Riviera Express, along the coast and across steep-sided river valleys to Penzance.

· The unique landscape of Romney Marsh and its eccentric seaside bungalows, served by the miniature express trains of the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway.

· Two classic narrow-gauge lines through stunning North Wales mountain country – the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways.

· Across and through the Pennines via the Settle & Carlisle Line, the last main line railway in England constructed almost entirely by hand.

· The West Highland Line from Glasgow, by romantic Loch Lomond and lonely Rannoch Moor, to the foothills of Ben Nevis at Fort William.

A unique insight into the most scenic journeys in England, Scotland and Wales, Britain’s Scenic Railways fills a long-standing gap in the portrayal of our rail network. It is the ideal armchair guide to the very best of British rail travel.