Type of Walk: Railway Line Walks

The Category Railway Line Walks is a subset of Using Public Transport.

'This is a list of railway lines in Great Britain that are currently in operation, split by country and region. There are a limited number of main inter-regional lines, with all but one entering Greater London. The line from London to the Channel Tunnel is the only line designated 'high speed', although the other main routes also operate limited-stop express services ...'

Wikipedia

Map of Railway Lines in the United Kingdom [Saturday Walkers' Club]

'A slowly growing collection of walking routes easily accessible by train from London, mostly within an hour or thereabouts of the central termini. The walks link fantastic countryside, historic monuments and country villages; the geography of south-east England means that none are hugely strenuous.'

'This blog features walks along train lines in London. This was inspired by a number of existing sites with walks along the tube network. The individual walks are about two hours long and you can combine them for longer walks.'

'visitbytrain.info aims to help you plan visits by train to attractions in cities, towns, villages and the countryside. Maps show attraction locations and routes to walk, with bus services where appropriate.' At the time of review, coverage of the southern half of England.

John Hewes

'Although the Abbey Flyer links two major population centres in South-West Hertfordshire, there are parts of the line that can still be described as truly rural, and when the sun is sunshine you may be pleasantly surprised just how nice this part of Hertfordshire can be!'

Hertfordshire Countryside Management Service

Abbey Line Trails [Abbey Line Community Rail Partnership]

'This is the longest and perhaps most challenging and rewarding walk in the series, allowing walkers to enjoy isolated and remote countryside. There is considerable variety of landscape including woodland, lush meadows and the light terrain characteristic of the Suffolk Sandlings.'

East Suffolk Lines

'An interesting walk on good paths following the route of the royal procession from Ascot through Windsor Great Park and offering a "surprise" view of Windsor Castle.'

One of 15 Car-Free Walks Around Reading.

Supporters of Oxfam

'With the help of community rail funding, ALRUG is producing a series of walks leaflets called Avocet Ambles! The walks have been devised and produced by members of the Committee.'

The Avocet Line

'The Bittern Line railway heads north from the beautiful cathedral city of Norwich passing through the unique wetland area of The Broads to the dramatic north Norfolk coast.'

Norfolk County Council

'There are both circular walks and linear walks on this website. The linear walks involve steaming to the start point by Bluebell Railway train.'

Bluebell Railway Walks

'A purpose built footpath and cycle path runs alongside the entire nine mile length of the track from Aylsham to Wroxham taking cyclists and walkers through some stunningly beautiful English countryside. There are many nice paths which also spur from the our footpath and cycle way.'

Bure Valley Railway

'Series of leaflets promoting self guided linear walks between railway stations on the Cambrian network. These have been developed to promote car-free accessible walks in the Mid Wales area that really make the most of the wonderful, varied scenery and wildlife this unique part of the world has to offer. There are 12 in the series.'

ALERT At Review, I could no longer find online details of these Walks on the Cambrian Lines Website. So unfortunately all you have in the alternative Link here are summaries of some of the 12 Trails. (A ‘string search’ on Google of the Titles of the Walks might well give you more detailed information from other Websites.)

'A number of self-guide walks are available from stations on Community Rail Lancashire lines: [1] The Bentham Line (12 walks) - - - : [2] The Clitheroe Line (4 walks) - - - : [3] The East Lancashire Line (6 walks) - - - : [4] The South Fylde Line (2 walks) - - - : [5] West Lancashire Lines (2 walks)'

Community Rail Lancashire

'In 1995, the Group published a book detailing 14 station to station walks all the way from Hereford to Oxford. 2000 copies of the fully illustrated book were printed and, almost all have now been sold. A second book, featuring walks in the opposite direction, was published in September 2009. This is available from local stations or, post free, from the Membership Secretary, to CLPG members, at a reduced price of £6.00.' ALERT At the time of Review, I could not find these books any longer listed on the CLPG Website.

Cotswold Line Promotion Group

Eight walks of between 3 and 6 miles along the Cumbrian Coast Line.

Cumbria County Council

The Natural Coast [Cumbrian Coast Line]

'The stations along the line provide convenient starting and finishing points from which walkers can explore the surrounding countryside, ranging from a short stroll ... to over ten miles of remote fields and woods ... For more ambitious ramblers walks can be joined up to make a long distance trail of over 70 miles.'

'Waymarked trail which takes you from the source of the River Esk and brings you to the estuary where it joins the sea at Whitby harbour. A moorland-to-coast walk, it also leads you through riverside country and a steep wooded gorge. '

Esk Valley Railway to Whitby

'Guided Walks from the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle, Leeds-Morecambe and other selected Railways'

Friends of DalesRail

You can solve Bristol's biggest problem 'For most people that problem is traffic – congestion, delays, pollution and accidents. More and more of us realize that the problem cannot be solved on the roads alone and that the neglected railways can make a crucial contribution ...'

'Walk from Station to Station with our useful guides ... The Gainsborough Line is the marketing name of the Sudbury Branch Line, a single track railway line running through the rural area between Sudbury and Marks Tey in England. Prior to the Beeching Axe the line, known as the Stour Valley Railway also served Cambridge, Long Melford, Clare and Haverhill.'

Essex & South Suffolk Community Rail Partnership

'The Great Central Railway line nestles in the beautiful Leicestershire countryside between Charnwood Forest and the Wolds. Walks form the line are gentle and can be completed in a couple of hours, give or take the odd pub break! There are some gentle climbs but for the most part a pair of walking boots or sturdy shoes should get you through. The GCR publishes a detailed guide of the walks ... to assist you and is available from the Shop at Loughborough Central.'

Great Central Railway

'An easy walk along quiet valleys, through beech woods and along the ridge of the North Downs, with long views deep into Surrey and to the London skyline ... Parts of this walk follow the North Downs Way and the London LOOP.'

Out of the LOOP

'Refresh your spirits with a walk or cycle along the Isla Way, a new 13 mile route, which links the two famous distillery towns of Dufftown and Keith ... Use the Keith & Dufftown Railway (KDR) from any of its three stations and walk or cycle the trail back to your starting point.'

Morayways

PDFs of six walks from and to stations on the light railway line which runs from Tenterden in Kent to Northiam in East Sussex.

Kent & East Sussex Railway

Walks Around Tenterden  [My Tenterden]

'Collection of walks from local railway stations within the beautiful countryside of East Cheshire, which can be accessed by public transport without the need for a car.'

The Knutsford Local Area Partnership | Mid Cheshire Rail Users’ Association

'We are a diverse and friendly group of people who enjoy walking in the beautiful and varied countryside of north west England. As our name suggests, we are particularly keen to use public transport to reach our destinations and we have been promoting this idea for almost forty years. It's a great way to reach our countryside and our leaders often pass on lots of interesting facts about locations and people during walks.'

Rail Ramblers

'A bracing tramp along the wooded escarpment of the North Downs above Maidstone, with sweeping views across the Kentish Weald; with a medieval castle and two megalithic burial sites thrown in ... Much of this route follows the North Downs Way national trail.'

Out of the LOOP

'Whether you want beautiful countryside, coastal scenery, industrial archaeology or military history, you can access them all via the Medway Valley Line and SwaleRail ...'

Community Rail Partnership with Valley of Visions Countryside Project

Walks 'selected to provide reasonable directness, variety of landscape, local historical and environmental interest and a largely traffic-free environment'.

Walks selected by Roger Wolfe, Suffolk Area of the Ramblers' Association

Access to three PDF brochures: 1. Rail Walks in Cheshire West : - - : 2. Rail Walks in Greater Manchester : - - : 3. Rail Walks in Knutsford and surrounding villages.

The Mid Cheshire Community Rail Partnership and Mid Cheshire Rail Users’ Association

'You are invited to "take the train for a walk" ! Organised by the Penistone Line Partnership (PLP), these walks are promoted by the RAMBLERS' ASSOCIATION to encourage use of the train service to visit some of South & West Yorkshire's finest countryside. Walks also take place in North Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire.'

The Penistone Line Partnership

'Linear walks between stations along the Poacher Line between Nottingham and Skegness.'

ALERT Unfortunately, at Review I could now only find accessible online details of just one of the six/seven Poacher Line Walks - and I have provided a Link to that here. Leaflets for the remainder may still be available offline.

'Rail Rambles are walks from railway stations in Wales and the border counties of England. The walks themselves are free to join (but of course you have to pay your rail fare!) Each walk is planned to be accessible by a day return rail journey from a number of main line and connecting stations ...'

'The Riviera Line is a local railway line that links the city of Exeter with the "English Riviera" resorts of Torbay in Devon, England. It is linked with the Exeter to Plymouth Line with which it shares the route along the South Devon sea wall. It is part of the Network Rail Route 12 (Reading to Penzance).'

'Follows the line of the railway from Settle to Kirkby Stephen. As the name suggests, it takes in six peaks: Pen-y-ghent, Ingleborough, Whernside, Great Knoutberry, Swarth Fell and Wild Boar Fell (in mountain-bagging parlance, all six are Nuttalls and Hewitts, and all but Swarth Fell are Marilyns).'

Skyware Press

Dales Rail Trails Tony & Chris Grogan (Skyware Press, 2012)

'Choose from our library of days out by train walking guides, from beginners to advanced - all easily accessible from a South West Trains station ... ' ALERT South Western Railway is now the operator of 'South West Trains'. There is still a limited amount of walk information on their Site - but regrettably not the Series of Walks formerly described by SWT.

'A 136-page full-colour book featuring 60 self-guided walks from each of the thirteen stations along the 39 mile route.' Tarka Line Walks: 60 glorious Mid-Devon walks from the wayside stations of the scenic Tarka Line by Peter Craske (Crimson Publishing, 2013)

Tarka Rail Association

'Explore the 29 mile (46.6km) Thames Estuary Path through the fascinating South Essex Marshes, from Tilbury Town all the way to Leigh-on-Sea. Passing through an industrial and settled beautiful landscape with a wealth of Green Heritage - history and biodiversity ... The path is easily accessible by train, linking 6 local train stations on one of the most attractive railway lines in the country (London Fenchurch to Shoeburyness Line). The path is clearly signed and waymarked along the length with a new distinctive logo.'

MaxiGreen

The Three Rivers Rail Partnership is 'a group of local authorities, local people and the rail industry, working to promote our train and local bus services and doing what we can to improve our stations and services. Why Three Rivers? The rail routes which the partnership covers run alongside or cross the Avon, Itchen and Test rivers - hence "Three Rivers".'

Three Rivers Community Rail Partnership

'The Lakes Line, from Oxenholme to Windermere, runs through a glorious rural area, linking attractive small towns and villages. This is the area covered by these five walks. On either side of the railway lie deciduous woods and rolling pastures, and through these rush or cascade rivers, becks and streams.'

The Lakes Line Community Rail Partnership

'Self-guided walks from scenic branch lines in the South West.' ALERT Title of Entry changed from 'Trails from the Tracks'

Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership

'Discover Dorset's unspoilt countryside with "Trains to Trails" - the detailed guide to walks from Dorset Stations. Pick up the complete leaflet at your nearest First Great Western station, or download PDF versions ... Starting and ending at the same rural station, the routes all include at least one pub and are within the Dorset Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.'

Note Originally here the Website Heart of Wessex Line Walks; now promoted by the Ramblers, but without the downloadable PDFs. Not clear whether copies of the Leaflet(s) are still available from Great Western Railway (the franchise successor to FGW).

Ramblers

'Here we've brought together a selection of countryside and town walks starting and finishing at a railway station on the Wherry Lines. All the walks are described including details such as distances, path surfaces and facilities available.'

Norfolk County Council