If you want to take in some of Britain’s best countryside and cities, you can do it in one trip. If you board the UK’s longest train journey which takes you from north to south and there’s plenty to see along the way.
The route was established back in 1921 and begins in Aberdeen, ending more than 13 hours later in Penzance in Cornwall. It’s the perfect way to get a snapshot of the country from the comfort of your seat.
The journey is a whopping 774 miles long and is the greatest distance covered by any train in Britain, dropping and picking up passengers at 35 stops along the way.
The locomotive leaves Aberdeen at 8.20am once a week and starts its long journey to the south of England, reports the Mirror.
Barring delays, it aims to reach Penzance before the end of the day and during your time on board you will travel through the coastal town of Dunbar, pass Northumberland’s stunning Alnmouth, and even into Cornwall‘s tourist-mad town St Austell.
It takes a total of two hours to collect and allow passengers to disembark throughout the journey. And you’ll need to come prepared with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, unless you’re living it up in first class or willing to splash out on a bacon roll and coffee.
If you’re serious about the 13-hour train trip, it’s worth spending a few nights in Aberdeen first. Explore the acclaimed Gordon Highlanders Museum, or book a restaurant known for its world-famous Aberdeen Angus beef. There’s plenty of nearby hikes too if you’re worried about getting pins and needles on board.
When you arrive in Penzance, it’ll be around 9.30pm – and depending what season you’re travelling in – it could be dark already. “If you’re travelling in the summertime, you’ll get to see the Cornish sunset from the train and have just enough time to enjoy a dusk-time stroll along the harbour which is conveniently just a four-minute walk from the station,” Avanti said.
And they added: “If you have some time the next day, it’s worth making the 3.8 mile walk along the coastal path to Marazion Beach, where you can visit the iconic and picturesque St Michael’s Mount. The walk there should take about an hour and fifteen minutes, or a 10-minute drive by taxi. There is also a local bus that can take you there.”
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Speaking to Aberdeen Live, rail fan Lewis Yeardley, 24, who has taken the trip, said it was a bucket list item for train lovers. He commented: “It’s a journey that I’ve known about for a long time if I’m honest and it’s one I always wanted to do.
“My highlights of the journey included crossing some amazing bridges such as Tay Bridge, Forth Rail Bridge and the Royal Albert Bridge. We also went along some beautiful coast lines such as the Fife coast, east coast and Dawlish seawall.
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