Britain from the Rails: A Window Gazer's Guide

Britain from the Rails: A Window Gazer's Guide

Author: Benedict le Vay

Paperback 1st edition • MAY 2010
336 PAGES • 24 PAGES OF COLOUR PHOTOS • 8 MAPS
ISBN: 978 1 84162 333 7

 

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There's a magical romance about train travel that no other form of transport can capture. Unlike other rail-based guides, this is not a backpacker's manual on how to travel cheaply and quickly and what to do once you get there. Instead, this is a leisurely sojourn around the country, an indulgent, care-free and relaxing journey which notices – and explains – what other guides don't. What to see from the train,historical anecdotes about the development of the railways, explanations of how the rail system works, railway traditions, branch line explorations, descriptions of the most scenic routes and a whole lot more are covered in a style which makes for a perfect armchair read, whether from home or on the rails.

 

  • Details the best routes in Britain, with practical information and quirky tales
  • Helps visitors to Britain, and the British themselves, explore the country's landscapes, and heritage of castles, pubs and country towns (not forgetting viaducts, stations and tunnels)

Map

At a Glance

Filled with a mix of line drawings, black-and-white photographs and full-colour images, Britain from the Rails is ideal for gift or self-purchase with guaranteed appeal for leisure travellers and rail fanatics alike.


This is a travel classic of our times: the Wainwright of the rails.

 

 

ISBN-13: 9781841623337

 

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Reviews

"We live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world – sit back, relax and enjoy the ever changing landscape of Britain from the Rails!"  

Pete Waterman Obe, Chairman of the Waterman Railway Trust


"Look out of those train windows and see another Britain. This is a richly researched and fascinating book, with a chuckle and a raised eyebrow at every page."

Alastair Sawday

 

 

"Whether you're a first-time visitor or time-served commuter, Benedict le Vay's book will open your eyes to the sights and history of Britain's best train journeys. And his choice of the top ten British train routes is spot on!"

Mark Smith, The Man In Seat 61

 

 

'This elegant guide is perfect for people who really want to know what they are seeing when they idly look out of a train window. The maps and illustrations add to the joy of reading a gorgeous guide.'

Adam Trimingham, Brighton Argus Magazine

 

"Britain from the Rails: A Window Gazer's Guide by Benedict le Vay, tells you what you should look out for from your carriage window on rail journeys from Aberdeen to Penzance and all points in between. This is a book that will gladden the hearts of all who love train travel."

Frank Barrett, The Mail on Sunday

 

'A quite superb, indeed incomparable, combination of maps, railway trivia, engineering isights and breathtaking landscape features to look out for.'

Michael Gove, The Times


'An excellent and unusual guide to Britain by train.'

Tom Hall, The Observer


'Gloriously quirky labour-of-love.'

Wanderlust

 

 

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Table of Contents

Introduction: Rail Brittania!


1 The Glorious East Coast Main Line to Scotland

King's Cross to York: record breakers

York to Edinburgh: to the world's first railway

Edinburgh to Aberdeen: Firth to last


2 Scotland: Rails to Romance and Beauty

The basic layout

Glasgow and Edinburgh termini

Planning ahead in Scotland

 

The West Highland Line: Glasgow–Crianlarich–Fort William–Mallaig and the Oban branch: the iron road to the isles

The Highland Main Line: Inverness to Glasgow (and Edinburgh)

Seaside excursions: two great days out from Scotland's two big cities

The Great North of Scotland Railway: Inverness to Aberdeen

The Skye Railway: the very strange story of 'the most beautiful line in Europe'

The Far North Line: from Inverness to Wick and Thurso


3 The North of England: Chuffing 'eck, That's Grand!

Midlands mentions (briefly, before heading north)

The North of England: overview and recommended lines

The wonderful Settle & Carlisle Railway: don't Settle for anything less!

Leeds to Lancaster and Morecambe: a useful connector; brief encounters and a great comedian

The Cumbrian Coast Line: right round the Lake District

The Lake District by train? What are those words worth?!

No missing Lincs in Lincolnshire: Nottingham to Skegness


4 Great Western: 'God's Wonderful Railway'

The GWR: trunk, branches and twigs

Keeping great company: the GWR's great history

London to Penzance: best of the West

The Berks & Hants route: Kennet Valley and Vale of Pewsey

The GW strikes north: Cotswolds, Golden Valley and Banbury

West Country branches: Devon and Cornwall's cream

Wessex lines: undiluted Old England at her best

The GWR route into South Wales: branch lines to Dai for


5 Wales Rails

Fire-breathing dragons and going for a spin with the best connected

Welsh rare bits and best bits

A note on place names

North Wales and the Marches: a fantastic circular route or splendid separate days out

The Heart of Wales line: Shrewsbury to Swansea, a real rural rail survivor


6 East Anglia: A Circular Tour to See the Best of This Unique Region

Bargain Anglia

Hitchin to Cambridge: teetotal recall, dozy crossing keepers and snooty dons

The Breckland Line: Cambridge to Norwich – islands in the Fen to blasted heath

Really recommended for the ride

Norwich– Lowestoft: Queen of the Lot

The Wherry peculiar Wherry Lines

The lovely East Suffolk Line: Lowestoft to Ipswich (for London): swinging stuff

London Liverpool Street to Norwich via the Great Eastern Main Line (plus fabulous branches)


7 South Western from Waterloo: Take Me to the Sunshine

Waterloo: Welcome to Britain's biggest and busiest station

Waterloo to Woking: another Britain's busiest

Woking to Southampton: Martians to maritime

Southampton to Weymouth: the New Forest and two Hardy's Wessex

The Portsmouth Direct Line: Woking to Pompey, ups and Downs

Waterloo to Exeter: the West of England Main Line


8 South and Southeast: `from Dirty Weekends to Bo Peep

The Brighton Line: premier holiday route

London Victoria to Brighton: what to look out for from the Thames to Channel

Brighton Line Branches

Brighton–Hastings–Ashford: towns, gowns and Downs

Hastings Direct and the Kent Coast: catch the 1066


9 Fare Dos, and Fare Don'ts

Basic stuff that could save you a packet

1. Basics

2. Types of ticket

3. How to get times and book tickets

Other deals

And lastly…


Appendix 1 The Inside Track: Look, Learn and Enjoy the Railway World

A window-gazer's guide to 'railthings': stuff to look out for on your journey

Basics: a few technical rail terms explained

Train trivia


Appendix 2 Useful Information

Books on railways: read between the lines

Steamy affairs: historic and preserved railways

Tourist information centres


Index

Benedict le Vay

About the Author

Benedict le Vay says he loves train travel because it's romantic, fun, comfortable, civilised, sociable, fascinating and doesn't damage the wonderful places you go to. He's the author of several of Bradt's Eccentric guides, including Eccentric Britain.

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Guidebook Updates

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