Heritage Railways in the Lake District & Cumbria

Written by: Alex

Date posted: 26 October 2026

The Lake District & Cumbria are home to some spectacular heritage railways, offering beautiful views and an authentic heritage experience as you travel. Steam trains and diesel engines await, offering a magical journey for both rail enthusiasts and novices alike! Whether you’re visiting with family or friends, heritage railways make for a great day out. 

Top tip: keep an eye out for seasonal celebrations, including spooky Halloween and Christmas train rides.

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South Tynedale Railway

In the North Pennines National Landscape, you’ll find the award-winning South Tynedale Railway: a popular heritage and conservation attraction to the east of Carlisle. Opened in 1983, it operates narrow gauge steam trains along a five-mile stretch of picturesque track between Alston and Slaggyford through the beautiful South Tyne Valley - an area steeped in history. 

HPA Architects supported sensitive conservation work on several heritage sites along the route, which can today be enjoyed by visitors to the railway. At Alston station, a new cafe extension reflects the style of the existing building and offers a selection of light refreshments. 

At the other end of the line, visitors can see a replica of the old signal box and level crossed, while HPA also refurbished the workshop building and added a viewing deck at the Heritage Engineering Workshop for visitors to enjoy, and see first-hand the painstaking work that goes on to keep the trains running and preserve this unique piece of railway history.

Find out more about the South Tynedale Railway here.

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Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway

Located in the western Lake District, the Ravenglass & Eskdale Railway is one of the oldest and longest narrow gauge railways in England. Built between 1873 - 1875 to transport iron ore, today its fleet of steam and diesel engines transport passengers along an incredibly scenic route between the coastal village of Ravenglass and the picturesque Dalegarth for Boot station, in view of England’s highest mountains. Enjoy walks from either end of the line, including the scenic Eskdale TRail, or simply enjoy the journey - the views are spectacular.  

At Ravenglass station, you’ll also find the Ravenglass Railway Museum which showcases the history of the railway, offering deeper insight into this popular attraction. At either end of the line, you’ll also find station cafes offering delicious refreshments - you can even enjoy afternoon tea on the train itself, for something extra special!

Find out more about the Ravenglass & Esksdale Railway here.

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Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway

Originally built as a branch line for The Furness Line to carry coal to power passenger steamers on Windermere and sulphur for gunpowder works at Backbarrow, today the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway carries passengers for a unique heritage journey on board nostalgic 1950s carriages, hauled by carefully restored steam locomotives. Enjoy beautiful views as you travel between Haverthwaite station and Lakeside, located on the shores of Windermere and connecting with Windermere Lake Cruises for a great day out.

At Havethwaite, you’ll find an engine shed where the railway’s engineers are hard at work - tours can be arranged in advance. There’s also the Platform Tea Room where you can enjoy home cooked food, and a gift shop for the perfect souvenir of your trip.

Find out more about the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway here.

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Want to learn more about the history of train travel in the Lake District & Cumbria? Check out our blog here, taking you on a short tour through Cumbria's railway history.