The Settle & Carlisle railway is famed for its stunning scenery, and what better way to see this marvel of Victorian engineering than from a steam-hauled train? 

After joining points from Bristol to Preston we soon reach Carnforth, to exchange our prosaic diesel for the ‘poetry in motion’ of steam, expected in the shape of Bulleid Pacific 34067 Tangmere. This powerful machine will take us north through the Lune Gorge and up to the 916 ft Shap Summit, with a downhill romp then through Penrith for a 90 min break at Carlisle, where the city centre is just across the station forecourt. 

Restarting for the south, sit back and watch the unfolding drama from your comfortable seat, up the Eden Valley with views of the High Pennines before Appleby-in-Westmoreland. From there the climb is almost unbroken, through Kirkby Stephen and on a ledge on the flanks of Wild Boar Fell, with Mallerstang Edge towering across the now diminutive river. At Ais Gill Summit we reach the ‘roof of England, with superb views from the lofty Arten Gill and Dent Head viaducts before a panoramic view of the Three Peaks as we cross the magnificent 24 arch Ribblehead Viaduct.

And still there is much scenic delight to come, down the Ribblesdale to Settle and Hellifield, across to Clitheroe, over the 48 arch Whalley Viaduct, up the hard climb to Wilpshire, then to Blackburn and soon to Preston, from where a diesel will take us homeward.