Experience the best of Britain’s rural landscapes and towering cityscapes with this epic train journey, first launched in 1921.
If you’re keen to discover more of the UK’s underappreciated beauty but are cautious of its unpredictable weather, a 13 hour and 20 minute trip from the comfort of your own seat could offer the perfect solution.
Once a week, a train departs from Aberdeen station in Scotland at 8.20am, aiming to reach Penzance before the day ends. During your journey, you’ll see the coastal town of Dunbar, glide past Northumberland’s breathtaking Alnmouth, and even venture into Cornwall’s bustling tourist hub, St Austell.
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With 35 stops – 36 if you include the starting point- and a total of two hours spent stationary, allowing passengers to get on and off at each station, it’s a journey that requires preparation.
You’ll need to pack breakfast, lunch, and dinner unless you’re enjoying the luxury of first class or don’t mind splurging on a bacon roll and coffee.
If you’re committed to this 13-hour rail adventure, it’s worth spending a few nights in Aberdeen beforehand. Visit the renowned Gordon Highlanders Museum, or dine at a restaurant famous for its world-class Aberdeen Angus beef.
There are also plenty of nearby hiking trails if you’re concerned about getting restless during the journey, reports the Mirror.
Upon disembarking at Penzance around 9.30pm, depending on the season, it could be dusk or already dark. “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,” revealed Avanti.
The operator also recommends: “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.”
Interestingly, grabbing a ticket for this journey won’t break the bank. A standard fare for Thursday, January 23 costs £134.20, averaging out to roughly £1 per hour.
Fancy slightly more luxury? For an additional £120, there’s always room for an upgrade.*
UK’s longest train journey – all stops
- Stonehaven
- Montrose
- Arbroath
- Dundee
- Haymarket
- Edinburgh Waverley
- Dunbar
- Berwick-upon-Tweed
- Alnmouth
- Newcastle
- Durham
- Darlington
- York
- Leeds
- Wakefield Westgate
- Sheffield
- Chesterfield
- Derby
- Burton-on-Trent
- Birmingham New Street
- Cheltenham Spa
- Bristol Parkway
- Bristol Temple Meads
- Taunton
- Tiverton Parkway
- Exeter St Davids
- Newton Abbot
- Totnes
- Plymouth
- Liskeard
- Bodmin Parkway
- St Austell
- Truro
- Redruth
- St Erth
- Penzance
*Prices based on an adult single fare as advertised on Trainline at the time of writing.