West Highland and Carlisle Settle comparisons

[rjhowie]

Watching a television item which included the Settle Line the commentator described it as the most scenic route in Britain. Eh? Nice country scenery but I have heard the same comment elsewhere when the most scenic route in Britain is up here with the famous West Highland. It is even listed as No 3 in Europe and the Settle doesn't even get into that. There is no comparison and it is a reminder that may down South forget what is up here!

 

[robd]

I have travelled by rail from Inverness to Carlisle, many years ago, and remember how beautiful the scenery is in the Highlands.

There are those that claim the mid Wales line, the ex Cambrian Railway from Shrewsbury to Machynlleth and beyond, south to Aberystwyth and north to Barmouth is the most scenic in Britain. Others claim the route along the South Devon coast to be very scenic. I have travelled on both these lines and they're equally as scenic and beautiful as the Scottish Highland route.

It's a highly subjective matter.

 

[rjhowie]

It is a highly topical matter robd however can I point out that there are more than one Highland rail routes up here and I did in particular single out the 'West Highland Railway'. This was done for a very goodly reason in that it is more world famous than the Settle and in fact appears in the top rail journeys of the world whereas the other doesn't.When it was built it was an independent company but having spent so much through the mountains it had no money to provide trains and run them so eventually a bigger Scots company the North British took it over. It runs from Glasgow to Fort William then the driver reverses cabs to travel on up to Mallaig. At one time there was a branch up part of the Great Glen direction and was intended to go all the way to Inverness but the Highland Rly, etc managed to block that in parliament with the result it ended at the remote village of Fort Augustus. In such a sparse population it was never going to be evenly remotely viable but existed until the Second World war. Passenger services were withdrawn in the 40's but was kept open until 1948 for a wood mill then finally lifted. Anyway, the West Highland has a great viaduct, mountains and crosses the wild Rannoch Moor where the track had to be laid on compressed trees, etc due the boggy terrain. So the main point was deviated from and with respect the other Highland Line to Inverness is nowhere at all like the WHR and therefor not a proper comparison at all - not is the Settle the same league of the top ten or scenic. So in the end although the Carlisle-Settle was worth keeping and pleasant it is no comparison with the line to Ft William and Mallaig.