Travelling by rail is a real treat (if you forget about the train delays and rail replacement buses for a minute) . 2025 celebrates 200 years of rail travel and we thought in honour of this, we’d showcase this fantastic rail journey that is near-secret trainline offering panoramic views of the Yorkshire Dales The Leeds to Morecambe route, commonly known as the Bentham Line takes in many sites on its journey – and you can experience the amazing journey.
This year, Railway 200, a year-long campaign celebrating the 200th anniversary of rail travel in the UK. George Stephenson’s steam-powered Locomotion No.1 travelled 26 miles between Shildon, Darlington, and Stockton on 27th September 1825.
Give a book and a nice coffee and maybe get me listening to some tunes and I’m in heaven as the train chugs along station to station. There’s something nostalgic and charming about rail travel that no other form of transport can offer. Whether its the conductors name over the tanoy, the hustle and bustle of passengers alighitng and getting on the train, it’s always a real treat for me.
The Bentham Line that takes you from Leeds to Morecambe train travel takes about 2 hours and 5 minutes, no matter when you leave. It is a unique way to head into the Dales and offers some of the most fantastic views along the way.
One of the earliest railway lines in Britain, the 75-mile tran-pennine journey from the heart of West Yorkshire takes in a range of valleys such as Aire, Ribble, Wenning and Lune valleys before arriving in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and heading around the Forest of Bowland AOND before arriving in Morecambe Bay.
As far of the Yorkshire highlights of the journey both Clapham and Giggleswick are located on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and are a great starting points for walks. Clapham is a gateway to the likes of the three peaks, caving including Ingleborough Cave and Gaping Gill and much more. Giggleswick takes in
What are all the stops of the Bentham Line?
- Leeds
- Shipley (Yorkshire)
- Bingley
- Keighley
- Skipton
- Gargrave
- Hellifield
- Long Preston
- Giggleswick
- Clapham (North Yorkshire)
- Bentham
- Wennington
- Carnforth
- Lancaster
- Bare Lane
- Morecambe
- Heysham Port
Read More: UK’s Longest Train Journey Is 13.5 Hours From Scotland To Cornwall With 36 Stops
Feature Image Credit: The Bentham Line (Facebook)
