Uncover Remote Trails on These U.K. Request Stop Hikes
Many of the scenic rail routes that wind through the British countryside are dotted with request-stop stations: secluded platforms that act as gateways to some of the country's most enchanting walks.
The UK is renowned for its rural hikes — the kind of walks that lead you over mossy stiles and through creaking kissing gates. Walks that would be perfect were it not for the fact that many are hard to reach by road. There is, of course, another way: rail-to-trail hiking, which involves catching a train to your hiking destination, via a request stop. Across Britain, there are more than 100 stations that scheduled trains won’t call at unless requested on board or from the platform. Often remote and far from busy motorways or bustling cities, these stops offer the ideal way to get off the beaten track. Check out our favourites below — all offering breathtaking views and hidden history.
Duncraig to Plockton, Scotland
Disembark at: Duncraig
Trail length: 3-7 miles
One of the least-used stations in the UK, Duncraig was previously a private stop for the residents of its namesake castle — now, it’s the key to unlocking some of the finest views in Scotland. The short walk to the whitewashed cottages of Plockton village weaves either side of the train line, carving through conifer woodland where red squirrels scamper up the trees. For a longer excursion, follow the trail south from Duncraig to climb Carn a' Bhealaich Mhoir — a 343-metre summit with views as far as the Isle of Skye. Rejoin the path towards Plockton to explore its waterside high street and catch the train back to Inverness.
Luxulyan Valley, England
Disembark at: Luxulyan
Trail length: 4-6 miles
Standing tall over the surrounding valley, the Treffry Viaduct acts as a gateway to one of Cornwall’s storied mining regions. Leave the stone cottages of Luxulyan village behind and head out on the footpath — a former Victorian tramway — to the viaduct, which stretches across the train line 30 metres below. Once across, and among the trees, rusting water wheels, ivy-clad underpasses and narrow watercourses emerge — further relics of the area’s industrial heritage. At Carmears Wheelpit, walkers can choose to circle back towards Luxulyan or head to the next station, in the village of Par, along its meandering, namesake river. If your thirst for biodiversity is still unquenched, the rising domes of the Eden Project are also reachable on foot, with regular trains on the Atlantic Coast Line running to and from Newquay.
Penally to Manorbier, Wales
Disembark at: Penally
Trail length: 8 miles
The rugged cliffs, secret coves and Neolithic tombs that make the Pembrokeshire Coast Path so captivating all appear along this eight-mile stretch of shoreline. Picking up the trail from the station in tiny Penally village, wander down to Giltar Point — a windswept headland that looks out over the sheltered bays of nearby Caldey Island — before trekking west along the coast, high above the crashing waves. Be sure to follow the 140 steps down to Church Doors Cove, home to a limestone arch that juts out into the swell. Before catching the return train from Manorbier, stop at St James’s Church for views over the village and its Norman castle, which served as a smugglers’ hideout in the 18th century.
Achnashellach Loop, Scotland
Disembark at: Achnashellach
Trail length: 10 miles
To step onto the platform at Achnashellach is to embrace isolation. Two hours from Inverness, this Highland hike in Scotland’s elemental Wester Ross starts with a slow climb that breaks free of the treeline to reveal the stygian water of Loch Dùghaill below. Further along the track is the impressive Easan Dorcha waterfall, which surges over the rocks as it races down the valley. Beside the churning water, a green-roofed bothy —visited by Robert De Niro and Michelle Pfeiffer during the filming of 2007’s Stardust — offers sanctuary to overnight ramblers. Check sunset times and train schedules in advance to ensure you board an Inverness-bound service before the mountains are cloaked in darkness.
Newborough Forest Loop, Wales
Disembark at: Bodorgan
Trail length: 15-16 miles
This challenging loop around Anglesey’s southern coastline rewards with dense pine forest giving way to windswept dunes. Arrive on an early train from Chester or Holyhead and begin the trek alongside the railway as the morning mist fades. As you turn seawards, you’ll find a mosaic of habitats perfect for birdwatching, including Malltraeth Estuary, patrolled by lavishly crested lapwings. Take any of the marked trails that creep between the lofty trunks and soon Ynys Llanddwyn will come into view. This small island’s gently sloping beaches, crumbling ruins and weathered lighthouse are only reachable when the tide is out — making it crucial to check tide times beforehand. Head back through the forest to the station, stopping in Newborough for a portion of fish and chips, or in Malltraeth for a well-earned drink.
Culrain to Invershin, Scotland
Disembark at: Culrain
Trail length: 4 miles
Take the Far North Line to Thurso, the northernmost town in the UK, hopping off at either Culrain or Invershin. Both see fewer than 400 passengers a year, with a scenic wander between the two stations taking in thick forest, fast-flowing streams and local legends. After crunching through the morning frost in Carbisdale Wood, you’ll reach the ‘Castle of Spite’. Built between 1906 and 1917 by Duchess Blair to antagonise the neighbouring Sutherland family, Carbisdale Castle’s clocktower was designed with only three faces to ensure that she didn’t ‘give them the time of day’. To reach Invershin, cross the footbridge along the Shin Railway Viaduct — a lattice of green metal that spans the tidal Kyle of Sutherland estuary.
Bucknell Loop, England
Disembark at: Bucknell
Trail length: 8 miles
A stop on the scenic Heart of Wales Line, Bucknell station sits on the boundary of the Shropshire Hills National Landscape — a patchwork of dewy fields and dense forests encompassing 310sq miles of the English county. North of the village, a steep ascent leads to sweeping views from the crest of Bucknell Hill, followed by a trail through bracken that turns amber late in the year. After a second climb from Redlake Valley, this time over Tueshill and back towards Bucknell, pause for a pint in the village’s last remaining historic alehouse, the Sitwell Arms. If you don’t fancy waiting for one of the handful of daily trains to Shrewsbury, stay the night in the station’s Victorian former ticket office, now a spacious, two-bedroom holiday cottage that backs directly onto the platform. From £136, two-night minimum.
