Greater Manchester

The East Lancashire Railway is a twelve-mile heritage line that winds through the Irwell valley and the beautiful Pennine countryside, connecting Bury to Rawtenstall via Ramsbottom. The route uses tracks originally laid in the 1840s, though passenger services had vanished by the early 70s. Thanks to a dedicated preservation trust, the line reopened in 1987 and was eventually extended all the way to Rawtenstall by 1991.

Nowadays, visitors can ride behind vintage steam and diesel engines through rolling hills and sleepy villages. The railway's hub at Bury Bolton Street is a stunning Victorian station, featuring a transport museum with an impressive array of old locomotives. Stops like Ramsbottom and Rawtenstall are full of independent shops and café culture, and the railway keeps things exciting with dining trains and themed events all year round. It's a wonderful, nostalgic way to experience the Lancashire landscape and a slower pace of travel.