A Guide To The Settle to Carlisle Train From Leeds

There are many great days out you can do from Leeds. The city is a perfect base to explore Yorkshire from thanks to its well connected railway station. One trip you can do is a day out on the Settle to Carlisle train from Leeds. This journey is one of the most scenic in Britain, passing through the Yorkshire Dales and over Ribblehead Viaduct before terminating at Carlisle.

I recently did this journey one Saturday, and it was a great way to see some sights of Yorkshire I’m usually very familiar with, from a completely different view point.

If you want to enjoy a day trip from Leeds on the train, a journey on the Settle to Carlisle Railway has got to be on your list. Here’s what you need to know to make your day out a good one.

A Guide To The Settle to Carlisle Train From Leeds

Opened in 1876, the Settle to Carlisle Railway has had millions invested into it after attempted closures in the 1960s and 1980s – much to local and national outrage. With 6000 men working to build the line over 7 years, the line is the last main line railway to be constructed primarily by hand.

Today, you can enjoy the hard work of those that built it by hopping on the train from Leeds. You can also start the journey from many of the other stations along the line including Shipley, Keighly, Gargrave and Settle.

Leeds To Settle

Leeds is a great place to start your journey from though. Grab breakfast and a coffee from Laynes, pick up a few bits from Marks and Spencer at Leeds Train Station for a train picnic, and begin your journey.

Read More: The Best Independent Coffee Shops In Leeds

The first part of the journey isn’t much to write home about. You’ll pass through Shipley, Bingley and Keighly before arriving at Skipton. You will pass through Saltaire on this part of the journey. Although the train doesn’t stop here, you’ll get a glimpse of the World Heritage Site and Saltaire Mills. If you’re looking for inspiration for a day trip from Leeds, Saltaire is a great place to visit.

After Skipton, you’ll arrive in Gargrave and Hellifield. Both are great stop off points if you’re looking to enjoy Malham Cove. This would also be a separate day out as it takes around 2.5 hours to walk from either train station to Malham Cove, the Malham Cove Circular Walk then takes around 2 hours. If you were to do this, I would get off at Gargrave as it’s a very pretty village.

After Hellifield, you’ll go through Long Preston before arriving in Settle. This is where the line gets really scenic as you enter the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Settle is a great place to spend the day and there are many walks you can do from here including one to Catrigg Force.

Settle To Carlisle

From Settle, I’d then recommend you just sit back and enjoy the view. Sitting on the right hand side of the train as the train is moving forward is the best place to appreciate the beautiful sights of the Yorkshire countryside.

The first stop after Settle is Horton-in-Ribbledale, a key starting point for those looking to do the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge. Walkers may get off here to start their 26 mile long walk up Yorkshire’s 3 highest peaks – Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough. Out of the train window you’ll see plenty of tents set up, especially in the spring and summer months and the peak of Pen-y-Ghent on the horizon. It’s a beautiful view, and a beautiful walk up Pen-y-Ghent if you ever fancy it.

After Horton-in-Ribbledale is Ribblehead Station. Walkers also use this as a starting point for the Yorkshire 3 Peaks, or just to climb Whernside. However, the main attraction here is Ribblehead Viaduct. With 24 arches, standing 104 feet high and 440 yard long, Ribblehead Viaduct is a feat of engineering. Sadly, many men unfortunately died in its construction due to accidents and smallpox outbreaks. But the mark they left on the Yorkshire landscape is now appreciated by many people both travelling over it by train and walking by it on the way to Whernside.

Since 2017, there is a visitor centre at Ribblehead which is open from 10am to 4pm from March to October. You can also learn more about Ribblehead Viaduct’s history at the exhibition at the visitor centre.

From Ribblehead, if you’re sat on the right hand side of the train going forward, keep your eyes peeled for Blea Moor signal box and the many walkers trekking their way up to Whernside. If you’re on the left side of the train going forward, you’ll get to see Whernside.

Next up is Dent and then Garsdale. At Garsdale, look out for a bronze sculpture of a dog.  This statue is a tribute to a border collie called Ruswarp who was owned by rail enthusiast Graham Nuttall. Graham Nuttal was a key figure in helping keep the line open in the 1980s. Sadly, not long after the Settle to Carlisle Railway was saved, Graham sadly went missing and died in the Welsh mountains. Ruswarp stayed faithful to his owner and stayed with Graham’s body for 11 weeks. 

The next stations are Kirkby Stephen and Appleby. Appleby is a market town located in the Eden Valley. There’s a well marked walk into the town centre and although a popular place all year round, there’s one week in June which becomes particularly busy because of the Appleby Fair. Set up in 1685 as a fair for horsetrading, Appleby Fair is the biggest of its kind in the world and it is extremely popular with travellers. Visitors will wash their horses in the river ready to show off to others in the community.

From here, the scenery gets a little less dramatic as you pass through Langwathby, Lazonby and Kirkoswald, and Armathwaite before landing in Carlisle.

Alight at Carlisle and enjoy a few hours here before heading back to Leeds to do the journey in reverse!

How Many Stops Are There On The Settle To Carlisle Line?

In between Leeds and Carlise there are 17 stops. These are Leeds, Shipley, Bingley, Keighly, Skipton, Gargrave, Hellifield, Long Preston, Hellifield, Settle, Horton-in-Ribblesdale, Ribblehead, Dent, Garsdale, Kirky Stephen, Appleby, Langwathby, Lazonby and Kirkoswald, Armathwaite then Carlise. There are 9 stations.

How Long Does It Take to Get From Leeds to Carlisle By Train?

It takes around 2 hours 40 minutes to get from Leeds to Carlise by train.

Can You See The Ribblehead Viaduct From The Train?

Yes you can! I’d recommend sitting on the right hand side of the train going forward from Leeds. This was you get great views of the viaduct as it curves round to the right. Look out for it as you come into Ribblehead Station.

What Are The Main Sights On The Settle To Carlisle Train Journey?

Keep your eyes peeled for the following landmarks: Ribblehead Viaduct, Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside, and the bronze statue of Ruswarp the dog. If you’re travelling from Leeds you’ll also get a glimpse of the beautiful Victorian model village of Saltaire and its mill. From Settle, the stations on this line are all extremely pretty with their red and cream paint on the signs and doors.

What Is The Best Part Of The Settle to Carlisle Train Journey?

From Settle to Appleby is arguably the best part of the Settle to Carlisle train journey. Passing over the Ribblehead Viaduct and past some of Yorkshire’s highest peaks, the views are just incredible.

How Many Trains Per Day Are There From Leeds To Carlisle?

Based on a Saturday schedule, there are 8 direct trains from Leeds to Carlisle. There are other trains where you change at Preston or Newcastle however if you get these you would miss out on the main attraction: the beautiful scenery through the Yorkshire Dales.

Was Harry Potter Filmed At Ribblehead Viaduct?

No, Harry Potter wasn’t filmed at Ribblehead Viaduct. Although it looks like the famous train scene could have been filmed here, Harry Potter was actually filmed at Glenfinnan Viaduct in Scotland, near Fort William.

How Far Is Settle To Carlisle In Miles?

It’s 73 miles from Settle to Carlisle and on the journey the railway crosses over 22 viaducts and through 14 tunnels.

What Is There To Do In Carlisle?

The main attraction in Carlisle is its cathedral. It’s free to visit, although donations are appreciated, and you can spend a good half hour wandering around. We actually got talking to a guide who gave us a 20 minute insight to some of the smaller details of the Carlisle Cathedral. These were things we wouldn’t have learned about and it was great to learn more about the building’s history.

You can also visit Carlisle Castle. Part of the English Heritage, Carlisle Castle has stood in the city for over 9 centuries and today you can explore the Warden’s Apartment, Queen Mary’s Tower and more!

How Long Do You Need In Carlisle?

I would recommend around 3 hours. This would be enough time to see the Cathedral, get some lunch and spend some time around Carlisle Castle. We had just under 3 hours in Carlisle and this was enough to do everything we wanted. If you go into Carlisle Cathedral or want to enjoy a few drinks in the pubs around Carlisle, allow more time before getting the train back to Settle or Leeds.

Have you ever done to Leeds to Carlisle train before? It makes for a lovely day out and is a wonderful way to see the green Yorkshire countryside.