The beauty of the Scottish Highlands can be seen on the frequently traveled Glasgow to Fort William route, which passes by numerous castles and lochs. In southern England, the Heart of Wessex line is a beautiful commuter route that passes through ancient market towns in an idyllic rural landscape. Wales' Conwy Valley Railroad starts in Swansea and passes through Snowdonia Park, past the Lledr river in a mountainous landscape.
As the nation's rail hub, London offers numerous scenic short train tours that are an easy trip from Heathrow or Gatwick. The London-to-Cambridge line offers beautiful scenery and a tourist-friendly destination. The London-to-Norwich line follows the coast and, once outside the London area, plenty of scenery to view out the window. Travelers with time to spare can journey from London to Penzance, in the far southwestern region of Cornwall.
Numerous steam-powered railroads, older diesel railroads and special tourist routes can be travelled throughout the United Kingdom. The Avon Valley Railway offers special Father Christmas and "Thomas The Tank Engine" theme rides. The Battlefield Line Railway dates from 1873, offers special theme rides and has stations renovated to their original 19th-century appearances. The Bressingham Steam & Gardens has over five miles of rail lines with a number of different configurations for visitors. Other "heritage railways" exist throughout the United Kingdom.
