Having a holiday without a car
With rising concerns over the effects on the planet by human activity, it can be challenging how to have a holiday without a car.
One problem is finding accommodation that is accessible by public transport and facilities to support your stay. This page lists some stations on the national rail network that have been converted to provide self-catering accommodation. The accommodation listed is varied, original station buildings, converted old railway coaches that have been located adjoining the station, even a new build 'quirky' signal box constructed in 2004.
The excellent site Railway Station Cottages.co.uk provides a far more extensive list, including stations and converted railway coaches on closed railway lines.
Having accommodation on a railway station, offers the opportunity to book direct to the door of your accommodation from any railway station in the country. It means it is so easy carrying the luggage. Effectively living at a station for a short break, gives you the convenience of exploring the local villages and towns along the line that stop outside your front door. The properties often offer a range of ideas for using the local railway line during your stay.
There are 2,567 railway stations on the national rail network of England, Scotland, and Wales. This is a list of 30 with 'accommodation as you step from your train'
Some offer a discount for those arriving by public transport, one even offers a discount for spending half a day during your stay looking after the garden!
Acle Station Cottage located in Norfolk on the Norwich to Great Yarmouth Railway Line built in 1881. Further details from Holiday Railway.co.uk
Barden Mill Station Waiting Room Located in Northumberland on the Newcastle to Carlisle railway line. Further details from Cottages.com
Bere Ferrers Tamar Belle, Located in Devon on the Plymouth to Gunnislake Railway Line. Further details from Tamar Belle.co.uk
Betws y Coed Alpine Apartments, located in Caernarfonshire in North Wales, situated on the Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog railway line. Further details from Betws Accommodation.co.uk
Beauly Station located in the Scottish Highland on the Inverness to Kyle of Lochash and Wick/Thurso Railway Lines. Further details from Visit Scotland.co.uk
Bucknell Station Cottage located in Shropshire on the Shrewsbury, Swansea Heart of Wales Railway Line. Further details from station cottage bucknall.co.uk
Cromford The Waiting Room Holiday Cottage located in Derbyshire on the Derby to Matlock Railway Line. Further details from Unique Holiday Cottages.co.uk
Photo above: Cromford Railway Station, front elevation of the holiday cottage
Currour The Station House, Signal Box Accommodation and the United Kingdom's remotest restaurant located in the Highland Region, formerly Inverness-shire, situated on the Glasgow-Crainlarich- Fort William-Mallaig railway line. Further details from Corrour.co.uk/station-house
Dalmally Station, built in 1870, the station offers, Shepherds Hut, The Writers Retreat, The Ramblers Rest, Ben Cruachan, The Honeycomb Flat and the Posting Room. located in Argyll & Bute on the Glasgow to Oban railway line. Further details from dalmally railway station.co.uk
Above Photo: Dalmally Station Accommodation
Dent Station Snow Huts located in Cumbria on the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle Railway Line. Further details from Dent Snow Huts.co.uk
Dent Station located in Cumbria on the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle Railway Line. Further details from Dent Station.co.uk
Picture Above: Dent Railway Station
Duirinish Station Cottage located in the Scottish Highlands on the Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh Railway Line further details from station cottage.com
Glenfinnan Station 1958 Sleeper Car converted into a comfortable bunk house accommodating up to 10 people. Located in the Scottish Highland on the Glasgow-Fort William-Mallaig Railway Line. Further details from Glenfinnan Station Musuem.co.uk
Golspie The Station House built in 1868 located in the Northern Highlands on the Inverness to Thurso/Wick Railway Line details from Scottish Cottages.co.uk
Grosmont The Station House located in North Yorkshire on the Middlesbrough -Grosmont-Whitby and Northern Yorkshire Moors Railways Pickering-Grosmont-Whitby Railway Line. Further details from nymr.co.uk grosmont station house
Photo above: Grosmont Station House thanks to North Yorkshire Moor Railway/Charlotte Graham
Hayle 1950's Railway Corridor Coach 'Harvey' located in Cornwall on the London Paddington-Plymouth-Penzance railway line. Come by train, bus, bike, sailing boat or on foot (all of these are possible, Hayle is well connected) and Rail Holiday will knock £25 off your holiday! Further details from Rail Holiday.co.uk./harvey
Hellifield First Floor Apartment above Hellifield Railway Station, located in North Yorkshire on the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle Railway and Leeds-Giggleswick-Lancaster Railway Line. Further details from The Yorkshire Sleeper.co.uk
Photo above Hellifield Railway Station, Ground floor Shed 24H Rea Rooms and Collectables, upstairs the first-floor self-catering apartment
Helmsdale The Old Station Masters Accommodation located in the Northern Highlands on the Inverness to Thurso/Wick railway line. 4 Bed sleeps up to 8 people. Offers a 10% discount for those arriving by transport other than private car, and or a 10% discount if you spend half a day during your stay maintaining the station grounds, the station house garden and station house waiting rooms. Reduced rate folding bike (for ease of use on trains) and e-bike hire for station residents A not for profit community project: any trading surplus each year is used for donating to local charities and community causes; maintaining the station; and promoting the Far North Line (short video here ) In 2019 (pre-Covid). One of those involved in the station did travelled the road route, the North Coast 500, using public transport (report here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12QzE-4lbpl9PJi1d8k-fdc-Yp7qKG0yM/view?usp=sharing) Helmsdale Station Community Project would happy to offer advice to anyone interested in considering doing the same.
Further details from Helmsdale Station.co.uk
Picture Above: Helmsdale Railway Station Accommodation
Hunmanby The Old Waiting Rooms located in North Yorkshire on the Hull-Bridlington-Scarborough railway line. Further details from Old Waiting Rooms.co.uk
Kirkby Stephen Platform Cottage and Booking Office Cottage located in Cumbria on the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle Railway line. Built in 1875. Further details from Settle Carlisle Trust.org.uk stay at a station
Loch Awe Caledonian Camping Coach Company, located in Argyll & Bute, Scotland on the Glasgow to Oban railway line. Further details from Scotland Rail Holiday.co.uk
Photo Above: Loch Awe Rail Holiday Coach Postcard
Malvern Link Sleepers Suite Located in Worcestershire on the Worcester to Hereford railway line. Further details from Sykes Cottages.co.uk
Malvern Link Platform 3. Located in Worcestershire on the Worcester to Hereford railway line. Further details from Sykes Cottages.co.uk
Newtonmore a quirky new build detached wooden property in the form of a signal box, located in the Scottish Highland on the Edinburgh/Glasgow to Inverness railway line. Further details from Sykes Cottages.co.uk
Plockton Railway Station located in the Scottish Highlands on the Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh Railway Line. Built in 1887 further details from Plockton Railway Station.co.uk
Ribblehead Station House located in North Yorkshire on the Leeds-Settle-Carlisle Railway Line. Further details from Settle Carlisle Trust.org.uk stay at a station
Rogart Converted Railway Carriages and the Waiting Rooms Bed & Breakfast Accommodation, located in the Scottish Highland on the Inverness to Wick/Thurso railway line. Further details from Sleeperzzz.com
St Bees Station House, The Former Waiting Rooms, located in Cumbria on the Barrow-Whitehaven-Carlisle Railway Line. Built in 1848 further details from Sykes Holiday Cottages.co.uk
St Germans 4 Historic Converted railway coaches to choose from, Millpool, Mevy, The Travelling Post Office or The Old Luggage Van. Located in Cornwall on the London Paddington-Plymouth-Penzance railway line. Come by train, bus, bike, sailing boat or on foot (all of these are possible St Germans is well connected) and Rail Holiday will knock £25 off your holiday! Further details from Rail Holiday.co.uk
Sanquhar Station Masters House, located in Dumfries and Galloway on the Carlisle-Dumfries-Glasgow Railway Line. Further details from Sanaquhar Station.co.uk
Strathcarron Station House built in 1870 in the Scottish Highlands on the Inverness to Kyle of Lochalsh Railway Line. Further details from Strathcarron Station .co.uk
Photo above: External View of Strathcarron Railway Station
Tal-y-Cafn former Station Master House in Conwy, North Wales, situated on the Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog railway line. Further details from welcome cottages.com
The Local Economy
Finally, staying local, helps support local economies, especially small family concerns. Shopping local is a great way to find out more about the local area from the people who live and work in the area. Restoring properties, especially ones that had been left abandoned to the elements, and retaining original features, takes a huge amount of time and energy (as well as finance) Helping to preserve and find new uses for historic railway buildings and coaches. Further details from the Railway Heritage Trust website
Sustainable Tourism
This website aims to be positive and inspire, sharing simple idea.
The link below is the rail holidays green pages, showing efforts made to give visitors a great holiday, while treading a little lighter on the planet we all depend on.
Link to Rail Holidays Green Pages
20.10.2021