Train heading to Leeds through snowy countryside

Train travelling along the Bentham Line through lush countryside

Bentham Line train travelling through the countryside

Train passing Ingleborough, near Clapham along the Bentham Line. Yorkshire & North East UK

Gerald Townson

Explore the history of the Bentham Line, nestled in scenic Yorkshire & Lancashire countryside.

Travel along one of the earliest railway lines in Britain (originally opened June 1850) as you make the spectacular 75-mile (120 km) trans-pennine journey from the heart of West Yorkshire, through the beautiful Aire, Ribble, Wenning and Lune valleys, passing pennine peaks, Yorkshire Dales National Park, and skirting the Forest of Bowland AONB before reaching the picturesque shores of Morecambe Bay.

Highlights

Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltaire

Take a ride on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway - book your reduced combined rail tickets at any station or click here

Discover the outdoors with along Rail to Trail self-guided walks

Find out more

Local line website

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Getting there

Train/bus Car Plane

Leeds and Lancaster lie on the M1 and M6, respectively, and the major roads east to west between the two cities are the A660, A65, B6480 and A683, which run close to the Bentham Line. There are car parks at or near all Bentham line stations. At the more rural stations parking is available free of charge. There are National Express Coach services to Leeds and Lancaster from London and other parts of the UK.

East Coast Main Line, Trans-Pennine Express and Cross-Country services connect with The Bentham Line at Leeds. West Coast Main Line services from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Carlisle, Preston, Crewe, Birmingham and London all link into The Bentham Line via Lancaster. Look up train times.

BY BUS
Local bus services operate in and around Leeds, Keighley, Skipton, Carnforth, Lancaster and Morecambe serving the respective railway stations.

BY FERRY
Heysham Port station is adjacent to the Isle of Man ferry terminal. The midday ferry from and to the Isle of Man have connecting Bentham Line train services.

Route

Leeds - Morecambe / Heysham Port via Skipton, Bentham & Lancaster

Cost

Advance single ticket from £9.00

Opening times

7 days a week | all year

Journey time

2hrs 6

Distance

75 miles | 120 km

Time from London

2:15 hours (see itinerary)

Plan your trip

Suggested itinerary

Take the train from London Kings Cross to Leeds for easy connection along The Bentham Line to stations between Long Preston and Leeds, Giggleswick and Clapham. Trains from London Kings Cross leave regularly throughout the day (look up times) and the journey takes approximately 2 hour 15 minutes.

Travelling to the other parts of the line? Get the train from London Euston to Lancaster and transfer to The Bentham Line, for easy access to Morecambe and Bentham. The journey from London Euston to Lancaster takes approximately 2 hours 25 minutes.

Attractions along the Bentham Line include:

Leeds

Leeds has something for everyone with modern shopping complexes, restored Victorian arcades, art galleries, theatres, concert venues and museums all within easy access of Leeds station.

Saltaire

Saltaire, a Victorian working community near Shipley created by Sir Titus Salt, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Salts Mill now houses an art gallery, shops and restaurants.

Worth Valley Railway

Take a trip back in time along the Worth Valley Railway behind a vintage steam locomotive at Keighley.

Skipton

Skipton is the largest town in the Craven District of North Yorkshire. Its medieval castle lies at the top of the High Street where a vibrant street market is held four times each week. Leave the train here for Embsay and Bolton Abbey Railway.

The great outdoors

The stations between Skipton and Bentham provide access to the Yorkshire Dales, whilst those between Giggleswick and Wennington are designated gateway stations to the Forest of Bowland AONB (Area Of Natural Beauty).

Rural delights

The livestock market town of Bentham and picturesque village of Clapham are good bases from which to explore the ever-changing rural landscape of the Dales, the Pennines and Bowland.

Carnforth

There are connecting services at Carnforth for Furness line stations. The station buildings house a heritage centre and the Brief Encounter Refreshment Rooms.

Lancaster

A bustling university city, Lancaster with its ancient castle, museums and Williamson Park lies on the banks of the River Lune. Change here for services on the West Coast Main Line.

Morecambe

From the promenade at Morecambe there are stunning views across the bay towards the Lake District mountains. Look out for the many bird sculptures of the Tern Project and the celebrated bronze of Eric Morecambe.