British Rail Tours Know which side to sit
Window seat guide

Which side to sit

The view is almost always better on one side. Here is the side to ask for on 32 journeys, heading out. Open any journey for the full strip map, and flip it if you are coming back.

All Scenic lines Steam Diesel Luxury
  1. Either side

    Atlantic Coast Line

    Par → Newquay

    The line threads the Luxulyan valley and then crosses open clay country and moorland, with views on both sides.

    Strip map
  2. Sit right

    Bentham Line

    Leeds → Lancaster and Morecambe

    Giggleswick Scar and Ingleborough are on the right heading west, and Morecambe Bay is on the right on the run south from Carnforth.

    Strip map
  3. Sit right

    Bittern Line

    Norwich → Sheringham

    After the reversal at Cromer the sea is on the right all the way along the coast to Sheringham.

    Strip map
  4. Either side

    Borders Railway

    Edinburgh Waverley → Tweedbank

    The line criss-crosses the Gala Water, so the river and hills swap sides constantly; Arthur's Seat and the Eildon Hills are on the right.

    Strip map
  5. Either side

    Calder Valley Line

    Leeds → Manchester Victoria

    The river and Rochdale Canal weave either side of the line up the valley; Stoodley Pike is on the left.

    Strip map
  6. Sit left

    Caledonian Sleeper

    London Euston → Fort William, Inverness, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow

    At breakfast Loch Treig, the Monessie Gorge and Ben Nevis are on the left; Loch Lomond, passed early in the morning, is on the right.

    Strip map
  7. Sit left

    Cambrian Coast Line

    Shrewsbury → Pwllheli

    The Dyfi estuary, Cardigan Bay and Criccieth Castle are on the left; switch right at Barmouth Bridge for the Mawddach and Harlech Castle.

    Strip map
  8. Sit right

    Conwy Valley Line

    Llandudno → Blaenau Ffestiniog

    Conwy Castle, the Conwy estuary, Moel Siabod and Dolwyddelan Castle are all on the right heading south.

    Strip map
  9. Sit left

    Cotswold Line

    Oxford → Worcester and Hereford

    Port Meadow, Cornbury Park in the Evenlode valley, Bredon Hill and Worcester Cathedral are on the left heading north-west.

    Strip map
  10. Sit right

    Cumbrian Coast Line

    Carlisle → Barrow-in-Furness

    The Solway Firth, St Bees Head, the beach at Nethertown and the Duddon estuary are on the right; Sellafield, the Lakeland fells and Black Combe are on the left.

    Strip map
  11. Sit left

    Derwent Valley Line

    Derby → Matlock

    The Derwent Valley Line partnership says the river, Cromford Canal and mills are best seen from the left facing forward from Derby.

    Strip map
  12. Either side

    Esk Valley Line

    Middlesbrough → Whitby

    Roseberry Topping and Captain Cook's Monument are on the left before Battersby; after the reversal the Esk is crossed many times, so views alternate.

    Strip map
  13. Sit right

    Far North Line

    Inverness → Wick and Thurso

    The Beauly, Cromarty and Dornoch firths, Dunrobin Castle and the Sutherland coast to Helmsdale are all on the right heading north.

    Strip map
  14. Sit left

    Furness Line

    Lancaster → Barrow-in-Furness

    Morecambe Bay is on the left at Hest Bank, Grange and Kents Bank; look right from the Kent and Leven viaducts for the Lakeland fells.

    Strip map
  15. Sit right

    Glasgow South Western and Stranraer Line

    Glasgow Central → Stranraer

    The Firth of Clyde, Arran, Ailsa Craig and Loch Ryan are all on the right heading south.

    Strip map
  16. Sit left

    Glasgow–Oban Line

    Glasgow Queen Street → Oban

    Ben Lui, Kilchurn Castle and Loch Awe through the Pass of Brander are on the left after Crianlarich; Loch Lomond, earlier, is on the right.

    Strip map
  17. Sit left

    Heart of Wales Line

    Swansea → Shrewsbury

    The Loughor estuary, the Tywi valley and the Long Mynd are on the left; the viaducts and summit tunnel are crossed rather than seen from one side.

    Strip map
  18. Sit right

    Highland Main Line

    Perth → Inverness

    The Pass of Killiecrankie, Blair Castle, Ruthven Barracks and the Cairngorms are all on the right heading north.

    Strip map
  19. Sit right

    Hope Valley Line

    Sheffield → Manchester Piccadilly

    Stanage Edge, Win Hill, Lose Hill and Kinder Scout are on the right heading west; Mam Tor is on the left.

    Strip map
  20. Sit right

    Kyle of Lochalsh Line

    Inverness → Kyle of Lochalsh

    The Beauly Firth, Loch Garve and the long run beside Loch Carron to Skye are all on the right heading west.

    Strip map
  21. Either side

    Lakes Line

    Oxenholme Lake District → Windermere

    A short run with fells on both sides: the Howgills and Kentmere hills to the right, the central fells ahead and to both sides near Windermere.

    Strip map
  22. Sit right

    Looe Valley Line

    Liskeard → Looe

    After the reversal at Coombe the line follows the east side of the East Looe River, so the river and estuary are on the right.

    Strip map
  23. Sit left

    Marches Line

    Newport → Shrewsbury

    The Blorenge, Sugar Loaf, Black Mountains, Ludlow Castle, Stokesay Castle and the Long Mynd are all on the left heading north.

    Strip map
  24. Sit right

    North Wales Coast Line

    Chester → Holyhead

    The Dee estuary, Flint Castle, the sea at Colwyn Bay and Penmaenmawr, and Puffin Island are on the right heading west.

    Strip map
  25. Sit left

    Riviera Line and Dawlish Sea Wall

    Exeter St Davids → Paignton

    The Exe estuary, the Dawlish sea wall, the Teign estuary and Tor Bay are all on the left heading south.

    Strip map
  26. Sit left

    Settle–Carlisle Line

    Leeds → Carlisle

    Ingleborough, Whernside, the view down Dentdale and Wild Boar Fell are all on the left heading north; the Pennine escarpment is on the right in the Eden Valley.

    Strip map
  27. Sit right

    St Ives Bay Line

    St Erth → St Ives

    The Hayle estuary, Godrevy Lighthouse and the beaches of St Ives Bay are all on the right heading to St Ives.

    Strip map
  28. Sit left

    Tamar Valley Line

    Plymouth → Gunnislake

    The Tamar estuary is on the left from St Budeaux to Bere Ferrers; the big viaducts are crossed, so they are 'on' the line.

    Strip map
  29. Either side

    Tarka Line

    Exeter St Davids → Barnstaple

    The line crosses the Yeo and the Taw many times, so the river switches sides throughout.

    Strip map
  30. Sit right

    Tyne Valley Line

    Newcastle → Carlisle

    The line keeps to the south bank of the Tyne as far as Hexham, so the river is on the right; Hadrian's Wall country is also to the right.

    Strip map
  31. Sit left

    West Highland Line

    Glasgow Queen Street → Mallaig

    Gare Loch, Loch Long, Loch Treig, Ben Nevis and the Glenfinnan Monument are all on the left; Loch Lomond is the big exception, on the right.

    Strip map
  32. Either side

    Wherry Lines

    Norwich → Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft

    Open Broads marshland lies on both sides; the River Yare is on the right as far as Reedham.

    Strip map

Frequently asked questions

Which side should I sit on the Settle–Carlisle line?

Heading north from Leeds to Carlisle, the left side gets the best of Ribblehead, Dent and the Mallerstang valley. Southbound, sit on the right.

How do you work out the best side?

We list the notable sights on every journey in order, note which window each is seen from facing the direction of travel, and weigh up the big views. Where the view is shared, we say either side.

What if I am travelling the other way?

Swap sides. On every strip map there is a button that reverses the journey and flips each sight to the other window.

Can I choose my seat on a charter train?

Most charter operators allocate seats but will note a preference if you ask when booking. On ordinary scenic line services, unreserved seats are first come, first served.